Bad girl

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight.

Libia wiped the steam from the mirror over the sink, grimacing when she caught sight of the bruise that had formed where Bailey had pinched and twisted so roughly. Libia could pass it off as having been accidentally hit with a basketball, her mother would most likely believe that.

Sighing, she stepped out of the bathroom, heading down the hall to her room. She dressed quickly in comfortable shorts and a nice T-shirt, before heading back out to where her mother waited, sipping her decaffeinated tea at the kitchen table.

She walked into the room, and the first thing her mother did was gasp. "Honey! Where did you get that bruise?" She asked in alarm.

"It's nothing, Mom. I just got hit with a basketball in gym. Nothing to be worried about," She assured softly.

Letting out a breath, she sat back. "Alright. Make yourself some tea and sit down. I want to know more about this Damon guy," Libia rolled her eyes, pouring some tea of her own, before sitting down.

"He's really just a friend," Again, her heart lurched painfully when the word passed her lips, confusing her.

Her mother let out a scoff. "Honey, don't give me that Horse Hockey. You don't like to even associate with people. God help you, you got your father's personality. Your brother and I have been trying to get you to associate with people for years, and you just shy away. And now you're hugging this guy like he's your last tie to life?" She scoffed again, "I don't believe it."

Libia stared at her mother, her cheeks reddening with the truth that she couldn't deny. Who was she kidding? She was falling for this guy.

"I'm pathetic, aren't I?" She said quietly, using her tea as an excuse not to look at her mother, as she warmed her hands on the glass surrounding the cup, "I can't even admit it to myself. How can I admit it to him when I'm too shy to let myself accept it? He probably doesn't even like me back," She mumbled, her fingers playing with the handle of the mug.

Her mother sighed. "Honey, you really are blind."

Looking up, Libia raised a puzzled eyebrow. "Huh?"

"He hugged you back, Libia. He held onto you like his life depended on it. You can't tell me that he doesn't like you, because I saw the look in that boy's eyes when he looked at you. It was like he'd just been smacked in the face with a heavy dose of Oh-My-God-I'm-In-Love," Libia giggled at her mother's analogy, shaking her head.

"Yeah right, Mom. Damon? Liking me?" She let out one short, humorless laugh. "Right."

Her mother narrowed her eyes, disbelieving. The girl could be a super model, if she wasn't so shy. Her face was petite, and she knew from experience that when that little nose sniffled and those big, innocent eyes filled with tears, you'd want to either kill the person that hurt her, or kill yourself for being the one that hurt her. The girl puts off this vibe that screams "protect me!"

Libia took a sip of her tea, before looking up at her mother, whom was studying her closely. "What?"

Shaking her head, her mother sighed. "Tell me about Damon. What's he like?"

"Well...he doesn't seem like it at first, but he's...sweet. He helped me...a lot, with school related stuff. He doesn't let anyone mess with me at school. He's got this sense of humor that can either have you looking at him like a mad man, or laughing too hard to stand up straight," Libia paused as she saw the knowing smile on her mother's lips, "What?"

"How long have you known Damon?" She asked, taking a drink of her tea.

Raising her eyebrows in confusion, she shrugged. "I don't know, a couple days I guess?"