Damaged Goods

chapter 4.

"I can't believe you called my brother, ahhh he hasn't let me out of the house all weekend Im dying here," Walking down the school halls the following week the party is the talk of the school. However the only talking Im hearing is the nagging and complaining coming from Tilly in my right ear.

"Im sorry Til, Ive said I'm sorry but what was I supposed to do, you were literally passed out on the ground! I couldn't even lift you," I finish as Tilly catches my eyes in a stare off, the first one to break obviously being the one in the wrong. Her eyes end up making a full 360 circle before a defeated sigh exits her mouth.

"Ahh fine, thank-you for looking after me, to repay you i'm taking you shopping and don't worry Ill pay for everything you want, well everything I want for you and by me paying I mean i'm going to steal Jax's card and he's going to pay." The hard look sent in my direction immediately shuts my mouth that was open ready to protest. With a role of my eyes I split from the overly loving yet overbearing best friends and make my way to my final class of the day, art.

---

Finishing up my artwork for the day, I can't help but sigh at the upcoming afternoon. I hate being a charity case the whole reason I hide my home life from Tilly is so she doesn't make me her new little project to fix, it's just plain embarrassing. I know she noticed the deep cut on my collar bone this morning, it was something hard to miss and since I forgot the fresh cut was even there her over examining eyes would have picked up the new marking straight away. I guess last night Leo wanted to go for a new take on my body, he left my face and torso alone and instead went for gracing my body with a nice dirty cut along my collar bone. Apparently his dinner wasn't up to his standard, hence the cut inflicted at his hand by the blunt steak knife.

The day outside was sunny and warm such a happy day, one that does not reflect my day today. Waiting outside by the school parking lot my eyes catch a bouncing Tilly coming full speed in my direction.

"Oh thank goodness, he's not here yet he would have my arse if I made him wait again," Tilly must have noticed my confused face before reading my mind. "Oh yeah forgot to tell you Jax took away my car something about being irresponsible or some jazz anyway he said he'd drop us at the mall and pick us up."

"oh ok I don't mind what we do." We fall into conversation about Tillys extravagant night at the party as I nod and laugh along when I expect she would want me to. Her over exaggerated storytelling was cut short as the reoccuring black range rover pulled up a mere centimeter away from us. Jumping in the back seat of the car my eyes fall to my lap out of shyness trying to hide myself away from the eyes that I feel are taking me in through the rear mirror.

"Afternoon Matilda, Saskia, how are we?" the calling of my name raises my head to catch sight of the smirking Jax in the driver's seat. "Good thankyou sir," my response only receives a short chuckle, a chuckle that is short lived as the car slams to a stop. Before my eyes could catch up to my brain Jax is opening the backseat door and pulling my jumper down just enough to reveal the bloody sore that decorated my collarbone.

"What the hell is this, who the fuck did this to you," his words just as dominering as the unreadable emotion set on his face.

"Jax leave her alone, i'm going to sort it out just let go of her your probably scaring her," his grip on my jumper harshens as he brings his other arm around to search the rest of my body in such a soft manner.

"Sweet girl, tell me who did this or you will not be leaving my sight until you do," his nickname for me pushes me into a state of vulnerability one that a whirlwind of emotions is suddenly let free. Jax must see the first tear slip from my eye as he moves into the back seat and pulls me into his chest in a welcoming and calming hug. His scent is intoxicating one that I could be surrounded by forever and have no complaints at all. As my tears one by one blend into streams his warm comforting thumb runs along my tear line collecting the evidence of my breakdown. With my head tucked into his warm chest my breathing calms down as he tells me to take deep breaths, to breathe in and out when he does. Matching his breath the panic and pain leaves me and I'm left with comfort and calmness.