Holding On

Chapter Nineteen

I blinked once, then twice before my eyes adjusted to the light in the room. I looked around. The walls were white, so were the bed sheets. I was hooked up to a machine. Then realization hit me, I was in a hospital. I groaned at the thought. Two people ran to my side. I looked at them, I identified them as Jake and Joey. I tried to sit up, but it hurt like hell. "No, don't get up. Just lay down, and rest," Joey said. They brought a tray over, and literally fed me the food. I mumbled a thank you. "Did you guys bring my phone??" I asked, Joey nodded his head, and handed me my phone.

I was going to check if I had any text messages, but the doctor walked in. When she saw me already awake, she smiled warmly, "I'm glad to see you awake, Rose. These two kind gentlemen drove you here. Your condition wasn't too serious. You are allowed to check out later today." I smiled, and nodded. When she finished informing us, she left. Jake left shortly after the doctor. He said he was going to go to school, and tell the principal why we are not there. So it was just Joey and I.

"Can you lay down beside me, Joey??" He looked shocked at my question, but agreed. I made space for him on the small twin sized bed. Joey and I cuddled close to each other. He was holding me in his arms, "Rose??" I didn't look at him, and just said, "mhm??" He made me look at him, "will you go on a date with me this Friday??" I grinned, and nodded furiously. He smiled in return, "Great, does 7 p.m. sound good??" I responded, "yes, definitely." He kissed my cheek, "I love you, Rose."

"I love you too, Joey." We stayed quiet for a little while. We both drifted into a nap. After what felt like a couple hours, I was being shook awake. I opened my eyes, it was my foster parents. Joey was no longer laying down beside me. I smiled at them, "hello." They looked at my bluish-purplish bruises which covered practically my whole body. My foster father spoke up first, "are you okay?? Who had done this to our sweet little girl?? You don't have to go to school for the rest of the week." I shook my head, "no, it's fine daddy. I can't afford to miss school." He gave me a worried look, but just agreed. My mom looked like she was on the verge of crying. "Baby, are you sure you're okay??" She started crying, and hugged me. I rubbed her back until her sobbing turned into small sniffles. She pulled away, and smiled softly. "Thank you my baby Rose." I returned her smile with a genuine one, "anything for you, mommy. You guys should head back to work." They nodded, and left after they both kissed my forehead.

Joey came back with food. Yay, Joey. He is such a clever boyfriend. He placed a box in front of me, "potato wedges for the one and only Rose." I smiled, and clapped, "yay." He smiled, "they're all yours, I ate before I came here so I can give you and your parents some alone time." I looked around, "where's Jake??" He looked confused, but then he processed my question, "oh, he decided to stay at school. He should be here soon to pick us up." I nodded, and began to eat. I opened one of those little bags of ketchup, and poured it on the lid of the box.

When I finished the potato wedges, there was still some ketchup left over. So I wiped off some of it, and put it on Joey's nose. He had zoned out, so I thought it would be funny. He blinked a couple of times then he realized what just happened. I burst out laughing. He growled at me playfully. I grabbed a napkin, and wiped it off. We stayed in that position, just staring into each other's eyes. He started to lean in closer, and closer. Our lips almost met, but the door opened, and we quickly backed away from each other. In the process of backing away, Joey fell off the bed. Which caused all three of us to burst out laughing. The person that came turned out to be Jake.

"How the heck did you manage to do that??" Jake asked Joey as he wiped away his tears of joy. Joey smirked, "I attacked the floor, you see." I shook my head, "just keep telling yourself that as long as it gets you out of bed in the morning." Jake started laughing I think. He was hitting his thighs, and was laughing. But surprisingly he didn't make a noise. At the end of this, he let out a loud screech. That made Joey and I break into another fit of laughter.

***

Jake drove me home, we said our goodbyes. Now I was in my room, bored might I add. I needed to get some rest for school tomorrow. Hoping my parents are home by now, I went downstairs. They weren't here yet. There was a noise in the kitchen. I froze, is it a burglar?? I grabbed a bat that was leaning against the wall. Every time I took a step towards the kitchen, I would raise the bat higher, ready to hit who ever attacks me. Just then, someone came out of the kitchen. I screwed my eyes shut, and swung the bat, it hit something solid. A huge groan came out from the person, and he/she fell to the ground. I opened my eyes. "Holy shit. Sam I am so sorry. I didn't know it was you. I thought it was a burglar." He put his thumbs up, "I'm good, but next time look before you hit. Okay??" I nodded, and helped him up. Thank god, he only took a blow to the stomach. He has abs so they might've helped keep him alive. I went to the kitchen, and got him an ice pack. He was sitting on the couch so I went, and sat beside him.

He lifted up his shirt just enough to show where I had hit him. I placed the ice pack on his abs. Sam didn't ask anything about my bruises. I just thought he wasn't too concerned. It didn't seem like mom and dad were coming home today. Some days they had to stay overnight for work. Sam seemed satisfied with his care. I went back upstairs to my room. If I ran up and down the stairs each day, I wonder how many pounds I'll lose.

I plopped onto my bed. So soft and cozy. As soon as I lied down, my phone buzzed. Dang it. Why do you always do this to me?? I stayed there for a minute or so. Then I forced myself up. There we go, I'm making progress. I picked up my phone. I have four messages. The first two were from Mason, they were the most recent ones. The last two are from Jasmine. Shit, I'm in deep shit. She is so going to kill me. I decided to check Mason's messages first. They were the safer ones.

Mason: Hey, princess. I'm super duper sorry about yesterday. I swear I can explain myself. Just give me a chance to explain. You don't have to forgive me, but at least let me explain why I'm doing these horrible things. I would do it on here, but it doesn't seem right. I need to do it in person. That way if you want to slap me, you can. I won't be hurting you anymore, I've done enough.

Mason: If this makes you feel secure, you pick the place where we talk. It can be a public place. If you want me to stand two meters away from you, I will.

I thought really hard to myself. Should I, or should I not?? He seems like he has a good explanation. He also said I could pick the place, and that he would stand two meters away from me. He also said he wouldn't hurt me again. Should I believe him though?? He already beat me up twice. I typed in a short answer.

Me: Meet me in front of the cafeteria doors at lunch tomorrow.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Hope I didn't make a mistake in trusting him. I think I made the right choice. I need to hear his side of the story before getting ahead of myself. When Mason and I hung out, he seemed really different. But when Sam came along he changed. Maybe this has to do with Sam. Maybe Sam is holding something against Mason. I have to listen to Mason's side of the story. At least I'd be getting answers as to why he has been doing these horrid things. Right?? I sighed, now I have to read Jasmine's text messages.

Jasmine: Where the hell is my money?! So you are willing to pay for the consequences. Well, that's great. We are not going to play nice anymore.

Jasmine: You better take care of those hot friends of yours. You never know what can happen. You have turned the nice girl into the kill machine. Watch your back, little sister.

Oh my god, how could I have forgotten?! Well, come on, let's face it. I would have never given her the money. I don't think my real parents, or Jasmine are going to take this very well. I can handle them, but if they lay a single hand on Joey or Jake I'm going to murder them myself. They can hurt me, and torture me as much as they like. But if they touch my friends, that is a big no no. Nobody, and I mean nobody can pick on my friends except me. If I hear anything has happened to them because of that little witch, I am not going to take it very lightly.