It Starts With A Slap.

Chapter 11.

Scarlett's POV.

"Joseph?!" I shockingly repeated his name. He was right there, standing right in front of me with a wide smile on his face. I dropped my bag on the floor and threw myself at him. He gave me a long lasting hug. He was so warm and fuzzy like a teddy bear. I can hug him forever.

"I wouldn't have hugged you with your hair covered in tar if I wouldn't have seen you in so long." He replied, hugging me tighter and then letting me go.

"Oh, this! This was the doing of a psychotic girl that I have in my school." I scoffed, pointing at myself. "She didn't like me going out with Trevor Lockhart."

"Bitch!" He scoffed supporting me.

"Wanna watch FRIENDS?" I smirked.

"FRIENDS it is!" He cheerfully replied.

We laughed and bitched about people we didn't like. I told him about Trevor. He had a gut feeling that I liked Trevor. I just ignored it. He talked about Matt, a guy that he liked a lot, more than anyone. My mom came home and had the same surprised expression as me.

The three of us made apple pie and mashed potatoes for dinner. I had the most amazing dinner. Joseph was so fun to be with. Later that night, I called Roxie and told her about Joseph. The three of us were going to hang tomorrow at Margot's diner after school.

I also texted Trevor and asked him what time did he want me to meet his parent and he didn't know exactly but it would be late.

At night, Joseph and I slept on my bed. I had set my phone alarm for 5:00 in the morning because I had to meet up with Scott. Joseph had back problems and was also scared of new houses, so he did not want to be alone in the guest room.

I had a dreamless night and as I woke up the next morning, I saw Joseph's peaceful face and smiled at it. I went into the bathroom, brushed my teeth and combed my tangled and dry hair into a loose ponytail. I went downstairs and filled my bottle with water and threw it with a napkin in my bag.

I went to the same route where I first met Scott. He was already sitting there on a bench, scrolling on his phone.

"What up, Scotty? I say, placing my bag down on the bench.

"Good morning." He smiles back, getting up and shoving his phone in his back pocket.

We both started walking and talked about random stuff until I asked him the question again.

"Okay, don't interrupt me while I speak, please," he spoke.

"Fine." I nodded in agreement.

"Roxie was my fourth-grade crush and I always wanted to ask her out but I never had the strength to. Finally, in seventh grade, I asked her out and she said yes. We were perfect, not too mushy not too nerdy. Until one day, in tenth grade when my father did something bad and felt proud of it." His expressions changed, he was hurt but he continued, "I just knew that I had to leave her to keep her safe. So when I broke up with her she forced me to tell her the reason, but I couldn't. It was easy that way." He finally finished.

After a long pause, I spoke, "What did your father do?"

He hesitated but replied, "He raped and murdered a girl."

I stopped in my tracks. How can someone feel proud of killing another human being? I got the whole story now, Scott was afraid that his father would hurt Roxie if he ever found out. I just gave him a side hug and patted his back.

I came back home and saw Joseph baking his special blueberry cupcake.

"Thought something delicious was going in the kitchen." I kissed his cheek.