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Maverick
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BULLY ROOMATE Josie
The art studio was bright, with large glass windows and art hanging on the walls created by Derek’s students. I’d been happy to get an email about helping out with one of his classes during the week.I felt giddy sitting at the front of the room painting for everyone to see. After what my mother said, and how Maverick spent the entire morning holding me, I needed something to lift me up.Unlike Derek’s classes at the university, the ones at the studio were more diverse in gender. I hadn’t realized the hour passed so quickly when Derek tapped me on my shoulder. I glanced up from the distorted mess I’d created based around my mother’s harsh words and into Derek’s dark eyes.“I’m so sorry,” I said. “What time is it? Has everyone left?”Derek chuckled as he grabbed a stool and sat down. “This is different from the ones before. The ones about your … friend,” he said. “Are you two fighting?”I swiped a bead of sweat from my forehead. “No, actually it’s from my mother. She doesn’t understand
BULLY ROOMATE Josie
Of course, I remembered that night. The one and only time I’d gathered up the balls to sneak out of my house, I found him. I’d been mad at my mom for telling me I couldn’t take an art class downtown, so I decided to sneak out and bicycle to an abandoned alley where I could spray paint on a vandalized wall. It was stupid, and impulsive, but it saved a kid’s life.The dark night felt heavier than usual, humid and muggy, but I didn’t care. I peddled so fast, tears raced down my cheeks as I dumped my bike and hopped off. The alley was behind a bar that I knew better than to near, but my mood made me angry and careless.I shook the paint I’d found in our garage with my hand, mumbling obscenities I’d never have the nerve to say to my mother in real life, before I heard a trash can lid fall and I dropped my paint.Feeling brave I said, “Hello?”No one answered. It must have been a stray cat. I bent down to pick up my spray paint when I heard a moan. I stopped. Being young, I didn’t think it
BULLY ROOMATE Maverick
The bittersweet taste of the truth hung heavy on my tongue the next day. After Josie confessed to wanting to bring justice down on Derek, my head spun during all of my classes. I couldn’t let her risk her life for me.I hadn’t seen Derek since that night. He disappeared from my mother’s life and my own. I’d spent most of the next two years looking over my shoulder, scared that he’d try to come back and finish the job. It was the reason I decided to start football and begin working out. To be able to defend my family and myself.After a while, I stopped thinking about him coming back. Which meant I didn’t know what he was into, or what he would do now to Josie or Frankie. If she started digging around in his life, he may hurt her—or kill her. Look what he did to a thirteen-year-old boy who asked too many questions.I pressed my eyes closed on the bus ride back to campus. Most of the guys were sleeping since it was after ten, but sleep hadn’t come as easy to me this time. Every time I c
BULLY ROOMATE Josie
Monday morning rolled around, and my nerves fluttered when I walked into the writing center. Even with Maverick walking me to the door, the fact he had to walk clear across campus scared me.“You okay?” he asked.I nodded. “Of course.”Maverick leaned down and kissed my mouth softly. “I’ll meet you at the fountain after this class, okay?”“I’ll be there,” I said.I hadn’t been scared until I saw the fear in Maverick’s eyes. The fear he held for Derek showed me how much I should be scared. I wasn’t there for the beating but I’d seen how he left a thirteen-year-old boy.India slapped her palm down beside my computer and I jumped. “Girl, what happened to your internship with Professor Swoony? It’s all over campus that he’s looking for a new intern.”Great.I started my computer and signed in. “I just couldn’t keep up with the workload.”India eyed me suspiciously. “You couldn’t keep up, Josie? Do you expect me to believe that? Was Boyfriend jealous?"“No,” I said with a laugh. “Maverick
BULLY ROOMATE Maverick
Something is wrong.I felt it in my blood before the hour passed and students began to trickle out of the buildings and into the quad. I stood up from where I sat around the fountain, searching overheads for Josie but she didn’t show.Sweat began to build on my hairline from the Louisiana sun, drenching my t-shirt and hindering my breath. Five minutes passed before I walked toward the writing center to find India sitting at her desk.“Where is Josie?” I asked.She snatched an earbud from her ear. “She left about fifteen minutes ago.”I dug my phone from my pocket and called her. It went straight to voicemail. “She isn’t answering.”India gave me a strange look. “She probably went to the cafeteria or ran into someone—,”“No,” I barked. “She was supposed to meet me at the fountain.”India stood up. “She did say she was meeting you to exchange notes. I’ll try campus security, but it’s only been like twenty minutes and she’s an adult—,”I barreled from the room, knowing India was right. I
BULLY ROOMATE Josie
The dark demeanor that hung over Derek followed him as he walked into the room. A fear I’d never experienced danced along the walls, down my spine and it seemed to consume the other girls. They knew what was coming—I didn’t.It reminded me of the fear Maverick held for him.It cemented me to the floor. I didn’t try to move or jolt as he neared me, and squatted down to get a better look. “You have a little black eye. I’ll get some ice for it. We want you pretty for tomorrow.”My gaze traveled toward the two girls cowering on the other side of the room. They looked feral like Melody who hadn’t said one word since Derek walked inside. I figured I needed to take the hint and not speak, but I couldn’t help it.“Funny seeing you here,” I said. “I guess Maverick was right, you are a piece of shit.”Derek chuckled, reaching out to pinch my cheek tightly between two fingers. “I’ve been looking for someone like you. We’ve had tons of interest in different ethnicities over the last year, and whe
BULLY ROOMATE Josie
Hope slowly disappeared as the minutes turned to hours. Never in a million years did I think I’d be in a situation like this, but who does, really? The girls across from me didn’t, or the other girls he had chained to some dingy basement elsewhere.My wrists began to burn from the cuffs of the chains, and my shoulders cried out in agony from their position. I didn’t feel like someone that needed to complain considering the shape of the girls across from me. So, I kept my mouth shut, and listened for any activity outside of the room.“Do you think he’ll call the police?” Melody asked.Rain pelted against the roof suddenly, causing my nerves to grow, and my heart rate to spike. “I’m not sure,” I said softly. “If he catches wind of the cops he’ll—I don’t know what he’ll do.”Melody sniffled. “Do you love him?”I smiled despite the feeling of dread in my stomach. “Who Maverick?” I asked. “I do.”Melody shifted, the heavy chains rattled when she moved. “I’ve never been in love,” she whispe
BULLY ROOMATE Maverick
The dingy gas station stood attached to an abandoned garage and sat back from the main road meant for truckers at one point in time. After stopping by a drive-thru, India raced down the swirly road out of town toward a forgotten about and hidden garage. I kept my distance so she didn’t get suspicious and parked on the side of the road by the driveway.I only had seconds before she’d be inside, so I hauled ass toward her. A million different scenarios played out in my head, none of them ended well, but I had to try.She heard the crunch of the rocks beneath my shoes, turned and I sideswiped her. I’d never hit a woman in my life, but this cunt needed more than a tackle.“Oh my God!” she squeaked, but stopped when she realized who hit her. Her eyes rounded, and her lips opened in a surprised look.Keeping her beneath me, I entrapped her wrist above her head and noticed her struggle to get a stun gun from her purse scattered beside us. Perfect, now I have some leverage.I snatched it and
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