Home / YA/TEEN / Bullied By The Badboy / 101: He loves you

Share

101: He loves you

Author: maramartha
last update Last Updated: 2022-01-06 19:09:12

Ben wasn’t in school today and yesterday. I wasn’t on the lookout for him but it’s easy to notice when a member of the band is missing. Leah and Mira asked about him, Calum was quiet throughout our meal.

I swipe to the next picture on the Mending Heart Instaagram page. There’s a picture of Ben in their customised shirt and another of all of us in one frame. He’s smiling at the camera. Looking at the picture makes me smile and I have to remind myself I shouldn’t be smiling.

It must be all the time I’m spending indoors that’s affecting my mood. I don’t miss him. I change into a more comfortable outfit and step outside with a small backpack and a metal flask. Knocking on the door to my parents room once, I wait for them to answer. 

Mum opens the door with a grin. Questions shine in her eyes as she takes in my bold choice of outfit. A long flowing kimono over a pair of shorts stopping at my mid-thighs and a

Locked Chapter
Continue to read this book on the APP
Comments (9)
goodnovel comment avatar
georgia nimtz
What would have happened if Tessa had to choose between Ben or Maria? Ben felt the situation called for him to support Olivia. We still don't know who posted that vidio.
goodnovel comment avatar
nwajiqueen
Oh yea I love the ‘pepper them gang’ Tessa joined! Let him hurt well to realise his grave error in letting you go and breaking your heart. That way, he will always prioritise you whatever comes may!
goodnovel comment avatar
Jennifer Green
Gracie. Come on now. I get that she hurts, but he literally moved across the country to be with her and apologize and explain.
VIEW ALL COMMENTS

Related chapters

  • Bullied By The Badboy   102: Shut up

    If you love someone, let them go. If they ever loved you, they will find their way back to you. I think that quote is stupid. I think whoever invented it is more stupid. Why would you ever let someone you love go? Most importantly, why am I thinking about someone I want to forget? I turn and toss on the bed. It’s not working. I can’t sleep. I throw the covers off me and sit on the edge of the bed. It’s a few minutes past 5 in the morning and my alarm is set to ring at 6. Flipping the bedside lamp on, I turn off my alarm and dial Maria’s number. The call rings without interruption. She must have given up on me and I don’t blame her. There’s only so much a person can take. I haven’t called her since I moved here. I trace the shadow cast on the bed by the lamp. My chest constricts when her voicemail message comes up. The silence that follows has my thoughts jumping at me. I sit up and hug my knees to my chest. To get away from the voices in m

    Last Updated : 2022-01-08
  • Bullied By The Badboy   103: Get ready

    “Where were you?” a voice asks as soon as I open the door to my room.A yelp escapes me and I slap a hand over my mouth to muffle my scream. My back presses into the door and the figure on the bed slowly rises.She scared me.“Theresa Grace Mower.” Mum stops a few feet from me, one hand on her hip. “Where were you?” Being the baby I am, I bridge the gap and hug her. “This won’t cut it, Tessa.” But I feel her soften. Her hand lowers to my back. “You didn’t tell anyone where you were.”Because I wasn’t thinking straight. “I’m sorry.”“Your dad and I were worried.” She is totally relaxed now but I give her another squeeze.I step back, wringing my hands. “I’m sorry.”A minute or two later, she sighs and drags me to sit on the bed. “Did you two talk?”“Not yet.

    Last Updated : 2022-01-11
  • Bullied By The Badboy   104: Grounded

    I am grounded. I haven’t been in the house for up to a day and I am already grounded. The good part is, my room is big. So that’s something. But they took my phone. That’s how upset my parents are, mostly Daddy.It’s the evening of day two of being grounded and I am slowly losing it. I walk around the room. A second later, I return to lying face down on my bed. I hate this punishment. I am allowed to leave the room but when all I will see are my parents’ judgy eyes, I will rather be in here bored out of my mind.My eyes close, the next thing I am waking up to is Mum at the door. Her smile is not as happy. Well, yeah, I am not happy with her either. Light filters in through the crack of the windows and I rub the back of my eyes. Today is Monday. Monday is school. I will have to deal with a brooding Calum again.“Tessa, you will be late. Your daddy’s ready.”I groan into the pillow and kick the air

