Chapter 53
“Pumpkin, my dad’s dejected voice, stopped me on track. 1 wasn’t planning on talking to him after last night’s dinner.
1 had woken up early today because I wanted to leave before he woke up. I was hurt by his words; he had indirectly called me a whore.
ng him a blank stare
“princess.” I sucked in
in a breath, my hands molded into a fist. I spin around, giving
He looked like he hadn’t slept, his eyes filled with guilt and tiredness, and as much as I wanted to forgive h him. I just couldn’t.
Pumpkin. Im sorry about diner last night. I didn’t mean what I said; I was just aner
“You literally classified me as a slut. Apparently any guy who would ever like me has an interior motive, right? Thissed, attempting to stifle the sound because I didn’t want Asher listening in
“Forgive your old man, princess: I didn’t mean it like that. I don’t want you to get hurt” My dad said it softly.
I scoffed, narrowing my eyes at my father. Twill be eighteen in a month, dad. 1 am very capable of taking care of myself. You can’t keep me caged up because you don’t want me to get hurt. I need to get hurt to learn, dad”
“I know, but I can’t, you will always be my princess”
“Then you have no problem with me dating Hayden. His jaw clenched, his fist turning white,
1 don’t understand him. He has met Hayden and even complimented him, saying he was a good kid. Now why was he acting this way?
guess we have nothing else to say. I made an attempt to leave, but he called me back.
“Pumpkin, it’s my job to look out for you” 1 huffed; it was going to be difficult to change his mind.
I can’t do this right now, I need to go to school” I saw the look of defeat in his eyes. I know he was hurt, but so am I.
I turned around, walking out of the door, I had asked Hayden not to pick me up today, I wanted to walk to clear my head. I know he was because he kept texting to know if anything was wrong and if I had told my parents about us
worried.
I lied, telling him that I hadn’t told them yet because I didn’t want him to worry. I continue making my way to school, enjoying the feel of the morning air. It didn’t take long before I got to school. I walked to my locker, putting my bag in. I took the books I needed, dragging my legs to my
first class
I took a seat at my table, sighing as I placed my books on the table. Maddie and Sohe looked at me, worried.
“Yesterday you looked like crap, and today you look like you got run over by a trunk, repeatedly, might I add Sofie said she was concerned. My eyes were blurry, and I wiped the tears off my eyes before they fell from my face.
“What’s wrong. Bree? You are scaring me. Maddie asked, shocked at seeing me cry. I rest my head on Sofie’s shoulder, taking in a deep breath.
I started narrating everything that had happened last night, including how I told my parents about Hayden and me. My dad’s reaction and words I also told them about what happened this morning as well.
“Wow, I can’t believe your dud said that to you” Muddie said she was shocked.
“I knew it was going to take a while for him to accept this because he is protective, but I didn’t expect him to say that to me yesterday”
“But I kind of understand where he is coming from Sofie stated. “He doesn’t want you to get hurt.”
“Have you told Hayden yet about it? Maddie asks.
“No, I don’t want to worry him.”
“I understand it’s best not to let him know for now that your dad hasn’t accepted the relationship yet
“Sofie is right, Dylan told us about the coach being on their neck. Telling him will stress him out more. I sighed, hitting my head on the desk with hang.
It’s going to be okay, Bree. Maddie said it sofily
The rest of the day, I kept myself buried in schoolwork to take my mind off what was going on. I was kind of happy that Hayden couldn’t come for lunch today because he would be able to spot that something was wrong. I also wanted to ask him about his parents but decided against in
School ended faster today, and I walked back home again, refusing any rides from Maddie and Sofic. 1 got in and saw my mom sitting in the living. room, watching a movie,
Chapter 52
“Mom!” I exclaimed, throwing myself in her arms and hugging her. She wrapped her arms around me, and I placed my head on her shoulders,
“Sweetie,” the says as 1 nuzzle my nose in her hair. It felt good to be in her arms; we stayed in each other’s embrace for a while. When we finally let
she held my hand, giving me a comforting smile.
“Are you okay?” I shake my head
“It’s going to be okay, baby,” my mom assures me with a feeble smile. I laid my legs on the clair, n immediately found their way to my hair, running them through it.
resting my head on her lap. Her fingers
“Can I stay at Sohe’s place in the meantime!” My voice was low. She seems confused for a second, her eyes form a thoughtful look.
