Chapter 5

It's been a month since I had started school and so far so good. I have all A's for my grades except for my grade in Honors English, I have a B+. And also I haven't spoken a word to Sean.

He tried to talk to me my first week a lot and now it's just like he's giving me space. Which I'm thankful for, I don't even know him. He might just want me for my looks... no wonder he looked at me that way in front of the class on my first day. That's how this all started.

I've been ignoring the fact that every time he brushes past me on accident or our arms touch when we are working I feel little sparks.

It's all in my head. I'm trying to convince myself of that but it's like he feels it too. He smiles at me when he thinks I'm not looking, it's just all too strange for me. Does he have a crush on me? Maybe I should at least be friends with the dude. I feel bad.

As for Michael and Makayla we have became really close. Makayla and me more so, we text everyday just like me and Kylie. No one could replace Kylie though.

Makayla knows about my little crush on Sean and everything that's happened so far and she wishes we'd talk more

It's the week of Halloween, Halloween is on Friday and today's Monday. Michael is having a Halloween Bash at his place Halloween night so I'll be there along with Makayla. It'll be nice to be out of the house. Parties aren't really my thing though but with Makayla it'll be nice.

I thought about what costume I'd wearing, Makayla says she has a few Sexy costume ideas in mind, and I guess I'll be willing to try them out. I'm texting Makayla right now about it.

M: How about a police officer costume?

Me: How is that Sexy?

M: You'll see, I think it's perfect.

M: ( sent a photo )

Me: I don't know M..

M: ITS PERFECT YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT! Pleaseeeee at least try it on Friday

Me: Okay fine I'll try it.

M: Yay! I'll see ya at school Jess.

Me: See ya.

I took my phone off of the charger and went downstairs to find something to eat for breakfast. Normally I don't eat breakfast but since I have a test in Math today again I'll get a banana or pop tart to go.

I go downstairs and I see my uncle hunched over the kitchen counter... his clothing looked messy and so did his hair and I smelt something but I couldn't put my finger on it.

" Hey uncle Kenny, you okay? " I ask walking up to him slowly. He didn't hear me so I walk up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder, " Hey.. " he turns around to look at me with an angry face and I suddenly know what smell I was smelling.

He was drunk.

I back away from him seeing he was angry. I eye the bottle in his hand and saw it was empty. He must've been up all night thinking about my aunt. He misses her so much and he's had nightmares all week about her and couldn't sleep much anymore, I guess he chose to drink his feelings away...

" Oh no not you too, I can't lose you too. " I broke into tears.

His face got more angry and threw the bottle at me aiming at my head. I dodged it and watched it hit the wall behind me. My eyes widened in horror as he started walking fast towards me.

I screamed as he pulled me by my hair and yanked it as he pushed me down to the floor. " You. You did this. Your the reason I'm like this and why they're gone. Th-They're all gone cause of Jessica Meadows. "

I cried even more as he pulled me up off of the floor by my arm and I'm pretty sure there would be bruises there now.. he held his face close to mine, " Your gonna be late, niece. "

My parents died in a car crash driving to their work after dropped me off at school, since I didn't like the bus much. When I started 6th grade I said they didn't have to drop me off anymore, but they still insisted. My parents only had one car but didn't mind it since they both worked at the same place.I never blamed myself for their accident.. is he right?

" I'm s-sorry.. " I sobbed out.

" Go away you worthless human. "

I got up from the floor and retrieved my bookbag that flew off me when I was thrown to the floor. When I heard my uncle went into the kitchen to do whatever he pleased I went back to my room and changed my outfit.

I was wearing a white shirt that now had drink all over it when he tried to hit me with the bottle and a tiny bit was still in there. And from where he pulled my arm there was also a new hole in this shirt.

I just put my hair into a simple braid, black shirt, jeans, and my Nike's. And so no one saw the now bruises on my arm that have perfectly formed in a shape of finger marks, I have on a black hoodie.