    Last Updated : 2022-01-11
  • Bullied By The Badboy   105: I love Gracie

    BENGracie feels guilty about the fall out with Calum and I don’t know how to cheer her up. I don’t care about Calum but I care about her.She is still as quiet as she was when we walked into the cafeteria. I flash her a smile, she carries her tray and heads for the table. We hesitate before sitting with the crew. Leah and Mira are not a problem. Calum shouldn’t be a problem but I am not sure Gracie can handle sitting at the same table with him.My worry dissolves when she settles down on the other bench. Mira, Leah and Calum are on the opposite side. I sit beside her, trying not to feel bad for Calum who shares eye contact with her. He shouldn’t have tried to replace me.Gracie and I are meant to be. Always and forever.“Soo, are you guys like a couple now?” Leah asks. She’s eating something funny from a plastic cup.“Yeah,” Gracie answers. She smiles at me and leans over

    Last Updated : 2022-01-12
  • Bullied By The Badboy   106: Absolute worst

    Nobody remembered my birthday. I know I have been acting like I don’t care about it but it’s not enough reason to forget it. Mum didn’t remember, Daddy didn’t too. We left for school extra early today, throughout the ride I kept expecting him to pull up on me with a surprise but nothing. Even Benny forgot it.School was extremely boring for me. During lunch hour, I was barely chatty. Ben either didn’t notice or he didn’t care. I couldn’t be mad at the band because they didn’t know my date of birth but my supposedly perfect boyfriend didn’t remember.I don’t like him so much right now. I don’t like how he’s staring at me. Ben pinches my nose to elicit a reaction from me but all I give him is a sneer. Even that doesn’t bother him.His arm hangs outside the car, head pokes outside so the sun is shining on his face. I slap his leg for no reason and he lets out an exaggerated gr

    Last Updated : 2022-01-13
  • Bullied By The Badboy   107: Keep the door open

    Calum came with his guitar. Such a showoff. He is singing. My parents are smitten by him. If the way they are paying rapt attention to his singing is any sign to go by. Ben can sing too, he is the best bathroom singer in his opinion. Maria also seems impressed with Calum. She pinches my thighs and winks. I shouldn’t have let her sit beside me.“He’s hot,” she whispers. “Is he available?”“You have a boyfriend,” I remind her. “Daniel. Daniel Holt. The hot guy with green eyes.” Her grin is instant. It’s a surprise and miracle they are still going strong. “Yeah, you are very much not single.”“I’m allowed to admire other people.” Maria pokes my cheek to support her fallacious claims. I feel like admiring people can lead into something more. Feelings sure can be weird and I will rather be on the safer side. “You too, Tessa. Admire from afar. Keep your op

    Last Updated : 2022-01-15
  • Bullied By The Badboy   108: Soulmates and letter girl

    Ben got into NYU. We are going to NYU together. The excitement is too much for my body to contain. I continue jumping on the bed while Ben tries to convince me to ‘behave’. I don’t think he understands. We will go to NYU. We will get great jobs. We will get married. We will have kids. We will be together, forever. He should also be jumping.“Gracie, stop,” he says for the umpteenth time.I stop long enough for him to carry me into his arms. My lips are on his in seconds, pouring out the words I couldn’t say. I didn’t know he applied to my school. I have the best boyfriend ever.Something falls out of the torn envelope while I am trying to tuck in his acceptance letter into it. I hold the charm to my eyes and an instant grin breaks out on my lips. Without being told, I know the NYU charm is for my memory bracelet. More memories. We will create new and better memories in NYU.“What about SAS?” I as

    Last Updated : 2022-01-17
  • Bullied By The Badboy   109: Don’t stop

    BENSometimes, when something bad happens to you, you don’t tell people so they don’t pity you or offer pitiful looks. Gracie keeps doing that. She’s so overprotective and watchful of me like she’s afraid I’ll break down any second.I’m okay.“Can you stop?” I grumble out. She’s on my bed pretending to read a novel. The hand holding the book lowers. “I don’t like it.”“You don’t like what?”“How you’re staring at me,” I whisper.“I wasn’t staring.” Sure, she was. Lifting herself up to plant a kiss on my lips, she tries to hold me in place but I move away because I don’t feel like it. I have no idea why I am annoyed but I want to leave this place right now. “Did I do something wrong?”“No.”Pushing my legs over the bed, I tense slightly when her ar

