Nineteen

Chapter Thirty-Eight

I tense up in Link's arm. He notices.

"What the hell are you doing?" Collin says, out of breath from running around.

"Why is she having a meltdown?" is all he asks.

"None of your damn business," Collin barks back as he reaches a hand down for me.

When I don't reach for it, Link stands up. "Is this because of you? The marks." He waves his hand at me.

Collin doesn't hesitate when he takes Link by the collar of his shirt and throws him against the building. "Watch it," he warns.

"It is!" Link screams. "You're the cause of this!"

Link is not right, and I wanted to speak up and say something, but my voice will not let me. In Collin's head, he believes it is because of him. He wasn't the one who hit me, but he is the one who didn't come early enough.

I can hear Collin's breathing from here. I force myself to stand. 

"Let's go," I squeak out, wanting the encounter to end.

Link looks at me, still in Collin's grasp. "You're going with him?"

I nod my head.

"What the hell? You don't have to do that. You can come with me and we'll go--"

He's interrupted by Collin pulling and throwing him back into the wall.

I begin to cry again, "please. Stop."

"Come with me."

Link let's out a cough, confirming another blow Collin used the wall to inflict.

I give up. I turn and run into the building fumbling around for my dorm key in my pocket.

I slam the door behind me. I walk to my bed and sit down. My body ignites with pain, reminding me of my wounds. I turn the lamp on and notice a box beside my bed. It's small. I look at the top and see my name.

I pick it up and roll it around in my hands. How did this get here?

I tear the paper on the side and instantly see what it is. A new phone.

I open the box and turn it on. I'm instantly welcomes by numerous calls and text messages. So it has my old number.

There are no pictures or games. It's completely new.

As I'm trying to figure out the gift, my door opens and Collin walks in.

He spins around and notices the phone in my hand. He doesn't say anything. Instead he walks to Jade's bed and lays down.

I stand and walk to the closet to change clothes. When I step inside, my legs are too weak to stay on my feet. I crumble to the floor and close my eyes.

I can feel someone lift me as we begin to walk. Where am I? I can only assume that Clark is the one who has me.

But I'm wrong. I can feel it. Clark doesn't feel this way.

I believe I'm still asleep. I'm unsure.

I'm laid on the bed now. I begin to feel my pants slide down my legs and that is when  bolt awake.

We both jump when I sit up. "I'm just trying to get out out of these clothes," he says and shows me a pair of clean pajama pants in his hand.

Collin. 

My eyes are swollen when I look at the clock. 2 A.M. Oh my god.

I fall back onto the bed and let out a huff. He lays the clean clothes on my chest as he walks to the other bed. 

"Why are you doing all of this? And don't just ignore me. Answer me or you can go home." I'm feeling brave right now.

I hear his feet shuffle on the floor. But he remains silent.

"Okay then," I stand and walk across the room to open the door, "go home."

His eyes go wide but he doesn't move. 

"Go, now." I say. "Or I'll leave and go somewhere else."

He doesn't like the sound of that, because he jumps up and past me to close the door.

"Well?" I say with my hand on my hip.

He doesn't answer. I groan and turn on my heel to gather up some of my stuff, signaling that I am done with this. I can go to Clark's or something. Or maybe I'll take Link's offer and go with him. I shouldn't have to go anywhere, this is my dorm.

I turn around to tell him just that. To tell him to get the hell out of my room. 

But I can't. Right as my mouth begins to form the words, his mouth is pushed against mine.