She fights

Numb

It's been three days since me and Treys almost kiss. He got detention for two weeks. He's been looking at me that different way a lot more now. More than after a few of my first days here. The way he stares at me, at my lips. He stares at me with almost hunger and the way he glared at Braden when he kissed my hand. Well let's just say if looks could kill Braden would be a very, very dead guy. When I've gone home I've just ignored my dad. He hasn't talked about the fight that I'm supposed to do today so I️m pretty sure he is going to just leave it. Thank goodness. Every time I️ look at him I️ see sadness in his eyes along with guilt. But I️ don't feel bad one bit.
Why should I️?
It's his fault. He should feel those things.
I️ don't care about his feelings anymore. He doesn't care about mine so why should I️ care about his?
Right now I'm walking to my Art class and I️ soon feel someone's presence next to me. I️ look over and there is Braden. He looks at me and smiles.
"Hey, where you headed?" He asks. I'm surprised. He seemed like a jerk in the cafeteria.
"Um. Hi. I'm headed to Art. You?" I️ ask. I️ didn't want it to be an awkward walk because he seemed like he was going to be walking with me for a long time.
"Oh me too!" He says happily. A little to happy if you ask me. He pulls my arm to where the art room is not and brings me to a set of lockers. I️ look at him confused.
"Well I️ thought since we have the same class why don't you come to my locker with me to?" He says and I️ shrug as he starts opening up his locker. I️ lean against the lockers and see something I️ really wish I️ didn't see.
It's Trey.
Kissing Kelly.
I️ look away quickly since she just barely pulled him to her. I️ didn't want to see that go down.
I️ have to admit I️ do feel hurt and betrayed. But recently those are the only feelings I've felt. I️ cover my emotions as fast as I️ can like usual and I️ look at Braden to see him looking at me with a small smirk, but he covers it up with a small smile so I️ don't even think I️ saw it. He looks at me with a little bit of sadness.
He might be faking.
"Hey are you alright? I️ thought you and Trey were together?" He asks confused.
"No we never were. We are just friends that's all," I️ say and grab his arm so we can start walking. I️ feel a firm grip on my wrist and turn around to see the one and only Trey smiling at me.
Yaaaaaaaaay.
Not.
"What?" I️ snap. His smile fades. He can't just almost kiss me and then be making out with some other girl and think everything's ok.
"Are you okay?" He asks. I️ cover myself up even more. Just because he knows me doesn't mean he can see my emotions.
"Ya why wouldn't I be?" I say with a fake smile.
"Are you sure?" He asks looking unconvinced so I️ think of happy times to really convince him and maybe myself.
"Yes I'm perfectly fine, thanks for asking but I must go to my art class now I don't want to be late. Again" I say and shrug. His eyes land on Braden who is close to me and his face twists in disgust.
"What are you doing here Preston?" He asks his voice full of venom.
"Oh nothing. Just heading to my Art class with my friend Rose," Braden said next to me emphasizing 'my friend Rose'. I look over at him to see him smirking at him and then I look back at Trey. Once again if looks could kill he'd be very dead.
"Well we better start heading to class. See ya later Trey," I say as the warning bell rings. His head snaps to me with confusion, jealousy and a little bit of anger.
Why is he mad at me? I take one last look at him and roll my eyes. We turn around and start walking to class together.
As I was looking around the hallways while I was walking I noticed Braden look back and face forward with a smile.
School is now over thank goodness and I'm at my locker getting my stuff and backpack to go home. Today was a really rough day.
Seeing Trey kiss Kelly, almost killed what was left in my already empty heart.
Four of my teachers thought it'd be a fun idea to have surprise tests today that I️ wasn't even ready for.
It killed my brain and I have two more tests tomorrow.
"Hey I️ was wondering if you'd like to come to my house and we could study together?!" Kim comes up to my locker and smiles brightly.
"Ya that would be super fun! My dads coming to pick me up so I'll just have him drop me off at your house k?" I️ say and she nods excitedly and walks over to where Jake is. He turns to her and hugs her tightly and they kiss.
