The Bad Boy Neighbor

Chapter 14

I'm shocked and I don't know why. I shouldn't be shocked, he's my fri-acquaintance. Acquaintance. He only kisses her for a few seconds. But when he stops he looks at the girl for a moment, then looks at me with shocked eyes. It's like he's trying to believe that HE did it. Or he shouldn't have done it.

Maybe he regrets it.

I can't be mad because I'm not dating him or even like him... He's still staring at me, like he's waiting for my reaction. I just push my lips together and walk back to the fire.

I shouldn't be feeling betrayed. I shouldn't feel anything. But for some reason it makes me want to cry. I never cry. Nothing has made me want to cry in a while, that doesn't involve my family of coarse, but this I just can't push away.

Maybe I've bottled up too much to where I can't put anything else inside. I need to vent. Maybe I could trust one person... No you've already told Clara too much. You can't get hurt, hurt is weakness. Pain is strength. Strength is better than weakness.

Your weak you fall, your strong you stand tall.

I stand at the fire staring into the flames. A hand is laid on my shoulder and I jump.

"Oh sorry! Didn't mean to scare you." Nick says smiling.

"Your ok. I was just...thinking." I put on a fake smile, like I do everyday.

"Wanna get your mind of of things and come sit with me?" He asks. Should I obey Thomas? Or should I rebel against him?

"Ya sure." I smile. I just want to know him. He has been my crush for about 3 years now. We walk over to a log behind some trees, perfectly out of view  of the party. It's closer to the lake, where you walk five feet and your touching water. It's dark and I can nearly see him.

"So I know I don't know you that well, but that's why I want to get to know you now." He says.

"Ya, I'd like to know you too." I say awkwardly. He's making this weird...

"I know this is awkward so I'm just going to come out straight." He pauses, I feel a hand touch mine. He pulls me closer to him, so our sides touch. "I really like you Brooke. It just took me forever to notice."

I pause thinking of what Thomas said. Then again, this is Nick. The guy I've been pawning for forever.

"I like you too." I say without thinking. I look up to see a dark head figure moving toward me. Is he trying to kiss me? I put my hands up to stop his lips from coming in contact with mine.

"Um, sorry but I hardly know you and I don't think I'm ready for kissing." I say. There's a long moment before I feel a hand grab mine and twist it. Pain erupts from my wrist. I huff, trying not to say,"ow".

"You know I thought you'd be an easy target, knowing that you e had a thing for me for three freakin years. But I see your still a worthless little nerd who does nothing but be a stupid little nobody." He huffs with annoyance. "I knew you were a waist of my time." He twists my wrist a little harder. The he punches me in the face, causing me to fall to the ground. Then he walks away.

That's it. He pulled the final sting. I started crying. Silently, not wanting anyone to hear me. Why can two people have more control of me than anyone else. Are we programmed to hurt other people?

Blood. I can feel it gushing out of my nose. And pain is right next to it. I probably will have a bruise. I stayed there for what seems like hours until I heard a familiar voice.

"Brooke?" Thomas says. I hear footsteps approach me. I hold my breath. Trying to able my self to speak without my voice wavering.

"Ya." I say.