Cry, Redemption!

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Trigger Warning: suicidal thoughts

Giving up

School the next few weeks is almost too much without her boys. She wishes they were both with her but Tob's mother has definitely not changed her mind. She's so used to them acting as a buffer and not having to talk to anyone else. It's weird being pulled into Maxwell's the world this way.

He tries to make things are nice as possible for her she's noticed. He makes sure Jeremiah can't physically touch her, she's seen him shove him into the wall a few times when he got too close with his hands held out as if he was going to do the same to her.

And while Laikynn is very grateful she wishes he could also stop the cruel words that continue to leave her cousin's mouth every time he's within a few feet of her. Maxwell always tells him to shut up, but Jeremiah doesn't seem to be scared enough of him to listen.

One particular school day Jeremiah's been more unbearable that normal. She doesn't know why but she's ready to choke him by lunch time. She sits as far away from him as she can without leaving Maxwell's table.

She's glad she chose to sit at the far end when Jeremiah and his friends start picking out people and making up mean things about them. If she'd been directly beside them she would've said something in their defense and she's sure she would've been the next target. She is an easy one. She knows that she is. Something's changed in her since she's moved here. Any backbone she used to have seems to have vanished. She hates it and she's tried to stand up to people but it never seems to get her very far.

"Laikynn, can you come here please?" Maxwell calls from the head of the table. It's funny that she's never really noticed before today that he seems to be in charge, not her cousin. "In charge" or not, she doesn't move right away. Instead, she focuses on finishing up her lunch.

Ever observant when it comes to her, Jeremiah leaps at the opportunity to show just how cruel he can be. "Haven't you had enough to eat, for a lifetime?" he asks. "Or two lifetimes?" His eyes trail down her body and stare at her stomach pointedly. Laikynn knows she's not thin. She's known that for a while now. She doesn't usually have an issue with it.

But something about the way he's looking at her makes her squirm in her seat. But she doesn't say a word. She doesn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he's upset her, not even a little bit. He doesn't need more ammunition against her.

She huffs in annoyance however when he reaches over the table and grabs a few of the fries off her plate. He shoves them into his mouth and then he winks at her. "Just trying to do you a favor Lai," he says leaning closer to her. His breath hits her face and she glares at him. He's much too close to her.

She takes deep breaths so she doesn't do something stupid like give in the to the violent tendencies that only really exist when he's around her. While it would be cathartic at first she knows her lack of backbone would quickly change things and he would do something worse to her in return, he wouldn't care if Maxwell was there or not then.

He doesn't move from his spot and even goes as far as leaning closer to her. The table squeaks, drawing the attention of some of the others at the table. There are mixed reactions and it's obvious which of his friends are more partial to him and which are more partial to Maxwell.

The annoyed part of her wants to scream at him. But the part of her that sees him as a threat since his attack makes her almost cower in her seat the closer he gets. She hates herself for it. And she can tell that he knows by the smirk on his face.

"Why don't you just shove off?" a feminine voice asks. Laikynn's eyes widen. Who is insane enough to defend her other than Maxwell? Also, why didn't Maxwell say anything before some person she doesn't even know?