Broken Wings

Chapter 29: Hurts

"Jumping to conclusions made me think it was my fault." - Victoria Duffield

Chris stepped closer to me. Jesse stepped in front of me. Gabrielle stood behind me. Jordyn stood on the opposite side of Chris. Aria, Alexandra and Hazel took a few steps ahead of me and guarded me as a shield.

Luke didn't move an inch. He just stood there and not once removed his eyes from me.

As scary and angry he looked right now, it didn't creep me out.

"Guys, I'm fine." I struggled in between Chris and Jesse and went to find my locker.

Gabrielle decided to come with me since she was the only one who had all her books with her.

The rest separated to grab their own things.

As I threw my bag into my locker, Gabrielle watched Luke over my shoulder.

I didn't dare to look his way again, but I knew he was coming my way when Gabrielle jumped behind me.

Luke ignored her and leaned against the locker beside me.

"We need to get out of here." He whispered into my ear.

I gandered my eyes up to him.

"I promised you we would run away together one day, remember?"

Of course I remembered every single word from that one letter he sent to me almost a year ago.

"Well, hello to you too," I sneered.

He ignored me and gestured his head towards the doors. "Let's go."

He began walking, like he was expecting me to follow him.

Was he crazy?

When I didn't, he stomped back to me and gripped my arm and dragged me along.

"What the hell, Luke?!" I yelled angrily, pulling back.

He held onto me way too tight. Okay, Luke Kendrick had gone crazy mad.

"Let me go!" I tried to pull my arm back from his rigid grip.

"Luke!" Gabrielle shouted as Luke slammed the doors open.

Gabrielle reached me and helped me pull myself back.

"Don't touch me like that!" I shrieked at Luke just as Gabrielle and me freed my arm from Luke.

"Don't you ever touch me like that again!" I  hollered into his face and my tears dripped down from the pain Luke had tattooed around my arm.

"Stay away from her!" I perceived Jesse shouting as he walked up to stand beside me.

"What is wrong with you, Luke?!" I cried out. "You've gone crazy!"

"I said let's go!" Luke bellowed and grabbed my wrist again.

"Hey!" Jesse immediantly moved in front of me.

Luke's hand fell from Jesse punching it out of the way. I didn't need a fight to start so I shifted myself in front of Jesse. He locked my arms behind me and wrapped his other arm around my waist.

"What do you want, Luke?!"

He shook his head, in his way of letting me know he wasn't going to answer.

Instead, he asked, "why are you letting him, huh? Why are you letting him touch you? Why are you touching him?!"

"Why do you care, huh? You were the one who left me in the first place!"

"Why are you letting Jesse embrace you like that?!"

"Why do you even care?! Tell me!"

Once again, he shook his head. "Let's go."

"No, why do you care? Tell me why you care only now and not before?"

"Sasha. I said let's go."

"Just fucking tell me!" I yelled straight to his face.

"Because it fucking hurts!" He screamed back. "It hurts to see you with someone else! It makes me angry! But it makes me much more angrier with myself because I left you! I regret it every single day! I hate myself for what I did to you!"

His bitter and stalwart words shut me up while tears began teeming his eyes.

"It hurts too much to lose you all over again," he breathed.

I shook my head and said, "it's too late now."

I traipsed away from him and started down the steps with Jesse following me.

"Let me go, Jesse!" I demanded. "I need to be alone right now."

"No, I'm not leaving you alone."

"I said et me go!" His grip around my waist immediately fell.

Before anyone could make another move or say anything, I turned around and ran.

Out of the school parking lot.

Off campus.

Down the street.

And all the way back home.

I didn't even think twice as I grabbed my mothers old duffel bag and stuffed my clothes in there, along with my other things.

I stole some cash from the room Chris usually slept in, stuffed it in my purse, took my bag, slung it over my shoulder along with my purse and walked out the door.

I didn't look back.

I didnt stop myself.

I walked.

And then I ran.

Away.

Far away from home.

With my heavy luggage, I tried my best to run as far as possible. I ran as far as my legs would take me.

I had no idea where I was when the darkness began to surround the sky.

I kept walking along a dirt road until I found a gas station at midnight that was still open. I prayed that they had something to eat and drink as I treaded inside.

I almost ran when I saw all sorts of drinks and snacks lined up in aisles. I grabbed three large bags of chips, two candy bars, a water bottle and a diet coke.

I set my snacks on the counter and the cashier began typing in the prices. I passed her the amount of cash she asked for and dumped it in the tray of money.

She neatly stashed my snacks in a bag and handed it to me. "Have a great night."

"Thanks." I took the bag and walked back outside.

My plan was to find a comfortable and safe looking place to eat and sleep. Very few cars drove by as I went to find the best location.

I thanked myself for packing a flashlight and extra batteries once it got dark. I had left my phone in my school bag that I threw in my locker earlier. I cringed away from the thought before Luke could climb into it.

But it was too late. He was already there, leaning beside the locker.

Those angry eyes. The way he held his painful grip around me.

The way he yelled at me.

I punched myself in the head to clear the bad memories away.

I shone my flashlight ahead to see nothing but the road and forests of trees.

I gave up and collapsed by the side of the road.

I tied up the bag of snacks, shoved it into my duffel bag, and threw the bag onto the ground and used it as a pillow for the night.