Crazy Love

Chapter 23

I had already chosen our resort and organized a shopping spree with Beth, I was so excited! I could tell Josh was excited too, it was the only thing he talked about when he was around me, only one week until we were on a plane out of dreary Minnesota.

I was so caught up in day dreaming about Hawaii that I didn't even notice that Beth wasn't waiting at the door after first hour.

"Hey babe, long time no talk" I heard a drawling voice from behind me. "Looks like your guard dog isn't here today," he taunted.

I froze, my heart pounding. I turned slowly and looked Brady in the face.

"Brady," I acknowledged him, faking confidence.

"So listen, I'm sorry about your arm I didn't know I was hurting you so bad" he said lifting my chin towards him.

He sounded so stuck up and snobby.

"Don't use sarcasm with me Brady, I know you did it on purpose," I said coldly.

"I'm hurt you didn't accept my apology," he said putting his hand on his chest, "your parents didn't teach you to forgive, maybe I need to teach you myself," he said grabbing my arm.

"Brady no! Stop," I said struggling against his grip.

He just squeezed harder, bringing tears to my eyes. I gasped and wrenched my arm from him. I sprinted to the nearest girls room and went into the first stall I could find.

When was he going to stop torturing me? My arm was still throbbing, and I was late to class. I decided to go to the nurse to fake being sick.

"Hi sweetheart how can I help you?" The school nurse said sweetly, her voice was smooth like honey.

"I don't feel well, I have a huge headache and I cant focus in class," I lied.

"Do you want to lay down? Or do you want to go home?" She asked giving me the up down as though she knew I was lying.

"Umm, I think I need to go home" I said.

"Ok just let me take your temperature and write you a note" she said handing me a thermometer.

I heard her phone ring in the other room, she left to answer it.

I ran over to the sink and turned the hot water on. I stuck the thermometer under and waited until it beeped.

101.3, perfect.

When the nurse came back in she took the thermometer from me and gasped.

"Oh honey you are burning up! Here's your pass, go home and rest," she said handing me a pink slip of paper.

"Thank you, I will" I said taking the note.

I felt bad for lying but I couldn't stay here any longer.

I drove home quickly and ran up to my room. I couldn't help but cry as soon as I hit my bed, I buried my face in a pillow and sobbed. I never cried, I felt so weak.

Why me? Didn't Brady see that I was sick and tired of him hurting me?

For five minutes I lay there with my head buried in the pillow.

When I was done I got up and went to the bathroom, as I expected my mascara was running and my hair was sticking up everywhere. I looked at my arm and gasped, right on my bicep was a giant bruise... Shaped like a hand.

It was deep purple, blue and black. I groaned, now I can't wear tank tops!

I grabbed my phone and texted Beth.