Bad for you

Chapter 10

Shantel's POV

Watching Ashanti walk away I felt bad lying to her. She was my only friend and I was growing to enjoy her company. This is why I didn't want Mikhail around her in the first place because I know how she is. I had just started accepting the idea that maybe she's really in love this time and from the looks of it she probably is but she's definitely not ready for healthy relationships just yet.

Judging by the hickeys on her neck I know that was Mikhail and Ashanti isn't 18 yet so she probably started overthinking and fled. I can't tell Ashanti why because it's just not my place to say but I wish Mikhail would just be honest about it and fix this. I cannot keep lying to her and watch her suffer caz she seems to really like her too.

I was standing outside of my car opening the back door to put down my school bag before I get in when the rain started dropping and that's the same time I realized that I left my Biology textbook. I dug for my umbrella and made my way to the Science block as fast as possible, I don't like walking in the rain and I'd prefer the rain to be falling while I'm inside my car and not outside. Luckily the classroom was unlocked, I twisted the knob but when I got in I saw a teacher around the desk head down in the dark. She sat up to look at me but her eyes were bloodshot seeing from the lighting by the door, I read the room and quickly locked the door.

"I'm sorry, I left my book" I explained making my way over to my desk. But I can't lie I was worried about her. I found the book under the desk but leaving without even trying to help wasn't really sitting right with me. Plus the rain started pouring.

"Are you okay?" I decided to ask although I could clearly see that was a big no.

"No" she said with a soft voice.

I really didn't know what to do but I wasn't planning on leaving her like that. She looked so fragile and broken. I placed a chair right beside her and sat there. We were an inch apart. I could smell her perfume. It was intoxicating. I placed my book on the desk and the umbrella on top of it and while the rain poured on the roof I gently placed one arm around her shoulder and like reflex her head was on my lap.

She smelt sooo good was all that was running through my head for a minute and then I was concerned about the situation that's causing her to be this distraught. I wanted to ask but maybe it wasn't my place so I just decided to slowly rub her back and she started crying but I let her cry. When she was finished sobbing she started talking. "I'm sorry, I know you have to go home soon".

"I'm okay, I can stay as long as you need me to" I told her. All I do is homework and watch movies. "I know I'm a student but you can talk to me" I assured her.

"I'm homeless. My boyfriend just threw me out. My father threw me out 2 months ago because I didn't allow him to rape me and I threaten to talk. I'm to my neck in debts from teacher's college. I don't know what to do or where to turn so now I'm here and I know I can't sleep here but I don't know where to go sleep and my boyfriend burnt all my stuff and so there's no home or belongings all I have are on my person. I can't do anything about it" she vented and every sentence made the situation worst. My heart broke for her.

"Do you have any friends or family you can reach out to?" I asked.

"My boyfriend was my only friend because he made all my friends hate me for always going back to him, I don't have family better than my father" she started sobbing again.

I should've let the book stay. I didn't need it. Now I'm gonna have to play superhero. I took my phone out of my pocket and texted mommy that I'm having a friend over and she let me know she wasn't coming home so that's good. Well, at least I won't have to explain.

"Come on".

"You can go, I don't have anywhere to go I'm gonna try to find a church or shelter until I figure stuff out" she said raising her head and forcing a smile. Other than her sadden features her face was cute asf. Wonder how old she is caz she looks 18.

"I'm taking you somewhere I got the go ahead so you can worry later" I told her. I got up and took up my book and umbrella.

"Are you sure? Do you know someone who does charity or and organization?" She asked still not trusting me.

"For someone with no options you're asking a lot of questions" I told her laughing. For the first time she genuinely smiled and said nothing just followed me out of the class. Most persons were gone. It was just the ladies who sweep and the grounds men. The rain was still falling but it was okay to walk to the car. She was making her way to the gate and I could feel the discomfort flowing off her in waves. She's probably lowkey embarrassed having me help her.

I stopped her. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes. How far are we going? My boyfriend usually picks me up and I only have $3000 in cash right now" she asked.

"You don't need money" I told her.

"What do you mean?"

I made her follow me to the parking lot. I unlocked the car and made my way to the drivers side and got in as she got into the passenger's seat.

"Your parents let you drive to school?" She asked in shock.

"Something like that" I replied smiling as she gave me a look that said she's scared for her life. She ensured to secure her seatbelt as did I before pulling out of the lot and exiting the school compound. So far she had visibly relaxed and had her eyes glued to the road as if she was the one driving. I smiled seeing her but then she looked over at me so I had to focus on the road.

In less than an hour we were home. I parked beside Mikhail's vehicle and remembered I need to text Ashanti later to check on her. I saw her exit my car and I realized this whole time I took a stranger home I don't even know her name.

"What's your name?"

"Tiffany White" she told me. "You?"

"Shantel"

"Is this your home?" I nodded in response to her question. "Did your parents agree?" She asked getting anxious and in her situation I would be too.

"I texted my mom and she said it's okay, don't worry I would've been home alone pretend you're babysitting me" I told her and watched her smile. Gives me a funny feeling in my chest.

We entered and she was in awe of the place. I walked to my room because I'm most definitely taking an advantage of the fact that everything is what I tell her. I could send her to a guest room but what's the fun in that?

We entered and instantly I was showing her around. "Why am I staying in your bedroom?"

"Thought you'd prefer to stick to the having a friend over custom as I told my mom I'm having my friend over" she nodded understanding.

She stood in the middle of the room with her bag still on her shoulder clinging for dear life.

"I need to wash my clothes for tomorrow" she announced.

"Sure hun. Can use the laundry room but regardless you won't be wearing those tomorrow I'll get you something" I told her.

"So can I go to the bathroom?" She asked politely slightly twisting I could tell she was holding it. Why didn't she just say something?

"Sure you right ahead?" I told her and she disappeared.

My mom had hundreds of clothes and I know she could fit most of them because she was average and so was my mom. Plus her dressing wasn't fitting my aesthetics but who am I to judge. I took off my uniform and sat down on my bean bag in my robe and nothing underneath since I was coming from the laundry room.

I was just n tik tok scrolling and post track of time when I heard the door open and I looked in that direction to see her in a towel holding her clothes.

"Put it in the laundry bag I'll take it to the laundry room when I'm out. There's clothes in the dresser that hasn't been worn just open and choose whatever, I'll be out soon" I told her going in after her before she could even answer.