Secrets | 5SOS

[5]

The following weeks were a blur of school, hospital visits, and tense silences at home. I did my best to keep my head down at school, to avoid drawing attention, but it was proving to be hard.

One evening, I was getting ready for bed when I noticed a purple bruise on my arm, a remnant from the recent bullying. Jake and Clarissa had found the scars on my arm and taken pictures of them despite me begging them not to. If that wasn't enough they had taken my clean right arm and closed the locker shut on it, leaving a nasty painful bruise. I tried to cover it up, but it was no use. The bruises always seemed to linger, a constant reminder.

I was so focused on the bruise that I didn’t hear Calum come in. “Bella, what are you doing?” he asked, startling me.

“Nothing,” I said quickly, pulling my sleeve down.

“Let me see,” he said, stepping closer.

“It’s nothing,” I insisted, backing away.

“Isabella,” he said firmly, his eyes filled with worry.

I knew I couldn’t hide it anymore. Reluctantly, I pulled up my sleeve, revealing the dark bruise. Calum’s expression darkened, a mixture of anger and concern.

“Where did that come from?” Calum asked, his voice tight.

“It’s nothing, just a bruise,” I said, trying to downplay it.

“That’s not just a bruise, Bella. This isn’t from another fight, is it?” His eyes bore into mine, searching for the truth.

I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter. If its leaving painful marks on your skin, it does matter.” he insisted, his frustration clear. “Why won’t you talk to me sweetheart?"

“Its nothing Calum, my friend just accidently closed the locker on my arm. I didn't tell you because you would think i got into another fight.,” I whispered, my voice cracking. The weight of my secrets felt unbearable, pressing down on me until I thought I might break.

Calum sighed, running a hand through his hair, clearly not believing me.
“Bella, this bruise is too dark for it to be an accident. You really need to stop getting in fights! Come downstairs so we can ice it before you get late for school."

I nodded blinking back the tears that stinged my eyes. I walked downstairs, deciding to have an apple today, i hadn't eaten in three days and successfully hidden that from the guys. Their work schedules were so mixed up, it was becoming easy to lie to them.

I slowly walked to school, bracing myself for the bullying that was sure to come.
"Hey freak!" I heard Clarissa's friend, Carla, call me.
I hesitantly stopped turning around to face her.

"Clarissa wanted me to let you know that she needs to see you in the janitor's closet. If you don't show up, she'll leak the pictures of your ugly scars."

I sighed. I spent the whole day disconnected from my classes, worrying my already concerned teachers even further. I was already doing poorly in classes, and me disassociating wasn't making matters any better. My history teacher, Mr. Miles even requested that Calum see him soon.

As lunch approached, i swallowed my anxiety and carefully walked towards the janitors closet, hoping that noone saw me. 

"Well, well, well. Look who it is!" Clarissa and Jake smirked as they watched me come in.

"Please delete those pictures!" I begged them. God knows what would happen if Calum came across them.

"Hmm, well we won't leak them on one condition. What do you say freak?" Clarissa smirked.

"Please! I'll do anything!"

"Ok then, Jake she's all yours!" and with that Clarissa sat on a chair, leaning it against the wall.

**WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT**

Jake walked towards me, a disgusting smirk on my face. I braced myself, ready for him to hit me but what came next was even worse.

He started to kiss me, forcing me to take my shirt off. Tears rolled down my cheeks as he kicked above my collarbones, sucking hickeys. I was a virgin who hadn't even had her first kiss yet. I was only 16, the concept of hickeys wasn't even in my imagination.

"You know for a ugly fat girl like you, you sure do have excellent breasts." Jake smirked as he squeezed them hard. I knew it was best to stay silent as i bit cheek and tried to stop myself from screaming.

**SCENE ENDED***

The bell rang, my savior.
Clarissa and Jake both stepped out of the closet leaving me on the floor. Jake telling me that this definitely was not going to be the last time this was happening.

I wiped away my tears and put my shirt on as i walked home. Ready to add another bandage to my wrists.

I was so tired.