Trial Of Young Love

Chapter 10

(Xavier's point of view-)

Seeing Zoe in that state, seeing her shiver under my touch really pissed me off. I couldn't shake the way she hid from my eyes; she seemed scared but at the same time she felt strong as if she was putting on a show. Her hair was a mess, and her face seemed dry, probably from all of the crying she had been doing. I crawl back into my window with ease, since mom wasn't home, I didn't really need to sneak around. Entering the bathroom, I closed the door behind me, I don't want my brother asking stupid questions. I grab the first aid we keep under the sink, then for good measure I make my way downstairs to pack some food. Zoe looked as if she wasn't eating regularly, her dull eyes with dark circles were too vibrant to ignore. Grabbing a bag, I stuff all the items into it before placing it over my shoulder and heading back to my roof. I sit there facing Zoe's, waiting for her light to turn off indicating that Derek had left. 

This time waiting and seeing Zoe's beaten face brought me back to 8th grade. I was the quiet chunky kid sitting in the cafeteria by himself, playing on a small Nintendo console. I wore glasses every day and had the same gross bowl cut I'd had for years. Yes, a bowl cut. That was the only haircut my mom could do other than a buzz. I had one friend, a geeky slim kid named Ryan, but we quickly separated when I became the target of the one and only James Dalco. James was very smart, very proper, he always spoke the teachers as if he was talking to a well-spoken professor. Always smiling and following the rules set in class to the T. Yet, I saw the side of him no one else did, other than his accomplices of course. It all started when I accidentally split some of my chocolate milk on him during lunch. His eyes burned with a certain disgusted look, as if he was going to burn the very shoes the milk came in contact with, simply because it was my milk. That day my world was turned upside down, sometimes after school a group of kids would be waiting for me in the courtyard. They'd push, shove and sometimes kick in the beginning. I'd beg James to forgive me for my stupid mistake, but he wouldn't say anything back, just always sat there looking with disgust. 

After a long couple of weeks continuing the same pattern, my mom stopped listening to my excuses of tripping or getting hit with footballs in gym. I think she wanted to see if something would change without her intervening, like sometimes she'd pack extra snacks in my lunch or bake cookies for the class. She'd hoped this would make the kids in class at least tolerate me. James wouldn't let that happen though; he was determined to ruin my last year of middle school. He would spread rumors across class of me being perverted towards the girls, lied that I was getting into fights. He pretty much made me more of an outcast that before. Even though I was an outcast before James, I use to be invisible, but now everyone knew who I was. I was scary, bad mannered, perverted, violent. The list goes on. My mom one day after having enough walked into the school, she stormed past the front desk. She practically broke the principles door down. I told her it was James, I told her everything he had done, but the principal wouldn't believe me. He called in James's parents in to try and reconsolidate the allegations towards their precious son. This, this was my biggest regret, letting my mom know who had bullied me, because from there, it was actual beating. There was a point I thought I may die. 

I see Zoe's lights turn off, I give it a good extra couple of minutes before reclimbing the tree in her yard, thank God for my boxing classes. Making my way to her window I peak in; Zoe is lying in bed. I gently knock on her window grabbing her attention she hops out of bed, slowly walking towards me to let me. As she does, I'm crouched Infront of her, a small breeze makes its way inside, softly blowing her auburn curls. My eyes linger on hers for a couple of seconds too long, I feel my face burn as she stares up at me. "Move." I say sternly, not wanting her seeing my blush. I have to remind myself that I don't want to involve myself with her. 

-Zoe's point of view- 

As I watch Xavier have trouble fitting through the window, I can't help but laugh a bit. "What's so funny?" He says with an irritated tone. 
"You make the window look small." I stare at his large figure try to fold. He lands quietly on the floor. 
"It's because you have a small window." He raises his eyebrow as he looks down at me. His cheeks look slightly pink. He pulls a bag around from behind him and looks towards my bedroom window. 
"We should probably be quick, honestly if you want, I can do it. You bringing this to me was enough." I reach for the bag, but he pulls away, walking by me to the bathroom. The bathroom is littered with hair products, makeup and other little things. It's a smaller bathroom, very elongated but not a lot of room beyond that. I'm now feeling a little embarrassed by clutter, I didn't think to clean it before he came over. "It's a little small..." 
"It should be fine." His jaw clenches tightly. I can't get a read on this guy. Is he upset at me because of our fight? Just 30 minutes ago he seemed to be caring and kind. I shake my head; I don't think dwelling on this is going to help. I'm nervous as is having a boy in my room. 

