Feels like forever
The Courage to Speak
Three months later…
*Cece’s POV*
Jackson and I had been together for three torturous months. Bruises had collected on my arms like a museum of painful paintings. They were cleverly hidden to where they wouldn’t be seen. If I didn’t do something right, he would squeeze my arm until it bruised up, or dig his nails into my arm until they bled.
Jackson was still trying to get to Copeland, but I did my best through the past months to keep her away. But it was the worst way that I did it.
Copeland and I slowly started to lose touch. I made sure to avoid her in the halls, to duck out of the way when she tried to talk to me. If I had minimal contact with her, I could keep Jackson away from her and maybe he would drop me.
And then there was Zack. I talked to him a little, but every time he asked about Copeland, I would change the subject. Jackson wanted to use me so that he could make sure Zack stopped talking to Cope, but I wouldn’t let that happen.
It hurt to be away from my best friends, but I had to keep them away from Jackson. His brother, Jack, was very sweet, but I was always wary. Jack might snap just like Jackson.
Today, I was over at the Fuentes’ household. Jackson and I were sitting in the living room, watching a movie while the parents were on the back deck, drinking and talking under the stars.
On the screen was Fast and Furious 4 and I was trying to keep myself from focusing on the bad things. Jackson had his arm around me as Jake walked into the room. I threw him a sad smile. Jake and I had gotten closer over the past few weeks.
“Hey, Cece.” He smiled. I grinned.
“What’s up, Jake?”
“Oh, just finishing some homework.” He shrugged. I saw from the corner of my eye that Jackson was glaring at Jake. I gestured for Jake to sit down. He took a spot next to me, quickly catching my eye in a glance that said “are you okay?” I grimaced and turned my attention back to the screen. Jackson fumed in silence.
After the movie finished, I quickly stood up. Jackson followed me to the door.
“I’m glad you could come over.” He gritted his teeth as he spoke. Before I could escape, his arms wrapped me in a hug and I forced myself not to back away out of fear.
“Thanks.” I muttered before slipping on my shoes and walking outside. I waved to Mike and Alyssa as I walked down the steps. My car was out front. I had gotten my license a couple of weeks ago and was happy to have this driving freedom.
As I touched the car handle, I felt a hand touch my shoulder. I flinched away.
“Hey, it’s just me.” Jake whispered. I turned around in the dark. No one could see us.
“Oh, hi Jake.” I whispered in relief. I’m glad it wasn’t Jackson….this time.
“I just wanted to check on you.” He said worriedly. I saw a gleam of sorrow in his eyes. He knew his brother was hurting me, but couldn’t say anything about it.
“Thanks, but I’m good. I think I’ll head home now.” I said and hopped into the car. He tapped on the window. I just wanted to get out of here but Jake wasn’t letting me. Rolling the glass barrier down, he folded his arms on the door and looked at me with sad eyes.
“Don’t let him hurt you. Please, just say something to someone.” He begged me. I shook my head. I couldn’t risk him coming after Cope, Zack, or anyone I loved.
“I can’t, Jake. You know why.”
“Please, say something.” He begged me. I shook my head, patting his arm.
“Later, Jake.” I responded, finger hovering over the button to shut him off. He suddenly leaned forward, pecking my cheek. My eyes widened in surprise at the sudden gesture.
“Stay safe.” He whispered. I smiled weakly and backed out, waving as I went.
*Cece’s POV*
Jackson and I had been together for three torturous months. Bruises had collected on my arms like a museum of painful paintings. They were cleverly hidden to where they wouldn’t be seen. If I didn’t do something right, he would squeeze my arm until it bruised up, or dig his nails into my arm until they bled.
Jackson was still trying to get to Copeland, but I did my best through the past months to keep her away. But it was the worst way that I did it.
Copeland and I slowly started to lose touch. I made sure to avoid her in the halls, to duck out of the way when she tried to talk to me. If I had minimal contact with her, I could keep Jackson away from her and maybe he would drop me.
And then there was Zack. I talked to him a little, but every time he asked about Copeland, I would change the subject. Jackson wanted to use me so that he could make sure Zack stopped talking to Cope, but I wouldn’t let that happen.
It hurt to be away from my best friends, but I had to keep them away from Jackson. His brother, Jack, was very sweet, but I was always wary. Jack might snap just like Jackson.
Today, I was over at the Fuentes’ household. Jackson and I were sitting in the living room, watching a movie while the parents were on the back deck, drinking and talking under the stars.
On the screen was Fast and Furious 4 and I was trying to keep myself from focusing on the bad things. Jackson had his arm around me as Jake walked into the room. I threw him a sad smile. Jake and I had gotten closer over the past few weeks.
“Hey, Cece.” He smiled. I grinned.
“What’s up, Jake?”
“Oh, just finishing some homework.” He shrugged. I saw from the corner of my eye that Jackson was glaring at Jake. I gestured for Jake to sit down. He took a spot next to me, quickly catching my eye in a glance that said “are you okay?” I grimaced and turned my attention back to the screen. Jackson fumed in silence.
After the movie finished, I quickly stood up. Jackson followed me to the door.
“I’m glad you could come over.” He gritted his teeth as he spoke. Before I could escape, his arms wrapped me in a hug and I forced myself not to back away out of fear.
“Thanks.” I muttered before slipping on my shoes and walking outside. I waved to Mike and Alyssa as I walked down the steps. My car was out front. I had gotten my license a couple of weeks ago and was happy to have this driving freedom.
As I touched the car handle, I felt a hand touch my shoulder. I flinched away.
“Hey, it’s just me.” Jake whispered. I turned around in the dark. No one could see us.
“Oh, hi Jake.” I whispered in relief. I’m glad it wasn’t Jackson….this time.
“I just wanted to check on you.” He said worriedly. I saw a gleam of sorrow in his eyes. He knew his brother was hurting me, but couldn’t say anything about it.
“Thanks, but I’m good. I think I’ll head home now.” I said and hopped into the car. He tapped on the window. I just wanted to get out of here but Jake wasn’t letting me. Rolling the glass barrier down, he folded his arms on the door and looked at me with sad eyes.
“Don’t let him hurt you. Please, just say something to someone.” He begged me. I shook my head. I couldn’t risk him coming after Cope, Zack, or anyone I loved.
“I can’t, Jake. You know why.”
“Please, say something.” He begged me. I shook my head, patting his arm.
“Later, Jake.” I responded, finger hovering over the button to shut him off. He suddenly leaned forward, pecking my cheek. My eyes widened in surprise at the sudden gesture.
“Stay safe.” He whispered. I smiled weakly and backed out, waving as I went.
Notes
I'm such a horrible co-author guys for not updating sooner :/ Sorry about that. But I finally put a chapter up after deciding what to write! I hope you like the new direction it'll go in!
-Chaos'sWolf
;-; tears man
3/4/15