"Danielle!" I ran across the school yard towards the uncomprehending brunette. "Danielle I need to speak with you!"
"I thought we were.. You know?" she threw a glance at her patiently waiting friends.
"I know, but it's urgent" I looked her right in the eye. The other girls sent me looks and started whispering to each other. I let out a raspy groan and tugged her away from her oh so affable friends.
"Okay, this is going to sound sort of crazy, but you have to believe me" I paused and took a deep breath. "I need you to stay the hell away from Drake. And by that I mean, never ever let him come near you again! I can't tell you why, as that would put my own and your life on risk.. I think. I'm not taking any chances. But trust me on this. He's not who you think he is" that was one of the strangest things I had ever said. Definitely beat the record this time.
Dani looked at me with a blank expression. I knew that this would be difficult for her to understand. I carefully tugged my jacket down a little, revealing my uncovered shoulders. Scratches from five determined fingers were shown, making her gasp a little.
"He did that to you? How?" she used one of her fingers to stroke the small scars warily.
"I can't say, but just keep a distance, for your own good?" I hurriedly positioned the jacket back over my shoulder and took a overview of my surroundings. No Drake. Yet..
"It's a miracle I'm alive" I whispered, almost inaudible, and left her to her girlfriends again.
I jogged over to the building I was having my next class in, periodically looking over my shoulder. I grew more and more anxious for every second that went by. I was having math, without Dani this time. She switched to an easier math class, as she couldn't keep up with the rest of us. There, her dream of becoming a veterinarian came to nothing.
I took a seat in the back by myself, and started pulling my math books out of my backpack. Luckily for me, Drake wasn't in this class either. But then it struck me. Danielle had switched to the same class as him. What if she exposed herself by accident? What is she started asking questions? Or confronted him somehow. I shook it off, and tried not to think of all the possibilities of my life being ruined.
My grades were falling down.. I had so much to deal with, and too much to think about. And it seemed to only get worse. I was scared too. All the time in fact. I never felt safe. This is it, I thought to myself. This. Is. It. I'm done. Drake literally wrecked me. I can't go on like this. Those who live under a lot of stress don't live long they say. Fuck.
All the students lifted their heads. Someone was causing a scene out in the hallway. Making a great deal of noise. The teacher let out a tatty huff.
"What can one do for some peace and quiet?" he groaned and slowly marched over to the door. But before he could open it and tell who ever was out there to keep quiet, the door struck up with a loud slam. And in came a frustrated, hot-headed and panting male.
"Look who bothered to show up for a change" the teacher glared at the boy.
He ran his fingers through his messed up hair. Messy light-brown hair. Green eyes scanned the class room, stopping as they fell on me. He tilted his head with a relieved sigh and swaggered over in my direction.
"Excuse me everyone, but I'm going to have to obtain miss Penny" he grabbed my upper arm and jerked me out of the chair, and shortly after, out of the class room.
"I will not let you do this Lucas" the teacher put a foot in the doorway, before the door was closed shut.
"Yes you will" he pushed me all the way out and turned to the teacher. I didn't get a good view of their faces, but I could sense some mumbling and soon I was left alone with Luke.
"What are you doing here?" my voice cracked. He looked displeased.
"Why Penny? Why do you have to be so headstrong? Why do you have to be.. You? Why can't I just forget you? And you me? Why won't you just move on?" he asked with a frown, taking a step closer to me. I didn't back away.
"I will, when you prove to me that none of it was real" I took another step closer to him.
"It wasn't" he spoke in a low indistinct manner, almost to an unintelligible extent. But not to me.
"Then why is it that I don't believe you?" I asked with desperation in my voice. He lifted his previously clenched fist to my face. Carefully touching my skin with his fingertips.
"Penelope. We can't do this. I was a fool to believe that I could keep this going" he placed his palm against my warm cheek, fingers gently stroking my hairline. "Play this game. Over and over again. Again and again and again. It could never last Penny. But you don't understand. I mean, how could you? You're just a simple, little, ignorant girl. I just didn't want to make the same mistake twice" he brought my cheek closer, unto the moment my face was pressed against his chest.
"What do you mean?".
"You're audacious, you know that? You're foolish. Contacting Sebastian was a mistake. But It's not your false that you're in this mess" I wriggled out of his grasp.
"What mistake Luke? I need to know.. Why is it so dangerous for me to be with you?" I increased the volume of my voice.
"Why do you even want me? I was an asshole to you, but you still let me near you? I hurt you, but you still let me touch you? I left you, but you still want me back? I'll make sure Drake and Sebastian leave you alone, and then I'll be gone. It's better for both of us. You don't need this on your shoulders" he said and tensed his jaw.
"You got me. Isn't that what you wanted? That I would fall for you? And know you give me this crap about how we can't be together? Why did you flirt with me in the first place?!".
"Yes. I played you Penny. I was gonna break your heart, quite literally. But you're different. You're not like the other girls. Whether I like it or not, you got me falling for you too" he was clearly having a hard time confessing it. "And it's not the first time, it has happened before. I made a horrible mistake, and I don't want to do it again. With you..".
"I'm not afraid Luke. Why not give it a chance? I can handle whatever you throw at me".
He grabbed my hand in his and squeezed it. "I'm not so sure you will.. She didn't.. And know she's at the bottom of a lake..".
"But I'm not her Luke, I.. Wait.. What did you just say?" I got a weird pit in my stomach, causing me to back up a little.
"If I tell you the truth.. Will you promise not to.." he paused and gulped. "Don't be scared Penny" he looked at me with his puppy eyes.
"I'm not. I just don't know what to believe.. What happened to this.. Girl? Is that it? You lost her? And you're afraid it'll happen again?".
"No. Or yes.. I lost her. And it's my fault" he got a hold of my arm and tugged me with him. "I know a place safe. We can talk there".
"Safe? The school's not safe enough for you?" he didn't answer, he just walked slowly but with sudden movements, kind of furtively down the hallway.
He took me out of the building, and into the school yard. Out of the school yard, and to the outskirts of the school. And he kept dragging me with him, not saying a word. Until we reached the forest. He took me into the forest. In between the dense threes. Then he stopped.
"Determined and stubborn isn't a good mixture. But you possess both qualities. I wish I could tell you everything, but you wouldn't understand. It's better if you don't know".
"I'm willing to take a risk" I tread over to him, and positioned my hands on his shoulder, putting a little pressure on them. "Trust me" I whispered as I stood on tiptoe, my hands slowly gliding around his neck. "Don't leave me again" my lips were inches from his.
"Remember.. You asked for it" he muttered before pushing me against a three in a sudden quick movement, causing my heart rate to speed up. "I'll keep you safe" that was the last thing he said before he pressed his lips firmly to mine and once again, I was lost in his touch.
