Broken

Chapter 7

It's been a couple weeks since I've known Ben and life couldn't be any better. Chase hasn't found me so I don't have to deal with getting abused. But not only did he save me from Chase. He also saved me from myself.

Before I started dating Chase I was fine. I was the happy, popular girl who was always on the honor roll for school. Once I dated him though that all changed. At first he was nice and caring but after a while of being with him that's when he turned abusive. That's also when everything about me changed. I started cutting myself. I couldn't trust anyone anymore. Not even my best friend who I haven't talked to in years because of it. My grades turned bad. I had to take counselling for a while until I convinced the counselor I was better when the truth was I wasn't better.

Now that Ben has saved me I'm back to my normal self again. I learned to trust people and I haven't cut myself in weeks. I missed being happy.

Currently it's lunch time and I'm sitting next to Ben and his friends. Allison and Emily are still my friends but I don't really talk to them at lunch since my enemy Natalie Hathaway hangs out with them. She hates me because I'm dating Ben and she likes him. I don't have a problem with her though. Personally I think it's stupid to hate me just because I'm dating her crush.

I finished eating my slice of pizza and stood up from the table. "I'll be right back." I started walking away.

"I love you," Ben said. I froze. Did he just say he loves me?

I turned around to face him. "What?"

"I love you."

"You do?" I walked back over to the table.

"Yeah. I have since the day I met you." He grabbed my hands and looked into my eyes. "I love you."

I smiled. "I love you too."

I saw his eyes fill with hope. "Really?"

"Yes really."

He smiled. "Oh, thank god!" He kissed me. When we broke apart I sat back down at the table. He wrapped his arm around me.

"You guys are lucky. I wish I could ask Emily out," Zac said.

"Why can't you?" I asked confused.

"He can but he just doesn't want to get rejected," Darren answered for him.

"Yeah. It would ruin my image," Zac agreed.

I laughed. "What image?"

"As the guy who can get any girl he wants." I saw Ben, Darren, and Trent roll their eyes. "In fact, maybe I want you."

That's when Ben pulled me closer to him as if to protect me from someone who wanted to hurt me. "She's mine. Back off." He glared at Zac.

Zac laughed. "Relax. I'm just kidding. I like Emily."

I turned around to look at Ben. "Yeah. You should've known he was kidding." I nudged him with my elbow. "Are you jealous?" I teased.

"Maybe," he mumbled.

I laughed. "Well I would've picked you even if he was serious."

"Hey! Hurtful!" Zac put his hand on his heart faking hurt.

I laughed again. "You know you're my friend but I love Ben."

Ben smiled. "I love hearing that."

The bell rang. I stood up from the table. "See you after school." I started to walk out of the lunch room but he grabbed my arm to stop me.

"Wait. Do you want to ditch class with me?"

"No!"

He frowned. "Why not?"