Chapter Three
For the second time in a week, I was pounced on to be woken up. I opened my eyes to find late morning light filling the room, so I couldn't be too irritated, but I really was.
I rolled quickly away, but luckily, it wasn't me being aimed at. Andrew grunted as Zack pinned him under the blanket, laughing hysterically.
"Next time somebody pounces on me like that, I'm getting up swinging." I grumbled, climbing to my feet.
"Good morning to you too, sleeping beauty." I glared at Josh by the door.
"Oh, god. It's you." I growled.
"You know you like me." He said, and I rolled my eyes.
"Let him up." I told Zack, laughing a little.
"Never." He said, grinning.
I narrowed my eyes. It was the weirdest feeling. I was annoyed, but I was amused. The whole time we stared each other down, Andrew struggled under Zack's full weight.
I reached up and pushed Zack to the side, but he grabbed my arm as I did so, and him falling pulled me off balance. I yelped as I landed on the bed, and this time, it was me pinning Andrew under the blanket as Zack moved around and sat on my upper back.
I couldn't believe how fast he pulled that off. I was about to get really angry, but the sound of Zack's laughter, to my surprise, brought mine forward. Breathlessly, I laughed.
Zack only sat there long enough to make a point before he let me up.
"How did you do that?" I asked, pushing myself up. It really interested me, because he made his point, overpowering me without hurting me. I wanted to know how the hell that was possible.
"Me." Josh laughed from his spot.
"We wrestle all the time." Zack explained, and that seemed normal to them. Andrew climbed out of bed as well, giving Zack a look.
"Teach me?" I requested. "How'd you do that?"
"Are you sure you wanna find out?" He grinned, and I nodded. "Okay. Well, when you know you're gonna fall anyway, grab onto any part of them you can." As a test, I reached out as quickly as I could and pushed him. He literally grabbed onto my forearms before I could finish pushing him over, and I flew forward.
Zack wasted no time. He brought his leg up and over, trapping me on one side before he rolled us over. He crossed my arms and pinned them in place. I attempted to bite him, but he pulled his one hand away.
"Hey!" Zack corrected. "No biting." That was apparently was against the rules. Josh's laughter was loud, but then again, so was mine. It didn't take me long to figure it out.
The next ten minutes were spent wrestling with Zack. Josh stood back, shaking his head, watching as Zack attempted to get a good hold on me again. Being unable to, as I squirmed away too easily, in fact pinning him the same way he'd first pinned me. By sitting on his back and holding on for dear life. Until Andrew stepped up on the bed behind me.
I thought he was going to help, but instead he turned around, squished me forward and sat on my back. I was folded, but under me, Zack was laughing too hard to breathe.
"You guys are destroying my bed." Andrew said. "If you're gonna kill each other, move it to the floor."
"I would, if you'd stop smashing me." I grunted, squirming. He moved a little, kneeling off to the side, nearest the edge of the bed. I caught my breath a bit. Waiting a second before launching myself at Andrew. Knocking him to the floor as Zack followed closely. I rolled away while he and Zack continued to wrestle, laughing quietly.
I was actually surprised Richard didn't come upstairs, with all the thumping against the floor and walls. I assumed it was because this was a normal occurrence between them.
"Alright." Josh strode forward and knocked their heads together. "Knock it off you two." They separated, laughing as they rubbed the spot they hit, so I knew it wasn't very hard. "By the way. Nice pajamas, Leandra. You look like a girl." I looked down at my pajamas. Pink plaid bottoms, and matching pink cotton t-shirt.
"I am a girl, dumbass." I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Is that any way for a lady to speak?" He chuckled. I rolled my eyes, turning away. I had a feeling he was just picking on me, but I really couldn't tell. It was safer for me to keep up my guard until I could tell for sure.
"Anyway." Josh continued. "You two are coming over to our house today." He pointed to both Andrew and I.
"What?" I asked. "Why?"
"Because my dad rented a whole bunch of movies, and it's better than sitting around doing nothing." Well, it didn't matter so much where we watched movies, I guessed. Since that was in the original plan, I figured it couldn't hurt.
"Okay." I shrugged. "We just have to get there quick. I'm not supposed to be out walking around."
"Oh yeah." Josh laughed. "The whole town hates you."
"Thanks." I spat, turning to my bag.
"Hey, I honestly forgot, okay?" He asked firmly. "It's pretty hard to make a whole town hate you."
"Actually, it's pretty easy." I mumbled, pulling out a shirt and jeans. I'd taken a shower the night before, so I didn't have to worry about that. I wouldn't stink yet.
I didn't bother to leave the room to change clothes. I wasn't shy. I shed my pajama bottoms first, yanking on my jeans without them seeming to notice at all. However, once I turned my back to them and shed my shirt, I'd gained their attention.
"What happened to your back?" Andrew asked, shocked. I paused, confused at first. Thinking he was referring to the slight bruising I still had from the fight the other day, but I didn't remember getting any bruises there. Then I remembered about the scars. Both from Jack's belt, and when I was shot. I bit my lip, hastily pulling on my t-shirt.
"Long story." I mumbled, shaking my head. Zack and Andrew seemed okay to let it go, but Josh's narrowed eyes on me was what made me uncomfortable.
He didn't ask, but I had a feeling I had found another person who wanted to look too closely. That wasn't a problem anymore, but it bothered me enough to tell myself not to do that again.
With a quick okay from Richard, we set off for the next block. I had a feeling I would be okay getting there, because I was in the middle of three boys.
"Okay." Josh muttered to me as we rounded the corner onto their block. "Just some advice. Don't freak out." I looked over at him incredulously, my steps faltering a bit.
"Don't freak out about what?" I asked nervously.
"Andrew told us how much you hate meeting new people, and my dad isn't the best one to test that on."
"He's a big guy." Zack explained, giving me an apologetic smile.
"Bigger than my brother?" I asked, calming down. "Probably not." Though I was a bit unsure about new people, I'd gotten quite used to people being bigger than me.