“Do you really have to stay at Sohe’s place?” She says.
“T’s just for some days, I will be back before homecoming My mom’s eyes sollen, and she brushes a strand of my hair from my forehead.
“I guess you can I will try to talk to your dad and try to convince him.”
“Thanks, mom: you are the best.” She gives me a soft laugh, resting her back against the couch. She sighed, her voice sounding tired.
“Enough about me. You look really pale, are you sure everything is okay?” I asked worriedly. Her face was ghastly white, and she looked like she was going to throw up any time soon.
1 sat up, looking at her. When she didn’t say anything, I grabbed a hold of her hand in a startling move.
“It’s nothing, baby”
I don
I know what she was keeping, but it was obviously something. Why won’t she tell me what was wrong, and I doubt she has told dad also? I just hope she okay and not sich
The blazing of the alarm was what woke me up the next morning. I stretched to shut it off and ended up falling out of bed, slamming down on the cold floor. My eyes groggily opened confused, taking in the view of the room.
The sound of someone laughing had ane snapping my head up. Sofie stond by the door of the room, laughing her ass out as she pointed at my figure on the floor. 1 sara brim of tears by the side of my eyes and rolled my eyes.
“God! That was epic” She wiped the tears off her face.
“I thought I was in my room” I shrugged, and 1 slowly picked myself back up.
Freshen up and get dressed; I’m going to make us breakfast.” She smiled, closing the door behind her.
I walked into the bathroom, washed my face, and pulled my head up into a ponytail. I slapped on a bit of natural makeup. I wore a tight, black turtleneck with distressed, high–waisted jeans paired with my trusty Converse.
I grabbed my phone from the night table and made my way downstairs. Sofie was in the kitchen flipping pancakes She was the only one at home. Chris had gone back to school, and her dad was never at home. He always has his head stacked at work
The only time she ever sees him is during the holidays, but even during those times, he always looked for a way to leave the house. They don’t spend time together, Sofie says, because she reminds him much about her mom.
I took a seat at the kitchen counter, a plate of pancakes in front of me. Sofie took a seat, and we both started eating. We ate in silence, and after we finished eating, I did the dishes while Sofie went to the bathroom. I texted my mom to let her know I was okay.
When Sofie got out, we both hopped into the car and drove off. I emerge from the car, taking in a deep breath. Sofie and I parted ways at the hall; she went to her locker while I went to our first class for the day.
The teacher was already there, sitting on the desk, glaring at the pile of teenagers stamping into the classroom.
“Today, students, we will be having a test, I want to see how much you retained during the past few months. This will count towards your final grade,” he said.
He handed up the tests, and everyone in the class groans, even me, because the last time I wanted was whatever dreadful rest he planned for us. It was a chemistry test, and I know I did well and didn’t bother worrying about it
The next couple of classes moved slowly, and I could feel the headache forming in my head. I entered the last class before lunch, taking a seat at the back beside Maddie, waiting for Sofie.
The class started, and yet there was still no sign of her. This is so unlike her Maddie and i became worried. Maddie brought out her phone to text her until we heard a knock on the door. The teacher opened the door for a very frazzled Sofie, who burst into the room the minute the door
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Chapter 53
opened. She scrambled to her seat beside me and quickly pulled her books out.
She noticed out confused look as the lesson resumed. “I will tell you later during lunch.” She said that and started taking notes on the board. I gues something must have happened that made her late.”
Class flew by, and finally it was lunch. We bought our hinch, then made our way to our seat. It’s just us girls again the boys had practice again, and Oliver had to go to London for his aunt’s wedding
“So what happened! Why did you come in late?” Maddie questioned us when we sat down.
“Oh night. I had gone to the bathroom to relieve myself and got blocked by Sophie and her minions. She kept rambling about how you are being used by Hayden, that Hayden was hers, and if Lecared aboist you, I should tell you to break up with him if you don’t want to get hurt, bla bla bla”
“That girl just doesn’t give up 1 sighed, twirling my food,
“she mist
must really believe whatever nonsense comes out of her mouth. She sounded so sure.” Sofie says.
As I sat there in silence, eating my lunch. I randomly kept thinking about why Sophie feels so confident about this.
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