Her Hope Has Tattoos

Chater 17: Worth It

Kennedy Winters

"Get back here Kennedy!" I walked quickly down the hall right after fifth period to my next class. I hadn't seen Jackson all day till now. Thank gosh it was a big school of seven hundred students.

"Kennedy!" Jackson yelled following closely behind me. Everyone is by their lockers as they look at him chasing me.

"Go away." I snarled. I walk into my study hall and take my assigned seats

"We need to talk." Jackson grabbed my arm once I could reach my assigned seat. My eyes lower to his knuckles that are torn up.

"Wash the blood off your knuckles and we'll talk." I say lowly, making sure nobody around me could hear. Jackson glares at me and puts a hand on the desk leaning down.

"What is your problem? Are you like on your man period?" Jackson's eyes furrowed questionably at my words. Screw him.

"Fuck no Kennedy." I gasped dramatically.

"Jackson, you're pregnant then!"

"Shut up Kennedy and listen to me." Jackson demanded.

"What's to talk about?" I sigh heavily.

"What did Nash say to you?" He whispered lowly.

"Nothing important. Now please go."

"Why do you want me to leave so badly?" He asked with a slight hurt look in his eyes.

"Because." I grabbed the mechanical pencil I kept in each binder and started to get my French homework done.

"Tell me." He hit my desk angrily. The anger managed to scare me a little, all those years with dad did that to me.

"Sir, are you in here?" Ms. Bremer said.

"No." He said to her, yet didn't attempt to move.

"Then please get to your next class before the bell rings."

"Because you hurt me." I look straight into his dark eyes answering his question.

A look of guilt flashes on his face, but just as quickly, it leaves.

I get a pang in my heart from my own words. It's as years went by, just looking at each other. I know it was only a few seconds though.

"I'm sorry Kennedy. I can explain it in a few weeks." He talks like he's trying to convince himself rather than me.

I roll my eyes at his pathetic excuse and go back to writing as the automatic class bell rings. His eyes dart to the teacher and back to me.

He gives me one last look before walking out of the class. I watched his grey fitted long sleeve cling to him as he walked, slightly being able to see his back muscles flex with every movement.

Why does life have to be so hard? Why can't it be easy? I just want to try and be happy with my friends and family, and maybe a guy, I know Jackson would never be that guy.

"Okay everyone, take your seats. You can listen to music with earbuds, but if I hear it, it becomes mine."

* * *

The front door's doorbell rings through the house catching me off guard.

"Urgh." I mutter. I pause the scene of White Chicks.

I pull up the boxers I'm wearing and walk to the door. I look out the window by the door and see Jackson fidgeting while biting his lip. I unlock the front door and open it.

"Hey." I mutter and fill the gap between the door.

"I'm so sorry baby girl. You're the only girl I want and I'm so sorry I hurt you. It won't happen again."

"You can't control the future."

"J-" His name is muffled by his lips that go on mine. He leans down, hunching his back to kiss me better. His long arms wrap around me as he gently pulls me closer to him.

"Stop!" I demand. I shove him away as I stare at him. He breathes heavily and stares at me also.

"What?" He asks with a hurt face.

"You can't just do that. You can't just tell me I'm not worth it then act like you care and be an protective ass and then kiss me."

"Kennedy, you are worth it." He grabs my hand. This time I don't struggle to stop him and let him go.

"Really? Didn't seem like it a few days ago." I frown and look down the hall to avoid his deep eyes.

"I'm so sorry. I made a horrible mistake because I was confused and scared for you."

"Why? Because my dad?" I ask.

"No." He mutters. His hand gently squeezes my hand.

"Then why?" I demand angrily.

"Nash wants you!" He mutters. My eyebrows knit together. I don't know what he means, if I heard him right.

"That's why you dumped me? Because another guy likes me?" I yell frustrated.

"If you haven't notice! I see ten girls almost everyday eye raping you! Do you see the way Margaret Harrison touches your arm every time you're at your locker and twirls her hair?" I cross my arms over my chest.

"There's more to it. Maybe I'll tell you someday, just not now."

"Jackson!" I glare at him. Boyfriends don't keep stuff from me.

"I want you to be my girlfriend, again. Please Kennedy." He pleads softly.

"How do I know you won't dump me again over something stupid?" I ask skeptically.

"Because I won't, you mean too much to me to let you go again. I've never felt this way about anyone."

I wrap my arms around his torso and hug him. I've never heard those words. Someone actually cares about me, and they aren't saying that to be nice.

"If this happens again, I'll get the kitchen butcher's knife and take it to your nuts."

Jackson pulls away from me with a horrified look on his face. I grin to myself.

"They burn just hearing you say that." He glares playfully.

"Oh and nice hoodie." He smirks. I look down forgetting what I'm wearing. His hoodie.