"Almost the same." Andrew replied from my left. "But don't worry. He's funny."
"And he's loud." Zack continued. "Without even meaning to be, but he's not mean." I nodded a little, appreciating the forewarning. Following Josh up the steps, I took a deep breath as Zack and Andrew followed me.
"Try not to make eye contact." Josh warned. "If he sees you make eye contact, he never shuts up." He took a few steps through the door, holding it open for us.
"Dad. I brought a friend over."
"Well, bring him here." I flinched at a man's voice calling up the hall, "Let me meet him." I was actually not wanting to meet this man at all. Just his voice told me to worry, setting me on edge. I looked to Zack, and again, he offered an apologetic smile.
"It's a girl, dad." Josh called back, waving me forward. I hesitated, my feet refusing to carry me farther inside the house than a few steps. Just enough for Josh to close the door.
"Oh, a girl?" His dad responded. "I see. Well, let me meet her then."
I listened to the sound of a chair scraping against the hardwood, someone standing. Heavy footsteps coming through the house and louder as they got closer. I stepped back into Andrew, watching as he rounded the corner.
My first reaction was a quiet squeak. This guy was as big as Emmett. Maybe a little taller. Dark brown hair, like his sons, but his eye color didn't match theirs. It wasn't the same shade of blue. He smiled at me as he neared, a beer in his hand.
I almost glared at the offending bottle, but held it back.
"She's cute, son. Though, I should have taught you not to beat her up." He chuckled, referring to the fading bruises on my face. "Why didn't you say you got yourself a little girlfriend?"
"She's not my girlfriend, dad." Josh countered, looking to me. "This is Leandra. A friend of ours from school."
"Okay." He laughed. "Whatever you say." He looked at me again as well. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Miss Leandra. My name's Mark."
His voice was loud. Not like he was yelling, but just that he seemed to be a naturally loud person. It shook my nerves, and I found myself whimpering quietly, but he wasn't mean. Just like they said.
He offered his hand, and as tempted as I was to back up and run away, the front door opened again behind us. The door accidentally bumped Zack, and I heard a slightly-annoyed gasp and heavy sigh.
"Zack." I recognized the woman's voice on the other side of the door. Before she even had to ask, Zack quickly moved out of the way, nearly knocking over a lamp.
"What on Earth is everyone-" She cut herself off as she spotted me standing here and she smiled in understanding. "Oh." I'd seen her outside that day. Up closer, I was more convinced now that I had to have met her somewhere.
"Mom." Josh greeted with a sigh. "Tell dad to leave my friend alone. She's gonna pass out and it'll be his fault."
"Pester them somewhere else, would ya?" She snapped, but her tone was completely playful. "Let a lady in. Shoo."
I couldn't help laughing a little at her voice, stepping aside with Josh. Their mother walked in, holding a gallon of milk in one hand. She lifted it up as she stepped in and handed it to her husband.
"There's more." She told him, thumbing behind her. "I bought it, you guys get to put it away."
"Yes, dear." Mark laughed, but it was the little kiss he gave her head told me he really wasn't any reason to be scared. I glanced over at Josh, and I couldn't help smiling at his knowing smile. Zack rounded out the door, probably to get the grocery-fetching over with.
"I'm sorry." Their mom turned to face me again. Offering her hand. "I'm Heather."
That name even sounded familiar. I felt like I really should know this woman, but I honestly couldn't remember why. It was the weirdest feeling, but one I'd never had before.
"Leandra." I replied, leaning away as Josh followed Zack before I hesitantly took her hand in greeting. Again, I got the feeling that she knew me too. Even more recognition entered her eyes and smile.
"Leandra." She repeated, and I nervously smiled back. I honestly didn't know what to make of her, and the way she seemed to know who I was and admired me was freaking me out.
"Mom, where do you want this crap?" Josh carried in what looked like several bags of cans.
"I vote the trash." Zack grumbled, following him in with more.
"Excuse me." Heather smiled at me, releasing my hand as I nodded. Andrew moved to my side as she turned and followed them to the kitchen.
"That was weird." He mumbled to me.
"You noticed it?" I whispered in reply.
"Yeah. She knows you?"
"I don't know her." I shrugged a little. "Do you know their last name?" As if it might help.
"Hartley." He replied, but it didn't ring any bells. I shook my head, sighing. He shrugged next. He seemed okay with letting it go, but I was more curious than that.
Up ahead in the kitchen, I heard Mark and Heather clearly start a light discussion about their day just as Zack seemed to escape, returning to our side.
"Over here." He smiled at us. Andrew followed Zack first, and I followed him.
I was led into a sort of small living area, with lots of pictures hanging on the walls in mix-matched frames. The most prominent thing in the room was an entertainment center against the far wall, beside a large bay window looking out over the front yard and sidewalk. A sofa and love seat positioned in front of it. It was pretty basic, but also very cozy.
I took the far end of the love seat, nearest the window, sitting slowly. Thinking hard as I stared at the floor, waiting for Josh to get in there too. Andrew took the other half of the love seat, somehow knowing I was far more comfortable with that.
"See?" Zack smiled as he flopped onto the couch. "No big deal, right?"
"Hey." I mumbled. "Um.. Does your mom know me from somewhere?"
"I don't think so." He replied. "She did ask about you, though. The first time you were here, she asked what we knew about you. We just said you're Andrew's friend, but we think you're pretty cool. She didn't ask again after that."
"Maybe she just knows you because she works at the hospital too." Andrew suggested. "It's probably nothing."
"Oh yeah." Zack nodded. "She's a nurse, and everybody knows who your family is." That made sense. I finally allowed myself to shrug it off as Josh came into the room.
As it turned out, Josh's taste in movies was nowhere near mine. He'd chosen three movies, each one worse than the last. I spent most of the third one cringing away from the violence on the screen.
"You sure are sensitive for someone that likes to fight other people." Josh laughed, throwing a pillow at me.