    Last Updated : 2022-01-18

Latest chapter

  • Bullied By The Badboy   Thank You

    I feel like sexual assault against the male genders is not talked about as much as in the case of the female genders. As a friend to a few males who have been molested by people who were supposed to care for them, I knew I had to write about it someday. And I hope I was able to bring awareness to this, however little, through Ben. It’s never okay to molest a child. It’s never okay to molest anyone. That being said, here are some fun facts about this book; 1. It’s my first attempt at teenfiction. I was almost certain readers would notice and call me out on that. 2. BBTB was supposed to be a short story project. I was so worried it would be a flop so I planned to make it between 40-80 chapters. But the story grew wings and took off on its own. 3. This is the longest story I have ever written. I am just as surprised as you are and I was pleasantly shocked to see comments wanting their lovestory to go on for much longer. Those comments kept me going even on the bad days. So, thank y

  • Bullied By The Badboy   Bonus (VIII*): Benjamin Junior

    It hurts too much. My body is on fire and it’s not yet right to push. Why isn’t it time? I need them to get the baby out of me. Not later, now. Sweat drips down my forehead and my eyes sting with tears. The doctor has stopped the bleeding. I have been cleaned up, changed into a hospital gown. They say everything is fine but it’s not. The contractions are ripping me from inside out and all Ben does is mutter unintelligible gibberish. He put the baby inside me, he should experience the pain too. “Are you okay?” Ben asks. I glare at him. How can I be okay? Whatever the doctor gave me is keeping me awake so I have no respite from the pain. Ben pushes my hair away from my sweaty forehead and I lean into him for comfort. I’m tired but I’m glad our son is okay. “I’m sorry, Gracie,” my husband says. Pushing past my pain, I offer him a questioning glance. Maddie is fine, right? My parents are okay too, right? Ben wipes the tears spill

  • Bullied By The Badboy   Bonus (VIII): Breathe through it

    I am packing up for Maddie’s weekend getaway when Ben strolls into her room. He picks a toy from the floor, tosses it into the air and catches it. I stall when he crosses over to me. All his attempts to take over the packing from me are futile. He protests by shaking his head. I am pregnant, not handicapped.When the bag is zipped up, I lower myself to the bed to catch my breath. Maybe I should have let him do it. But he never lets me do anything.Worried eyes stare into mine as Ben kneels between my legs. I’m fine, just tired. I pick the stuffed bear he dropped on the bed and sniff it. It smells like Maddie. And if I listen closely, I’ll hear her voice as she sings along with her favourite characters on TV.Maddie’s grandparents—my parents are in town because I’m due next week. They don’t want to miss it. She’s spending the weekend with them.Ben pries the bear from me and traces the

  • Bullied By The Badboy   Bonus (VII): Candy

    Laughter erupts from the living room, a kid’s voice follows and my lips curve in a smile. I pause the YuuTube tutorial I’m watching and set my tab down on the counter. I’m trying a new recipe I found online. Ben has been working extra hours so he can’t cook as much anymore and I’m tired of takeouts for dinner.With a hand under my belly, I meander to the living room. Maddie is on her feet, clapping and giggling at the television. There’s an old show playing. A family series I starred in one year after graduation. I clear my throat and my baby girl spins to face me. She grins and everything feels right. The nine hours of labour, the screams, the pain. They don’t matter.Running towards me, she stops a few inches from me and grabs my hand. “See Mummy,” she says, pointing at the television. I’m helping the second male lead set up his outfit for work. Her blue eyes flash with childlike innocence when she run

