Chapter 4

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      A few weeks later, I'm wearing ripped tights and my dress that I bought from Hot Topic. I plan on talking to Lucas. I curl my hair and do my makeup with winged eyeliner and blood red lips. I look—almost—hot. I lick my lips and head out for the bus, waving goodbye to my mom, who's in the kitchen, making coffee. I can do this. I get on the bus and play Not So Perfect by Johnnie Guilbert. I get to school and look for Lucas, finding him with Kimberly, arguing. She sneers at me and I instinctively shrink inside myself to show no emotion. Lucas sees me and waves me over, visibly relieved to be able to turn away from Kimberly. I ignore her and touch his arm, gently tugging, telling him I need to talk to him. Kim glares daggers at my hand on his arm but he just nods and follows me a few feet away. I look down at the ground and gather all my courage just to open my mouth. I feel him hold his breath, the same way my parents did. I say hello and hear him expel his breath all at once. After a few seconds, he beams at me and says, "You finally talked to me!!" I shake my head and bring my finger to my lips, saying, "This is the second time in four years that I've talked to someone." He asks why but I don't answer. I start coughing and use my phone to say, 'I'm sorry. I can't say more.' He nods in understanding right as Kimberly walks over and immediately lashes out at me.
"What did you say to my boyfriend? You better stay away from him, bitch, if you know what's good for you." I hold up a hand and whisper, "Shut up." She laughs at me and Luke watches in horror as I slowly tear up. She laughs harder, calling me a pathetic waste. I breathe in and walk away. As I walk, I hear Lucas yell, "WE'RE DONE!!" I silently scream.

Lucas and I have been hanging out at lunch. He helps me get my voice stronger, although he asks at least once a day why I stopped talking. I debate whether or not to tell him but always decide against it. He would think I'm filthy and leave. Kimberly glares and trips me in the hallways. One day, about two weeks after Luke left her, she corners me in a bathroom. She punches and kicks me, breaking two of my ribs and giving me a black eye. My parents made hers pay for my hospital bills, but it didn't do much to phase her. I walk around with my head down and after a few days, Lucas joins me. He tries to hold my hand but I usually flinch and pull away. After a few more days I let him hold my hand. I become used to the feel of his warmth. I like it even. His hands aren't soft but they're gentle. As we pass Kim, she acts dramatic, "fainting" from the horror of seeing her ex with someone with me. But soon she moves on to the football star quarter back, Cole. He doesn't like me, either, because I turned him down.

-Flashback-
"Hey, Skylar." Cole catches me after one of my classes. "I want to ask you something. Simple yes or no." He smiles warmly. I almost smile back.
"Would you maybe wanna go on a date with me?" he asks, shyly. I shake my head no and move to walk around him, but he stops me. He asks again and again I say no. I even apologize. He then snaps and yells, "You'll regret it, cunt!"
-End flashback-

Lucas and I are at lunch, and he says something about potatoes, making me smile. He grins at the sight. I love that he likes my smile, since I don't laugh or giggle. He tries his hardest to make me smile. I realize I kind of like him.
I gasp, and he immediately stops talking until I shake my head and smile. I reach over to take his hand and he lets me. I rub circles into the back of his hand while he talks and soon he trails off, watching me. He tilts my chin up so I'm looking straight at him. I try not to shiver as he runs his thumb over my bottom lip. I hold my breath as he slowly leans in and touches his lips to mine gently. I close my eyes and kiss him back and soon he's moving his lips expertly against my own. When we pull away, I'm breathing hard and trying not to blush. I smile and he grins back.
"Sky?" I look up him. "Will you be my girlfriend?" I nod slowly and he starts to celebrate. He whoops and hollers and dances and I bust out laughing, then start coughing. He stops and rubs my back.
"You laughed."
"Yea... I did..."
We smile at each other and he pecks my lips.

Mom, I have a boyfriend now J
OMG! Congrats hun!! Who is he? What's his name?
Lucas Walsh.
What a unique name. When do we meet him?
IDK. GTG. Love you. TTYL

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