Chapter 11

The two of them finished the project in one night. Both of them decided to let Renae do the drawing and Braxton would work mostly on the math. Renae double checked his work before they both decided it was done and Renae packed it in a plastic paper protector and placed it in a folder then into her backpack.

"Since that's out of the way. We should talk about that picture thing. Why did it bother you so much?" He asked sitting on her bed.

"I don't really know... I guess I was ashamed? I was already mad at myself for letting broken little Danny hit me in the face with a baseball bat, I didn't want people to know they could take me down."

"Danny did that to you? Is that why you were out of school?"

"It-it wasn't just him tho. There was Danny, Denice and two other boys. They stopped me before school the first day I didn't make it in. I was doing really good, then I got cocky and it caught up with me." Renae tried to defend her honor.

"It doesn't matter who's doing it, if you get hit in the face with a bat, it's bound to do some damage." He leaned towards her.

"It wasn't so much the bat that did anything. It was the rock that pierced my skull that knocked me out."

"Jeez.. If I was your dad, I would've killed Danny." He scoffed.

"Mr K was the one who tackled him down, that's all I really remember after I hit that rock."

"Damn, you've seen hell haven't you?" He tried to joke.

"Actually, I have." Renae didn't laugh "We should go get dinner." She stood up.

"Wait." He said standing in front of her. He looked down at her and brushed her hair behind her ear.

"What are you doing?" She asked stepping back. He closed the gap and leaned towards her.

"I just need to know if this feeling I have is right. Please?" He asked leaning down to her height. He waited merely an inch away from her face till she very slightly nodded. He pressed his lips into hers. Renaes shock kept her heart racing, Braxtons own heart felt a spark. Renae pulled away when she remembered her door was open.

"L-let's go eat." She stuttered stepping past him.

Braxton smiled, proud of himself as they walked into the kitchen.

-

Five days had passed and Renae was happy doing her school work and working campus security. Her scar minimized and the bruise was gone completely. Braxton was a frequent guest over the weekend and even walked her to her next class when he got the chance. Today he walked her home and came inside to talk to Jarrod as Renae was getting ready for another night of patrol.

"You seem to be enjoying school a lot more the last few days I've seen." Jarrod smiled at Braxton.

"It's easier to enjoy it when I have a good tutor. Renae's been helping me with a few other subjects that I've been having a hard time with."

"I'm happy to hear that." Jarrod looked at Renae as she walked out of her room wearing her nighttime campus security jacket.

"What are you happy to hear?" Renae asked before they heard a knock on the door. "Nevermind. I'll be right back." Renae walked to the door.

"Hello dear. Miss me? Mommy's back." Lisa stood at the door with a grin on her face. "You're coming home. Now." Lisa managed to grab ahold of Renaes arm.

"No! I'm finally happy here!" Renae screamed trying to break free from her grasp. Jarrod and Braxton looked over and were shocked to see the struggle. Renaes eyesight was beginning to fade and her breathing became heavy.

"To damn bad. I need that damn check." She growled in Renaes face. Lisa tried pulling her out the door but Renae dropped to the ground.

"There's a restraining order in place! You're not supposed to be here!" Jarrod yelled "You're not taking my daughter!" Lisa let go of Renaes arm and stood her ground. Braxton came over and stood above Renae.

Renae looked up at Braxton, with her vision blurring she thought he looked like Tyler. She smiled at him until her vision failed completely.

-

"Get up. I need booze money." Lisa woke Renae by kicking her in the stomach.

"Why can't you just go get it." Renae moaned seeing her mother was drunk, once again.

"Cause I'm broke. Go get some money. I got a guy-" She slurred her words, Renae interrupted by standing up.

"You're not my pimp. Go get a fucking job." As the words left her lips, Lisas hand met Renaes cheek. Before Lisa could say anything Renae glared "I'm going to school." Before Renae could walk away, Lisa grabbed her arm and threw her to the ground. She kicked her continuously till Renae had enough.

Renae jumped on top of her and choked her till she fell to the ground and stopped moving. Pulling back Renae grabbed her ribs. She checked Lisas pulse, feeling it was still there, she got dressed as quick as she could and ran out of that house. Looking at the clock on the phone Tyler lent her, she saw it was four in the morning. She didn't want to be home when Lisa finally woke up. Renae pulled out the phone when she sat down by the school and texted Tyler.

'Dang Rae. Why do you let her treat you like that?

-t~K^'

'She's my mom. And I can't go anywhere else I'm waiting for my dad remember?'

'Whatever. He hasn't came in like 5 years. What makes you think he'll come now?

-t~K^'

Renae put the phone back in her pocket. She laid her head against the wall and closed her eyes, ignoring the pain from her ribs and stomach.

"Renae-" She could faintly hear voices.

-

"Renae!" Renae opened her eyes to see Braxton yelling at her.

"What happened?" She grabbed her aching head as she sat up.