Awww. So cute.
I️ bet they are going to get married. They are just so perfect for each other. I️ tear my eyes away from them when my heart starts to ache. I️ close my locker and start walking but someone blocks my path.
"Hey are you coming to Kim's later?" Trey asks. I️ roll my eyes and look into his beautiful brown eyes.
"Ya. Why do you need to know?" I️ ask already bored with the conversation. He smiled slightly before answering.
"I️ was just hoping that I'd see you later," he says glancing down at my lips and back to my eyes where they stay.
My whole body goes weak.
No I️ can't.
"Why would you want to see me later? You shouldn't care that much. Well you shouldn't care at all," I️ say trying to not get enhanced by the beautiful brown of his eyes.
"What do you mean I shouldn't care? I️ already care about seeing you everyday. Why do you think I️ haven't skipped any of my classes lately?" I️ shrug and look away.
"Why are you all the sudden giving me the cold shoulder? I️ thought we had something?" He asks confused.
He thought we had something?
Ha.
I️ thought we did to. He should have thought of that before he kissed Kelly.
"Well so did I️. But you can't have something with someone while you go around kissing other girls." I️ say and take one look at his confused and shocked expression and exit the school. I️ look around and see my dads shiny big truck and walk to it.
Haden would always be there for me whenever I️ had boy problems. Actually everyone was there. He and my mom would always give the best advice. Kate would always just comfort me and tell me boys were stupid. I️ wish I️ could be with them now. I️ enter the truck and slam the door shut. I️ look out the window and see Trey standing by the outside doors.
Whatever.
My dad starts the car and drives away.
"Hey can I️ go to Kim's house to study for my tests tomorrow?" I️ ask not even looking at him.
"Why do you even need an education when you can just make money off fighting?" He asks.
"Because dad unlike you I️ actually care about myself. I️ want to graduate. Get an education." I️ say angrily looking at him. He looks angry too. I️ look forward at the road and continue.
"If you want me to continue fighting you have to at least give me this. At least let me have this one thing." I️ say a little shaky.
"Okay. Where does she live?" He says as he stops at a stop sign. I️ give him the directions and he scoffs at the nice house in front of us.
"It looks like you've found some nice friends." He says. I️ look at him to see him smirking at me. Does he really think I'm only friends with them because they have money?!
Ya no!
"It's not like that dad. Money isn't the only important thing to me unlike you," I️ snap and start to get out of his truck but he grabbed my arm painfully. I️ look at him and see his sorry, angry eyes.
"You know Rose, I️ really do care for you. But you have to understand." He says. I'm trying to blink back the tears that are threatening to spill. He can't just expect me to understand when he's put me through so much.
"Understand?! You need me to understand?" I️ let out a bitter laugh, "I️ can't just understand dad," I️ say and get out of the car and run to the house trying not to just collapse right there and cry my eyes out. I️ get to the door I️ knock twice before Trey opens the door. He looks shocked to see me and as soon as he sees my revealed eyes I️ look away, blink and look back at him.
"What are you doing here?" I️ ask him. His eyes widen and fear is piling in his eyes.
"Um.....uh........I️ came here to study to and Kim and Jax were unavailable to answer the door." He says.
Lie. Not a total one. But a lie.
"Okay," I️ say as sarcastically as I️ can and walk in the house.
"Are you Okay?" He asks.
No. I'm not. I️ feel horrible. My father is an idiotic jerk. I️ miss my mom, Haden and Kate. I'm forced t to fight even if I️ don't want to. My dad slapped me because I️ was to injured to fight and refused.
And you kissed someone right in front of me.
"Yes. Where's Kim?" I️ say putting on my best fake smile that has even fooled me before. 
"In her room." Is all he can get out before Jax walks in.
"Hey Rose! It's so good to see you" He says happily and hugs me. He reminds me so much of Haden. So caring, loving, happy and always seems to make me smile. Like a real smile. That's big.