"Yeah, well.." I mumbled, chancing a peek back to the screen. "This is kinda different."
"Are you scared?" Josh asked, surprised.
"No." I said. "I just.. I don't like it."
"Aww, it's okay. I'll protect you." Josh smiled.
"Fuck off." I grumbled, throwing the pillow back at him. Not hard, because I didn't want him to not catch it, and have it break something. It was more of a toss, but he let it hit him in the face.
I looked back to the screen too soon. "Oh god. Who watches this crap?" I cringed, hiding my face in Andrew's arm.
"Alright." We all looked back at Mark's voice. "We'll be back around seven. Stay out of trouble." I assumed he and Heather were going somewhere.
"We will, dad." Josh muttered.
"I mean it." He said, pointing to the boys, "Be good, and don't let your mother catch you watching that." Taking the hint, Josh paused the movie and turned off the TV just as Heather descended the stairs.
"Yeah, yeah." Josh laughed. "You always mean it."
"It was nice to meet you, Leandra." Mark smiled at me, but I didn't get as weird of a feeling from him. He seemed nice enough, just like Richard.
"You too." I replied quietly.
"Don't be a stranger." Heather added. "You're welcome here anytime."
"Thanks." I smiled a little.
"Go, already." Josh laughed. "You're freaking her out."
"No they're not." I argued, but his parents both laughed as well. Soon, they were both gone, closing the front door behind them. Josh jumped up and ran to the window as soon as he heard the car start.
"Finally." He laughed, jogging through the room. "Thought they'd never leave."
"What are you doing?" Zack asked, turning to watch his brother head toward the kitchen. Andrew and I glanced at each other as we heard the sound of bottles clinking together. My eyes narrowed as I heard him coming back.
As soon as I saw the two brown bottles in his hands, matching the same ones I grew up seeing and the same one I saw in Mark's hand, I stood up.
"Are you crazy?" I asked. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Aw, don't tell me you're going to freak out like a little baby." Josh rolled his eyes. "It's not going to kill you. Here." He held one out to me.
"No. Get that away from me." I growled, turning with my arms crossed over my chest. Just the sight of it angered me. It wasn't as bad in Mark's hand, because he obviously hadn't had a lot of it, but in Josh's hand, it threatened me. I didn't like it, and wanted nothing to do with it.
"Go put it back, Josh." Zack only sounded annoyed. "I don't wanna get in trouble when dad finds those missing."
"Whatever." He scoffed. "Here." He held it out to Andrew instead. Andrew looked from it to me as I turned my eyes to him.
"Come on. Take it." Josh insisted, and at first, I really thought he was going to. I shook my head, silently begging him not to.
"Maybe we shouldn't." Andrew said, hesitating. "Come on, Josh."
"My dad won't notice." Josh shrugged. "Just take it."
"I don't know." Andrew murmured, looking to me again.
"So now you're a wimp, too?" Josh asked, shocked. "You both are babies." Andrew looked down. I wouldn't blame him if he took it after all.
I turned around, shaking my head again. It was his choice, but I wouldn't tell him that the moment he did, he'd lose me as a friend. I felt strongly enough about it that I meant it. I paced slowly toward the front door, waiting for him to make his decision. I was now very, very uncomfortable, and more than ready to leave.
I looked over, surprised as Andrew stepped up beside me. "You go ahead, Josh. We've got to get home anyway. My dad is probably wondering where we are." Zack smiled at us, seeming impressed.
"Whatever." Josh sighed, sitting. "It's your loss."
"Bye, guys." Zack called.
"See you tomorrow." Andrew made it clear he wasn't mad at them, keeping his calm. I was highly impressed too, smiling a little at him. I stepped outside first, Andrew following close behind me.
"So.." I murmured as we stepped down from the porch. "Why didn't you?"
"Well, I know that stuff isn't for kids. That's all on them." He said, taking my hand as we walked. "Two, I could tell how much it bugged you. I'm just surprised that you have limits."
"Just when it comes to that." I shook my head. "I won't ever touch that stuff. As long as I live."
"What's so wrong with it?" Andrew asked, confused. "My dad has a couple of them sometimes, and it doesn't hurt him." I looked over, meeting his eyes briefly.
"Long story." I said, looking down again. "Just.. Thank you. For not taking it." I watched our feet as we walked. We were pretty quiet as we continued on, heading up the street.
"You sure are full of those." Andrew eventually pointed out. "Long stories."
"What can I say?" I replied. "I'm weird."
"That doesn't mean you're weird." He countered, and I shrugged.
Suddenly, as we rounded the corner, he pulled me to a stop. I looked over, confused. At his nod forward, I looked ahead of us on the sidewalk. Among others, the three girls I'd run from earlier in the week stood there on the sidewalk outside Andrew's house, looking our way.
"Oh, shit." I whimpered, my heart dropping. Unfortunately, I'd gained their attention.
"Look who it is." One of them called, a large grin coming to her face, and I took a step back.
"I can't fight." I murmured desperately to Andrew. "I promised."
"Come for a rematch?" Another one called, stepping away from the group.
"The rat even has a friend now." The first laughed. "Isn't that cute?"
"I don't wanna fight." I told them, shaking my head.
"Well, that's a little too bad, princess." This was a new one. A guy, probably around sixteen. "You messed up. Mariah is my little sister." Mariah.. The one I beat up before Noel. "I've been looking for you for awhile now, and a little birdy told me you were around."
"Shit.." I whimpered, taking another step back. "Andrew, go home. I'll try to distract them, and you go get your dad."
"Not a chance." He said, stepping back with me. "I'm not leaving you."
"Okay.." I whimpered again. "Then follow me."
With that, I turned, starting my run. Back the way we came. I held his hand tight in my own as we raced back up the sidewalk. Passing Josh and Zack's house the other direction. Not even thinking to stop there, because of what they were doing. We passed right by it, headed straight for main street.
I looked back, noticing at least six following us. Too closely for my taste.
