Love Never Gives Up (Changed) 1

Chapter Eighteen

I haven’t been to school for a month. The principal knows why and I’ve been doing lessons with Jake and making sure I’m not failing any classes. But today is the day I walk back in there and face everyone. I grab a black tank top, matching with black jeans and slip my leather jacket on also. Veronica knew a phase I was supposedly going through eight months ago so she got me combat boots during that process. I put mascara and eyeliner on and let my curls down. One last check in the long length mirror I have, and I’m ready to face the world.

Ivy, the boys, and I are all standing at the end of the driveway waiting for the bus stop. Rick keeps shooting death rays at me, Phoenix obviously won’t leave my side, and Ivy and I share a pair of earbuds. I hand back the pair once the bus comes and we get on. Phoenix stays in the front while the three of us head to the back and people stare at me. I know what they’re thinking, I’m probably a rebel, a goth girl, or they can see my depression straight through my eyes. I pick an empty seat and slip my headphones on. I blast powerful country music and stare out the window. We pass Jake’s house without stopping and my gut turns. He was supposed to pick me up a few minutes before the kids went out but he never came. So I stood out with them and waited in case he was late. But he didn’t come so oh well. What was I supposed to do anyways? He hasn’t tried to get ahold of me since he left last night. I check my notifications, but I have nothing. He’s slowly giving up on you. On us. You’re too much for him. I shake my head and blast a song called, “Crazy Girl.” by Eli Young Band. I hold my finger over the skip button, it’s one of the songs that Jake says that reminds him of us. I decide on skipping it and it gives me a song from Shawn Mendes. I like him, he’s a good singer but I’m used to country. I blast that as high it goes and then we’re at the school. I death grip my bag and force myself off the bus. I wave bye to Ivy and I go to my locker. So many people are looking at me and I don’t like it. I stuff my things in there and head to my first class which is English, surprisingly the advanced class.

I’m the first one in the room besides the teacher, he waves at me and I wave back. I pick a seat in the way back. I grab my book and start reading. Soon enough the rest of the class walks in. I set my book aside and wait for the teacher to start teaching. We read for fifteen minutes then he hands out a worksheet. He allowed us to pair up with someone or we could work by ourselves. I chose to work by myself. I have my headphones on and I’m about into the second page of the five page worksheet. By the time the bell rings I barely have a page left so I put it in my bag so I can do it later tonight. I leave my phone and things in my locker when I go downstairs to the gym. I have Rec Activities so this is gonna be fun. I do a eye roll and I’m about to turn the corner to the gym when I run into Blake. Literally. He gives me a devilish grin. “Hi Lisa, it's been a while since I saw you. How are you?” I shrug and try to get past him. He won’t let me, “Let’s talk after school. Meet me by the football bleachers. I’ll be waiting.” He winks and finally lets me pass him. I rush to gym and after I get my locker and all that figured out again, we head outside and we run the mile. Once my gym teacher blows the whistle, I bolt. I don’t like running on the track. I know the trails in the woods. So when I get around the one corner near the track shed, I take a right into the woods and I follow the trail there. I pump my knees even higher and grind my teeth. I hear my gym teacher and other students yelling at me. But I’m too far now to turn back.

I keep running at that fast of a pace til I almost trip on a stick. I slow down to a jog and hold my breath in. I don’t hear anything besides the forest animals. No one followed me. I get back into a run and I keep going for another mile. So far I’ve done two and I should be going up a hill then past a stream then a path of rocks should lead me to the end of the trail. Soon enough I’m splashing my face with fresh stream water and drinking some. I finally reach the path of rocks and I jog down those. My chest aches and my legs feel like jello. I keep going so my body won’t shut down. I see the school at the end of the trail. But I keep going and I fight the voices in my head.