To Me, You're Perfect.

Chapter 11:Tears & Bruises

I was thankful Derek and Janice was already headed to work when Josh and I woke up for school. It was around 11 when Jackson and I arrived at my house.

"Follow me." I headed to the bathroom upstairs.

I got into the bathroom, grabbed the rubbing alcohol and peroxide.

"Thanks so much." Jackson said sitting on the edge of the bathtub. "I don't know what came over me."

"It's no problem." I said putting some alcohol on a cotton ball.

After cleaning it with rubbing alcohol and then peroxide I patted it dry and sat there, looking at Jackson.

"How's it feeling?" I asked.

"It's burning but I'm alright."

"What are you going to do about the bruise?"

"No idea." He shook his head. "People will probably say I was beat up for being gay."

"Don't listen to em." I smiled.

"Wait.." He put his finger up to my lips. "Who's that?"

"Oh no." I said as I heard my brother and his friends. "What are they doing here?"

I grabbed Jackson's hand and ran to my room, locking the door.

"Do I have to go downstairs?" Jackson asked, sitting in my floor.

"Nah."

"But what about when I have to go home?"

"Uh.." I looked around. "I have a window."

"Sounds painful."

All of a sudden my door came open.

"Anyway like I was saying.." Josh was speaking to Jeremiah but stopped as soon as he looked in.

"Josh." I rolled my eyes.

"What are you doing here?" he laughed. "Especially with.."

"Shut up!" I jumped up.

"What's wrong? Does the fag get sensitive?" Josh laughed.

"You know I heard you used to get made fun of too?" I laughed.

"Shut up." He rolled his eyes.

"What did you do to make it stop?" I giggled. "Tell the principal?"

"Stop!" he yelled in my face and grabbed my arms. "At least I didn't cut myself!"

"What?" I felt tears.

"Look the emo is crying." Josh said to Jeremiah.

"Maybe you should stop." Jeremiah suggested.

"You gonna make me?" Josh laughed.

"This isn't funny." Jackson shook his head.

"Shut up fag." Josh laughed. "Let the emo cry, she deserves it for being such a whore. Talking to you and that boy Alx."

"Get out." I said under my breath.

"What?" Josh glared at me.

"GET OUT!" I screamed and slammed the door in his face.

"You okay?" Jackson asked as I was still facing the door.

"No." I fell on my bed and began crying into my pillow.

Jackson scooted closer and was about to say something but my door opened again.

"Josh, I said get out!" I screamed.

"That's no way to talk to your step brother, or your step mother."

"What are you doing here?" I jumped up quickly.

"Well I forgot my lunch at home, so I decided to come back and get it. And I come home to screaming, and a door slamming."

"But Josh-"

"I don't care." Janice put up her hand. "You didn't have to scream at him and his friend."

"I wasn't screaming at his friend." I rolled my eyes. "Just him."

"Young lady, if I may ask, what are you doing here?"

"I uh.."

"I was her ride but I drove to the park instead." Jackson lied.

"Really now?" Janice said flatly.

"He's lying. He's just trying to stick up for me. I skipped with a friend and saw him."

"Well boy, I think it's time for you to go. " Janice said without any emotion or sorry in her voice.

"Yes ma'am." He stood and headed for the door.

"Sorry my daughters behavior caused you to have to leave."

"Now" Janice said after Jackson left. "Get yourself cleaned up."

"Do I have to go back to school?"

"No, not today. But this better not happen again." She headed for the door.

"See you later." I said.

"Right."

After Janice left, I put on a pair of jeans and a dark blue tank-top with little white dots that looked like stars. I slipped on my vans, washed my face, and put on some make-up.

I knew what I had to do. It involved sneaking out.

To Jackson's house.