I looked over at him. He held my hand tighter, and suddenly turned. Crossing over lawns and tugging me quickly into the trees. He tugged me a few feet into the trees, and before the others entered, he took a sharp right. Leaping over a fallen tree easily, he slid to a stop, and slammed back against a standing tree. Pulling me back against him, and covering my mouth. Seconds later, I heard them several feet away, calling my name. Their crunching footsteps against the foliage sounded all over the place. I couldn't tell how far away or how close they were by the sound.
I fought with his hand. I couldn't catch my breath through my nose, and I was really feeling claustrophobic. I stopped fighting after a moment, knowing why he did it. He was completely silent behind me, and I knew I wouldn't be able to do that.
It went quiet before he slowly uncovered my mouth. I didn't dare speak. I still heard some footsteps, but I was getting worried.
A few seconds later, I jumped as suddenly Andrew was plucked out from behind the tree. Away from me, and wrestled to the ground. Jade's older brother placing his foot on his back, pinning him.
I was only able to take one step in their direction when I was suddenly tackled from behind. Hitting the ground forcefully enough to lose my breath, and tearing the skin of my forearms against the sharp twigs and dead leaves.
A square kick to the ribs had me crying out, trying to roll over.
"You stay right there, kid." Andrew must have been fighting, because I sure wasn't going anywhere.
I was released enough to roll over a little, looking up at six other girls. All older than me.
"Where are your bitchy sisters?" One of them asked me, laughing a little. I narrowed my eyes. Despite my promise not to fight, I really couldn't help myself. Any other topic, and I would have just taken whatever they had to give.
But they mentioned my family.
Against my will, I reared up and kicked straight at her knee. Amazingly, landing the kick, clearly feeling the snap her leg gave under the force of my shoe. She hit the ground, instantly in loud, sobbing tears. She wouldn't be getting back up on her own for awhile.
Unfortunately, that only pissed the others off.
Before I could crawl away, I received one more kick to the ribs, and a coughing cry left me. The pain spread instantly from my side, throughout my whole body. I felt that that kick had done some damage. I recognized the difference now between a bruising kick, and a damaging kick, but I fought that realization. In an effort to protect myself, I curled up, clutching my sides.
"Hey!" Everything suddenly froze and I uncurled just enough to look at Josh standing there, Zack behind him. To say I was surprised to see him was a massive understatement. I sobbed in pain, trying to catch my breath.
"Don't you think this is just a little unfair? I mean.." Josh continued, scoffing. "Do you really need six.. Seven of you to handle two ten year olds? Really. How pathetic are you?" He seemed amused, leaning against the tree with his hands behind his back. Like he wasn't witnessing this. Merely discussing the weather.
"Beat it, kid." One of the girls barked. "Or you'll join her."
"Okay." He said, striding forward. He stepped over me on the ground, headed straight for the one that had delivered the very painful kick. Nobody reacted, just as shocked as I was. No fear in him, no hint of hesitation. Suddenly, still with no hint of hesitation, he brought something out from behind his back.
He swung a thick tree branch in his hands right at her, making contact with her stomach. She doubled over, and before she could even finish losing her breath, he swung again, hitting another and dodging a third's grab for him. He flung the branch as far as he could with the least amount of time.
"You said 'Beat it'." He laughed, holding his hands up as he stepped backwards. Carefully stepping over me. "I can see your ugly face as an 'it'.." Zack was laughing behind him. "Come on, buffalo. You gonna do anything about that? I promise to go easy on you."
They all started for him now, even Jade's brother. Josh laughed loudly, spinning as he grabbed Zack's sleeve, pulling him along as they started running, and they were followed.
"Let's get moving, morons!"
Andrew was suddenly there beside me.
Andrew pulled me to my feet, laughing and shaking his head. We trailed after the mob chasing him and Zack down. Me a little slower, thanks to my aching ribs. Luckily, they paid no attention to us anymore, focused on Josh now. Somehow, they'd moved the chase out of the trees, and led them up the street. Zack beside Josh, and I figured out where they were going.
Up the street, Josh gave a whistle.
"Here, doggy doggy! Come on! I thought you were faster than that?" Zack called behind him, effectively angering them further. One tripped, hitting the road face first, and I made sure to step on her arm as we continued on. Much to Andrew's amusement.
"Faster! Knees to chest, fucker!" Josh called. "I'm disappointed in you."
Seeing that we weren't going to catch up to them ahead of the group before they reached the house, Andrew held my hand tighter and we broke off. Rounding the block, headed for the thin alley between the houses. Through the backyard fence, and over the back lawn. Diving into the back door to his house. Releasing my hand once I was safe inside, he tore faster through the house.
I could only pay a little bit of attention, as I was trying not to puke. I wandered forward at my own pace this time.
"Dad!" Andrew called loudly, before yanking open the door just as Josh and Zack jumped up onto the porch and jogged inside. Nearly sliding on the mat in front of the door in their efforts to stop. Both of them laughing hysterically, as Andrew slammed the door behind them, locking it just as quickly. They both panted roughly, leaning against the railing beside the stairs, trying to catch their breath.
"What on earth is going on?" Richard asked, nearly tripping in his haste down the stairs.
"Those kids outside tried to beat up Leandra." Andrew panted. "So we ran here." Richard looked to me, doubled over in the doorway to the living room, trying to catch my breath as well. I nodded a little, and he instantly got moving. Yanking the door open in a very pissed off manner.
"Get your butts home, before I call each one of your parents." He called as he stepped outside onto the porch. "You lay another finger on her, I swear all of you will be spending the next week in jail. Get going!"
Just as I thought before, he could be firm if he needed to be. I knew I wouldn't want to cross him. I smiled a little, looking down.
I didn't know if he could do that, and apparently, neither did they. They got moving, running off and he turned, stepping back inside.
"Are you okay?" Richard asked, looking to me.
"She's-"
"I'm fine." I said, cutting Andrew's reply short. He looked to me, surprised. "I'm fine. Thanks to Josh."
