A/N Okay so this looks really crappy now that I have it up in editor but I don't have Word on my computer at the moment so everything is terrible (I had to use notepad to type this... eep!) I hope you enjoy this lovely chapter. Not very long but It's still a chapter:) I'm trying to get back into writing so I'll probably have a few more chapters up soon.

Love,

ReadLoveHappiness

He had stood me up and I was pissed.
"Have a great day, sweetheart!"My dad shouted sweetly from the car. He was always trying to win me over to beat out Mom. I waved my good bye and stomped up the stairs of Sherman High School. I didn't want to see him, or at least that's what I told myself as I walked to my locker. I turned the corner hoping John was waiting there as usual, smiling at me. But I was disappointed when I saw my best friend Becky who was still trying to convince me not to date John.
"I figured out another reason that you should dump Bender." She greeted.
"Oh, really. Well I've got my own reason, too. You first." I responded with heavy attitude.

"Well, there's the first reason: He's a delinquent, and then there's the second: He's just not right for you." Becky stated in a matter of fact tone.

"Explain." I said in a cross tone.
"Well, your a prep, a straight A student, a princess and he's- well he's a druggie and a criminal! You guys have nothing in common!"
"Maybe you're right." I said, not meaning a word of it. I was growing tired of agreeing with everything my friends said.
"So what were you saying before, something about having you own reason?" Becky looked quite cheerful as if ending the relationships of her friends was her favorite pass-time.
"He stood me up last night."
Becky smiled quickly but then her face changed to a look of despair. "Aw, Claire , I'm sorry. He didn't call you?" I shook my head in response. I waited for him for hours. I would have forgiven John for not picking me up if he had called to explain, but he hadn't.
The bell rang to begin first hour. I trudged grumpily to my Calculus class which creeps along slowly. The class is only an hour long, it felt like a day. I went through two more boring, John-less classes, trying to pay attention. I struggled to stay focused on Chemistry and then on English, but thoughts of John kept creeping back into my head.

Why hadn't he come to pick me up? Why didn't he just call me? It wasn't like him to forget to call. He called almost every night.
The bell rang again signaling the end of third hour. I waited for the rest of the class to leave before I stood up. Slowly, I walked the familiar route to my locker. Fourth period I had lunch. I could take as long as I wanted to get there. the bell rang to begin the period just as I was closing my locker. I slammed the door shut revealing a tall, dark haired boy sitting on the floor, pretzel style.
John wasn't looking up at me, but at the floor. The dark circles that seemed to be permanently stationed below his eyes were a blue-purple color normally seen with new bruises. I turned with a huff, heading in the direction of the cafeteria.

"Claire!" John yelled from behind me. I could hear large combat boots clomping along as he ran to catch up with me. "Claire, wait up! Let me explain."
I stopped walking and turned abruptly to face him.

"Okay, John. Let's hear it then. Explain to me why you 'forgot to pick me up," My voice rose in pitch as my anger increased. "or why you forgot to call and explain to me where you were and and why you weren't coming."

"Claire." John spoke my name in a slow whisper. He exhaled quietly and lifted his long, brown hair that I had just realized was covering part of his face. I gasped loudly. John let the hair fall back down so that it was covering his face again. He looked embarrassed, like it was a faux pas that he had cuts and bruises covering his face. He sort of resembled a child. Fear was hidden deep in his eyes, I could tell he was struggling to keep it from showing.
"John, I didn't know. I-I'm so sorry. What happened?" He began to speak but was interrupted by a hall monitor threatening John with yet another detention.
"I'm sure you wouldn't want another Saturday detention to add onto your increasing number of them, would you, Bender? What are you up to now? A month and a half?" The shrimpy hall monitor sneered. I saw the anger spreading across John's bruised face.
"That's what I thought. " The hall monitor said as I grabbed John by his left arm and dragged him toward his wood shop class. As the door approached, I felt John stop, but I kept walking, passing the door.

"Where are we going?" The boy asked, obviously confused at why I had continued past his classroom. I ignored his question and continued through the back door of the school. Five minutes later, we were in the middle of the football field.

"What happened?" I asked quickly. John paused before responding as if collecting his thoughts. "My father..." He stopped to take a slow breath. "My father is a violent man. You remember when I talked about him at Saturday detention, well, I wasn't over-exaggerating."

A/N yeah I know It's all messed up. I did my best. Love it? Hate it? Let me know. Hit the review button and tell how you feel.

Love,

ReadLoveHappiness