Trouble in Paradise

Chapter 11

Its Monday morning and Sam obviously wasnt going to be driving me to school today. So i texted him asking if he wanted me to pick him up. He hasnt answered and its been about twenty minutes.

Last night Sam never texted me either. I even tried texting and calling him, but he didnt answer. Something is wrong. I know it.

I decide to go to school anyway, just to see if he turns up. If he doesnt come today, then im getting Jackie and we are going over to his house right after school.

Im sitting in second period, my eyes glued to the door, waiting to see Sams smiling face walk through the door any minute now.

Im actually surprised when i see him come through the door. His head is down, his gaze focused on the floor. I honestly didnt expect him to be here today. Why hasnt he answered any of my calls or texts?

Im distracted when Sam looks up, making eye contact with me. I gasp when i see that Sams entire left cheek is black and blue, and there is a small but noticeable cut on his lower lip.

Both Jackie and i follow Sam with our eyes as he makes his way to his seat behind us. We turn to face him

"What?" he says.

"Dont you 'what?' us. What the hell happened to your face?" she asked, utterly concerned for her best friend.

"I fell. Im fine," they were both just looking at eachother.

Jackie grabs Sams face gently and looks him in the eye, "Listen to me, Sami. You are not alright. Now you are going to tell me what happened to your goddamn face, or i am going straight to your house and ask you dad myself. Ya hear me? Do you understand?" Sam nods his head and Jackie lets go but doesnt break eye contact. "Sami, was your dad the one who bruised your face?"

Sam stared at Jackie for a long time before he almost silently muttered 'yes'.

"Sam, seriously youve gotta tell somebody. Have your mom do something. Please."

"I cant Jackie," Sam looks her right in the eye.

"I know you dont want to Sami, but you can. Seriously, what if it gets too out of control and he doesnt back off of you? Huh? What will you do then? Just sit there and let him beat the shit out of you?"

"Jackie, just stop worrying about me so much. I can take care of myself," he furrowed his brows.

"Are you shitting with me right now, Sami?" Jackie shouted. The teacher was still in the hallway and didnt hear her. "How am i suppose to ignore it when you show up to school with cuts and bruises all over your face? Seriously. Tell me, how am i suppose to just sit back and ignore it?"

Sam opened his mouth to say something, but Jackie turned around to face the front. She wasnt going to let Sam stick up for himself.

"And until you actually let me help you, i dont want to see your face," Jackie says.

"Jackie, come o-"

"I mean it Sami, dont talk to me"

"Fine," Sam said. They were both acting like little kids right now.

Miss Gonzales walks into the classrom then and begins class. She teaches us a new lesson and then leaves us with our homework assignment to work on for the remainder of class.

On her way walking back to her desk,
Miss Gonzales stops beside Sams desk and bends down so that she was at eye level with him. I can just barely hear what she was saying but i think i heard her saying that if he needed to talk, she was available after class.

Not long after we began homework, i heard Sams voice.

"Jackie," he whispered, "Jack. Jacklyn. Jack. Jackie. Ja-"

"What?"

Sam pauses by her stern tone, "Can you help me?"

She sighs and rolls her eyes, but turns around to help him anyway.

At the end of class, Sam shoots out of his seat and bolts out the door. He probably wants to avoid another argument with Jackie, but we all know that wont happen.

"So what was all that about?" i ask Jackie and eye her quizically.

"What? You mean with Sami?" i nod.

"You were there werent you?"

"Yeah, but why did you get so upset with him?"

Jackie stops walking and turns to face me, "His dad abuses him and neither him or his mom will do anything about it. Doesnt that piss you off and want to help him?" she says, then continues walking to her locker.