Star Light

Chapter 8

October 9th; Monday morning

I walk to the bus stop, as I decided this morning to take the bus so I can have some time to think before school starts. I need to clear my mind before dealing with teacher and people bull shit. Steven has been texting me all morning trying to ask if I needed a ride to school but I don't want to answer because then I will feel the need to tell him but I need to figure this out on my own. When I get to my bus stop everyone just stares at me as I look down and just tune into my music. Maybe it is because I didn't take my truck today or maybe because I have a bruise on my forehead. When Jacob smacked my head into the dash board yesterday it left a bruise. A car drives by then stops in front of me and I look up at Steven through the window and take my ear bud out.

"You want a ride?" He asks. "I texted you but you didn't answer..."

"No, I'm fine thanks."' I say then put back in my ear bud and look down. I don't want him to look at me. He sits there for a minute trying to talk to me then drives away when the bus comes.

When I get to school, Steven and Brody are talking in the front of school looking around. Since when do they talk? Steven must have thought something was up. I stop when they look at me and turn away toward the other side of the school. I can't tell him because I don't know how I will. How do you tell someone you really love deep down that you are being forced into a relationship? Wait....did I just say I loved him....

"Hey." Steven says running up beside me. Brody on the other side of me.

"What?" I ask looking down.

"What's the matter? Are you mad at me or something? You haven't answered any of my texts since yesterday. What's up?" Steven asks.

"I'm just not in the mood to talk to anyone right now." I say and he grabs my arm, pulling me to a stop, making my hoodie fall off my head.

"What happened?" Brody asks trying to touch my forehead but I back up.

"Jacob." Steven says under his breath looking me in the eye.

"Just leave me alone before you guys get hurt, okay?" I say then pull my arm away from his grip. I walk to the back of the school without them following me. I can feel my heart tearing into pieces every step I take. This secret is going to hurt me so much until I can tell him. I need to tell him but I don't want Jacob to go after him. I can't out him into danger again over this. I try to open a back door to the school but someone slams in closed and I turn round. "Steven I told you..."

"Told him what?" Jacob says looking down at me then smiles. "I thought I told you not to talk to talk to him."

"I... I didn't..." I say looking away but he grabs my chin lightly moving my face towards him. He kisses me then looks at me.

"Don't worry about it baby cakes." He says and I look at the ground.

"Are you coming?" One of his friends yells in a car parked on the street.

"Well, I'll see you later baby girl." He says and I look down. I'm so tempted to scream I am not his 'baby girl' but his friend are in sight. He gets even more angry when you embarrass him in front of friends for the reason of 'dishonoring his manliness'. But last time I checked a man who hits a woman can never be a man, just a boy. I turn toward the door but he closes it and I look up.

"What?" I say not able to hold my hatred in any longer.

"I love you." He says and I turn to look at him then his friends. His friends all look at us in a bored way, except one. James has always felt bad whenever he saw a new bruise on my face or Jacob would force me onto his lap. I could always tell he wanted to say something but didn't want to get hurt, which I can't blame him. Jacob walks toward the car leaving me to go into the school as quick as I could. The quicker I am away from him the better. Why didn't I stick up for myself and tell him I'm not his girlfriend?

"So, that's what's going on." Someone says behind me and I turn around really fast to see Steven. "What did he do to you?"

"Nothing." I say as he searches my body. "I'm fine just, stay out of it..."

"Stay out of it? You want me to stay out of this when you are with your ex again?" He asks and I walk past him but he grabs my arm. "Explain to me why you are talking to him."

"No reason." I say in a small voice but he just looks at me. I can't tell him because then he will try to fight Jacob or something and then he will know I talked to him. Or should I tell him and maybe he can help? "I'm fine just..."

"Your not fine!" He says and people look at us. "He hurt you again, Laura. I need you to tell me, why are you talking to him again? Does he have something on you? Is he forcing you..."

"Seven o'clock, my house." I basically whisper then walk up the stairs and away from him as one of Jacobs friends walks by. Hopefully he can help me without hurting himself.