  • Bullied By The Badboy   Bonus (VI): Theresa Carter

    I feel the stare before I turn to Maria. “Will you stop?” I mutter. She says nothing but her eyes lower to my swollen belly, making it so obvious she had been staring. “Maria Vega.”“Theresa Carter.”Pink colours my cheeks. I hide my face in my palms and she bursts out laughing. It still feels so surreal being Mrs Carter, Ben’s wife. Our wedding was small and private like we both wanted. Aside from our family, we had our friends. Maria. Leah. Mira. Calum. Olivia also showed up. She and Ben are still in contact. We are kind of cool.Thinking about the wedding makes me smile and I twist the ring on my forth finger. My promise ring remains on my middle finger.I sit up and cross my legs. There are some pictures from the wedding scattered all over the living room floor. Maria didn’t get a chance to see them before her flight. She had a concert that day. I rub a hand over my stomach. Ben didn’t

  • Bullied By The Badboy   Bonus (V): Show them

    Where is Ben? We will be late.I step out of the bathroom in only a towel and sashay to the wardrobe to get the gown for our date. There are a few options but I select a navy blue off-shoulder gown. Flipping through my playlist, I settle on Maria’s new single and settle down in front of the vanity to make myself up.A smile curves my lips as I brush my hair. I don’t look so bad at all. The makeup tutorial classes on YuuTube and Maria’s extra sessions come in handy as I apply foundation to my face. My gaze flies to the door. I’m in my room. Ben wasn’t in his room when I checked but he should be getting ready.The door creaks. I look up but Ben doesn’t walk in. My eye makeup is done. I apply a bright red lipstick and the door finally opens. Ben stalks into the room wearing a tux. My man is hot but in a suit and Oxford leather shoes, he is hotter. He closes the door with his foot and leans on it so I can assess

  • Bullied By The Badboy   Bonus (IV*): Birthday boy

    The drive to Ben’s office is a blur. I’m out of the car and in front of his office in a flash. I miss him. And I haven’t seen him in eight hours.I knock once on the door and open before he ushers me inside. Locking the door behind me, I bridge the gap between us and crush him in a hug. We live in the same house but God, I want to be in his presence all the time.“You’re back so early,” Ben says against my lips. I kiss him hard to make up for the hours without any kisses. Ben chuckles and hoists me on the edge of his desk. Then, he stands between my legs. “I missed you too, babe.”I grin. “I missed you more.”Ben touches his forehead to mine. “You’re here,” he says. His smile is sad. I nod against his body and his hands slip into my gown. I help him with the zip and pout. “I didn’t think you would make it today.”I had a pho

  • Bullied By The Badboy   Bonus (IV): My soulmate

    The mixer whirrs to life. I throw in more flour, add three eggs and whisk the batter into a smooth mix. Calum, my unwilling apprentice, watches from behind the counter. He came in last night. On my command, Calum oils the pans for the cake and turns on the oven. Done, he edges close to me. I swat his hand before he dips his finger into the mix. “Come on, Tessa. I came all this way, let me have some.” I roll my eyes. He came all this way, uninvited but I’m happy to see him. I empty the batter into the small pan. We will eat from that. “Just a taste.” “Fine.” I shove the spatula in his face and he snatches it from me. My face scrunches in disgust when he licks the spatula clean like a hungry dog. “Calum, what’s wrong with you?” He shrugs. “Nothing?” It feels like there’s something but I continue emptying the batter into the pans. When I’m done, I bring out the ingredients for the icing. Today is Ben’s

  • Bullied By The Badboy   Bonus (III*): Only you

    A look of fear flashes across her face. She levels me with a stare that shows she’s trying to control her temper. It’s unfair that I have to watch her kiss other guys under the guise of it being part of the job. “You are just making up scenarios that don’t exist,” she says. “Your job doesn’t even require it, Benny.” “But your job does...” I twist my hands so hard they ache. She doesn’t get it. “...and I don’t like it, Gracie.” Various emotions flicker on her face. She opens and closes her mouth twice without saying a word. The third time, she murmurs, “You asked me to trust you when Elena was involved, right?” I did. And I’ve established boundaries at the office, at school too. For fuck’s sake, she’s my screensaver, I wear my ring. They know I belong to Gracie. “So, can you please trust me on this one? It’s just a job, babe.” “Babe, it’s not the same.” Gracie stomps her feet in annoyance. I grit my teeth. She’s not the only one getti

DMCA.com Protection Status