A Quarter Mile Away

9 - The Sun Is Rising

Please listen to The Sun Is Rising - Britt Nicole for this chapter

* * *

Walking back into the school hallway took a lot of effort. As much as I did not want to come back and go straight home, there was no point in going only to come back and pick up Alena.

By the time I had reached my locker to rid of my English books and grab my backpack to get out of there, most of the students had already run out of the school premises. Luckily for me I still had 10 minutes until my sister was finished.

Feeling emotionally exhausted from today's events, I grabbed what I needed and then slammed my locker shut before heading towards the exit. The quicker I did this, the quicker I could get out of here.

Not watching where I was walking, something hard hit me straight in my chest, cutting my breathing circulation for a second. I stumbled back, preparing for the fall that I knew was coming but it never arrived. I looked up and was face to face with a worried Jaxon standing merely inches away.

His eyes roamed over my features as he whispered "Are you OK?"

This is the first time he's touched me and I can't ignore the electricity furiously pulsing through my body at his touch. A feeling I have never had before nor can I explain, but that didn't stop my body jerking away from his touch like I was allergic.

"I'm fine, thanks for steadying me" I forced a smile to reassure him.

His mouth set in a grim line as he shook his head lightly "I wasn't referring to that Avery. You know what I'm talking about."

I shook my head as I turned to walk past him but his quick reflex grabbed my forearm to secured me in place without even trying "Don't run from me."

"I'm fine Jaxon!" I struggled to force the words out. I didn't want to do this, not now. Not in the middle of school, it was Friday afternoon and I just wanted to go home.

"No, you're not!

"Why do you care?! You hardly know me!"

"I know enough. Let it out. Stop holding it in!"

"I don't want my life revolved around them anymore okay!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

My eyes widened in horror as I shook my head frantically in distress "I-I'm so sorry. I didn't mean-"

He just gave me a small smile "Then why let them?"

'Why let them?'

I have asked myself that question for a long time but never found an answer. If only he knew that was easier said than done. It's not easy switching off those emotions after years of abuse and neglect.

"You have no idea what I'm going through OK! Don't act like you have the slightest clue" my eyebrows creased in anger as angry tears began to blur my vision.

He looked at me with pure sadness in his eyes "By running out of class, you gave them all that power to run your life even when they're not in it."

My eyebrows shot up in surprise as my muscles slowly began to relax in his arms, not realising that I was clenching my entire body during this conversation. His words had conviction and they hit me where it hurt the most.

I nodded slowly as I took in his words. I was letting my parents run my life without them even being in my life. We both just stared into each other's eyes looking for answers to our own questions that were roaming around in our heads.

His thumb caressed my cheek slowly as he wiped the lone tear that managed to escape my eye "Let's go pick up the mini me's shall we?" He nudged his head towards the exit and for the first time I smiled and nodded slightly at him, grateful for the change in topic as we started to walk side by side. He knew I wasn't ready to talk about this and he respected my wishes by not pushing or forcing the topic at hand.

We walked in silence, not saying anything and for the first time, it wasn't awkward. I felt at ease with him. We crossed the street to where our siblings were still yet to be found "So what are your plans for the weekend?" he asked me after a couple of minutes of silence.

I shrug momentarily "I normally just stay in and watch movies with my sister but work asked me to do overtime tonight so I'm working till 9. I promised my sister I'd take her out tomorrow and that's it. What about you?"

He studied me for a minute "I was supposed to go to a house party tonight but trying to find an excuse to get out of it."

A slow grin appeared on my face and I let out a suppressed laugh "I don't get that. You don't want to go, just tell them. Don't need a grand excuse."

"There's always a high expectation of me attending people's parties you know. Everyone wants me to be around them" he raised his eyebrows playfully as he smirked at me.

I laughed uncontrollably "Don't flatter yourself big boy."

"Don't hate on me. I didn't ask to be the popular one" he placed a hand on his heart as he pretended to be hurt.

I let out another light giggle "Keep telling yourself that. What else do you get up to on weekends?"

He opened his mouth to say something but he closed his mouth instantly and shook his head "Not much really..."

I couldn't help but smirk at him. I knew what he was about to say but as far as he was concerned, I had no idea about his street racing. I just nodded at him, not wanting him to get the idea that I knew about his extra activities.

"Avery!" Alena came out running sporting a big smile.

"Hey Aly-Cat, how was school?" I asked as I smiled at my sister. She gives me a reason to live, the only thing that is right in my life.

"Good! Can I come to the restaurant with you? Tom said I could and I miss Claude" she asked while jumping up and down. From the corner of my eye I could see Jaxon's eyes crease slightly in confusion.

"I'll call Tom and see if he has room in his office for you to sit in OK but I can't make any promises"

"Good thing I have a babysitter then huh?" She smiled at me before frowning at Jaxon who was standing next to us.

"Who are you?!" She questioned him as she placed her hands on her hips. Clearly she forgot that she met him a few weeks ago.

I gawked at my sister, I couldn't believe how abrupt she was being but by the sound of Jaxon's hearty laugh, it didn't seem to offend him.

"You definitely are Avery's sister huh? My name is Jaxon, I'm Jonathan's brother."

And just like that she was sold, her eyes slowly widened momentarily as she digested the information before smiling at Jaxon "Hey! I'm friends with Jonathan! He always shares his pencils with me!" She blushes.

I raised my eyebrow in surprise and looked at Jaxon questioningly, he obviously got what I was thinking about because he just smirked at me.

"Well, uh- that's our cue. I gotta go get ready for work. Thanks again for before Jaxon" I smiled sincerely at him.

He gave me his charming smile that seems to catch my breath every time "I'm always a phone call away, in fact. Give me your phone."

Without questioning him, I provided him my phone and watched as he put in his number and then prank called his using my phone. He then gave me his boyish smile while giving me my phone back.

"There. Now I'm officially a phone call away."

I couldn't help but smile at him "Thanks Jax. See you on Monday."

I placed my arm protectively over my sister's shoulders as we made our way to the car. I turned my head to get one last look at Jaxon only to catch him already staring at me. By the colour of the blush he was sporting on his face, it appears as though he wasn't expecting me to turn around.

He was slowly making his way into my life and I knew that was a dangerous thing. I needed to keep my distance as much as I possibly could, I don't think I could survive another abusive relationship.

* * *

A/N:

JAX!!! So cute!!

Please don't forget to vote for the chapter!

xx