Chapter 10
Hey guys, thank you for reviewing :) I was beginning to lose faith in this story, but your reviews actually made me want to carry on! So, to say Thank You, I've written a really long chapter :)

I was aware of Trent's cold, hard gaze burning a hole into my punctured soul. I was aware of Miss Hayley watching our little "dramatic lovey dovey" moment. I was aware of Chase's pleading eyes, trying to find a way to connect with mine.

If Trent, Miss Hayley or the rest of the class wasn't here, I'd hug him. Maybe even kiss him; anything to let Chase Davenport know that I needed him more then a balloon needed air.

This boy, right here, was my drug. And I couldn't get enough.

I looked over his shoulder at Trent, who was giving me a warning look. I mouthed a small, "Please?"

Trent hesitated, knowing that if he blabbed about me to his father, then we'd both be in for it. He'd be in trouble for not looking after me properly, and I'd be in trouble for communicating with a Davenport. Trent sighed and gave me a sign that meant, "Fine."

I went to open my mouth, but then remembered my condition. Damn Glossophobia. Damn damn damn damn damn! Here I was, begging Trent to let me talk to Chase, when I couldn't even give a tiny little squeek myself. I took the sheet and started writing.

I cant speak, Chase.

Cautiously, I handed it over to him. "What do you mean?"

I have Glossophobia. It's when I have a fear of public speaking.

Chase sighed but nodded. "Oh, right. That... that sucks," his eyes softened and he took my hand once more. "Please tell me what's happened?"

I want to, Chase. I really really want to. I want for us to be together again. I want our little hugs and kisses back, I want our time on the beach to restart, but we can't have that anymore. It'll only put you in danger, and I can't risk that.

He stared at the letter, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. He took his time scanning the page carefully, looking like a child that's just read for the first time. "What -"

The harsh shrill of a bell rang and everybody filed out. Trent automatically ran over to my desk and practically pulled me up, giving Chase a snarky eye roll in the process. I gave him an apologetic look and followed after Trent.

I took a pen and wrote on my hand. Thank you, Trent. I showed him the little note and he gave a slight smile. "It's okay. Just don't let your dad or mine know about this, okay?" I nodded obediently as we made our way to our second class, which was thankfully just down the hall.

Nobody whispered about me anymore, but you could tell that they thought nothing of me either. it was because I hung out with Trent. It was still a mystery as to why he became so nice all of a sudden (flashback to the lockers about 6 weeks ago).

I took a piece of scrap paper out of my pocket. Why are you doing this? I handed it over to Trent and he sighed.

"I want whats right. I got parted from my girlfriend, too," he gave a slight, depressed chuckle. "I loved her so much. She wasn't like the other girls', she was so different." I smiled a little. "But then she bought me over to her house, to meet her parents. Her dad recognised my surname and stated that he had a little rivalry between him and my dad when they were in High School." Harsh venom seethed through his teeth, coating his husky voice with a drench of sadness. "I wasn't allowed to see or go near her after that. Eventually we lost contact and I turned into this, low-life jerk who pretends no-one can hurt him. I don't want that happening between you and Chase. I mean, he's not a bad guy. I don't want him ending up like me."

To be honest, I was completely surprised. Out of all people, Trent was the one with a similar relationship problem like mine.

Then why do you bully him? I wrote.

Trent inhaled. "I guess it's because of jealousy. Whenever I saw you and him together, I'd think about my relationship with Artemis and how I let her go." I was guessing that Artmis was his girlfriend.

I patted his shoulder reassuringly and he smiled. Then he took a deep breath and pretended to put on a bad-boy act, head held high and his chest out. I quietly giggled.

I had schedualed an appointment with Barbara earlier in the week. She was supposed to come only on saturdays, but this was important. I needed her to get me to speak. And this time, she was going to get something on that tape recording, instead of a beady silence.

She arrived quickly, stepping into my bedroom with a flustered face. Obviously she had been running, because I texted her that it was an urgent matter. "Alright," she breathed, fanning her red face with her hands. "Is this about the Glossophobia?"

I nodded and she smiled. "Okay, darling. Who do you feel most comfortable talking to?"

This took a while. I stared into space, thinking of all the endless people I had responded to. Barbara waited patiently, looking curiously at the books perched neatly on my desk with interest.

There was Chase, but I didn't talk to him at all. There was Trent, but we communicated through notes. Bree, Adam and Leo weren't available options, I had avoided them since my father told me to.

Then my brain clicked. I knew it instantly. I grabbed a piece of paper and took a shaky breath, remembering how to spell her name. I knew it, but I hadn't ever said it since her funeral. Caroline Winters. My mom.

Barbara took the note gently from my hand and smiled. "Do you have any photos of her, Candice?"

I nodded and reached over for the old photo album. It was slightly battered and looked very aged. It went way back to when grandma and grandpa gave birth to my mom, up until our last visit to Blackpool. Several poster-size photos lay within the middle, carefully folded up for the next person.

Anxiously, I slid out a photo with trembling fingers. Caroline Winters, in a beautiful white wedding gown. She stood proudly next to my father, who had such a beautiful smile on his face that you wouldn't think he was the same man who abused and threatened his daughter.

They held a bouqet of pink posies, red roses and purple primroses in their hands, estatic smiles on their faces. I traced the outline of her wedding gown, and eyed his tux observantly. They looked like a perfect couple, like nothing could ever break their relationship so long as they were alive.

"She's very pretty, your mom." murmured Barbara. "Do you want to say a few things to her?"

It was crazy. The mere thought of speaking to a picture of a person that long since passed away, was crazy. It was mental, yet I didn't refuse to. I whispered so many things to this still picture of my mother, expressing the emotions that I had bottled up for so long.

If she saw me then, she'd give me a huge lecture about how to disobey my dad and follow my heart. I didn't know what my heart wanted; that was the problem. I was torn between my drunkard of a father and sweet, adorable Chase Davenport.

Relief swept over me as I noticed the front door slamming shut, signalling that he was out. Probably to a pub or something, but that was good. It bought me some time to actually think about myself.

We had half an hours session left, but Barbara had to go to another patient. I smiled and wrote a big THANK YOU to her on the paper, and she took it and smiled back, hugging me on her way out.

I stayed on my bed for what seemed like eternity, looking up at the ceiling and having quiet conversations with my mom.

I was about to fall into a deep slumber when the doorbell rang. I sprinted downstairs, knowing that if it was my father and I didn't open the door in time, I'd be done for.

It wasn't my dad.
It wasn't Trent, Michael or any other "men" that he had watch over me.

It was Tasha Davenport, with a hopeful look on her face.

What could this pretty little lady want? ;)
Review? ;)