Stay

Chapter thirty-one

The clap of thunder awakes me. Rain pouring from the sky like tears from a broken heart. I let out a groan of agony as I slowly sit up on the park bench I'd collapsed on last night.

Shivering, I wrap my coat tighter around myself, the rain beginning to seep through.

What time is it?

Reaching into my pocket, I rummage around for my phone. Please have battery, please have battery.

Luckily my phone lights up almost instantly with over twenty missed calls, Shit.

Noticing a message from my dad, I rush to school hoping not to get into any more trouble then I'm already in. My brown hair drenched and my shoes squelching with every step, I run through the school halls towards the principal's office and to my distaste it wasn't just my dad waiting for me.

The door creeks open creating more noise than I would like before taking a seat next to my father.

Don't draw attention to yourself.

"Right, now the she's here. What is the meaning of all this?" Jessie shoots his dad a glare at the mention of me, however Mr Oliver takes no notice.

I completely zone out of the conversation. Focusing too hard on the door and how loud it must have sounded, how everyone must have been looking at me in that moment, while I continued to stare at the floor as I am now; too afraid to make eye contact with Jessie. Not wanting him to ask questions about where I went last night.

Unfortunately, he isn't the only person I have to worry about as sitting on the opposite side of the room, I see the long dark locks of hair that belong to only one person in this school.

Layla.

And sat next to her... her mother.

I don't dare look at my father or her mother, not wanting to see any sort of emotion between them. Wanting to ignore any sign of feelings between them. Despite the haunting proof.

The only thing that gave me hope, the one thing that told me Layla would leave me alone for this, was that shine in her eyes. The same emotion behind them that I feel towards my father and her mother.

Hatred.

Because it's not just my family this affair is ripping apart. It's hers too.

The meeting finishes and it's been settled that Jessie and I are to not be punished but only warned not to do anything like it again.

We shouldn't have gotten away with it, we broke into her apartment and vandalized her home yet we get no punishment.

I take a minute just outside the school doors, breathing in fresh air and calming the anger, upset and guilt consuming me.

The sky is clear now, a few clouds dotted around as they all follow each other, all moving in the same direction. A winters chill remains but it feels amazing against my burning skin.

"Thank you, Celene." I turn, noticing my father stood by his car, facing a woman of olive skin that shows its age and short dark hair. Layla's' mother. "That could have gone a lot worse." She only shakes her head in reply before going in to hug him.

I can't help but stare at the utter betrayal.

All of a sudden, I can't control my feet as I sprint in the opposite direction, frightened I might vomit there and then before crashing into someone.

"Maddie?" A female voice says, gently holding my arms and looking me in the eyes.

Her accent instantly reminds me of who those bright green eyes belong to.

"Bety." I cry out, hugging her tightly and I can't stop the tears from escaping my eyes.

"Honey what's wrong?" She asks, lightly stroking my hair and holding me close. Reminding me that she is there.

"Everything is just getting too much." I sob, releasing all the built up feelings I've been holding in for so long. Bety moves back a step before wiping away my tears, taking hold of my hand and leading me to the nearest coffee shop.

"Here." She hands me a steaming cup of hot chocolate with extra cream and marshmallows as she sits down opposite me. "I find hot chocolate can help cushion any pain. Mental or physical." I take a sip, the warmth calming my heart rate and for a moment things don't seem as bad anymore. "How have you been since the party?"

It takes me a moment to remember, things have changed so much since then. I was so afraid of Layla, of what she would do to me. Of what she did to me. I remember the fear from waking up after being knocked out, something Layla ordered to happen. But I also remember the rage in Jessie's voice that night. How can someone so kind have so much anger waiting to be released?

"I've been," I inhale deeply "coping."

"Jessie been looking after you?" She asks and I nod in reply. I can't help but notice the smile on Bety's face until I follow her eyes to the curly haired guy stood behind holding out a hand to me.

"Could you come with me for a minute? It's important." Jessie asks.

I take his hand as we leave the coffee shop. I wave goodbye to Bety and she blows a kiss in response.

Thank god for friends like her.