Without Jesse

(37) what!? when!? who!? and why!?

✨Talia✨

 He repeated annoyed, "How do you know about the Danlrades?" 

I coughed uncomfortably and muttered, "Is that one of-"

"Don't. Just tell me." Justin snarled, and I felt as if a little wall like the one at the start of the year had been put up again. I stammered, annoyed at myself for writing the question,

"I-I, there was a form, and your name was on it, and I glanced at it and-and I saw your foster homes. It said to remove you from the Danlrades because-because the mom was alcoholic and the dad a-abused you-"

"So, you glanced at it long enough to read about the foster homes I had been in and specific private information that wasn't meant for you?" He interrupted sharply, his voice cut through the air and made us silent. I looked down at my fingers and nodded quietly.

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

"Wow, real good eye you've got there! Did you also see how after my 7th home the workers gave up on caring when I came back dehydrated and unfed? Or when I had bruises all over my body and they couldn't be bothered to ask about it cos they gave up on me!" He snapped again and stood up paced the room.

"I thought we were friends Watson! At least that! But I guess you just want to find out all about me to blab to your precious little boyfriend and your friends!" He turned sharply and marched over to where I was sitting, he placed both hands next to my legs and leaned in to look me dead in the eye, "What else have you been hiding from me?" His words made me gulp. His eyes flashed green when I didn't answer him.

I swallowed the bile that had risen to my mouth, "I... Blake isn't my boyfriend." was all I could manage, Justin scoffed and stood up fully again whilst pacing,

"Your so... so annoying and confusing Watson! One minute your fine but the next your hiding secrets and creeping around into other people's things! You ever wonder why Jesse killed herself maybe this was why-" His rant stopped as he realized what he had just said. I stared at him, numb and unmoving. I brought my knees up to my chest and mumbled,

"Maybe your right." But I knew he wasn't. But it was my fault that she didn't survive that night.

"Shit, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." He cursed and strode up to me before sitting down next to me on the bed. Our legs brushed as I fumbled with my fingers to push back a stray bit of hair that had come loose from behind my ear. But Justin beat me to it, his finger grazed my cheek as the strand got tucked around the back up my ear.

I glanced up at him and saw his eyes weren't angry anymore, instead they were sad and full of guilt. He whispered, "I'm sorry Tally. I wasn't thinking, I was angry. Please, you don't like it when people but into your life, please understand I didn't mean to say that." I looked into his eyes before shrugging,

"It's... it's fine. I know what my fault was and what wasn't. I'm sorry for snooping I shouldn't have." I stammered and looked back down at my hands. Justin sighed and unexpectedly started talking,

"I was moved to the Danlrades when I was 14. I think they were my 20th home. Anyway, when I started out it was fine, only saw the parents at eating times and hung out with the biological son, Joe, in the day. He was 2 years older than me. Sometimes he'd have girls over, so I had to entertain myself but anyway. After a week or so it was just... bad. The mom, Sheryl, would drink and would most days be passed out on the couch when I came home, or be yelling at me. The dad, Craig, he... he'd get angry, easily and start hitting me, Joe, and Sheryl. Anyway after a few months, I finally called the cops because he'd broken Joe's arm and knocked out Sheryl's front teeth. Let's just say I was very sensitive if people touched me from then on for nearly a year. After the next few homes, I moved in here. So... yeah. I kept in touch with Joe but in the end we lost