Half a heart

Chapter 18

⚠️Tw: anxiety, crying, Ben hope, death of a loved one, abuse, yelling, depression, bullying, bruises, threats⚠️

Charlie's pov:
I hadn't seen Ben all day, and to be honest, I was relieved. Dealing with him was the last thing I needed right now, I just needed some space to process everything that had happened.

Nick walked me to science class, a familiar presence by my side. We often walked together since we shared the same class, so it wasn't unusual for us to be seen together.

As I settled into my assigned seat and began taking notes, the sound of a sharp knock at the door shattered the quiet of the classroom.

My heart sank as I saw the teacher open it to reveal Ben, his expression twisted with anger as his eyes bore into me.

The teacher's inquiry about Ben's presence only confirmed what I feared, he was here for me.

With a heavy sigh, I quickly gathered my things, bracing myself for the confrontation that awaited me.

As I stepped out of the classroom, the tension in the air was palpable. Ben's glare bore into me, accusing and hostile. I knew this conversation wouldn't be easy, but I had to face it head-on.

"What do you want, Ben?" I said wearily, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.

"Look at me, Charlie," he demanded, his voice laced with frustration and anger.

Reluctantly, I turned to face him, meeting his intense gaze with apprehension. His eyes bore into mine, searching for answers to questions I wasn't sure I could provide.

"Why didn't you answer me yesterday? I texted you, and you didn't respond to any of my texts. You were with someone else, weren't you?" His accusation hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.

I felt a surge of frustration and anger rising within me. How could he accuse me of such things when he knew nothing of what I had been through?

"Let go of me. I wasn't with someone else last night, I promise, Ben," I said, my voice tinged with frustration and desperation.

But my words seemed to fall on deaf ears as Ben's anger continued to simmer, threatening to boil over at any moment. Before I could react, he grabbed my arm, pulling me into the boys' sports locker room with a forceful grip.

The air inside the locker room felt heavy and oppressive, the tension between us thick and suffocating. I knew I had to tread carefully, but I also knew that I couldn't let Ben's accusations go unchallenged.

As he continued to berate me, his words filled with anger and resentment, I felt a sense of helplessness wash over me. How could I make him understand when he refused to listen?

But in that moment, as I stood before him, battered and bruised by his words. I realized something important, I didn't need his validation or approval. I knew the truth of what had happened, and that was enough for me.

The sting of his slap reverberated through my cheek, followed by another, and another. I felt helpless as I tried to explain that I had been at the police station because of my sister's death, but Ben refused to listen, convinced that I was lying.

The blows continued, each one landing with painful precision, until suddenly, someone intervened, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from Ben's grasp...