Holding On

Chapter Six

          Charlie and I were eating side by side. I heard Sam say, "I'm waiting for you guys in the car, so hurry up!!" Then the front door opened and closed. Charlie and I don't talk much. So it was pretty awkward when Sam left. I finished my breakfast, then picked up my bag and walked outside the house with Charlie close behind. Charlie locked the door. I sat in the back seat this time, and Charlie sat in the passenger seat.

          The ride to school was pretty quiet, but it didn't matter. I was actually thankful for the peaceful silence. I wasn't exactly in the mood to talk, I felt embarrassed. I mean I should feel embarrassed, my brother and his cousin just dumped a whole bucket of water all over me. I'll find a way to get back at them, I know I will.

          While I was thinking, I hadn't noticed that we pulled up to the school. Today was definitely not my day. I have a bad feeling about today, well the school part anyway. I stepped out of my brother's car, I was going to face today with my strength (mental strength, definitely not physical. If it was physical, lets just pray it's only, hmmm, all my bones and we'll be perfectly fine). I head toward the school with all my "strength," I was happy, my smile almost reached my cheek. But as soon as I stepped into the school, I was shoved by a very powerful force that automatically knocked me down on my ass causing my "soon to be perfect grin" to fade away. Everyone around me was laughing, and some were showing others something on their phone. I felt my eyes turn glassy, my tears threatening to tumble down my cheeks.

          I got up from the ground and sprinted to the nearest girls washroom. I got into a stall, locking it as I let my bag slump down to the floor. I couldn't hold back my tears anymore. They just flowed down my cheeks none stop. I heard a couple girls wearing high heels come in the washroom. How did I know they are wearing high heels?? Well, simple, their shoes go like this, "click-click, click-click." They sound like a hoard coming out to get you. I held in my sobs, but I let the tears keep flowing.

          One of the girls said, " hey, Bella?!" Another one of 'em spoke up, who I'm guessing is Bella, " don't yell, Madison!! I'm literally right in front of you." She said in a whisper-yell. I was about to gasp, but I quickly covered my mouth not letting the sound come out. I knew that voice, it was the girl that was at my locker!!

          Madison whispered, " can you actually believe it?? Her own brother started this whole mess." Bella replied, "you idiot! He isn't her brother, he is her foster brother. He has a reputation to protect. He isn't going to let a runt like Rose to get in the way of that."

          I heard the door opening and closing. They left. What a relief. I took in a big breath, then let it out. I unlocked the stall, and turned on one of the sinks, washing my face. I look at myself in the mirror, I look much better now.  I proceed to going to my locker after I finished using the facilities. Jake was already at his locker –right beside mine. Great, perfect (Note the sarcasm). I walked up, and tried my best to hide my puffy eyes with a smile.

          "Hello, Jake." He looked up and frowned when he saw me. Oh no, he's probably protecting his reputation as well. He took a couple steps towards me, but I stood my ground. I was ready for the humiliation he was about to throw at me. Jake did something totally unexpected, he grabbed my chin lightly and made me look up at him. His hazel eyes meeting my puffy brown eyes (And NO, he did NOT kiss me). He simply said, " why are your eyes so puffy??" I tried to look down, but he wouldn't let me and whispered softly, " please tell me, Rose." My stomach mentally did a flip backwards (yeah, my body parts and I are very talented you see). I mumbled, "um, I accidentally sprayed chemicals in my eyes, and I had to rinse my eyes." Jake shook his head, " nope, I want the real answer, missy." Damnit, what the hell is wrong with me?? Classes didn't even start yet!!

          While I zoned out, Jake brought his lips to my ear, and whispered, " you were crying, don't try and lie to me. I only want to help you. I don't care about reputation." His breath against my ear sent shivers down my spine. Jake rubbed my back, and walked off to his first class. Leaving me speechless. I went to my first class, and people kept looking at me and laughing. Except for one boy, he was sitting at the desk that was in the right hand back corner. I was in the desk at the left hand back corner. I tried to get a clearer look, but it almost seemed impossible. My other classes were pretty much the same, but that one boy was in every single class I'm in. At lunch, nobody said anything to me, it's like all of a sudden I was wiped away from existence. I only seemed to happen when I was around Jake. But when he isn't there, the pushing, shoving, laughing resumed.

          I also figured out the boy in all my classes is Joey, Jake's younger brother. Joey is really quiet, the teachers don't even notice he was there. When school ended, I had made a choice, I was going to get answers from Sam.

          I ran outside the school building, remembering to take my belongings, before I got trampled in the stampede of bullying. I searched for my brother's car, but it wasn't there. What the... I kept searching the school parking lot area, but it was nowhere to be seen. A guy riding a motorcycle drove side-by-side with me, I tried to identify who this mystery guy is. But no luck, the helmet was tinted.

          He removed his helmet, revealing his brown shaggy hair. I quickly identified him as Jake. He said, " do you need a lift home??" I nod, and hop on his motorcycle, wrapping my arms around his body holding on tightly. The engine of the motorcycle roars to life, it starts to speed off the school property, whipping my hair around like a maniac.

          He drove me to the mansion I live at. I wasn't surprised that he knew where it is, basically everyone knows where the Jamesons live. I got off the motorcycle, wobbled a bit, and fell on the grass. I clenched some grass in my fists screaming out, "oh, yes!!! Land!! You have no idea how much I missed you." I started kissing the grass. Jake chuckled behind me.

          "Well, I should be heading home now. See ya later, cutie." He said, I wasn't going to let him leave. "No, stay for a bit. Come inside." I smile mischievously, which made him look frightened. Uh uh, frightened is not a good look for him. I grabbed his hand, and started pulling him towards the door.