Always Out of Reach

Is it worth it?

How could he do that? How could he sit there, watching those video,  staring at those picture and not think "maybe this is wrong". I'd been alone with him, my dad knew, I was in danger. When I think about what he could have done to me.......it makes me sick.

Why him though? He was the nice one, the understanding one. But, like all good things in my life, they never last. Maybe that's why I don't want to let Daniel in: because I know, eventually, he will let me down.

"Morning Joey!" My mum was trying way to hard, trying to pretend nothing was wrong.

I didn't reply. I knew it was rude but I didn't have the energy.

"You okay?" My mum sounded concerned.

"Ye. My step-brothers just been arrested and my dad put me in danger. I just found out my dad doesn't care about my safety and one of the only people I could trust was a liar so yeah...never better." I said sarcastically.

"Joey, this has got to stop." My mum said seriously.

"What? What has "got to stop"?" I asked.

"You, always being angry or upset or, even worse, not showing any emotion at all." She genuinely sounded concerned  now.

"I'm fine mum, well, at least I will be." I tried to smile. And, with that,  I went to school.

"Hey Joey." I froze at the sound of Daniel's voice. I knew I shouldn't talk to him....but, even the sound of his voice made me smile. So I turned around.

"Hey." I said, shyly.

"You ok?" He saw my worn out appearence and was instantly concerned. Why did he care so much?

"I-" I was about to reply when we were suddenly interrupted.

"Yo, Daniel." Hunter came over and flung his arm on Daniel's shoulder. "Whassup?" He said in his "not-really-bothered" voice.

"Nothing, just talking to Joey." Daniel looked very awkward.

"What you talking to him for?" Hunter glared at me. I looked down.

"Why not?" Daniel replied, his confidence coming back again.

"Urgh....because it's Joey," Hunter said, as if that was a reason.

"I-i'll go...." I said quietly, not wanting to make this any more awkward.
I didn't wait for a response, I just walked away.

"Now look what you've done." I heard daniel say behind me.

"Why do you care?"

"Joey wait." Daniel ignored Hunter and ran after me. I sped up...but it was no use, he was miles faster than me.

"Joey, I'm sorry." I felt his hand on my shoulder. He gently turned my around. "What wrong?" I hadn't realised I was crying...

"N-nothing." I said quickly wiping away my tears.

"Well....there's clearly something wrong." He stare at me, with  the pity that made me feel so weak. Even weaker than I already felt.

"Stop looking at me like I'm a lost puppy." I said

"Well.... puppies are cute, so why not look at you like a puppy?" He grinned

I blushed (Yes,  again) and managed half a smile.

"You don't have to tell me what's wrong, it's ok." He said eventually. I was relieved. I didn't want to tell him. He'd think it was stupid or tell me to toughen up like everybody else did.

"You want to get lunch?" He asked.

I thought. Yes, I definitely did! But, he'd be with his friends so, instead, I said. "I'm alright, but thanks for the offer."

I watched him walk away. It was getting harder to ignore him.

Authors note:

Let me know what you think

Thanks for reading
Erin xx