One Night Partying

Chapter 7

*Picture of Claira

Jack's POV

I sat through all of calculus, not paying any attention to Mr.Jonsey's babbling. My mind kept drifting to Charli. God, 2 weeks ago I didn't spare her  a second glace, or a first one for that matter. Just then, she and her friend Claire? Carly? Oh ya, Claira, came in. Wow, was I surprised to see her. Charli that is.

Something looked wrong about her face though. It seemed, slightly, I dunno, plastic. I whispered to Rebbecca Roma, the girl sitting next to me, "What's up with Charli's face?"

Rebbecca took a closer look. "Cover-up, lots and lots of it."

I nodded. Charli hardly ever wore makeup. Hmmm, why was she wearing so much now? Not that I cared about these things, I reminded myself. She sat down next to Claira and pulled out her textbooks. Just then, Marcus came in, his nose still slightly puffy and red from my punch yesterday. When he saw Charli he grinned, and went to go sit beside her.  Even from across the room, I could she was tense and uncomfortable with Marcus sitting there.

Charli's POV

My breath caught in my chest, and it took all of me to simply breathe properly. Marcus grinned his sick smirk and came to sit beside me. I tensed up, edging my chair closer to Claira's, moving as far as possible away from him. I looked up, Jack was staring at me from across the classroom. What the hell? He quickly looked away, pretending to be in deep conversation with the girl beside him, Rebbecca I think. Why had he been staring at me? Was my makeup ruined? Could he see my bruises? I had put on tons of cover-up this morning, but still....grabbing my compact from my purse, I made sure my bruises were completely covered. Suddenly, Marcus's leering face was behind mine in the mirror. I shuddered, snapping my compact closed, returning it to my bag.Claira looked at me funny, and I pretended to be listening to Mr. Jonsey. Mr. Jonsey asked a question, and out of habit, my hand shot into the air. I always knew the answers in math. But, I had missed so much recently. “Yes Charli?” Mr. Jonsey asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Ummm.....er...I.....” I stutteres, feeling like an idiot.

I felt Marcus’s leg rubbing against mine, his hand lightly massaging my shoulder. I felt bile rise in my throat. I never wanted to be touched by him again. “I...I..excuse me!”

I grabbed my bag, pushed Marcus’s hand off me, and dashed out of the room.

Claira’s POV

What the hell? What was wrong with Charli? I looked towards Marcus, looking for an answer. He just shrugged and returned to his texting. “Mr. Jonsey, can I be excused for a second?” I asked, worried about Charli. He obviously was too, because he let me go.

I found her huddled inside the Janitor’s Closet, crying her eyes out. I knelt down beside her. “Charli, you have to tell me what is wrong. I can’t help you if you don’t.” I muttered, rubbing her arm soothingly. Charli was never like this. she was always so cool and sassy, now she was practically breaking down in my arms. “Maybe I don’t want help!” she spat.

“Like hell.”

I was starting to get a little annoyed. “Please Charli, I just ant to help.”

Her face relaxed slightly, then more tears came down. “It’s something really bad.” she whimpered.

“Whatever it is, i don’t care, you’ll always be my best friend.”

She nodded, as if deciding. “Claira, I...I...I’m...preg...pregnant.” she said in between sobs.

“Oh my god...” I said, letting my breath out slowly, trying to remain calm.

Fresh tears cascaded down Charli’s cheeks. I tried hard not to cry. “Who's...who’s the dad?” I whispered.

Charli’s POV

“Who's...who’s the dad?” Claira asked.

Panic bubbled in my chest. What should I say? should I tell  her about Marcus? No, I can’t. He’ll find out and...not, don’t think about that. I saw someone passing by through the small window. It was Jack. I don’t know what possessed me to say it. “Jack.” I said softly.

“What?” Claira said, straining to hear.

“Jack’s the father.”

Shit! Why did I say that? Claira gasped. “Oh my god, does he know?”

I shook my head.  “Don’t you think you should tell him? You owe him that much.”

“NO!” I practically screamed. “No! He can’t know!”

“Okay, okay.”

Claira stood up, helping me to my feet, come on, we should go. It’s lunch now anyway.”

Jack’s POV

I was sitting with Kalin, Brett and Brian, eating my lunch, when I felt a hand on my arm. I looked up, it as Claira, Charli’s friend. “Jack, can I talk to you for a sec?” she asked nervously, looking around.

I nodded, letting her drag me in to the corner of the cafeteria. “There’s something you need to know,” she began.

Charli’s POV

I put the last book in my locker, about to shut it, when I felt a hand slam me against the lockers. I closed my eyes, waiting to die. I know that sounds dramatic, but it’s the truth.  Marcus is about to kill you. Marcus is about to kill you. I muttered over and over to myself. But it wasn’t Marcus, it was Jack. I sighed in relief. “WHAT THE HELL?” he shouted.

I cringed. Oh god, Claira I was gonna kill you. “Wha..what?” I stuttered, playing dumb.

“WHAT IS YOUR FUCKING PROBLEM? YOU ARE SUCH A GOD DAMN SLUT! YOU GO GET YOURSELF KNOCKED UP...THEN YOU BLAME IT ON ME!”

I  could feel his spit spraying me. I began to cry. “Jack please, I...”

He shook me off, pushing me against he lockers again, before storming off. Tears slid down my cheeks and I fell to my knees, shaking. Jack’s screams had attracted quite a crowd, who were all now staring at me, whispering. I saw Claira’s ashamed, pale face. The I saw Marcus’s leering face. He was enjoying this.

The party. Marcus’s lips. His hands pulling at my clothes. His sick smile.

I blacked out.