The Way You Move

Chapter 3

Sorry! Didn't mean to neglect this story! I just couldn't think of anything :(

Anyways, enjoy!

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Chapter 3

Noah’s POV

“What was that about?” Zach asked me.

I tore my eyes away from the door and glanced at him. “No idea.”

“Did you do something to her?”

“No.” I told him honestly.

“Dude, she looked upset. I’m going after her. ” Zach said and fled for the door.

Jessica’s POV

“Jess, wait up!”

I tried walking faster, but he was still able to catch up with me. Breathless, he joined beside me on the sidewalk. I bit my bottom lip nervously as he spoke. “What do you want, Zach?”

“Are you okay?” He asked me, throwing an arm around my shoulders.

I leaned into his comfort effortlessly. “I’m fine. Thanks.”

“Are you sure? Because I saw…”

“It’s just that dancing brought up some memories I wish to forget.” I lied smoothly.

That just made him squeeze me even tighter into him before he dropped his arm. “About your aunt?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry.” He muttered. “Maybe I shouldn’t have pushed you into doing it—“

“No! It’s okay. It really was fun.”

“Good.” He sighed out in relief. “So, you thinking about doing the play? Noah could really use you. He’s really into this play and since the teacher let him direct it, he really wants it to be great.”

“There’s a teacher for that class?” I wondered. Seeing how Noah was telling everyone what to do, it seemed that he was the teacher.

Zach laughed. “Duh. She was just absent today. She’s almost never here anyways.”

“Why’d she let him direct it? Has anyone else ever directed a play?”

He shook his head. “Nope. Noah got to do it since our parents own the school.”

“You’re parents what?”

“You didn’t know that?”

“No! How could I know that? I just started today.”

“Oh. Well, now you know.” He grinned.

I rolled my eyes playfully. “Are you guys rich or something?”

He shrugged. “You can say that.”

“Great. I’m stuck in a school with snobby rich guys.”

“Hey!”

I set a hand on my hip. “It’s true.”

“You think I’m snobby?” He pouted.

I laughed. “Well, you aren’t really. But it looks a bit like Noah is. He’s really harsh to the girls.”

“Really?” Zach raised a brow. “I’ve never seen him like that…”

“That’s weird.” I murmured. It really was. Noah was beyond rude to those girls earlier this morning. How could Zach not even notice that? Come to think of it, he wasn’t there to see the whole scene between Noah and the girls from earlier this morning. “Well, this is my stop.”

Zach looked over my house. “You really live here?”

I looked over at my small, one story home and glanced at him. “Yeah. What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing, just…” He stuffed his hands into his pockets. “It doesn’t suit you, you know?”

“And why not?”

He shrugged. “It just doesn’t.”

“You’re so weird, Zach.” I grinned at him and started for my front door. “See you tomorrow.”

“Wait!”

I turned around.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” He asked.

“Nope.” I smiled, but it was obviously forced. I’d never let anyone into my house, especially with my dad there. “Maybe some other time.”

He pouted. “Fine.”

“Sorry. Besides, I just met you.” I reminded him. “I don’t know if you’ll rape me or not.”

“I wouldn’t do that. What kind of guy do you take me for?”

“The kind of guy to rape me. I just said that.”

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his blond head. “Just get inside before I do rape you.”

“I’m going, I’m going. Jeesh.” I laughed and stepped onto my porch.

“Cya, Jess.”

“Bye, Zach.” I said and slipped into my house. I shut the door firmly, but softly. “Mom?”

I cautiously walked towards the kitchen and peeked in. No one was in there. Although, there was tea boiling on the stove.

I turned around and walked towards her bedroom. “Mom?” I called out again.

“Jessie?”

I sighed in relief at the sound of her voice and walked into her bedroom. When I saw her over there sitting on her bed, I ran over and threw my arms around her neck.

“How was your first day of school, baby?” She asked me, smiling.

“It was fine.” I said quickly. “Is dad home? Did anything happen—“

My mom grabbed my face in her hands and smiled softly at me. “He’s at work. Nothing to worry about.”

I leaned over and kissed her forehead before taking a seat beside her in her bed. “I can’t wait until I’m out of school. Then we’ll be able to get jobs and finally leave him.” I told her. “I hate having to live with him.”

“It’s okay, baby.” She reassured me and pulled me into her arms.

I leaned into her embrace, wrapping my short arms around her small waist. I couldn’t help, but think about why my dad still goes out and gets drunk all the time when he has such a pretty wife like my mom. She in her early forties, but she still doesn’t look a day over twenty five.

“No, it’s not.” I murmured. “He’ll just come home and hurt us like he always does.”

“But we get through it, right?”

I nodded hesitantly, remembering the bruises and wounds on my body and hers. We’ve been living like this for a couple of years. It’s actually amazing how we manage to stay alive each time. My dad’s abuse used to happen only once or twice a week, but lately it’s been almost every day. I hated it.

I shifted in my mother’s arms and shut my eyes. I wanted to tell the truth and say ‘barely’, but I didn’t want to kill the happy mood between us. We rarely have it anymore. “Yeah.”