"It's good to see you too!" I️ say and we pull away. "Well see ya later," I️ salute and walk upstairs into Kim's room.
"Hey girl!" Kim says excitedly and gets up to hug me.
"Hey," I️ say as I️ hug her back. She pulls away with a worried expression on her face.
"What's wrong pumpkin?" She asks. I️ start to fake a smile but realize I️ can't do it anymore. I️ look away as I️ feel tears come to my eyes. A tear falls as I️ break down in-front of my best friend. I️ look back at her as another tears falls.
"I️ can't. I️ can't do it anymore Kim. I can't keep faking a smile and act like everything's ok. Because it's not. Nothing's ok anymore." I️ stop as I️ choke on my tears. I️ drop my bag not being able to carry the books anymore. She opens her arms as I️ fall onto her and cry on her shoulder. She holds me tightly in her arms while I️ finally break.
"It's just been so hard. I️ have to fight so hard to keep going to school. My only escape from him. My only escape from the man who I️ hate so much. The man who took me from them. From my mom, Haden and Kate. I️ miss them so much! And even better I️ saw Kelli and Trey kiss!" I️ say and she sits us down on her bed.
"I️ know it must be so hard for you to go through all that. I️'m so, so sorry."
She says and rubs my back. She understands well enough. I've told her as much as I've told Trey and more about my family.
It's been almost three hours since I️ broke down in-front of Kim and we've been studying hard. I'm on her bed while she's at her desk. My eyes are about to burn out of their sockets and my hand is dead.
"Hey girls dinner is ready if you wanted to take a break and eat," Kim's mom says as she opens the door and peeks in. I️ jump up.
"Yes! I'm so hungry!" Kim's says.
"I️ should probably head ho-" I️ start to say as I️ also start to pack up as well.
"No nonsense your eating with us," Kim's mom Carleen says.
"Oh ok sure," I️ say unsure. Even if I️ did say no it wouldn't be an option.  We head down the stairs and in the kitchen where Kim's mom, dad, younger brother and Jax are already sitting.
Sadly Treys there to.
Why is he still here?
Doesn't his mom want him home? I️ sit down in the seat diagonal from him while Kim sits in-front of him. Her mom and dad at the two heads of the table, Jax across from me and her younger brother on the other side of her. I️ look down at my plate and see lasagna, garlic bread and a salad.
Yes!! Actual food!!! My dad hasn't bought any food lately either so I've kind of been starving all the time. The only place I️ get to eat is school.
"Have you never seen lasagna before?" George their dad says with a little laugh I️ laugh too as I️ realize that I've been staring at my food for a while.
"Yes I️ have. But I️ haven't seen one in a while." I️ say and look around to see everyone staring at me with smiles but as soon as I️ say that they drop.
"Well why is that dear?" Carleen asks.
"Well ever since me and my dad moved," I️ pause trying to find some excuse, "I️ haven't seen real food in a while. Only take out and microwaveable TV dinners." I️ say with a little laugh trying to make it a joke when in reality it's the plain truth. She nods along with everyone else. I️ let out a relieved breath that everyone bought it as I️ look around everyone is eating but one person.
Trey.
He's looking at me holding his fork tightly in his hand. His eyes slightly worried probably from what I️ just said.
'What?' I️ mouth. He just keeps looking at me and then my lips. His eyes turn a little darker and he licks his lips.
I️ want to kiss him. But will he kiss me and then just go kissing other girls? I️ look down at my food and start to eat. Everyone else has already started and they've been having their own conversations. While me and Trey have just been staring at each other. This goes on for the rest of the meal. Me and Kim talking about a few things, trying to avoid Treys stares and small talk with George and Carleen.
"Well it was so nice to see you again and you can have dinner here whenever you'd like," Carleen says and hugs me. I️ know what she means so I️ just nod. Jax gives me a hug goodbye as does Kim. I️ walk out of the house it's almost dark so I️ better hurry. I️ hope my dad isn't mad at me for being so late.
"Rose!" I️ hear someone yell and turn around to see Trey. I️ turn back around and keep walking.
