I Need U 💎

Chapter 20

Corbyn's P.o.V

Jonah's talk just made me feel even worse because I knew I shouldn't care about other people. I knew I took things to heart when I shouldn't and the fact that I was like this made me a hundred times more frustrated. I just kept wondering why I was the way I was. I didn't want to be like this. I just wanted to be different. Why couldn't I be different?

The tears kept streaming down my face as I got lost in my sadness. It felt like I was falling into a dark pit and I didn't try to prevent it, didn't even scream for help. It was like I wasn't scared to get lost because deep inside I wanted someone to find me. I wanted someone to help me out of the pit... But at the same time I didn't want to ask for help. So I hid my face and muffled my sobs and tried not to break down in front of Jonah.

"For God's sake, Corbyn!", he tried to make me look at him.

I didn't. He sighed heavily before opening the door of his car and closing it again. I didn't have to turn around to know that he had just left the car. 

"He's had enough of my bullshit", I thought right when the door on my side was opened. If it hadn't been for the seatbelt, which was holding me in place, I would have fallen out of the car since I had been leaning against it. 

I wiped the tears off my face with the back of my hand and looked up at him, confused.

"Get out", he simply instructed.

Not sure why he had told me to do that, I shook my head, crossing my arms in front of my chest. I saw him roll his eyes before leaning over to remove my seatbelt and pulling me out of the car.

"What the hec-", I started to say, slightly mad because he didn't leave me be. I was taken off-guard by him suddenly putting his arms around me and pulling me closer. For a moment, he just stared at me.

"Jonah?", I asked, confused by his behaviour. Just two days ago, he wouldn't even glance at me. It was as if we were strangers. And now, he was acting different. Of course, he had hugged me numerous times before but he never looked at me the way he was looking at me in that moment. There was something different in his eyes that I couldn't quite put my finger on. 

"Don't talk badly about yourself ever again", he whispered and pulled me even closer.

"But-", I tried to say something before he cut me off.

"No, don't! Don't say another thing to bring yourself down", he was pissed off, "you don't know how amazing you are, do you?"

I shook my head and the top of my hair touched his chin, making him put his hand on the back of my head to gently press it against his shoulder. The smell of his cologne immediately filled my nostrils and I breathed in the familiar scent.

"I'll always be here to remind you of your worth, okay? And if anyone stares at you or makes fun of you, I'll just beat their ass. You have nothing to worry about", he assured.

There was something in his voice that made me believe him despite knowing he had left me once before. He sounded honest and sincere but there was still a part of me that needed confirmation. "Promise?", I asked, my voice muffled by his shirt.

Yes, I promise", he answered, "I'll never leave your side ever again."

~

Those words were the ones who gave me all the strength I needed for the day. Of course there were students and even teachers who saw the cushion I sat on in class and gave me questioning looks. Some girls even called their friends' attention to me before whispering to each other, occasionally glancing at me, as well. Others were concerned and asked me what had happened. I told them about the accident and much to my surprise, their reactions were mostly nice which made me feel better. 

Around lunch time, my mood had lightened and I didn't feel uncomfortable, being the only one to walk around the building with a huge bag in one hand. When I opened the door to the cafeteria though, everything changed. The confidence I had felt faded.

The usually loud room, filled with lots of laughter and jokes became silent as soon as I entered. All eyes were on me. I looked around, seeing several sympathetic, some confused, many mocking and even a few disdainful faces in front of me. I took a shaky breath, trying to calm down and look for the one person whose words managed to get me through the morning. My attempt to stay calm failed miserably when the silence turned to discomposed whispering. In the midst of all the commotion, I couldn't find the person I was looking for... It was awful. The voices got louder and louder until I could hear them talking. Talking about me. 

"What an attention-seeker!"

"Loser."

"How could THAT happen."

"Glad it didn't happen to me ha-ha."

There was one word that hurt the most. "Gimp."

Tears formed in my eyes. Just when I thought I had survived the worst part of the day it got even worse than I thought was possible. I turned around, ready to leave this hell, when someone grabbed me by the shoulder and spun me around. Jonah.

"Don't give them the satisfaction of seeing you leave", he said, a reassuring smile on his face.

I shook my head. "I can't stay", I cried out, just wanting to get out of there. I couldn't take it. It was too much.

"Okay", he nodded understanding before placing his key chain inside of my free hand, "wait in my car, I'll be right there."

I left the cafeteria and the school building as fast as my injury let me and looked for the gray car. Once I had unlocked it, I sat down in the passenger's seat and turned the radio on. I turned the volume up, not wanting to hear myself cry.

A/N: ...this got depressing real quick 😔😢