Afraid • l.h

Chapter 36 • "I'm trying to protect you."

Tilly's POV

"Tilly." I hear my name being called by Luke.

"What?" I turn around and face him.

"I don't know why you're mad at-"

"You burst into the school demanding I go home." And not to mention the fact I just got told you're a man whore. "That's why I'm mad."

"I'm trying to protect you."

I bite my tongue not saying a word more and run into the girls bathroom. I wait there until I hear the bell for next period.

No sign of Luke and so I head towards my locker checking every direction. It was the first time I had used my locker because I used to think I didn't need to but now I think it will be very handy. I unlock the door and unload my bag of the books and things I don't yet need.

I spot Michael coming towards me and so I wait at my locker.

"Are you okay?" He asks sensing something was wrong.

"I need to talk to you about something but I need to know you won't say anything."

"Sure." He replies. "Lunch?"

"Yeah okay. Meet me um.. at the courts." I say.

My next lesson was art and that relaxed my a bit more. I was Luke free until English. Totally forgetting that we were doing partner work we don't say a word to each other. We don't even sit near each other. I keep myself busy but I can hear Luke being teased.

"Luke got rejected." A boy laughs.

"Did she not let you in her pants?" One of them says.

"Poor Luke." A girls voice says.

After that Luke stormed out and never came back. I met Michael at the courts and we sat down on a quiet bench near by.

"What did you want to talk about?" He ask.

"It's about Luke. His past."

"Oh um but that's in the past now his changed."

"But has he really? For good?" I ask.

"Well I'm not entirely sure because know one knows that but him."

"Okay." I say and start thinking about this in more depth.

"Roughly how many?"

"What?" Michael says.

"How many?" I push.

"Girls? I don't know uh-" he nervously says.

"Michael.."

"A lot." He replies.

"Oh my gosh. How much is that? Like 20+?" I question and Michael stays silent. "Well this is just great." I say.

"He was really messed up."

"I can see."

"We just don't want him like that again. I promise he has changed. He isn't the same guy anymore." Michael says but I'm not convinced and that's gonna take a lot. "I believe you're something different. Just be the one to fix him."

"I don't know whether I can." I say standing up. "I'm finding it hard already to put my trust into him."

"I know but he is trying."

"My trust is a very hard thing to gain but it's even harder to repair." I say.

"I gotta go." Michael says looking at his phone.