Cold Water

THIRTY NINE

                     ♥︎ATHALIA♥︎

  I love him. I said it back. I can't believe I actually said it. It just came out so naturally.

  I mean, he means so much to me. But still... saying it felt huge.

  Now I'm here, alone, just thinking about those words. "I love you."

  They aren't just something you throw around, right? I don't want him to think I said it just because he did. But did I say it too soon?

Nah.

   I hear the door downstairs open, and my heart begins to race.

   I know I have to tell her, but I know her. She's going to march down at school tomorrow and demand something be done.

  I make my way downstairs, and I find her in the living room. She's settling down, and I can tell she's tired.

But if I don't do this now, I don't think I ever will.

  "Hi, mum."

  "Oh hey sweetie." Her smile slowly fades when she notices something's off.

  "What's wrong?" I sit down beside her.

  "Mom.. something happened today at school..."

  I take a deep breath. "It's about Alex."

  "That sweet boy who's helping you with school?" I nod.

  I tell her everything. How we were in the library, how he was helping me catch up, and then... how he tried to force himself on me.

  I tell her about the things he said, the way he grabbed me, and how I had to kick him to get away.

  I can barely meet her eyes as I talk, feeling the weight of the day finally crashing down on me.

  Her face hardens with every word I say. By the time I'm done, I see the anger in her eyes, but it's also mixed with concern.

  "Athalia." she says, pulling me into a tight hug.

  "I'm so sorry, honey. You must have been scared."

  "I was."

  "I'm coming with you to school tomorrow." She says after we pull apart.

  "It's not necessary, mum."

  "It is. What if he tries it again? Or worse. What if he succeeded with what he tried to do to you with other girls?"

  She has a point there.

  "Okay, we'll go together."

  "Thank you. Cause I can't be working peacefully knowing that my daughter isn't safe at school."

  That's when her gaze drops to my neck, and she looks mad.

  "He did this?!" I nod.

  "He finna get what's coming for him. Does Brandon know?"

  "Yeah, he knows. He found out. Alex went to him, and he said some awful things about me and made it sound like... like something happened between us."

  I feel a lump in my throat as I say it, but I push through. "Brandon didn't take it well. He... he beat him up, Mom."

  Her eyes widen in shock. "Brandon, what?"I nod quickly, rushing to explain.

  "He was defending me. Alex was saying disgusting things, and Brandon just... lost it. I didn't tell him anything at first, but when Alex made it sound like something happened, Brandon came to me, and I had to tell him what really happened. He was so angry, but he was more worried about me than anything else."