Chapter Seven
Desperate
Over the next few days I rested in bed and felt much better. The doctor had come to visit and had told me it was caused from stress.
I don't really know what that means, but Derren had been going mental trying to make sure any visitors kept a calm and even tone. I saw a lot more of Janey than I had the last few weeks. She looked like she felt super guilty but I couldn't blame her. Why would she want to spend time with me when she had a loving, adoring boyfriend on call. Seth came to visit with her a few times but I was never left alone with him so I couldn't scold him about the mom thing. Surprisingly he seemed to get on well with Derren. They always chatted happily about cars and sports. I think Derren was thankful to have another guy around.
One afternoon Seth and Janey came to visit me, and whilst Janey nipped downstairs to get me a glass of water I seized my chance.
Sitting up in bed I looked at Seth. He looked older than I had seen him last. Slightly taller and his shoulders looked even broader than before. He always had a big smile on his face every time I saw him. He was like a smaller, happier version of Paul.
"Why did you tell Paul about my mom?" I asked bluntly, watching his face. He looked shocked back at me.
"What?" He gasped. "I would never..." He started, looking panicked.
"Paul told me it was you," I stated simply. Just wanting this conversation over with, and to make sure he wasn't spreading any more if my heartbreaking secrets around school. Seth turned white with shock.
"I didn't mean to..." He started, looking confused. "Paul shouldn't of said anything to you. He was out of order, he knows he was." I nodded not really believing him. "He has no right to do any of this to you Annabelle. Sam's been telling him for weeks now..."
"Look," I said, trying to refocus the conversation. Janey would be back at any moment. I looked him straight in the eye, "I need to know why you told him, it's none of his business. If Janey wants to confide in you that's her choice. But I need to know that I can trust you. That I can trust you with my sister."
"You can," Seth begged, pretty much getting on his hands and knees next to my bed. "I swear you can. Please, it was just a mistake. It happened by accident, Paul just reads my mind sometimes."
"I need you to swear that it wont happen again." I sighed, feeling tired. I could hear Janey walking up the stairs. Seth looked at me pleadingly, searching for an answer. Before I got my reply Janey came though the door. Seth pretended to tie his shoe lace and got up.
They didn't stay long after that, I went to sleep shortly after another headache coming on. I hoped to be back at school soon. I didn't want to be stuck in this bed for much longer.
I was surprised that through my days stuck in bed that Paul hadn't come to see me. Maybe that was stupid to expect that he would visit. But after he had stopped me from hitting my head and showed such an interest in who Derren was, then maybe he did care for me?...what stupid thought! I almost laughed at myself.
After everything he said about Linda. They had probably been on their date by now, and had sex in the back of him truck. Or a nearby janitors closet. I groaned, I couldn't stop thinking about them together. Paul's hands all over her body, and her loving it. Giggling through his kisses. I was getting another migraine.
Every time I thought of Paul with her I felt a wave of sickness over me. This is probably where my stress has come from. It's him, his fault...
-xxxxx-
After a total of three weeks off school. I dragged myself back. Derren, had become almost unbearable. Constantly checking my temperature and trying to do even the smallest things for me. He even made me use the toilet with door unlocked so he could come in if I fell.
I woke up and got dressed pulling on a denim skirt that reached my knees and a warm jumper. The temperature had suddenly dropped over the last few weeks. I pulled on some thick black tights and my boots. I looked at myself in the mirror. I had lost a lot of weight over the last few weeks.
I wouldn't really say I was fat before but I was at least chubby. I always just let myself eat what I wanted, not really thinking about the consequences. My chin looked more defined and my cheek bones more prominent. My stomach was completely flat now, no little bumps. I turned around looking at my bum. Nope, that was still there. No getting rid of that. And I had lost a bit of weight off my boobs but not much. They still sat comfortably in my bra. I had always had large breasts, just suddenly hitting me in primary school. (Elementary school here I think). I was always teased something rotten for it.
I sighed, looking at the purple bags under my eyes. I did look tired still. I put a bit of cover up on and it looked much better. I decided instead of taking all that time to do my hair I just pulled it into a loose messy bun.
I just couldn't be bothered today. I grabbed my satchel and had some breakfast. Derren providing me with more to eat than I could manage.
He drove me to school in our truck, which looked more like his truck the last time I saw it. He had hung some fuzzy dice from the mirror and it had loads of rubbish in it. I sighed, I always wanted to keep it clean. I decided not to say anything though. Derren seemed to be settling in well over the past few weeks. He hadn't mentioned his ex; Rebecca since that first breakfast.
When we got to school I opened the door quickly, Derren getting out the car to carry my books for me. Oh god, I was feeling much better. Derren came round to my side of the truck but I was too quick. Already standing there holding my bag and books with a smile.
"I'm fine," I said, trying to stop his face looking so worried. A few students walking past were watching us. "I'll call you if I don't feel well...I promise."
"You can take a few more days off if you like," he said, glaring at some people staring. What were they staring at? I tried to smile back reassuringly.
"I'm feeling much better. Don't worry." I replied pulling my bag strap higher on my shoulder. I started walking to the school entrance. "I'll see you later." I called back over my shoulder. My books were a lot heavier than I remember them. I struggled to handle both them and my bag. I turned around to see if Derren could help me carry my books after all but the truck had vanished. I turned back around and tripped clumsily, the books in my hands scattered all over the floor.
"Oh god." I murmured, trying not to cry. God I was pathetic. People were just stepping around me.
"Are you okay?" Said a deep voice, large tanned hands helping me grab them all. I nodded, standing up when we had retrieved them all. I looked at my rescuer, half thinking/half hoping it might of been Paul.
