Chapter Eight

It has been a week since i saw Caleb and it is really for the best, i spent most of my week with the guys and girls from the study group and I am really free now around them and i told Martha about what happened and she never judged me she made me feel good about standing up for myself and not letting Caleb railroad me even further, i feel so comfortable telling her all this. I have not seen the trio much since last friday and Vanessa says I'm avoiding them and she is right I am sort of blaming her because all this happened at her house.

Afterschool as we leave the science class Vanessa hurries to catch up to me "Haze we need to talk" she says out of breath "about what?" i ask in a monotone without looking at her and she pulls my arm to force me to look at her "why are you being like this?" She yells "you know exactly what I'm talking about! You made me believe we were ok and now you're avoiding us and you're here pretending as if nothing is wrong! I apologized to you what more do you want?" "Fine then, I'm sorry for being distant lately I've been busy" i continue in my monotone.

And she stops walking and i do too, i turn around and look at her. "What happened between us?" She asks sounding defeated "My boyfriend left me that is what happened, we all had boyfriends at about the same time and you guys are still with them but Caleb left me. I am not even sure he was my boyfriend, he used me and tossed me aside afterwards and it is hard being around the three of you with your boyfriends because it reminds me of him and I am trying hard to forget about him, and you my 'friend' " i say using air quotes "invite me to a scandal and you let me be embarrassed in front of everyone, rubbing salt into my wounds, so I am sorry if I am acting shady, you would too, so please stop reaching out i need a break from you guys and the parties i need some time to myself," when i finish my speech i take a deep breath and when i look at Vanessa she is blinking her tears away "okay I will respect your decision and I am sorry again for what happened Friday" i nod and head for the gate.

When i arrive at the gate i see another person i dreaded to see. What is he doing here? Argh i groan and somebody touches both my shoulders and i jump up in alarm and look up and slightly relax "gee Jason never creep up on me like that again!" i say giving him a small smile to mask my harsh words. I have not smiled in a week and just that small smile took a strain but hey, it is progress.

"I'm sorry i didn't mean to, you just look tense so i was just tryna help with that, i mean i know you probably don't wanna hear this but are you ok? You've been kinda down lately, i haven't seen you smile all week" he says oh my goodness so i made it that obvious? I am accomplishing Caleb's mission this is what he wants, he wants me to be unhappy and i guess it is working but I will be damned if i let him win and speaking of him where has he gone? I do not see him anymore, of course he came for his friends, what did i expect? That he would be here for me? I am utterly pathetic that is for sure.

"I'll take that as a no? Or you just don't wanna talk about it?" Jason says pulling me out of my reverie and that's when i remember that he asked if i was okay and i have not answered him. "Oh no sorry, I'm ok it's just that I've just been feeling down this week i don't know why but I'm fine now" i lie and he nods. I can tell he sees through my lie but i don't say anything about it and neither does he.

We continue walking in comfortable silence until he breaks it, "so do you like wanna hang out tomorrow?" I hear him say but I am not paying attention because Satan's son has resurfaced and he is approaching us. So i pretend to be in a conversation with Jason "sorry you were saying?" I ask him but he does not answer me because he is looking at Caleb who is standing right in front of us. "Thanks champ I'll take it from here you can go now" he says rudely to Jason as if talking to a child.

But Jason looks at me and i shake my head, "you're not going anywhere Jase" i say holding back his arm. Jase? Where did that come from? I'm brought back to the now by Caleb grabbing Jason by his collars and almost choking him "listen here you nerdy punk, get going now, i won't fucking repeat myself-" i grab Caleb and he lets go of him but his eyes stay on him "let go of him! Jason I'll text you when i get home" "are you sure?" He asks if I'm okay being left with Caleb and i nod for his sake "you heard her get lost" Caleb says again and Jason gives him one look and leaves.

Not only because he is scared or anything but because he just does not want trouble and I am thankful. I keep walking and he pulls my hand and i pull it back and fold my hands and stare at him. He looks sooo hot i got to give him that, whether i hate him or not, he is wearing a plain white t-shirt, dark blue jeans hanging lower at the back revealing grey boxers and white low cut airforce 1's, with his freshly cut german cut he must have been absent from school. But i hate him so i do not care if he looks hot.