I really didn't want this to be made into a big deal.
"Well." Richard sighed. "Just.. Stay inside. Josh, Zack. You might want to consider staying here for awhile."
"No problem." Josh agreed, nodding.
"I'm ordering pizza for dinner. You're both welcome to join us." Richard told them.
They smiled at each other, nodding again. "Awesome."
"Go on upstairs, guys. I'll let you know when it gets here." He still seemed concerned about us, but I knew he'd be okay.
Andrew nodded, taking my arm. I winced each step I took up the stairs, holding my breath. Josh and Zack led the way upstairs, laughing the entire way.
"Holy crap." Josh laughed, opening the door. "That was fun."
"You're just lucky you were faster than them." I mumbled, whimpering as I sat down on the bed with Andrew's help. "How'd you know?"
"We saw you run by." He said. "Then the zoo animals following. Zack had to put on his shoes, which was why we took so long."
"Sorry." Zack mumbled apologetically. "I couldn't find the other one."
"It didn't take a genius to figure out that you two needed help." Josh said. "Next time, let us come with you."
"You were busy." I mumbled, wincing and hugging my side.
"We weren't that busy. They'll be less likely to chase you down if they see you in a group." Josh reasoned, stepping forward. He pushed me down, making me lay back on the bed. I was too stunned to even think at first. "I've got a couple of friends from school who'll help out if I need them to." He slowly raised my shirt over my side, and I slapped his hand away.
"What the hell?"
"I'm just looking." He said. "Calm down, killer. I broke my ribs two years ago. I wanna see if yours are broken after that moose kicked you."
"He fell out of a tree." Zack laughed, and I couldn't help laughing as well.
"Ha-ha-freaking-ha. For the record, that really sucked." Josh grumbled, lifting my shirt out of the way again. He sighed, shaking his head as he looked at the bruising. "They look bad."
"I'll live." I mumbled, rolling slightly to sit back up.
"Leandra, you should let Andrew's dad know." Zack said. "If they're broken, or even cracked, that could really be bad."
"I don't care." I sighed. "And don't you three tell anyone, okay?"
"Are you crazy?" Josh asked me. "You want us to lie? Why?"
"Because." I said. "I promised I wouldn't fight. If I can get away with this, then I can say I kept that promise."
"Them following you like that wasn't your fault." Josh said incredulously. "They'd be mad at you for that?"
"I don't know." I shrugged. "But I don't wanna test it. Especially with how bad I've been."
"You're kidding, right?" Josh continued. "You think your family is going to be happy about you hiding this?"
"You wouldn't get it." I growled, forcing myself to my feet. "Josh, I can't lose them. It's easy for you, because you know your parents won't get rid of you. Me living there isn't permanent yet."
"Wait, they're not your real parents?" Josh asked, surprised.
"No." I sighed. "I'm just a foster."
"What the hell did you do in your last home?" He asked. He didn't mean that in a mean way, and I knew that, but I turned away.
"Long story." I grumbled, "Just.. I'm not there permanently yet. They can still change their minds about keeping me. I can't mess up any more. Please.." I was surprised at the amount of pleading in my voice. "Don't say anything." He pursed his lips, his arms crossed over his chest. I decided to try another tactic.
"If you say anything, I'm telling your mom about that beer."
"I never even opened it!" He whined, incredulous.
"Don't matter." I countered. His flat look told me that it really didn't matter whether or not he opened it. His parents would be pissed either way.
"That's low." He pointed at me, and I returned his flat look. "Fine, but if you die, that's on you."
"I'm not gonna die." I laughed a little. "Thank you." He nodded, but I could tell he wasn't happy about it.
"Now." I said, looking to Andrew and Zack. "You two.."
"I won't say anything." Zack said, raising his hands in defeat.
"Leandra.." Andrew trailed off, hesitant. I knew he would be a problem. He was the most honest kid I knew. He always told the truth.
"Andrew, you know how much they mean to me." I told him. "Please. If they find out I've been fighting again, they won't let me come back here, and they'll be so mad.." I trailed off this time. "Please."
"You know how much you mean to me." He said. "You could die."
"I'm not going to die." I sighed, rolling my eyes. "If I do, then I'll admit you're right." He laughed at that one, and I smiled in response.
"I won't say anything, as long as you're okay." He finally said. "But if anything happens, I'm telling my dad." That was the best I was going to get.
"Thank you." I sighed sincerely. I turned again, looking back at Josh. "And thank you. For helping us. You didn't have to do that."
"I know." Josh waved it off. "We wanted to."
"I don't think it's right." Zack added. "You didn't even do anything."
"I'm confused, though." I frowned, sitting back down. "How'd they know I was here?"
"Almost every house on this side of town has a kid that goes to one of those three schools." Zack explained. "Someone somewhere knows your face, and even more people than that know you're friends with Andrew. It wouldn't take a genius to figure it out."
"Dang it." I whined this time. "Now I can't even come here."
"Yeah you can." Josh replied. "Just don't walk around alone. Call ahead or something if you wanna come over." He wasn't being condescending that time. He was being sincere.
"Maybe we don't even have to tell them you were fighting." Andrew spoke up, gaining our attention. "It could have just been a fall. Out of a tree."
"Ooh!" Zack perked up. "Can I push her?"
"She's not actually falling out of a tree." Andrew whipped back. "But you can be the one she blames for talking her into doing it."
"Yes." Zack hissed with a grin. "I'm the bad influence." I had to admit. For someone as honest as Andrew, he was pretty good at coming up with believable lies.
"She'd have other marks if she fell out of a tree." Josh shook his head.
"Like these?" Andrew asked, taking my arm and bending it in. Showcasing my scraped forearms. I'd completely forgotten about that.
"That looks more like a bike wreck." Zack pointed out. "Not the same as a tree fall. Maybe down the stairs?"
"God, guys." I frowned, looking around.