It wasn't. He had a wide smile on his face and a soft and relaxed expression. He was about six foot, and he had short thick black hair that moved slightly in he wind. His jaw and cheekbones were chiselled and defined. And he had large muscular shoulders and arms that were pressing against his T-shirt. He must of been part of the la push gang; Paul's gang.
"Yeah," I replied, trying not to stare too much, why did all these boys have ridiculous amounts of muscles? "I'm sorry, I haven't been well. It's my first day back and I guess I'm a little fragile."
"Did you just apologise for tripping?" He asked, a smile playing on his lips. I couldn't help but laugh at myself.
"Yeah I guess I did." I smiled, offering to take the books he was holding in his hands. He shook his head motioning for us to go forward.
"I'll carry them for you to your locker." He smiled, I was about to argue but thought better of it. I would look really really stupid if I fell again. "I'm Jacob, by the way, Jacob Black." He held out his hand for me to take, I shook it smiling. What a nice guy, I thought to myself.
"Well Jacob by the way Black," I smiled, trying to make a joke. He grinned back at me. "I'm Annabelle Prewett." He stopped walking looking at me confused.
"You can't be." He said, his green eyes flashing. I couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm pretty sure I am." I laughed, this guy was hilarious.
"But seriously," he said, taking a step closer to me. He looked around like he was seeing who was watching. "What's your name?"
"It's Annabelle Prewett." I replied, wondering what drugs this guy was on. He seemed so normal a second ago. "That's what my dad named me anyway." He looked at me blankly for a second.
"Paul's Annabelle?" Asked Jacob. My eyes widened, what?
"Paul's Annabelle?" I repeated. I didn't understand, how could I belong to Paul?...oh my god, he must know about what happened in the closet! I felt my cheeks heating up. How dare he tell everyone about that. What a pig! "I am nothing to do with that...CREEP!" I snapped, storming off towards my locker. I flung the door open and started piling my books into it angrily. It took me a second to realise that Jacob still had half of my books. I turned around to demand them back off him and I bumped right into him. I flew back hitting the locker door behind me. It painfully jabbed into my back, "ahhh" I hissed, grabbing my back.
"Oh god," he cried, his hands on my shoulder looking distraught. "I'm so sorry." I looked at him, it was an accident what did he have to be sorry about? His hand touched mine for a second, it felt so warm against my skin, it was like...
Before I knew what was happening Jacob was pushed hard against the lockers besides us. The lockers made a creaking noise like they were being dinted. Paul had his hands around Jacobs throat and he was shaking angrily.
"Paul!" I cried, my heart fluttered after not seeing him for so long. "Please don't!" I tried to grab his arm and pull it off Jacob but he didn't even seem to notice me.
"How dare you!" He growled. Pushing Jacob hard into the lockers, Jacob's face was almost white, his eyes turning red.
"Please!" I screamed, tugging Paul as hard I could. He suddenly looked at me and dropped Jacob. Jacob fell to the floor coughing and touching his throat where Paul's hands had been. Paul turned on me staring at me angrily. I tried not to be scared, but there was something lost in his eyes that made him not look like himself.
"You can't do this to me!" He hissed, his hands grabbing at my jumper desperately. What is he talking about? He looked so desperate. "I don't know what you want from me anymore!" He had tears in his eyes, I had never seen him so messed up. He stepped forward, toward me, and I backed up against my locker. "Please, just tell me." He whispered, "...all I want is you." My eyes flew open, what is he talking about? He wants me? Why did he say all that stuff about Linda then? Why was he dating Linda? My head was throbbing, his face was inches from mine. He looked like he was going to kiss me...
"Paul, let her go." Said a deep voice I hadn't heard before. I looked over to see an older muscular man. He looked stern and authoritative. Surely he couldn't be a teacher, the girls at school would of been swooning. Paul let me go immediately, taking a step back. He looked down as if being scolded by a parent.
"Sam, please..." Paul started but Sam put a hand up to stop him. Paul started glaring at Sam, his hands shaking.
"Jacob can you take Annabelle to her next class?" Asked Sam, his eyes not leaving Paul.
I couldn't understand what was happening, it was all too much. I found lumps begin to rise up in my throat. Before I could understand anything further Jacob wrapped an arm around me and had steered me down the corridor and around the corner so I couldn't see what was happening.
"It'll be okay," murmured Jacob, lifting my chin so I would make eye contact. "Don't cry."
I blinked a few times back at him, was I crying? I lifted my hands and wiped my face...I was crying.
"What's going on?" I asked, frustratedly. I had had enough. Too much for anyone to bare.
"I...I can't tell you," he said, looking uncomfortable. Like Jared had earlier, "you need to talk to Paul."
"Paul's crazy!" I sighed, glaring at some younger girls that had stopped to watch us. They moved on quickly not looking back at us...a wise move. "I don't understand any of this...why did you call me 'Paul's Annabelle'? Why does everyone think I'm his girlfriend? he's not even nice to me!" I sighed, exasperated.
"Look...I can't say," said Jacob, looking at the corner he'd just pulled me around as if he expected someone to save him from me.
"Why the hell not?" I asked, I had to get it out of him. "You say I should talk to Paul but he won't talk to me! You KNOW he won't!"
Jacob seemed to be considering telling me, he was quiet for a moment. "Please Jacob, it's driving me mad...I can't take this anymore. It's making me ill." His eyes widened at this, "please."
"It's making you ill?" He repeated, I nodded, the stress of it was making me dizzy. He was debating with himself again.
After several long moments, his eyes snapped up to mine. "I'll take you to Emily's she'll know what to do..."