Xavier places the bag on the counter of the bathroom, I stare at the small empty space. How are we going to make this work, I take in the open areas around him trying to navigate a position easiest for Xavier. He's hell bent on helping me so I can't try to ask him to let me do it given the lack of room. He glances at me as if to say 'hurry up' I get the memo and walk into the bathroom. Slightly I try to squeeze to the opposite side giving him space to work with. 
"The bathrooms a little small, sorry. I mostly just use this to do my hair or makeup." 
"It's fine." He opens the bag he had placed down and pulls out a first aid kit. He grabs alcohol wipes reaches for the cut on my forehead. I pull back instinctively; it makes me feel like shit. I can't dispute the fact that Xavier is scary looking, and his demeanor doesn't help, but his eyes are full of pity. "Sorry, go ahead." I close my eyes and lift my head slightly to give him a better view. It's ice cold when it makes contact with the cut, it burns as he gently wipes. I wince and grit my teeth. 
"Is this okay?" He asks. 
"Yeah, I'm just a crybaby." I try and reassure him.
"No, I wouldn't say that." 
"What do you mean?" I open my eyes, looking directly into his as he continues to tend the cut. 
"You seem to be doing pretty good given the circumstances. Calmer than I would have been." I shrug at his comment. 
"Well, what can you do? I can't be moping around all day long." I say that but I know that's exactly what I've been doing when he wasn't here. Moping around, feeling sorry for myself. 
"You could tell someone." His voice is short and stern. 
"Easier said than done." 
"I know." I'm almost annoyed at this point but watching him as he concentrates on laying down a band aid, I find myself being more nervous than anything. We are so close in this small bathroom that our bodies are practically touching. His tall stature towering over me. Once he was done, I'm sure he could also feel how awkward it was being so close.  His eyes look between us, he tries to lean back to give some room. 

"I brought you some snacks as well, it isn't much but-" Just then we hear a knock at the bedroom door. In a panic I reach behind Xavier and pull the bathroom door shut and lock it. 
"Shh." I whisper now practically on his chest. I'm so close I can hear his heart racing. Given the situation and the fact, we could be caught I shared the feeling. The bedroom door opens and footsteps walk around before stopping at the bathroom. 
"Zoe, are you in there?" Dereks voices rings out low, I shiver against Xavier. Shit shit shit, I'm so dead, literally he will kill me if he knows Xaviers in here. I pull together all my courage still on Xavier's chest. "Yes sir." I say. 
"Everything alright?" The doorknob slightly turns. 
"Yeah, I'm okay. Just not feeling well." I look up at Xavier, his face is bright red. He must be pissed at the fact he's stuck in this bathroom with no escape. 
"What is it? Is your head hurting you? Any nausea?" Derek is throwing out so many questions my mind starts to spin. "Why is the door locked? You should let me in Zoe." The doorknob continues to turn. I have to think of something to deter him. 
"I'm sorry, I'm on my period and it's really bad this time. Heavy flow and all." My face turns all different colors of red. Of course, I know I'm not actually on my period but I'm saying this in front of a boy I go to high school with and a dumb old man. But in the grand scheme of things, I think it worked. The doorknob had stop shaking and I could hear Derek take a step back. 
"Well, okay. Go to bed right after." His footsteps wonder away and the bedroom door shuts. 

I take a deep breath. "Thank God." My shoulders slumps in relief. I can still feel the hard body of Xavier and hear this thumping heart. I jump back slightly to make a little more room. Xavier has his face turned up away from me, his ears and face bright red. "I'm sorry, I didn't know he'd come check up on me randomly." Xavier breaths out heavily as if he was holding his breath. 
"It's- It's fine." His hand slides through his hair. "Like I said, I packed you some snacks as well. You can just keep the bag and return it to me on Monday." 
"Snacks? Why snacks?" I tilt my head.
"Well, you seemed." He looks my up and down and I instantly feel self-conscious. "You seemed tired, I guess I choked that up to maybe you weren't eating much. If you don't want them then-" I grab the bag quickly "No, I do. I want them." My hold on the bag is almost possessive. Xavier chuckles slightly before nodding his head. He opens the bathroom door and heads towards the window. 

"Thank you, Xavier." I say as he folds his body onto my roof. 
"Yeah. Don't mention it." When on the roof he turns back to me "If he tries anything again Zoe, you should call the police." His eyebrows furrow at the seriousness in his voice. I just nod my head along knowing it isn't that easy. I watch as he makes his way back to his house and disappears. My hand travels and lightly touches the band aid on my head. It gives me a little comfort knowing someone came to help me. Somebody cared enough to take care of me, not even my own mother tried tending to my injuries after Derek. She's so scared of getting beat she just let me sit there bleeding in my room. I slide into my bed and snuggle with the blankets. My mind effortlessly goes back to Xaviers large chest and his heartbeat. My cheeks now rosy I can't help but feel a bit giddy. A boy was in my room for the first time, now not for the most romantic reason but for the first time my mind wasn't focusing on James. For once I felt seen and taken care of, even if Xavier seemed pissed about it at times. Maybe Xavier isn't that bad of a guy, even with his scars and scary demeanor he seemed gentle. He seemed like someone I could get along with.