"Where would she scrape her arms like that down the stairs?" Josh asked. "Are the carpets made of glass?"
"The tree can be on a hill." Andrew suggested. Oh, I was back in a tree.
"Out in the woods." Zack added with a nod. "And she landed on a root."
All three groaned painfully.
"Problem." I snapped, shutting them up. "Andrew's dad saw us run here, and he knows why we were running. He knows there was no tree. It's not like we can ask him to lie for us too."
We sat around Andrew's room for about an hour, discussing options, perfecting our lies and coming up ideas for traps. Ways to mess with those older kids, and ways to get them into trouble.
I got a better hold of my pain during that time, and I found I could hide it again. I actually had hope that I could pull this off. As long as I didn't move too harshly or stretch too far.
My problem during that hour was trying not to laugh. Zack was pretty creative, and pair that with Josh's imagination, they came up with some pretty imaginative traps for those older kids. They were funny.
We'd just gotten to the good part of the best idea, when we were summoned.
"Pizza's here." Richard called up the stairs, and I looked around.
"Coming!" Andrew called back.
"Remember." I said quietly, pointing at all three of them.
"We know, we know." Josh laughed, shaking his head as he and Zack stood up first.
Zack offered to help me up, and I took his offer. Placing both of my hands in both of his offered ones, he gave me leverage I needed to make it to my feet without using too many midsection muscles.
"And you remember." Andrew replied. "If anything happens, I'm telling him."
"I'm fine now." I assured him, but I knew he didn't believe me.
I turned to leave, but Andrew made a noise, and I looked back at him. He pointed to my forearms, reminding me of the torn skin there.
"Crap." I growled. "Okay, I'll be right down."
I made my way into the bathroom, flipping on the light and turning on the hot water. I jumped as I noticed Andrew had followed me.
"Leandra, I have to ask again." He said, leaning against the open doorway. "Please. Let me tell my dad. I really don't like the idea of you hiding it."
"I can't do that." I shook my head. "I already told you why."
"Won't they be just as upset over you hiding it?" Probably.
"It's a risk I have to take." I leaned forward splashing warm water on my forearms. Cleaning the dirt and dried blood from my skin.
"So.." Andrew sighed. "What if you get sick? Like.. Really sick because of this? Do you know how guilty I'll feel? Why can't we just tell them that lie?"
"I'm sorry." I said, shaking my head. "I'll be okay. You'll see." I patted my arms dry, and sighed as well. "Don't be so serious. We lived." I offered him an attempted comforting smile, and he smiled in return.
"You know he likes you, right?" Andrew asked, stepping back and letting me out of the bathroom. I turned off the light, looking at him.
"What?" I asked, frowning. "Who?"
"Josh." He said as if it were obvious. "He likes you."
"So?" I asked, frowning in confusion. I wasn't getting it. "He's okay."
"No." He replied. "He likes you-likes you." Oh.
"No he doesn't." I shook my head, rolling my eyes at him. We stood there in the hallway now, talking about this. It was weird. This was the first time I'd ever had to face something like this. Crushes were something I'd only heard about when other kids would talk about them. I'd never had one, so it was weird to consider it.
"I can tell." He insisted.
"Just because he came to save us, doesn't mean he likes me." I reasoned. "He was probably just there to save you from being stepped on."
"Right." He snorted. "And I'm a mermaid."
"Are you really?" I asked in a laugh, poking his side. "Where's your tail?"
"Stop." He laughed, taking hold of my poking hand. Just holding onto it. "I just thought you should know."
"It doesn't matter." I said. "I don't think he does, but even if he did, it wouldn't matter." I was probably incapable of feeling the same way.
He didn't seem to know how to reply to that. I shrugged, giving him a smile. I really wasn't sure how I should feel about that. I barely knew Josh, so it really didn't matter what he thought about me. In a way, though, it bothered me. I didn't like knowing that.
I turned, heading downstairs, listening to Andrew follow after a few seconds. I was still in thought, though. Why did Andrew bother telling me that? He knew I'd only known Josh for like thirty seconds. What did it matter to him if Josh liked me? Andrew was my friend first, and I could tell that it bugged him.
I made a mental note to pick that conversation back up next time I could. I didn't like that something about me bugged him.
I managed to hide my pain for the rest of the evening.
It came close to being discovered during dinner, though, when I'd misplaced my foot, and stumbled while trying to climb onto the tall chair beside the kitchen table. My foot slipped off the little step, and hitting the floor. As much pain as I was in, I worried that they were more than bruised. I clenched my teeth, holding my breath. Turning my eyes to the floor as I leaned on the chair.
"Are you okay?" Richard asked, worried. Seeing my reaction to such a simple thing.
"Yeah." I forced out as easily as I could. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just.. Thought for a second my shoe was untied. I'm a little out of it, I guess."
"Understandable, given the afternoon you had." He murmured after a moment, his eyes on me as I tried again. Successfully sitting back down. Andrew's eyes were also on me, and I could clearly see that he wasn't happy.
I gave him a look that said, 'Shut up', and he looked down.
I was very careful the rest of the evening, and soon, night fell. It was decided that both Josh and Zack would be spending the night that night as well. Richard didn't mind as long as their parents didn't mind, which they didn't. I didn't care either. I was starting to appreciate their presence just as much as I had Andrew's.
My little world suddenly expanded by two more people.
"How old are you, anyway?" I asked Josh as we got ready for bed. He was making a bed of blankets on the floor, and I was already willing to share Andrew's bed. It worked the night before, and I probably wasn't going to be okay with sharing the floor with two other people. Andrew's room wasn't that big.
"Almost thirteen." He replied. "A couple of months away." That wasn't 'almost'.
"You're tough for a twelve year old." I admitted, shrugging a little and sitting carefully on the side of the bed.
"You're tough for a ten year old." He countered like it was a competition.
"I turn eleven in a couple of months." I used his excuse. "Plus I have to be."
"What's that mean?" He asked, pausing with a blanket in his hands.
