"The Sketcher." (A Jacksepticeye Story.)

Truth Be Told

"Jacksepticeye; Fuckin you in the heart..always."
-Sean William McLoughlin

Chapter Thirty-Two

    Amber drove quietly down the road, watching the trees fly by. She constantly had to wipe away tears on her face. The radio was on but she couldn't listen to it. The heater was turned on full blast and she still seemed to be freezing. Her fingers were wrapped around the steering wheel tightly, her eyes searching the road.
She shook her head, wondering how she got in this position. She could be at home right now, reading a book, drawing, being the loner she was. She could've just ignored Jack and kept living her life.
That would've meant she would have never met Jack. Amber knew that if she could re-do that moment,  she wouldn't change a thing.
Twenty minutes of driving passed and she felt the dread in the pit of her stomach. She sighed, getting close to the gas station. Her hands were shaking and she had to tighten her grip to make sure she didn't run off the road.
She envied the carefree people laughing and walking on the sidewalk. They were happy, they didn't have a care in the world.
They weren't driving to a gas station to meet up with the guy who beat the shit out of you for dating their crush. What a world Amber lived in. She knew she should've woken up Jack and told him what had happened.
   Still, she couldn't look past the fact that Luke had put her in the hospital. He could kill her if she wanted to. Now she knew he had connections and people who wouldn't have a problem finishing his job. She was scared and not wanting to cause more harm to anyone around her.

"Here's goes nothing." Amber whispered, rolling into the station's parking lot.

   She took a deep breath, swallowing her tears and stepping outside the car. She looked up when she heard a deep rumble in the sky.
Her hands shook as she shoved them deep into her pockets. The sky rolled with gray and ominous clouds. The wind picked up a bit, blowing her hair around her face gently. She could hardly see besides the gas station dim lights.
   She walked past the store, past the gas pumps, and towards the alley next to it. Of course it had to be in an alley. She clenched her fists, taking a step into it.
She gasped when she heard someone clear their throat. There were only one or two cars in the parking lot, the sight of other people inside the store bringing relief to Amber. She looked around until she saw one of the football players.
He was standing against the wall of the building, hidden by the shadows. Amber squinted her eyes as she saw him motion for her to follow deeper into the alley. Her stomach flipped as she obliged and slowly walked over to him.
He waited until Amber was next to him to continue towards the back of the building. Her hair rose as the shadows covered her. She wanted to turn around and run. She knew better, she knew she was already outnumbered.

"I'm surprised you came. I would've thought you to hide in your house with your little boyfriend protecting you." The football player sneered.

Amber gritted her teeth and glared at him, earning a smirk from the boy.

"I'm tougher than you think." She replied back, venom in her words.

   The guy scoffed and shook his head, pulling out his phone. He chatted with Luke for a couple minutes before Amber heard tires squeal against gravel.
The guy chuckled and grabbed her elbow. She tried to tug away but he held firm and tight. He rooted her to her spot and held her there.

"Do you know how long it took to get this little plan together? Do you know how much you ruined his life? You should be disgusted with yourself." He said into her ear, making her turn her head in the other direction.

   Headlights washed over the two as a truck pulled into the spot next to them. The lights turned off and a figure climbed out of the passenger seat.

"Ah, Dan! Nice to see you." Luke's voice called out.

   His friend, Dan, walked over to him and hugged. They did a handshake and clapped each other on the back before turning towards Amber. She stood her ground though, clenching her fists and glaring at the two. Luke chuckled, stepping into the full light casted by a street lamp.
   His hair was a bit longer in the months that he was gone. It was now below his ears in a tousled blonde mess. She noticed he still had his black eye, but this one looked worse. Luke noticed her stare and pointed to it.

"Oh this? This is just a welcoming present I got from a few guys at the prison. Nothing big."

   Luke stared into her eyes and smiled, but it wasn't a friendly smile. His friend chuckled and walked over to Amber.
She took a step back, but he circled his grip around her wrist. She didn't try to fight, it was one against two. Luke walked around them, like an animal circling its prey.

"Now, I know you must be scared. Hell, I can even see you shaking. I just wanted to meet to see how Jack was doing. I know he doesn't want me. He made sure to make that very clear. He decided to go for someone like..you."

   He rushed to her, gripping her chin and forcing her to look at him. He had his teeth barred at her.

"Why does he like you? Why does he decide he can hurt me, huh? How can..." He trailed off, taking a deep breath.

   He loosened his grip, leaving nail marks in Amber's skin. Her bottom lip quivered in fear as she looked him in the eyes. He breathed deeply, his friend looking at him in concern. Amber refused to say anything.
   She felt a few raindrops dripping down her skin, causing shivers to go down her spine. Luke calmed himself before pulling Amber close. He studied her face, making Amber's skin crawl.

"Not going to say anything? Nothing at all? You have to have something to say to me." Luke asked, his voice shaky.

   Amber thought for a moment, and she knew anything she said would not end well. She shook her head slowly, staring at the ground. Luke sighed in frustration, running a hand through his hair.

"Okay..then at least tell me how Jack is."

"He's scared, Luke..he's scared of you. He's scared of your friends who cause him hell at school. He says the next time he sees you, he might just kill you. So Jack is not okay, Luke. All because of you." Amber spit out at Jack, clenching her teeth.

Luke shook his head and backed away, sneering.

"Don't lie to me..."

"Are you even listening to yourself? Are you even looking at where we are right now? You put me in the hospital, Luke. You broke my ribs, my nose...shit. I'm not lying to you. You know what? Go to hell, Luke."

   Amber glared at Luke, her anger making her blood boil. Luke grabbed her by the neck and slammed her against the wall. Pain bloomed on the back of her head as she let out a groan. The rain started coming down harder, soaking all three of them to the bone.
   Amber gasped for breath as her nails scratched at his hand. He squeezed harder, his face inches from hers. His friend watched with a slight fear in his eyes from his suddenly aggressive friend. Luke watched Amber struggle under his grip.

"I could easily kill you, Amber. Right now. I could watch the breath leave your lungs, the light fade from your eyes. I'd get away with it as well. No one knows you're here, no one knows I'm gone. So, tell me Amber, do you really think it's a good idea to get me angry?"

Amber tried to speak, but her vocal cords were strangled. Luke watched her squirm for just a few more seconds before letting her drop to the ground.

"That's what I thought. I'm going to be keeping tabs on you, Amber. Mark my words, don't ever think you can choose what I can and cannot do."

   He spit on the ground, walking back to the truck. His friend hesitated for a moment before briskly following Luke. The headlights turned on, blinding Amber for a moment before they backed up and left the gas station. They left her there in the mud and rain.
She coughed, the sudden urge to puke too strong as she hunched her back and emptied her stomach. She breathed deeply, feeling her throat burning.
   She managed to pull herself to her feet and stumble her way out of the alley. She quickly climbed into her car and slammed the door. Her clothes were dripping wet, ruined with mud and cold.
She looked in the rearview mirror, noticing the red mark forming around her neck. She sighed, laying her head down on the steering wheel. When she was able to regain her breath, she looked out into the rain.

Enough was enough..she was going to tell Jack..