Mr.James *UNDER MAJOR CONSTRUCTION*

Chapter 28- Confession Session

Ava and Blake sit in Ben's place now. Blake is having a glaring match with James and I can't bring myself to meet Ava's glace. "How long?" Blake says, through gritted teeth. "Since the first week." I said. He scoffs. "So your that girl, fucking your teacher!" Blake shouts. "Watch your fucking tone, talking to my girl, you little shit!" James says through equally gritted teeth. "Yeah okay, teach. "He says, in a sarcastic tone. James stands, but I pull him back down. "Look! I love him and he loves me. It may be fucking cliche but he gets me like you never could." I say. "How Jazmin? What could he possibly understand better than I could?" Blake says. "This." I say, spawning a flame in my hand. Ava jumps but Blake doesn't even flinch. He just stares at it mouth wide. "He the only one like me other than my brother. He's the only one that understands everything." I said, wiping away a tear. James wipes my tears with his thumb. "I think we need to call up the gang. And your gonna tell us everything." Ava says.

They sit around me, all staring at me, and it feels 3rd grade show and tell, except this isn't anything I want to show or tell. Ben is up in his room, It's not like he needs to hear this story again. James sits beside me, holding my hand. His warmth gives me strength, and I realize just how much I love him. Wait, I love him? Wow, I do, don't I? When did that happen? How did that happen? I pull his hand up to my mouth and kiss it. He smiles softly. "Umm, I guess I should start at the beginning. Umm, it all started when I was 12. Me and my mom got in a car accident." I said. A tear slipped down my cheek, but I wiped it away quickly. "She wasn't wearing her seat belt and was thrown from the car. She died in my arms in the middle of the road before the ambulance could get there. My dad was a recovering alcoholic, but with my mom gone he just fell right back into an abyss. He got abusive again, but it was worse now. A year later Ben left for college. He didn't want to leave me, but he couldn't get custody of me at 17. I told him to go, and he went. My dad continued to beat me, but it was worse because Ben wasn't around to protect me like he used to. One day he got so angry that he almost killed me." I sniffle and pause. I hold my breath to hold back tears. "The neighbors called the police before he could. I woke up in the hospital. They put him in jail, and I was shipped off to stay with my aunt in Arizona. There I got to start over. And for a while everything was good. I got good grades, I had friends, and most importantly,  I was kinda happy. Then I met Tucker. I saw him at a baseball game, while he was playing. His eyes met mine, and it was done. The devil had my heart. He caught me at school the next day and told me to sit with him at lunch. I sat with from then on. He asked me out three weeks later. At first, everything was good, then he started getting super possessive. He wouldn't let me leave the house, he would lock me in his room with him when I stayed over, he wouldn't let me have friends. I'd never been in another relationship,so I thought about trying to break up with him, but he always told me that it was because he loved me, and I believed him. One day I was at his house and..." I paused, taking a breath. "We were making out like the dumb teenagers we were. But he starts to take it to far. I try to tell him to stop but he just keeps going, and I try to push him, but he grabs me by the throat..." I stop, feeling his hand choking me again. No, I won't him keep me quiet again. I can't let him keep me quiet. I clear my throat. "He looked me in the eyes and laughed. He said "What are you gonna do? I am stronger than you, smarter. You can fight but you won't win, and you'll only make me angrier." And he was right. So I let him and let him. Over and over again. Then he started to hit me. At first, it was shoves and smacks here and there, then he would find any reason to hit me. One day I was walking home, cause he got angry and told me to walk home. I decided to stop by my aunt's favorite italian place in town and by chance, I looked across and saw the most glorious place. A Ty Kwon Do/self-defense dojo. I headed over, just curious. But the dojo master looked at me and, he saw it. He walked up to me and pulle me into a hug and asked me "who did this to you?" and I just started to cry. From then on, I went there every day after school and told him I gotten a job there. I expected him to be angry, but he didn't give a fuck. "Needed my ass kicked." Was his response. But one night I came home and he sat in my grandma's chair, drunk as a skunk. It felt like I was looking at my father again. But this time i was ready. He pounced, but I was ready. If I was gonna die, I was gonna die with a hell of a fight. I managed to knock him out and get upstairs. I locked my self in the bathroom and called the cops. He's killed my aunt when she refused to let him in. Ben was 19 then so he took custody of me. I stayed with him in his apartment until he graduated last month. Then We moved here. And I met you guys. And I met James. And I actually feel happy. And I like feeling happy. So tucker has to die this time. this has to end. And I'm not gonna let him hurt any of you. This is my problem and you guys are my fri... My family." I said, giving a weak attempt at a smile. James lays his head on my shoulder and I feel hot wetness on my shoulder.

They all sit just staring at me. I wipe his tears and hug him close. he wraps his big arms around me and hugs me tight, the way he knows I need it. "I just have one question, well two." Blake said, breaking the horrid silence. I nodded, letting him know to continue. He turned to James. "Do you really love her? Enough to make risk your life for her?" Blake asked James. "I'd give my life for her in a heartbeat." James said, with no hesitation. "Good. And second. How the fuck are we gonna kill this Tucker son-of-a-bitch?" He said. I get up and pull Blake into a bear hug, which he returns with full force. "Jazmin, we've all got your back. I told you once before, and I'll tell you again. You don't get to deal with shit alone anymore, your bullshit, is our bullshit, vice versa. We love you." Ava says, standing. Everyone stands and puts me in the middle of a huge group hug. And for one of the first times in while I cry. And I mean a real cry. I cry out everything I've been holding in for forever and this new family I've made holds me together as I fall apart. Everyone lets go after a moment but James still holds on. And as if he's reading my mind he pulls me closer and whispers in my ear, "I'll never let go." I bury my face into his chest and I fall asleep in his arms.