"I want you back" he says and i can't help but laugh like really laugh, and it feels good i mean it has been a week. "You're funny" i say and walk away but he quickly pulls me back and i harshly pull out of his grip and fold my hands "who the hell do you think you are? You've mistaken your fake title for royalty haven't you? Everyone will bow down to you and do whatever you say because you're 'King Caleb?' Open your eyes babe, nothing lasts forever and that little fake title you hold so dearly? You're gonna wake up one day and it'll be gone." I say and he doesn't say anything wow, I'm loving this.

"Hazel come on, why are you being like this?" Wow his audacity "you come here, chase my friend away like a lunatic, acting all possessive like you own me! You made it clear that you're not my boyfriend so guess what? I'm not your girlfriend Caleb get that through your thick head" i say using his infamous words from last Friday "i know what i said baby and i didn't mean it, you have to believe me" "don't make me come back to your father about harassment again leave me alone!" "Fine I'll leave you alone because... i love you baby"

Immediately as those words leave his mouth i slap him hard across the face and instantly regret it, not because i slapped him but because I'm pretty sure my hand hurts more than his cheek does "never utter those words to me again! You don't know the meaning and you never will! I'm warning you, stay away from me Caleb" i spit and turn around and I am pretty sure his facial expression is gonna haunt me till i see him again. I left him with his hand on his cheek, his mouth slightly open and teary eyes. But obviously he is a great actor, that all was for show.

How dare he?! I love you baby argh he is truly exasperating, look at the lengths he is willing to go just to make my life miserable i hate the day i met him.

When i get home i take a nap and I am woken up by my mother when she gets back from work. We order fishaways and eat silently. "Oh I'm not working tomorrow so I'll be available" she says, it is sort of weird because she only informs me about her off days only when there are school meetings or other occasions at school "o-k?" I answer slowly and she shakes her head "you're still sleepy i see, i got a text from your school, and it's sports day so I'll be there to watch you play" she says and it dawns on me. Crap! Sports day! I had already forgotten. I have to tell her it is now or never.

"I won't be playing tomorrow" i say first to gauge her reaction. "And why is that?" She says looking partially annoyed. Okay here goes nothing "I'm not part of the netball team this year" "what does that mean?" She asks slightly raising her voice, and i huff "mama i told you i didn't wanna play netball this year but you never listened I'm really tired of it and not playing allows me more time to my studies, please" she scoffs "Hazel who's the mother between us? Huh?" "Ma-" "no, I'm asking, because it seems like you want to be the mother in this house, all you do is defy me, what the hell's gotten into you? You are gonna play netball, because I, the mother of this house says so and if you feel you don't wanna do that feel free to leave this house" she says and walks to her room. I guess there is no room for argument after that.

Why didn't i have an understanding mother? She does not understand anything, she does not even understand me. I stand and head for my room. Two people in the world who spoil my mood all the time. My mother. And Caleb. I cannot believe him. That guy is really sick. I wish i could wake up one day and be over him really, I am desperate to be over him because he is ruling my life whether he is in it or not. I wish i could be able to call Vanessa and talk to her about it i know she would know what to say to cheer me up, but of course i pushed her away and i was a little too harsh it is not even her fault.

I sigh and open my phone and there is a text from Jason. Jase. I sort of like calling him that because he is so sweet and it sounds sweet. *are you home and ok?* i smile and text him back *relax Jase, Caleb might be a bad guy but he's not a serial killer, I'm home and I'm fine* i send and he replies almost instantly *I'm glad to hear that, i was worried about you, and about what i said earlier?* earlier? *please remind me?* *about hanging out with me?* oh.

I am not really doing anything tomorrow and i really do not want to spend the day with my mother so i do not see why not although it may be dangerous in the long run. *sure. What did you have in mind?* *really? Well i was thinking we could go to the stadium for the school sports? If not we can hang out at the park?* *stadium it is ;)* i send and lock my phone.

He is such a great guy, too great. And he deserves the best. I cannot wait to finally get out of the house and do something fun and to get away from my mother.

(A/N please vote and comment and spread Love and Kindness)