Chapter 4

Monday

Me and Erik met up to hang out on Sunday, as a couple, we went for a walk around the town, just talking and getting to know each other a lot better. We were out all day, whatever worries I had about him before, vanished. I hadn't told my friends that we were going out yet, not even Caitlin, they would all find out today when I walk into the school wearing Erik's football jacket that he gave me and told me I could keep it, yeah that wasn't going to get past them.

Erik called me in the morning before school, "Hey do you need a ride?"

"Yeah, I might, you know any one that can give me one." I said jokingly, Erik just got his license, but he was a really good driver.

"Oh, you're hilarious, I'll pick you up in 20 minutes okay?"

I laughed, "Okay."

The car ride was all of 5 minutes, but I couldn't help but side glance at the guy that was mine, never did I ever think that someone so, right, would ever be mine. I quickly turned away when he realized that I was staring, but when I thought he wasn't looking at me, I turned to find out he was. We had one of those moments, where we just stared into each others eyes and felt like we could stare forever. Thank god we were at a red light, as soon as we heard beeping, we got back into focus and turned onto the schools street.

Erik parked in the student parking lot, got out of his car, and sprinted to my side to open the door for me. I looked at him, he made me realize that chivalry wasn't dead after all, he always treated me like I was a delicate flower, and he was so gentle around me, like I was easily breakable. We walked across the parking lot together, close but holding hands was still a little awkward. We got to the door of the school, and I didn't want to leave his side that was the problem with him being older than me, we don't have any of the same classes.

"So, am I giving you a ride after school too?" we were standing outside the school, not wanting to part ways yet.

"You make it sound like it's your job" I stated.

"Yeah well, you know I don't mean it like that, I just need to plan this ahead of time so I have an excuse to the ladies that ask me for a ride." I punched him in the arm, and he laughed, "I'm just kidding, all the girls here are bitches, so I take it I am giving you a ride?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way." I smiled and looked into his perfect face. School was starting soon, so we both had to get into the school, we hugged each other at the door, and his warm embrace was my shelter from the brisk air.

"See you after school." I said as we finally parted ways.

"Yeah, see you." We hugged one more time, then parted ways.

I walked down the hallways getting side glances from different girls that passed by, I was wearing Erik's jacket. Oh god. I went to my locker to get my things for my first three classes then went down to talk with my friends. When I got down to the main lobby, Claire and her boyfriend Mark, who was also a junior, were in their playful embrace, Mark used to be wicked good friends with all of us, including Claire but he asked her out and now they have been like this for a good 4 months. My other friend Ashley was standing by the window with Caitlin. When I walked into their sight, it got quiet, I immediately started to blush.

"Whose is that?" Claire asked, motioning to the jacket.

"No fucking way!" Caitlin knew exactly what was up "Fucking skank you couldn't call me!" This is how my friend and I really talk to each other btw

"Shut up whore, I wanted to surprise you." My blush was fading but still there.

"Wait, What?" Ashley and Claire were confused, I hadn't even mentioned Erik to them, and here I am, coming into the school wearing his jacket.

"Some guy gave Lila his number and they have been calling each other like to love-birds for the past week," she was smiling so wide "I guess he finally asked her."

"Wait who asked what?" Ashley was always the one to get things last.

"Okay now that I am completely cornered, his name is Erik and he was the guy that came into our English class, he grabbed me after class and told me to call him, that's what I did, and we have been calling each other for a while, and on Friday he asked me out, and I said yes." I finished the short version, I didn't want to get into details.

"And we are the last to know about this why?" Ashley asked.

"Well I thought it wasn't anything to get all excited about, just Lila talking to another guy." All of my friends thought of me as 'boy crazy' but that's not true, I just have a flirtatious personality.

"AWWWEEE!" Claire and Ashley mockingly awed at the same time.

"So, what now?" Caitlin asked

"What do you mean?" her question confused me.

"I think she means when do we get to meet him" Claire restated looking at me with her dark brown eyes.

"Umm, I haven't really thought of it, actually, it all happened so fast."

"Well I have to approve of this guy, so you better think it out soon." Ashley chimed in.

"Yeah don't worry about it Ash, I will arrange a meet soon enough."

The bell rang, and we all started heading to class. All day I couldn't stop thinking about Erik, I didn't want to be the clingy girlfriend, but I couldn't help myself. His jacket kept me warm in this freezing school, but it also caused speculation, I would hear people whispering, girls that liked Erik more as a piece of meat than an actual person. I couldn't wait for the day to be over.

It was lunch when I met up with Ashley, Claire and Mark again.

"Lila, can I talk to you?" Mark asked, Mark was like my cousin, he always had my back no matter what, and I had his.

"Yeah sure" I followed him into the courtyard. "What's up?"

"Okay, don't get mad at me, but I really think you should be careful." He said this sincerely.

"Careful of what?"

"Erik has been known to be kind of a dog, at least that's what my friends say about him."

"Well, thanks for your concern Mark, but he isn't a dog, I can see it in his eyes." This whole conversation was kind of putting me down.

"I know that Lila, I can tell by the way your face lights up when you say his name, that you really like him, but last year when you were with Dan, and he hurt you the way he did, Claire, Ashley, Caitlin, Me, we all had to sit there and watch you beat yourself up over it, saying 'how could I be so stupid' and things like that. Lila, we just don't want to see you get hurt." Tears were welling up in my eyes, my ex, Dan, used me. He never saw me as his girl friend except when it was just us. When he was around his friends, he treated me like a piece of meat, like I wasn't even there, he made me get things for him, and if I fell or tripped, his friends would laugh at me, and he wouldn't do anything, he also cheated on me, about 4 times. I just didn't have to power to leave him, because every time he wasn't with his friends, he treated me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered to him. Until he tried to rape me, if I hadn't been so defensive than he would have succeeded, I knocked him upside the head with a lamp, and he fell limp. He switched schools and I haven't seen him since. But after that, I didn't think I could trust anyone. I was on total emotional lock down after what he did, I wouldn't let anyone touch me, I wouldn't talk to anyone, not even my friends. I was a wreck, it took me 8 months to get over what he did to me, and I became social again, but I hated putting my friends through that and I am still wary about who I can trust.

"Thanks Mark, but after what Dan did to me, I think I have a good eye for spotting out the bad guys." A tear spilled over my cheek, and I wiped it off with the back of my hand.

"I know, we are just looking out for you." He smiled and gave me a hug, Claire's boyfriends had usually been complete tools, but mark was by far the best she's had.

After I talked with Mark, I realized he was right, I should be more careful and slow things down a little. My friends didn't want to see me get hurt, and neither did I.