Protect Me

protect me 8

Jessica's POV

I arrived back home and was surprised to see my aunt sitting on the sofa, a bottle in her left hand. She seemed to be dozing off but when she saw me, she widen her eyes, anger evident in them. I knew the inevitable was going to come and I just stood there, waiting for her to strike me. To no surprise, she staggared towards me and gave me one tight slap before shouting, "Where have you been, bitch?! I have been waiting for you to make dinner! Are you trying to starve me?!" I did not reply and she punched me in the stomach, causing me to double over. She kicked me before staggering off to her room. I picked up myself and just like her, I staggered into my room in pain and dropped onto the mattress, falling asleep in tears once again.

The next morning, I woke up early, wanting to wash my hair.

However, my aunt beat me to that and I have no choice but to

rush to school without washing my oily hair. I wore a hoodie with long sleeves, keeping my head down all day as my face was sore and bruised.

People were snickering whenever they saw me and my heart twisted miserably whenever they did that. Just like how my previous school was, no one wanted to befriend me and I was once again labelled as the freak of the school.

It was lunch break and I was sitting on the open field outside, finally able to keep my head up and breath in the fresh air as no one was near the vicinity. My stomach grumbled loudly and then there was a voice, "hey there, u hungry?" before a guy with black hair gelled up and light green eyes plopped down beside me. He was handsome but not as good as Ethan. I slapped myself lightly on the face for having this kind of thought. The guy laughed lightly and teased "Why are you slapping yourself?" My face turned red before remembering that my face had not recovered yet and so I kept my head down. He bent down his head to my level and extended out his hand before smiling and said " I have not formerly introduce myself. I am Ryan Parkings Richard." I was beyond astonished as I thought this guy was going to make fun of me and go away but he introduced hinself instead. Not wanting to be rude, I shook his hand and said softly " I am Jessica Tanner." , while keeping my head down. Suddenly, my head was propped up by two fingers on my chin and his face appeared in front of me. I was stunned and struggled to keep my head down before he said gently "Does it hurt?" and he touched the big bruise on my face lightly. I winced and he stopped before saying "I am not afraid of seeing your bruised face." He gave me his sincere smile and I could not help but return it. He pushed a paper bag towards me and when I opened it, I saw a sandwich, an apple, a cookie and a packet of orange juice in it. I teared up a bit but sniffed up my tears and took out the sandwich, eating it in small bites. I turned towards him, wanting to thank him but saw that he was looking at me with the most gentle eyes. He saw me looking at him and he turned his face away, clearing his throat. "Thank you." I said and I heard a mumbled welcome from him. I saw a figure standing a distance away from us and recognized that it was Ethan after a while. As if he knew that I saw him, he stormed away angrily into the school building. I was confused for a second before Jayden asked me something with regards to myself and I turned my attention back to him. We chatted anything and everything but I threaded carefully with my words whenever it was about my life at home. It was not long before lunch break was over and Ryan made me promise him that I would see him at same place and same time the next day. "Don't you have other friends?" "Oh, I am new here." He said, smiling. I could not help but felt disappointed as I knew that he would know about my reputation after a few days in school and by then, he would not want to be my friend anymore. Moreover, he was such good-looking and the popular ones would befriend him in no time. I smiled sadly back to him and without noticing, he grinned brightly back at me and he sent me to my next class which was English class. Before leaving me, he bent down kissed my cheek. He left me blushing furiously and when I entered the class, I saw Ethan, who was sitting at the back of the class, glaring at me, anger evident in his eyes and fists clenching. I kept my head down and slipped into my seat which was in front. I could feel his glare throughout the whole lesson and when the bell rang, I bolted out of the class before anyone else.

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Ethan's POV

I was unconciously searching for Jessica Tanners during lucj break. Jayden leaned over to me and whispered smirkingly, "Are you searching for your wife?" "Go away, I am just seeing whether have she died. If yes, I do not have to marry her." I replied back angrily, pushing him away. "Are you looking for me, Ethan?" Rine Bieber slided onto my lap and said in a what she thinks is a sexy manner. I gagged internally and pushed her onto the flooor before storming out of the school building to the open field. What I saw next made my blood boil. I saw Ryan Parkings Richard, the new boy sitting too close to Jessica Tanners and he was looking at her gently while she was looking into a paper bag. She then looked up and I think she saw me. I rushed back into the school building, anger coursing through me and I think I was going to explode. I slammed the toilet door open and splashed water onto my face, calming myself down. 'What the hell, Ethan James?! Are you freaking jealous?!' these thoughts ran in my mind. Splashing the water onto my face once more, I went to my next class, ignoring anyone I saw along the way.

The school bell rang and I saw Jessica Tanners and Ryan Richard, that stupid prick outside the classroom. He freaking kissed her on the cheek and I could tell that she was blushing furiously. l was beyond angry but I could only control myself as I had already told her she could do whatever she wanted. She saw me glaring at her and she slipped timidly into her seat. I was glaring at her for the whole lesson and she must have felt uncomfortable as she bolted out immediately after the bell rang.

I chased after her and managed to catch her at the lockers. "What do you want?" she squeaked after she took her stuff and locked her locker. "Shut up and follow me." I said coldly to her and dragged her to the carpark. "So Ryan Richard is you new friend?" I snarled at her once we were at the carpark. "No...No...you are mistaken. He is just being friendly..." she stuttered, averting her eyes away from me. 'Her lips looked kissable..what the hell are you thinking again, Ethan James?!' I scolded myself internally. I closed my eyes, calming myself down before opening them and saw her staring at me, concern evident in her eyes. "Are you alright?" she asked timidly. "None of your business. You may go." I replied coldly and before she could respond, I got into my car and went for a mad drive, going at a speed of 120km/h.