Hated, Dated, Fated

Chapter 14 - Dated

-ALEXA POV-

I stiffened.

He what?

“It’s true, I do love you, so please, don’t do this to me,” Caleb murmured, sensing that I was shocked by his revelation.

“You can’t love me,” I argued feebly, shaking my head in protest.

“Why not? You’re smart, witty, cute, sarcastic and so damn beautiful. Who wouldn’t love you?” Caleb said, tightening his grip around my waist.

“Why should you? I’m mean, ostracized, plain, suicidal, depressed, crazy –” I rambled, but was abruptly cut off.

Caleb had turned me and kissed me, effectively shutting me up.

“You are none of those. Believe me, please,” he said, once we parted for air.

I shook my head but kept quiet.

“No. I won’t let you live in fear any longer. We’re fixing this, now,” Caleb said, pulling me to my feet.

“No.”

Caleb looked at me, running his hands through his hair in frustration.

“Why? Why won’t you let me help you? Why are you still protecting them? What hold do they have over you? They’re nothing but bullies princess, why are you so afraid of them?”

“Because they used to be my friends! Because they know all my secrets! Secrets that you don’t know, and would never even be able to begin to comprehend, Caleb! No one but them! Not even Riley!” I yelled back, tears streaming down my face.

Riley had disappeared sometime ago and it was just left with the two of us. I had never told anyone about why I was so afraid of offending Samantha's clique, and I wasn’t about to start now.

“Try me,” he said, concern and love brimming from his eyes.

“Alex had gotten me pregnant,” I whispered.

“WHAT?!” Caleb’s reaction was explosive, and I cringed, preparing for the long string of expletives to spill from his mouth before he broke it off with me, leaving me in a worse place than before.

But his next sentence completely floored me.

 “He got you pregnant and then went to cheat on you? What kind of sick, irresponsible bastard is he? No wonder you spiralled,” he mumbled to himself, then frowned.

“What about the…?”

“Baby?” I answered, my hand drifting to my stomach. “Died when I attempted suicide,” I replied, monotonously, quashing the feeling of guilt that bubbled within me.

“Alexa Ryans you are not responsible for that baby’s death okay? If you want to blame anyone, blame the Barbie clique. It’s them, not you, understand? Stay with me baby, we’re going to fix this, I swear,” Caleb said, pulling me up with his sheer strength.

“I’m not going back out,” I said, digging my heels into the plush carpeting.

“Don’t make me carry you down,” Caleb threatened, a wicked gleam in his eyes.

I threw up my hands and walked, feeling slightly better when Caleb’s arm curled around my waist.

Caleb led me downstairs, clearing a path for us to walk. Suddenly, he hopped onto a table, and signalled for the music to be cut off.

I shrank back, not wanting to stay for what I knew was going to happen next, but I was stopped by Riley and Josh, who each wrapped a hand around my arm, locking me in place. I stared in horror as Caleb started speaking.

“I know you saw what happened earlier. My girlfriend, Alexa, was humiliated in front of our entire senior class. Do I agree with it? Hell no. More than half of you have no idea what it means to be humiliated. So now I’ll prove a point. Melissa, you faked sleeping with me so you could become popular and s0 other guys would chase you. Joe, you liked Alice but because she’s popular and you’re not, you decide to get off on her pictures. And of course, Samantha, Jessica and Kristy. The Barbie clique, as I personally like to call them. You throw yourselves at me, thinking that if you get into my pants you’re secured for life and can torment anyone you like. Don’t think I don’t know about the bleached hair that you dye every two months so your dark roots don’t show, or that you, Samantha, lie about the trips you parents bring you. Your parent’s don’t give a fuck about you. They’re too busy cooing over your brother. Kristy, your tan you love so much is as fake as your C cups. And Jessica, lucky for you, you’re au natural, but you sleep with half the school to get attention and people to follow you. Ironic huh? That you pathetic lot still have the guts to humiliate an innocent girl, just because she got the attention of Alexander Quentin and myself. She’s more genuine than the three of you put together and the reason you shoot her down is because you know if you don’t, she’ll outshine you in the blink of an eye. Let me make it clear, once and for all, if I hear that any of you so much as try and humiliate myself, my girlfriend, or any of my friends, any reputation you might dream of having will be dragged so deep in mud you’ll be a social pariah for life,” Caleb’s voice rang with finality as he hopped off the table and led me out the door.

I sneaked a glance back and saw that everyone in that party was silent, and the Barbies were standing stock still, shock and disbelief written all over their faces.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I mumbled, still reeling with shock that Caleb knew so much about them.

“I did actually, and there’s a reason behind it. But not tonight. Tonight’s all about you,” Caleb said once we got into the car, with Riley in the passenger seat and Josh driving.

“I’m sorry if I scared you. They just really needed to be put in their place. Please say you’ll forgive me,” Caleb murmured, burying his face into my hair.

“Why would I need to forgive you? Yeah you scared me with that freaky attitude and cruel treatment, but you did it for me, even though I didn’t want you to. No one’s ever done that for me,” I replied, cupping his face in my hands. “So thank you, for everything,” I whispered, leaning in to kiss him lightly.

He responded immediately, one hand tangling in my hair, the other moving to my waist to tug me closer.

“GUYS! Seriously!” Riley complained when she saw us making out in the backseat.

We broke apart and grinned at her sheepishly, then I looked out the window.

“Riley, what are we doing at my house?” I asked her, suspiciously eyeing the three cars in the driveway.

The witch just smirked and shooed us off, using the excuse that her and Josh had a date.

“Don’t scratch my car!” Caleb called out as he watched Josh drive his merc away.

 “Come on, I’ll bring you back,” I laughed, walking towards my house, hiding my nervousness.

“Oh hell no I know your folks are back. I want to meet them,” Caleb said, then ran ahead of me to knock on my door.

I shook my head at his over-eagerness and trailed behind him.

The door opened when I reached the doorstep and I could feel Caleb stiffen, his jaw dropping and eyes going wide as he spoke.

“Mom? Dad?”