Freedom.

Chapter Six

"You..." I couldn't seem to form the words. I knew what I wanted to say I just didn't know how to put them into actual words that made sense. If it wasn't for him, Cat would have been a lot worse off than she is now.

"Yeah, me?" He looked puzzled, as if he didn't remember what had just

happened only moments before. "We should probably go to gym now."

"Oh yeah." I mumbled, looking down at the ground. He hadn't remembered saving Cat and I, so maybe he was just doing it so his 'lovely' little girlfriend Emily wouldn't get expelled. "Do you have gym too?"

"Yeah I do." He gave a small smile before starting to walk; I followed, barely being able to keep up with his long strides. He was a lot taller than me, I was 5 foot, he had to be at least 6 foot.

"Okay..." I didn't know how to keep this conversation going. He didn't seem to remember saving us so I wasn't going to thank him.

"Ya know, a thanks would be appreciated after I saved you and your friends asses back there." He laughed. Turns out he did remember.

"Well a sorry from your psycho girlfriend would also be appreciated." I challenged him, an eyebrow raised.

"My girlfriend? Hell no! That's my sister." He said, his expression turned into one of disgust. "Yuck, I can't believe you think I would be dating her."

"Oops." I mumbled, before letting out a little chuckle. Seriously though, it seemed as if they were a couple, you couldn't blame me for thinking that.

"Well a sorry from your psycho SISTER would be appreciated."

"I'll get her to say sorry once you say thanks." He challenged me back.

"Nah, but being serious, thank you, it actually means a lot. If you hadn't of taken her away, Cat would have been worse off than she is now." I mumbled out, not looking directly at him. I was never that upfront with thankyous and apologies, it just reminded me of my father.

"It's all good, she does it every time Cat gets a new friend, and usually that friend leaves Cat. I dunno why she does it, her & Cat must have had something happen between them back in primary school, and now she makes her life a living hell." He shrugged it off as if it was nothing, but I didn't have a chance to argue with him about how wrong it was before we were hurried off into the gym, the teacher shooting glares at us due to the fact that we were 15 minutes late.

"Incident with another girl." The boy, whose name I still didn't know said. The teacher just nodded before turning back around to face the other students. We hurried over to join them, still in school uniform. We clearly weren't being given the option of getting changed now.

"So what's your name anyway?" I whispered, still keeping my eyes on the teacher as we did our stretches.

"Jake." he responded quickly and quietly.

"Aren't you gonna ask what mine is?" I teased, but he kept a straight face.

["I already know what yours is, idiot." He mumbled.

"That's creepy, how?" I asked.

"Uh, I was told to come get Alexis, wow you are really short of memory aren't you?" he laughed, clearly thinking he was funny.

"Shutup." I murmered.

"Alexis, Jake, 3 laps now!" the teacher yelled from the front of the room, I scowled. Ugh, I could barely even walk one lap without getting puffed out. How the hell was I meant to run three?

Jake was already ahead by at least 3/4 of a lap, clearly he was the athletic type.

"Keep up, Alexis!" Jake turned his head so he could yell back, a small smirk spread across his face.

"Shut it, mr." I growled slightly, steadying myself at a slow jog. I definitely was not about to speed up because of his teasing.

"How about the both of you shut it now!" The teacher yelled, his voice echoing throughout the gym.

"Sorry Mr!" Jake yelled back at him. We didn't talk for the rest of the period, mostly because the teacher kept us apart.

I had no idea where my next class would be. I knew I had maths, but considering it was my first day I had no idea where the class would be.

I guess the only other option would be Jake. I only knew Jake and Cat.. and well, I don't think Cat would still be here, she probably would already be on her way home.

"Jake!" I called out, my little legs struggling to keep up. "Can you please tell me where my maths class is?"

He stopped a few metres in front of me, I hurried up to him. I was already puffed out so I couldn't speak, but he spoke for me. "Looks like we're in all the same classes, guess I gotta be stuck with you for today."

"Ha ha, you're so funny." I mumbled sarcastically, he smirked before turning around and walking again, no sign as to whether I should follow him or not, but I still did.

We walked into maths and the teacher gave us a stern look. Kind of like the look my father used to give me. I noticed Jake seemed kind of scared too. Maybe this was not a teacher that tolerated lateness.

"Sorry we were late, sir." I managed to mumble out, "I'm new and Jake here was just showing me where the class was."

"Just sit down before you disturb the rest of the class even more!" The teacher grunted, as I turned to face the students, I noticed that most were snickering, but Jake had a frown on his face. He motioned for me to sit at the desk next to his, I quickly made my way to the back of the room, making sure nobody was sticking their foot out.

I smiled at him gently before sitting down, sliding down in the chair so I was not as noticeable. I hate getting yelled at, by anybody. I guess I just am not a fan of being the center of attention.

"You okay?" he whispered, his eyes focusing on my shaking hands.

I looked down at my hands and pressed them on the table, they stopped shaking immediately. I didn't even know they were shaking. "Yeah."

"Okay, talk to me at lunch if you need to." He whispered. He really did seem to care about my well-being.. but I just didn't know if I was ready to share what happened with my father.

It wasn't until I saw the sleeve of his shirt move up, and I saw the blue and black bruises covering his wrist, looking like he had forcefully been grabbed, that I understood why he cared so much.