"Hey wait up!" He catches up and starts talking again, "do you mind if I️ walk you home?" He asks.
"I️ don't care," I️ shrug. He sighs and continues walking with me.
"How was studying?" He asks.
"Boring. How was yours?" I️ ask back.
"Boring as well but me and Jax decided to play video games instead." He says. I️ shake my head and chuckle slightly.
"Of course you guys would do that! What game?" I️ say.
"Halo," He says looking at me with a smile while I️ just look at him in disbelief and stop walking.
"And you didn't invite me?" I️ ask.
"No we didn't want to disturb your studying." He says with a laugh.
"I️ can not believe you two!" I️ say and we begin walking again. 
After awhile of walking I️ decide to ask him the question I've been dreading to know the answer to. But I️ deserve an explanation.
"Why did you do it?" I️ ask as we stop in front of my house.
"Why'd I️ do what?" He asks confused. Dang it. I️ thought I️ wouldn't have to say it.
"Kiss her. Kiss Kelly." I️ say the dreaded words. His face turns grim.
"I️ was hoping you didn't see that," He says sadly. I️ scoff. I️ knew it was to good to be true. I️ start to walk up to my porch and almost open the door when he stops me.
"Rose. I️ didn't want to. She came to me and kissed me. I️ didn't want to kiss her. I want to kiss you Rose! Every single dang time I️ see you I️ want to kiss you. I️ was hoping that I'd get to kiss you today after school but Kelly had to ruin it. I'm sorry," he says and I'm close to believing him.
"Then prove it." I️ say simply. His eyes widen but he recovers and then he starts to make a move and grabs my cheek. His face getting closer to mine each second. Before his lips get all the way to mine he opens his mouth to speak.
"I️ want you, Rose," he said his voice lower than normal. As our lips are about to touch the door of my house opens.
"Rose. Inside. Now." I️ hear my dad say angrily. Trey pulls away from me with an annoyed look.
"Ok just let me say bye." I️ say. Trey looks at me then at my dad.
"Hello sir. Nice to meet you," Trey says and holds out a hand. My dad just glares at it. Trey pulls back his hand and looks at me.
"Well I'll see you tomorrow?" I️ say.  He smiles for once in this situation and looks calm. He nods and grabs my hand and kisses it sending shocks down my body.
"Bye Rose," He says and let's go of my hand walking away, hands deep in his pockets like normal.
I watch him walk away until I️ can't see him in the dark light of the sky. I wonder what it would have felt like. To feel the feeling of his lips on mine. I can't wait to see him tomorrow. I'm pulled out of my happy place by my dad pulling my arm and throwing me into the house, landing on the floor with a huge thud.
"What the heck dad?!" I ask angrily. He looks just as mad as I am his breathing coming heavy and his fists clenched.
"I BROUGHT YOU HERE SO YOU COULD FIGHT! NOT SO YOU COULD GO TO SCHOOL SO YOU CAN GRADUATE AND GO TO COLLEGE AND FIND MR. LOVER BOY!!!!" He yells. He walks over to me and grabs me by the collar of my shirt and brings me up. He glares at me.
"Dad. What are you doing? What happened to you changing and us actually getting a life!?" I️ ask scared of what he might do.
"CHANGE?! WE CANT CHANGE AND YOU KNOW THAT!! MONEYS IMPORTANT!" He yells and throws a punch at my face and lands under my eye. He doesn't even care that he just hit his daughter and by the smell of his breath he probably won't for a little. He drops me on the couch and keeps punching and punching me. I️ try to fight back or at least guard myself but I️ can't seem to find the strength after awhile. He ended up punching me for hours while I️ just laid there. Numb.
Numb of any emotion. I️ can't feel anything. He stops and looks at me then walks out of the room. When I️ hear a door slam seconds later I️ don't even flinch. I'm unable to move even without him punching me. I️ know I'm bleeding. I️ felt the coolness and burn of his blade and fists. The room starts to get a little blurrier every second and soon I'm welcomed with the comforting darkness of nothing.