"Nothing." I shook my head.
"No, really." He insisted.
"When the whole town hates me, I gotta be tough." I pointed out.
"True." He got moving again.
"The whole town doesn't hate you." Andrew mumbled where he sat behind me. "And you don't have to be so tough. We'll help you out."
"Unless they step on us too." Zack piped up.
"With how good you are at sitting on people, I don't think they can."
Completely seriously, almost disappointedly, Zack replied. "True. I'm freaking awesome."
I was woken again that night. Somewhere close to dawn, as it was starting to lighten outside the window. Unfortunately, I was right in the middle of a pretty painful memory and nightmare. Probably brought on by the painful ache in my ribs.
Remembering a few years ago, during a time when I'd had this same pain. Looking up at Jack, crawling backwards across the floor. Sobbing hard into my knees when I couldn't retreat any further. My back hitting the wall. Covering my ears, trying to block out the sound of him shouting at me to stop crying. I couldn't do it. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop crying. It only got worse as I watched him reach for his belt.
I was almost seven.
Andrew was kneeling beside me on the bed when I opened my eyes, clearly concerned, but this time, I wasn't easily calmed.
"You were crying again." Andrew pointed out, but I didn't reply. I sat up, fighting as hard as I could to keep back the panic the dream brought me. I failed, beginning to sob silently. A few loud ones escaped, however, and it obviously didn't take much to wake Zack and Josh.
I closed my eyes as the light turned on. Josh was on his feet and Zack was kneeling up beside the bed. Both deeply worried. I hated that this was an issue again.
"Leandra." Andrew tried for the tenth time. "What's wrong?"
I shook my head a little, my arms holding my sides as I looked up at him. I was in a lot of pain.
Josh was still more worried as well. "Should I go get your dad?"
"Yeah." Andrew replied immediately. "Go get him." He instantly turned, leaving the room as I continued to cry. Shaking in my effort to stop sobbing as Andrew put his arms around me.
A minute later, both Josh and Richard returned, coming back to the bedside. I felt the bed dip beside me, and I looked up. Just looking at Richard now sitting there seemed to make him understand.
"What's wrong with her?" Zack asked from the floor.
"Maybe her ribs were bothering her." Andrew said, still panicked.
"Nothing is wrong with her. She just had a nightmare. That's all." Richard answered softly. "And what do you mean about her ribs?"
"They kicked her." Andrew answered, sighing. I met his eyes with accusing ones of my own. "The kids. Earlier. They kicked her twice. Pretty hard, in the same side."
"What?" He asked, surprised. "Why-"
"She made us promise." Josh answered. "Not to tell. She's afraid of her family being mad, and not wanting her anymore."
"Leandra, let me look." Richard requested. Slowly, I reached up and gripped the bottom of my shirt, holding it down. I shook my head. He sighed, looking around. "Did you guys see it?" They all glanced to each other, before nodding. "And?"
"She was bruised pretty bad." Zack murmured, looking up at Josh.
"I don't know how bad it is now." Josh answered as well. Richard sighed again, gently patting my hand and standing.
"Alright." He said. "Sit tight." He turned, leaving the room.
"Why would you tell?" I sobbed once the door was shut, kneeling up on the bed. "You promised! You could have just lied!"
"I didn't know what was wrong with you!" Andrew plead. "I was scared!"
"I wasn't crying because of that." I cried, sitting back down, shaking my head and looking down. I had a feeling, even with how upset I was, the truth was coming. Quickly.
"Then why?" Andrew asked, his tone softer. "Please tell me."
"I can't." I shook my head after several minutes, sobbing quietly. "I can't. You'll.. I don't know. You'll never talk to me again."
"That's stupid." Josh spoke, and I looked to him. "Seriously? Nothing you did could be that bad."
"It isn't anything I did." I mumbled, shaking my head. "It's what.. Someone else did to me."
"Then it doesn't matter what you say." He barked. "Andrew's not going to stop being your friend because of something someone else did. It would be a really stupid reason to stop being friends with someone."
"Neither will we." Zack piped up, kneeling up. Closer to the bed. I held my breath for a second, letting it out as I shook my head.
I was quiet for another few minutes. Trying to force myself to say it. I needed to find a simple way to explain years of torment and pain to people who wouldn't understand in the least.
"I can't tell you." I mumbled eventually. "I can't make myself say it."
"See, that's two different things right there." Josh said. "You can't tell us, means you don't trust us enough. You can't make yourself say it, means you don't trust yourself enough. Which one is it?"
"Myself." I answered.
"And why wouldn't you trust yourself?" He asked. "I'm telling you, Leandra. You're one of the most kick-ass kids I've ever known. And that's saying something."
"I never used to be." I mumbled, staring at my hands.
"Then what did you used to be?" He asked. "Come on, kid. Out with it. It can't be that bad." He laughed, "What was the thing someone else did? What? Were you chained up outside?" He obviously thought it was a joke, but I looked up at him. Not amused in the slightest. I wished I could laugh it off, and tell him he was wrong, but I couldn't do that honestly.
His smile faded, "Oh.."
"What?" Andrew asked, shocked. "Really?"
"I was." I sniffled, looking back down. "But that wasn't the worst of it."
"What are you saying?" Josh asked with a deeper frown. "Leandra?" I kept my eyes down.
"There's a reason I'm with the Cullens." I murmured, my voice hardly making a sound. "They took me in because my house wasn't safe for me."
"Because somebody hit you?" Zack asked quietly. I nodded. "But that wasn't all..? What does that mean?"
"I think I know." Josh muttered, and I looked back at him.
"You asked about the scars on my back." I mumbled. "That's part of it."
"That's why you hated staying with your mom." Andrew understood. "And then she got that boyfriend.. Then the Cullens came back, and you were living with them again."
"It wasn't my mom." I clarified. "She just ignored it when it was happening." I paused to catch my breath. "I wasn't raised the way you guys were. I didn't have what you guys had. Nobody cared about me." I shrugged, looking back down.
