A Thin Line Between Love & Hate (Love Conquers All series) ORIGINAL VERSION

Chapter 53: "He Loves Me Not"

REMINDER:  I am on a deadline for the M/F book I mentioned before, so for now, it takes priority over everything else. So, again, upcoming chapters may be delayed. 

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"Don't you ever say I just walked away
I will always want you
I can't live a lie, running for my life
I will always want you

I came in like a wrecking ball
I never hit so hard in love
All I wanted was to break your walls
All you ever did was break me
Yeah, you wreck me."

- Wrecking Ball, Miley Cyrus

Josh hadn't spoken a word the entire drive to school; just leaned against the passenger door, the hood of his sweatshirt drawn over his head as he stared blankly out the side window. He showed no signs of life until they entered the parking lot. His vacant eyes focused and began to dart discreetly, anxiously across the school lawn.

Uriah didn't know what, exactly, their father had said or done to Josh, but it was a certainty that he had warned—threatened—Josh to banish any sinful, abominable thoughts he might have for Brandon Nichols. His little brother was terrified of their father, yet he still searched the school grounds for the other boy.

Let him go, Josh, Uriah thought with a sick dread in his gut. Don't make father any angrier than he already is.

Dan and Wiley were waiting next to Dan's car when Uriah pulled into the parking spot right next to them. The girls exited the car first and migrated toward Wiley and Dan. Josh sat unmoving, the vacant look creeping back into his eyes.

"You all right?" Uriah asked.

Josh blinked but didn't look at him. "Yeah," he mumbled and started to open his door when Uriah stopped him.

"Josh..."

The younger boy hesitated then sank back into his seat. A veiled haunted look shadowed his eyes.

"Whatever father said to you last night...listen. Do you hear me?"

Josh nodded.

"This is the last day that you have to spend with that Nichols kid," Uriah said. "Just get through it and you won't have to associate with him anymore, and maybe then Patty and Wiley will shut the hell up."

Josh stared at the floorboard of the car, a faint dampness in his eyes.

Uriah massaged his brow and sighed. "Go on to school."

Josh climbed out and Uriah watched Patty and Wiley both eye him. Patty whispered something to Wiley and the other boy's eyes widened a fraction.

Fucking bitch.

Uriah shoved open his door and climbed out with some effort, his body throbbing from head to foot.

"You okay?" Dan stared at him as Uriah moved stiffly in his direction.

"Yeah," Uriah said absently when the four younger ones headed away from the cars toward the school. "Call Wiley back here. I need to talk to him."

Dan nodded then hollered at his younger brother and motioned him back.

"Yeah?" Wiley looked at the two of them. "What?"

Uriah stepped closer. "I don't know what kind of bullshit Patty's been feeding you about Josh, but you'd damn well better not repeat it—to anyone. You got it?"