Title: Cuts Like A Knife
Author: Stress
First written: May 12, 2002
Edited and replaced: January 21, 2005
Summary: Part I of the Soul Mates Series; She thought that life couldn't get any better. She had friends and a family that loved her – she was taken care of and had no complaints. But that was before he came into her life. And, no matter how hard she tries to escape his grasp, he'll never let her go.
Running to the O'Connor's Apartment
"I got to run. Just keep running!" she told herself as she ran faster than she ever had before. She shuddered as she thought of the problem she left behind her. Even after she had gotten away from Rip, she could still feel his lips on her and her arms were still red from where he had grabbed her.
"What am I going to do?" she cried out loud as she arrived at the O'Connor's apartment. Even though she had met Rip just that morning, she knew he was used to getting everything he wanted, including girls. "But, why does he want me? He don't even know me," she thought as she tried to catch her breath, still not able to shake the look he had given her.
Straightening her blouse and skirt before entering the apartment, Jess put on a phony smile and walked in the door. She sighed in relief when she saw that the O'Connor's had already gone to bed. Being the hard workers they were they usually went to bed early so they could wake up even earlier in the morning. On normal evenings Jess was home in time to eat dinner with the before they went to bed.
"Yeah, but this wasn't a normal night, was it?" she said to herself. She was glad that the O'Connor's were sleeping because it gave her a chance to sit and think before having to face anyone.
"O.K., so right now Spindle is dating Rip but Rip says he wants to date me. An' Spindle says if I look at her guy she's going to kill me. And", she thought, looking down at the matching bruises that were forming on both her right and left arm, "I already got two bruises from making Rip mad. What the heck am I supposed to do?" she wailed as she sat down on the sofa in the living room.
It didn't make matters any better that Rip was incredibly good looking and it flattered Jess to have Rip pay attention to her. But she knew what she had to do. "Tomorrow I going to tell Spindle what happened and that way she won't get mad at me. Who knows, then, maybe she'll break up with Rip and den I could date Rip and he won't get mad at me either," she decided, hoping that Spindle didn't take any anger out on her for trying to break them up. Because, though she tried to fool herself, that's definitely something she wasn't hoping for.
Jess put her head in her hands and started to cry. She was fooling herself if she thought Spindle wouldn't get angry with her. And Rip, she really didn't know anything about him. But she did know that he was violent when he wasn't getting his way; what had just happened between them had showed her that. Grabbing the end of her black skirt and using it to dry her eyes, Jess decided she would try to fix her predicament tomorrow, whether it got her in trouble or not. She worked too hard to be accepted into the newsies to have it be spoiled by some guy. Especially the leader's boyfriend.