Escape

Chapter IV

"What are you up to today?" Jackson asks.

"Visiting dad." I say zipping up my black dress and slipping on black flats. "Do you want to come?" He considered it for a moment but then shook his head.

"No." He shuts my door and I finish curling my hair. I walk over to the cemetery. Shuffling through the grave stones I go to find my father. Once I arrive I sit in front of it.

"Hey dad..." I say quietly. "I miss you." I try like hell not to cry. "I need my dad at times like this. Boys dad, they're so, I don't know the word to describe it." A crackle of thunder breaks and it starts to rain. "I'm not going anywhere." I choke out. I just sit there and cry. For hours in the rain. My hair soaking wet and my dress completely ruined. Mascara running down my cheeks. The tears just don't stop. It's hard to tell if I am wet from the rain or from the tears.

"Charlotte?" A voice echoes from behind me. I turn my head. Clay. He jogs over I get up before he can see who's name is on the grave stone. He takes his jacket off and lays it across my shoulders. "What are you doing out here?" He asks.

"I came to visit." Is all I say. Tears still spilling down my cheeks.

"Let's get you home." He opens the door of his car gesturing me to get in. I sit inside as he starts the car.

"Thanks for the ride home." I say handing him the jacket.

"Are you okay?" He asks. I sigh before stepping out of the car.

"One thing you need to know about pain, is that it demands to be felt." I step out of the car and jog to the front door. I walk inside. Taking one look back at Clay and then he speeds off. I just lay in my room for the rest of the day. Jackson didn't bother to come up and I don't blame him.

The next morning I walk to school instead of taking the bus. The day went by so slow. Zac tried talking to me a couple times but I never gave him the time of day. In Spanish Clay kept looking at me but I was afraid to make eye contact. At the end of the day when I went to go to my locker there was red ink on it. It spelt out whore. I just stared. Zac and his friends were laughing about it. I just opened my locker and took my text book out. I could feel everyone staring at me. I just walk off. I wish I would have said something but I just left it as it was. The true Zac was right I front of me. I should have known it was too good to be true. If only I could escape the truth.

The rest of the week went by like that. People around me kept getting asked to homecoming and then there was me. No sweet flowers or a cute way to ask. Just me by my self. Jumping every time the door bell rang. But it was only solicitors. It was Friday night and I stayed home with Lucy and Zoey. We watch movies and talked about homecoming. My brother was out for the night. I fell asleep in the middle of Hunger Games and only to be awoken by banging on the window. Lucy and Zoey were fast asleep on the couch and just rolled over ignoring the noise. I walked over the window and Zac was standing there. I just shut the blinds and sat back on the couch. He only kept banging. I couldn't help it after awhile so I opened the window and he climbed in. We walked to another room in fear we might wake Lucy and or Zoey.

"What do you want?" I snapped at him.

"I am sorry about everything, I really am."

"You were sorry the first time and you only kept humiliating me." I started to raise my voice.

"I was stupid and let my friends influence who I like."

"I've seen the real Zac. He is not someone I want to be friends with."

"Then don't be my friend." He takes a pause. "Go to homecoming with me." He takes my hand in his. I want to slap it away and tell him it's never going to happen, but his blue eyes are so convincing. I just stared for awhile.

"One night. That's it and then you will leave me alone." I state pulling my hand away. He smirks.

"What color is your dress?"