I Need You

Chapter 5

<<Rylee's POV>>

I walk into school feeling a little happier than normal. Summer walks up to me and smiles, "what's got you in such a good mood?" I shrug, "I dont know." She raises an eyebrow at me, "does this mood have to do with T.J?" "What do you mean?" I ask. She shrugs, "it seems that whenever you're happy, he's happy, or like the other day, when you were mad, he was too." "Wait, T.J's happy today?" I question. She nods, "he's had this stupid smile on his face all day." Hm? "I dont know why," I reply. It's true, I have no idea why he's acting like this. "You sure?" she questions. I nod. "Well then, maybe he has a girlfriend now," she states. T.J has a girlfriend? I dont know why that hurts, it's not like I like him.

We walk down the hallway to first period. When I walk in, T.J's talking to one of the cheerleader, and she's giggling. Is she his girlfriend? Then I remember what he told me, "just because I'm saying this doesnt mean we're friends..." Right, I forgot about that. I walk to my seat without looking at him. I sit and feel his eyes on me. "Rylee?" he asks. "Yep," I reply without turning around. "Are you okay?" he asks. "Yes," I answer shortly. "Rylee, look at me," he commands. "You cant tell me what to do, T.J," I almost snap. I hear him push his sit back, and see him stand next to me out of the corner of my eye. He kneels next to me and asks, "why are you acting like this?" 'I'd like to know that myself too.'

"Like what?" I ask him, quickly glancing up, but then back down again. "Like this, what's up?" He replies. "T.J!" One of the cheerleaders call, flirting. "Why don't you go, you're wanted," I tell him. "We're not finished talking about this," he states. 'We'll see about that, O'Connor.'

***

The rest of the day I don't talk to T.J. He keeps trying to get me to talk, but the more he bugs me, the more I want to ignore him. And that, my friends, is what is happening at lunch.

"Ryleeee," he wines. I turn to Summer, who is looking at me curiously. "Summer, did we have any homework in History?" I ask. "I'm in your history class too, you could've asked me," he states. Summer giggles, "no, I don't thinks so." "Cool, I finally have a free day," I reply. "Rylee, what's wrong?" T.J asks, for the millionth time. 'Ugh! I can't take this anymore!' "Nothing, T.J!" I yell. The whole cafeteria silences. "Go back to eating, nothing to see here!" I yell. The room goes back to normal and turn to T.J. He's staring at me. "What?" I ask. "There's something you're not telling me," he states. I roll my eyes, "you're not my friend, T.J, I don't have to tell you everything." "Um, do you mind explaining what's going on here?" The cheerleader, who's name I think is Sarah, asks. "Excuse me?" I question. "What are you doing talking to my boyfriend?" She snaps. "Sarah-" "shut it, what's this tramp doing talking to you?" She spits. "Tramp? Me? I think you've mistaken me for the person in the mirror. But, I don't know how that could happen, because I don't have a fake tan or bleach blonde hair," I reply shortly. She gasps, "how dare you?" I hear chuckles from behind me. "I suggest you leave before you make a bigger embarrassment out of yourself," I tell her. She glares at me, "this isn't over, Douglas!" With that she stops off. "Rylee, I-" T.J starts, but I interrupt him, "don't, I don't want anymore junk from you, I've had enough for today." I stand and walk out of the cafeteria.

I walk outside, but realize I don't have a way to get home, so I decide to walk. I reach the end of the street, when I hear a car pull up next to me. "Need a ride?" T.J asks. "Nope, I'm perfectly capable of walking, thanks," I reply. "Now why would you want to do that?" He asks, driving slowly next to me. "Because it's nice out, and I enjoy walking. Maybe if you weren't such a lazy butt you would enjoy it too," I reply. "Rylee, come on, get in," he orders. "No thanks," I reply. I hear him stop the car, and think I've won.

I thought too fast. I feel myself being lifted up, and thrown over someone's shoulder. "T.J O'Connor, put me down right now!" I yell, hitting his back. He laughs and sets me down, in his car, that is. "Okay, there you go," he replies. "You're a butt head," I state. He smiles, "is that so?" I attempt to get out, but before I can he puts the child lock on my door. He walks around and gets in the drivers side. "Yep, you're annoying, self-centered, conceded, a jerk, and-" "you done insulting me yet?" He interrupts. "No, and you're-" "good, now that that is over, let's take you home," he interrupts again. I huff and cross my arms, "what's got you in such an upity mood today?" He shrugs, "had a good night's sleep, I guess." "What-" I start, but realize what he's talking about. "I don't think your girlfriend would like the idea of you staying the night at my house." He sighs, "she's not my girlfriend." "What? But she said that you were her boyfriend," I reply. "Nope, she just thinks we are because I talk to her. I don't actually like her, I would never like her, she's nothing compared to-" he stops short. "Compared to?" I question. He shakes his head, "no one." Well, then. "Want to tell me what was wrong at school?" He asks. "Want to tell me why you keep coming to school with bruises?" I question. "How about this, I'll answer your question of you answer mine," he compromises. "Fine, but you answer mine first," I tell him. "Only if you promise to answer mine," he replies. "Promise," I answer. He pulls to the side of the road, and stops. He turns so that he's facing me and looks at me in the eyes. They hold so many raw emotions- sadness, hurt, understanding, hope. "T.J?" I ask. He sighs, "my mom died when I was eleven, and the twins were ten. My dad, who used to be an awesome dad, fell into depression. He comes home angry and drunk every night. I always tell Jake and Elisa to leave, go to a friend's house, so they won't get hurt. Which leaves me alone almost every night."

I nod, "that doesn't answer the question, though."

"My dad. He's the one who beats me. He'll get the first punch in, making me weaker than him from the start," he tells me. I can't believe what I'm hearing. This is worse than I thought.

<<T.J's POV>>

I can't believe I'm telling her this, but here I am, telling her something that no one knows about. She looks dumbstruck. She doesn't say anything after I finish talking. "Rylee?" I ask, hoping she'll say something. She blinks a couple of times, like she's snapping out of a daze, "um, I-I don't know what to say. Well, actually I do. You can't stay there, T.J! Not with him coming home and hurting you every night." I start to feel a little annoyed, "well, where do you suggest I stay?" "You could stay at my house. I have an extra bedroom, since, you know, my parents. I mean it would only be until you're old enough and able to support yourself," she tells me. I look at her, "what about Elisa and Jake?" She shrugs, "they can come too. The more the merrier, right?"

Before I know what I'm doing, she's wrapped in my arms and I'm giving her a hug. She stiffens, and I let her go, "sorry." She shrugs, "it's okay." "So, what happened at school?" He asks. "Drama," she answers. "You couldn't tell me that at school?" I asks, a little annoyed. She smiles slightly, "why would I miss a chance of making you squirm?" I sigh, "whatever." She chuckles, and it causes me to smile. "What?" She asks. "I like it better when we don't fight," I tell her. "Me too," she agrees.

I drive her to her house, and stop in her driveway. "Thanks for the ride, even though I didn't want it," she says. "No problem," I reply. She smiles at me, and opens her mouth to say something, but closes it and gets out of the car. What's going on in that head of yours, Rylee Douglas?