Elenora's Flower

Chapter 3

The rest of the day, I walk quietly between my classes and the boys don't seem to bother me again.
I sit in my last class of the day and notice that the boy who returned my bracelet in there. I sit in the back of the room, away from him. He probably felt bad for me, passing me in the hall like that.
I feel a shadow over me to see the same boy. Ugh, what does he want!
"Um... can I help you?" I Mumble to him.
"Is this seat taken?" He gestures to the seat next to me. Great.
I sigh, "No." I'm probably going to regret telling him that.
He sits down next to me, resting his chin on his palm and sending me a lopsided smirk. "Why you so down?"
I narrow my eyes, refusing to make contact with his stormy blue ones.
"You haven't heard the rumors?"
He laughs, filling my ears with its light-hearted sound. "I've heard them. That doesn't mean they're true, or that they are the reason you're like this."

I roll my eyes. Who does he think he is?

I glare at him, "If you've heard them, then leave me alone just like everyone else does." 

He sighs, "I've only heard some of the rumors, as I don't go looking for gossip in my free time, so maybe you would enlighten me on what is true and what isn't?"

I scoff, not planning on telling him a word, but I lift my gaze and my eyes lock with those flawless grey ones. I feel a sense of security wash over me, looking in those eyes, and I frown. It felt wrong not to tell him the truth.

I groan, rubbing my aching temple. "What do you want to know?"

His face breaks into an adorable grin and I have to admit he was quite handsome. He has tousled sandy hair, a perfect cut jawline, and a straight nose. His broad shoulders made way to a tight shirt that showed off his obvious abs.

He smirks, and I notice I must have been staring. I cough, quickly looking away.

"So, If I ask questions, you'll answer?" He asks me, and I nod, suddenly feeling less confident under his addicting gaze.

"Is Will dead?" I was slightly taken back by the bluntness of his question and nod my head silently, his name sounding foreign in my ears.

"Do you know why he's dead?" I shake my head no. My mom planned on showing me the suicide note today after school. She refused to let me see it until I had come to terms with his death. I didn't expect it to give me many answers, but I never know.

"I'm sure you think it's my fault like everyone else," I say quietly, looking down at my desk.

He reaches to touch my arm, but I flinch away from his touch, instantly reminded of when Will would grab me harshly and push me against the wall until I couldn't breathe. The night he died had been the first night I had ever stood up to his abuse and I guess it must have triggered something in him.

Maybe it was my fault.

I had tried to convince myself to go along with his actions for so long, thinking this is what regular couples do. He was attractive, sure, but everything he did to me felt so wrong. I remember the first time he hurt me.

-Flashback 8 months ago-

I sit on my couch, nervously waiting for Will to pick me up. He wanted to take me to a party tonight and after much persuasion, I complied with his request.

I heard his heavy knock on my door and dash over to it, grabbing my purse and straightening my hair. He smiles up at me, wearing a simple button-down shirt and jeans.

"Hey, baby," he says, gripping onto my waist and walks me over to his car, letting me in. It was a short, silent drive to the party and he leads me inside, frowning when I decline the beer he tries to hand to me.

I shake my head, "Will, I'm way too young, besides I don't want to try Alcohol." He scoffs, drinking it himself.

A few hours go by and Will becomes very drunk, and I become worried. How am I going to get home? He danced around and disappeared, leaving me helplessly unknown of what to do. Too many bodies were pushing and milling around me.

I found myself at a door at the end of the hall, and I slip inside silently, sighing when I find the bedroom empty.

I sit on the bed softly crying until I look up when the door opens. I sigh in relief when I see Will walking. "Ellie? Baby?" I hear him slur.

"I'm here," I say quietly, my voice breaking. He steps closer to me and I smell the sour alcohol on his breath.

"Why didn't you stay with me? Why'r you in here?" His voice raises, suspicion creeping in and making my heart pound in fear. An angry expression flashes his face, "Did you do bad stuff while I was gone?" I shake my head quickly, unable to form words, my body frozen in panic.

He's standing right in front of me now and I can't help but be terrified. He reaches out his hand, grabbing my arm and gripping it tightly, making me gasp in pain. He jumps on top of me, supporting his weight, but his grip on my arm is only getting tighter.

He kisses me roughly, making me reel in disgust and pain. He bites my lip hard and I whimper as his tongue forced into my mouth, his grip on my arm almost enough to make me pass out from the pain.

He pulls away from my reaction, clearly angrier. I cower away as he grabs a stray beer bottle, finished the contents sloppily, and hitting it against the bed frame, making it shatter. He picks up a piece, and tears flow down my face.

"You've been a bad girl."

I whimper, scooting away.

He forces my shirt up, lashing out and cutting my stomach, the dark blood running down as I scream out. He chucks the glass and slaps me, hard, and covers my mouth with his hand, hissing at me not to make a sound.

I tear the bed sheet, pressing it to my cut to stop the bleeding. Thankfully, Will had passed out on the floor and the blood was slowing. It hurt like hell, and I tied more sheets around it to make a make-shift bandage.

I sighs as exhaustion tugs at my brain, forcing my eyelids to drift closed, despite my blood-curdling fear that he would wake up.

He woke the next morning with a huge hangover, aware of last night's events. The only thing he said to my fear-filled eyes as he dropped me off was, "Tell anyone and nobody will ever see your pretty little a** again, understand?" I had nodded quickly and rushed to my bathroom to clean the cut and wrap it with my first aid-kit.

-Flashback end-

"Ellie?"

"Ellie!"

I jerk my head over to the boy as he said my name louder this time. He snapped me out of the memory of that night. Worry was in his eyes and he slowly reaches his hand towards me.

Despite his gentleness, I still flinch at his touch, scooting my chair backward. He might hurt me as Will did. Will never told me why he did the things he did while he was drunk. He threatened me not to tell anyone or break up with him and despite his frequent drunken states of taking his anger out on me, he wasn't bad to me when he was sober.

"Ellie... I'm not going to hurt you."

I try to give him a shaky smile, the fear still lingering in my eyes, "It's o-ok." My voice shakes.

He scoots his chair away from me a bit, giving me space. I relax a little and try to take a deep breath and sound normal.

"I'm fine. Anything else you wanted to ask me?"

Disbelief flashed in his eyes and I know he doesn't accept my small composure, but I am grateful when he doesn't press.

"Umm no, I don't really think so..." I could tell he was nervous about what he said now. "Do you want to exchange numbers unless I have any more questions?"

He looked maybe he had another reason for asking that, but I didn't really see any reason not to.

"Sure."
Before I could say anything else he smiles, taking his phone out. "My name is Terrance, by the way."
I give him mine quickly on a piece of paper and he flashes a small smile. The bell rings and I sigh, walking out of the door to my next class.