I'm not telling anyone because I don't know what'll happen... and this might just be a one time thing, I'll come home and he'll apologize and be sobered up and everything will be okay again.

I went to school and once I got through the doors I wanted to start crying. I ran into the bathroom hoping no one saw me, I got into one of the stalls and tried so hard not to cry. When I cry my face gets all red and it stays that way for about an hour until it goes away completely. Pretty ugly if you ask me.

I wipe the tears starting to form and try and think happy thoughts. Happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts...

The door slams open and I hear a voice call out into the bathroom, " Jessica? Where are you? "

I know who it is... Mr It himself... in the girls restroom. After I don't respond he says, " Come on I know your in here. "

I might as well show myself, I get up from sitting down and open my stall door to him looking at me.

" Why are you in the girls restroom..? " I ask quietly.

" Doesn't matter, are you okay? You ran in here looking like you were gonna cry. " he said softly.

" I'm fine, don't worry about it. " I sniffed

Didn't help my case.

" I know your not, your face is kinda red. "

Dammit..

" Just family issues. " I say hoping he'd just leave me alone. But he didn't.

" Wanna skip first period? " is what he responds with.

" Excuse me? " I say looking up at him...I get lost in his eyes for a second until he responds.

" I know the principle, it'll be okay. I know you want a friend right now. "

Everything hit me with realization of what had happened this morning... my uncle hurt me. For the first time. What if he doesn't get better? I can't go back home I can't do it what if he's still drunk?!

I didn't realize I was hyperventilating until I slumped into the wall and hugged my legs. " Hey Jessica, it'll be okay I promise. Just please you gotta breathe for me. "

I couldn't breathe I tried and tried but I just kept thinking about everything.

Sean walked up to me and crouched beside me. He then wrapped his arms around me protecting me from whatever would harm me. I leaned on his chest and felt familiar sparks when we touched. In the moment I didn't think about it because I was trying to calm down.

When I was calm the late bell rang and I sat up. " I'm so sorry now we are late.. " I said looking down.

" No we aren't. " he smiled

" Huh? "

" We are skipping remember? " he smirked.

" Fine.. I guess one day couldn't hurt. " I said

" Good, you need a distraction anyway. Do you need to talk about it? "

" No, I'm okay. "

He didn't look convinced but he let it go and dragged me out of the girls bathroom.

When we walked out a custodian that was just about to walk in looked at Sean like he was crazy.

" Like what you see? " he smirked at her and led me out of the school leaving the custodian without words.

" So where are we going? " I ask curious.

" You'll see. " he smiled at me. Gosh he as a perfect smile.

I smiled back and followed him.

We went into the forest behind the school and watched how he walked up to these big vines on a big rock.

" Did you take me here to murder me? "

He looks at me with fake hurt on his face, " I'm surprised you'd ever think that of me princess. "

I laughed at the nickname kinda liking how he called me that.

" So what are we doing at a rock? "

" Give it some credit... " he pulled the vines to the side and it wasn't a big rock... it was a pathway to someplace. " It's got more to it then it seems. " he winked at me.

I walked through and saw a huge waterfall with a few rocks sitting in the water around it and on the land beside the calmer water of the waterfall.

My mouth was wide open in awe at it. It was so beautiful, I've never seen a waterfall up close before.

" If you keep your mouth open any longer flies will get in it. " Sean said ruining the moment

" Apologize. " I said with a straight face.

" What? "

" You heard me. "

" For what? " he said puzzled

" For ruining my moment with this here waterfall. " I motion towards it.

" Ohhh... " he looks at the waterfall and back at me with a straight face and says, " ... I'm sorry for nothing. " and bursted out laughing.

" Im sorry for even acting sorry. So I lied a second ago. "

I narrowed my eyes at him and went to sit in front of the waterfall on one of the big rocks.

This'll be a good day, I can feel it.

I ran my hand through the water sensing Sean was behind me. I heard him mutter something under his breath, " The waterfall is beautiful but not as beautiful as you. "