"That's why they mean so much to you." Andrew whispered, and I nodded, sniffling.
"That explains your temper." Zack mumbled, and I looked to him. "What? If I was treated like that, I'd be pissed off at everything, too."
"It's a little more than that." I mumbled. "But that's about it."
"Leandra." I looked to Josh. "When you say it was more than that, you mean..?" I looked back down, nodding a little. Given his tone, I knew he knew what I was talking about. "Who the hell would do that?"
"He would." I mumbled, shrugging a little. "My stepdad."
"I still don't get it." Zack murmured, looking between him and I.
"I'll tell you later." Josh grumbled, turning away.
"And you thought we wouldn't want to talk to you anymore?" Andrew asked, shocked. "Because you were abused?"
"I don't know what I thought." I sighed, keeping my eyes down.
"If anything," Josh said, turning. "It sounds to me like your life has been hard enough. If anyone from school else tries to hurt you again, I'll beat their head in myself."
"Thanks." I murmured, looking up at him.
"We've got your back, Leandra." He told me, his arms crossed over his chest. "Don't worry."
"Yeah." Zack said from his kneeling position. "I might not be much, but I can be helpful. I'm a kick-ass side-kick, and I'm good at sitting on people."
"And don't worry so much." Andrew scooted forward to sit next to me. "We all know that what happened today wasn't your fault. I was right there with you. We'll make sure your dad knows it too."
I took a breath, nodding.
"Thanks, guys." I murmured. "Really." Andrew took my hand, giving me a comforting smile.
We all looked up as the door opened again, and Richard returned, trailed by Carlisle.
"That was quick." Josh muttered, looking to me. "Wait.. That's your dad?"
"We don't live far away." I replied quietly. "And yeah. Uhm.. Carlisle, that's Josh, and this is Zack. Friends of mine and Andrew's. Guys, this is Carlisle. My.. Dad." For the oddest reasons, I wasn't sure if he wanted me to introduce him as that. As my dad. It was hard for me, to say the least.
Zack stood up, not phased at all, and held his hand out to him. I liked him. Josh still seemed to be in surprised shock, looking between Carlisle and I.
"It's not her fault." Andrew sat up straighter, looking at Carlisle. "It wasn't her fault. I swear. We were just walking back from Josh's house, and we ran into them."
"I'm not angry." Carlisle replied, trying to ease his worry. "I'm far more concerned by the fact that she tried to hide it."
"Sorry, Leandra." Josh murmured to me. "That's all on you."
"We tried to help her." Zack muttered. "But Josh and I got there just a little too late."
"And I was pinned." Andrew added, shaking his head.
"It's okay, guys." I said. "Thanks for trying."
I closed my eyes, listening to him stepping forward. "Show me."
"B-But I-"
"Show me." He told me firmer, so I sighed, kneeling up carefully and lifting my shirt over my side. Four sharp intakes of breath and Carlisle's sigh was enough for me to know not to look. I looked up shamefully, meeting his eyes.
"Come on." He said, gesturing to me. "Let's go." I looked down, and climbed off the bed. I knew exactly where we were going. Straight to the hospital.
After gathering my stuff, I stepped into my shoes, and gave the boys a small smile as Carlisle took my bag from me, trying to ease their worry.
"Bye, guys." I muttered. A quiet responding goodbye chorus was returned, and I sighed, heading downstairs with Carlisle following close behind me.
"As happy as I am about you making new friends," Carlisle murmured as soon as he was in the car with me. "I cannot say I approve of you asking them to lie for you."
"Not lie." I mumbled. "Just not say anything." He gave me a look. "I know. There's no difference."
"Leandra, why would you do that?" He asked, "I made it specifically clear that I didn't want you to hide something like this."
"Because I thought that if you saw this, then you'd think I was out looking for trouble." I explained. "I wasn't. We were just trying to walk back to Andrew's house, from Josh's house. That's it."
He was quiet.
"And.. I was afraid you wouldn't let me come back to Andrew's." I continued. "I didn't want to have to stay away, because they thought I wanted a rematch."
"I'm not entirely sure you didn't, Leandra." He sighed, glancing at me.
"No, that's not it at all." I choked out after a moment. "I swear."
"I'm sorry, but I do know you." He said. "I know how much running from them bothered you. Leandra, you could have seriously been hurt, and gotten Andrew hurt as well. As well as the other two."
"I wasn't looking for trouble." I repeated pleadingly. "Ask Josh. Ask Andrew."
"You've asked them to lie for you before." Shit. He had a point there. I sighed, carefully leaning back against the seat. I decided then to just shut up. I didn't want to keep digging myself deeper. For the first time, I'd chosen not to argue.
"I'm sorry." I mumbled. "I shouldn't have asked them to shut up about it, and I was wrong."
He glanced at me, seeming surprised. He didn't comment on it, though, keeping quiet with a small nod. Even as he looked me over at the hospital, he was quiet. I didn't push him, because I knew it'd do no good. All insisting would do is make me mad, and I'd wind up saying things I really didn't mean.
To keep the promise I'd made to Jasper, and everybody else, I had to stop myself when I knew I wouldn't win. I had a feeling knowing when something was worth fighting for was going to be harder than I thought, but I had so much time to figure that out. The problem was, being patient enough to learn.
I could only hope that he came to realize that I hadn't been lying to him on his own. I couldn't insist. He had to see it himself.
A/N: My sleeping schedule is, again, off the wall. Forgive me.
As usual, MaSsIvE thank you to my reviewer! HUGE hugs and lots of cookies to all of you! HUGE hugs to all my readers, but cookies are only for reviewers. If you want a cookie, you gotta join the review club. All I ask from you, is your thoughts. ;)
Chapter four may take a little while. That chapter has presented me with an option. -_-
Once I get my head straight, preferably after more sleep, I'll get that along to you as soon as it's fit for reading. (:
Until next chapter, guys.
