Broken Promises

Chapter Seven

Social studies class, my subject before lunchtime, drew to a close.

My heartbeat drummed frantically on my chest as I thought of lunch time. It was the next day after that encounter with those varsity jocks, and I am unsure if Julia held some resentment towards me or if ever she wanted to avoid me as to avoid trouble from those guys. I dont know. I always did not know. But this time, it bothered me quite so -- the thought of not having Julia with me. Because if there is one thing I know, it is this: people come and go in your life. One day, they're there, then suddenly they're with somebody else, and before you know it... They don't need you anymore. You've been replaced. You would be just another person they once knew and was once with, only for them to realize that life unfolds people who would be better for them, thus... You've lost a friend.

I was thinking of all that emotional shit when it was confirmed: Julia was arm-to-arm with two girls.

Wow. Was she ever so beautiful.... She was damn as hell heartbreaking too, always driving me crazy to the point wherein I would question myself if this was love I ever felt.

She was too good to be damn true, realization crept in... I knew I wouldn't be keeping her as my friend for too long. I gazed on wistfully for one last time before her eyes met mine.

"Peter!"

She waved goodbye to her friends and neared me. That shocked me terribly, but then I had no time to think before she seized my wrist and pulled me away, and before we knew it, we were in search for that hole in the barbed fence and on the prowl of anyone who might be intruding.

We sat down under a tree, and my heart soared: I am with her once more. I seem as if I could not get enough. I probably really could not, though.

"Hey. I am sorry for yesterday."

I practically led her to be put in that fucking situation, and yet she apologizes to me. How... Nice. "Hey now. It was my fault. They wanted to pick on ME."

"I know, but... You didn't have to hurt them for me, Peter."

"JULIA. It's okay. Let them beat me up, but never EVER have them take control of your body."

Silence. I cleared my throat. "Why did you do that for me anyway?"

She shrugged. "I don't know"

"Seriously?"

She breathed in. "Well. Is it okay if I let you in a secret?"

"Yeah."

"Don't tell anybody this. I never did."

"I swear to God."

She faked a smile before proceeding. "Well... My mom. She doesn't really speak, you know. I think it was trauma. After all, my father... Walked out on us. She would always be rendered unresponsive. I sometimes hate her, but what could I do?"

Her eyes pooled with tears. I wanted to kiss them, but I held back. Who am I to do such thing?

"But then, just recently, she was happy again. And for a minute there, I thought I had a mother. It was just amazing and wonderful that she actually is there for me then, until I found out that she met this man."

She clenched her fists. However tempting to hold them... I must not.

"And it thrilled me. Finally! Just.. Finally. But it had a catch, though. He abuses her now."

Heaviness slammed my chest at that. "....."

"And she lets him. She just lets him! Fuck that man. Fuck him. I hate him. If only I could save my mother. If only I could shake some sense out of her. But you know what they say, when you fall in love... You get stupid."

She picked at a string sticking out from her skirt.

"So one day, I would become a police lady. I will save those abused. I just will. Not only that, but I will save them from sadness and despair. Just you wait. Just you wait."

She droned on and on about her dreams. There was a shit ton of jobs she wanted to have: police, lawyer, psychiatrist... But all had one thing in mutual: they would reach out to the abused and damned. I listen on. She really DOES want to fight for those who could not for themselves.

I then realized that I was more and more fascinated by her, that she was even more beautiful than I thought she was, and that I might be... In love.

And just as my mind questioned the possibility that I might be in love already... She held my shoulders. "This is why I want to be with your pal, Peter. You don't seem to realize just how wonderful and amazing you are as a person because you feel as if nobody gives a damn, really, but I do. I hope the people who see themselves as little because of others realize that they are worth the world as well. And if I had to sail the world to be there, I would."