"Short story, your mom showed up, you two argued, you blacked out, your dad managed to get her out of the house and locked the door. She's still out there but she refuses to leave without you. She's been pounding the door for a good ten minuted." He said concerned.

"I blacked out?" She asked still sitting on the floor.

"Yeah, we were gonna figure that out after you woke up." He looked up to Jarrod sitting against the door.

"She probably blacked out because she was shocked to see someone who caused her so much trauma but I'm not sure. Braxton, since she's awake, go grab the phone and call the police. Tell them a protection orders been violated and she's trying to break in. The phones in my room." Braxton nodded his head and ran into Jarrods room and did as instructed.

"Renae, are you okay?" Jarrod asked as the door pounded against his back.

"Yeah, my head is throbbing." She mumbled.

"The police are on their way." Braxton came out while still on the phone.

"Good." Jarrod moaned feeling every kick against the door. "Gotta love memories." He grumbled under his breath.

They all sat there and listened to Lisa's muffled vulgar language and beating of the door. When Renae got up she made sure all the windows were locked and all the curtains were closed. Afterward she called James and explained to him what was going on. After a few more minutes, the beating on the door ended, Jarrod looked out the window to see two police officers were outside.

The police were yelling at Lisa to get on the ground. Only agitating her more, Lisa began swinging at the officer closest to her. She continued swinging till the other officer tackled her to the ground. As she was being held down on the ground Lisa's wild behavior worsened as she began screaming "ABUSE! HELP!" As the female officer cuffed her and helped her to her feet, the male officer began mirandizing her to let her know her rights.

She smirked as she saw him standing in front of her and kicked between his legs as hard as she could, forcing the female officer to let go as she pushed back. Lisa ran as fast as she could with her hands cuffed behind her and the female officer not to far off behind her.

"Are you okay sir?" Jarrod ran outside and helped him up to his feet.

"Even with a damn cup... it still hurts." He pushed out of his lips as he waddled towards the wall for stability.

"I don't know anybody who wouldn't hurt after that." Jarrod patted his back.

"So, while officer Alex is chasing her down, I'll go ahead and get your statements if you're up for it." He pulled out his notepad standing upright.

"That's alright with us sir." Jarrod led him inside to see Renae sitting visibly shaking on the couch.

"So can you tell me what happened?"

-

Around ten o'clock, the police officers left with Lisa in the back and Renaes head was starting to feel better.

"I'm so sorry you had to endure all that." Renae bit her cheek as she looked to Braxton.

He looked towards Renae and began laughing "Are you kidding? Your mom is nuts, I never get this kind of excitement back home!" He laughed till he looked at Jarrod and remembered what Renae told him earlier "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it like that. That was really uncalled for." He looked down and bit his lip.

"No problem boy." Jarrod dropped his hand on Braxtons shoulder and squeezed. "I know you'd never see anything quite like this anywhere else. Since it's past curfew, I guess you should probably stay here. You can stay in the guest room." He smiled to Renae before staring at Braxton.

"I'm sure I could figure out some way to snea-" Braxton started then looked to Jarrod to see his disapproved glare "What I meant was, I'm sure staying the night wouldn't hurt anything. I appreciate the kind offer sir." He smiled.

"That's what I thought. Renae, do you think you'll be able to get the guest room ready for him please? I just want to go over a few things with Braxton. Also, grab him some pajamas from my drawer too." Jarrod sat in his chair and stared straight at Braxton.

"Okay, I should be able to do that. The extra blankets are in the guest closet right?" She asked standing up. Jarrod nodded in return before she walked away.

"Sir?" Braxton asked feeling anxious.

"I just have a few rules." Jarrod sat up and leaned in to whisper to Braxton. "One you don't tell her what we are, which you already know. Two you don't go into her room when we're sleeping. Three, you show her nothing but respect and last, if you want to date her it needs to be what she wants. I'll never force her to do something she doesn't want ever again."

"Why can't we tell her what we are? Don't you think she'll find out when she hits her prime?" He whispered back.

"Because she wasn't raised to know. If she finds out in just an instant, I don't know how she'd handle it. I have her on campus security so she's away from anything that's going to be too obvious. When the time is right, I'll gradually lean her into it. I don't have a choice the way her mother raised her." Jarrod sighed. "Now hush, before she hears us." He looked up to see Renae carrying his pajamas.

"I grabbed your least favorite pair since you never wear them. I don't see why, they look so comfortable." Renae smiled as she handed the red plaid pajamas to Braxton.

"Alright, let's show him where he'll be sleeping." Jarrod smirked as he stood up and motioned for the two of them to follow him. They walked to the room that was next to Renaes. "The bathroom is across the hall, Rae is next door, and I'm just past the living room. If I'm not in my room, I'll be reading in my chair but you'll see that walking to my room."

"More like sleeping in your chair." Renae mumbled laughing.