Okay... THIS is the last chapter for the weekend.

Last week of school then I get two weeks holidays, so I'm going to try to finish this book then.

You'll probably love/hate the end of this chapter.

Enjoy

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I didn't feel like I belonged in my skin.

The feeling of the fabric of my uniform shirt brushing over my chest as I got changed for school the next day brought back a wall of memories of his hands unwelcomingly burning into my skin.

Running the brush through my hair—the bristles cascading over over my scalp—sent shivers down my spine as I recalled how it felt to have his fingers knotted in my locks, holding me in place.

And looking at the makeup cluttered on my dresser that I normally applied every day made me feel sickened to the core. I didn't want to put in any effort. I didn't want to look nice. I didn't want anybody to look at me in that way ever again.

After mum dressed up my stump, we made a quick trip to the emergency ward to ensure there was nothing else we could do. The doctors advised using my chair until all the blisters had healed.

But that didn't bother me.

When I was in my chair, no one paid me any attention.

It would be just like old times.

Before the boys.

Before the heartache.

Before the claws that raked over me, stripping every essence of my being.

The chair would be a blessing.

Hair thrown together in a loose pony tale, uniform on, I wheeled my way down the hallway to join mum and Lexi in the living room.

Both gave me pitied stares, but thankfully didn't say anything as we headed out of the house. Mum gently helped me into the car, putting my wheelchair in the back for me before taking the driver's seat. And Lexi was already buckled into the back as we took off for school.

I was glad that Noah had graduated.

At least I wouldn't have to look at him anymore.

And I was also glad mum had called aunt Jojo last night to arrange for her to pick me up after school so that I wouldn't have to face Sara's family. While I held no ill feelings towards her... I didn't want to know what her parents would think of me or how they would treat me knowing...

Sara was already waiting by the school gate when mum dropped us off. And she was quick to fill us in.

"So the moment I got home," she started, even though I didn't ask, "I ran straight for his room and began beating him up. Like crazy woman fists pounding down on him style. Mum and dad came racing upstairs and pulled us apart. Noah tried to accuse you of 'leading him on' but the moment I started lashing out at him and mum and dad saw the evident guilt in his face... well... he's in so much trouble, Callie. Mum and dad are completely on your side and will be sure he pays for this."

"Thanks," I muttered. "But how can they—"

"Phone is confiscated. Laptop is confiscated. Car keys confiscated. Allowance ceased."

"But—"

"They also said if you want to press charges, then—"

"No." I pulled my chair to a stop as I turned to look up at her. "His life is already ruined so much by your parents and their expectations... he doesn't need a criminal charge affecting his future."

But this time Lexi spoke. "How are you even defending him?"

Shaking my head, I glanced between my sister and best friend's shocked faces before I said, "I don't condone what he did. Consent is crucial. But I guess in his stupid fucked up way... he felt like I was something he had control of." I felt my stomach churn as the words of sense came out of my mouth, bringing back the wall of memories again.

"What he did has no excuse, Cal," Lex quickly said, hand coming gently down on my back.

"I know. But that doesn't mean I don't know why he even tried... How he could even..." I heaved a sigh. "What's done is done. Your parents are making him pay. And I won't go near him again. Right now, I just want to drop it and focus on finishing school, okay?"

Both girls nodded in unison. Then, without another word, we headed off to homeroom.

Ashton's face immediately fell when I wheeled up to our history class. Throwing my bag into the portrack and pulling out my things, he opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, unable to find the words he wanted to say.

It wasn't until Miss Brooks had shown up and let us into the classroom that he finally spoke.

Taking the seat next to me, eyes glancing between my face, the chair, and my bandaged stump, he finally breathed, "Why..."

"I don't want to talk about it," I whispered.

His face flickered with concern.

"It's not that I don't trust you," I quickly added, trying my best to throw him a small smile, but simultaneously scared of him... because he was also a boy I had been in a similar situation with. What if he had tried...

No.

He'd never.

But then again...

I thought Noah would never—

"Whatever happened is too fresh?" he finished for me.

I gave him a slight nod and he gave me a sympathetic smile in response. "No worries, Callie. Want me to distract you with a story then?"

I breathed my first laugh in what felt like forever, but really had only been under twenty-four hours. "Sure. You can try."

"Well... I saw Miss Fischer on the weekend," he started.

"Yeah? It's super weird when you see a teacher out of school," I said, trying to play along. But my tone lacked conviction in the amusement I was trying to fake. Because as he mentioned his weekend, all I could remember was my weekend.

"You'll never guess where I saw her though."

"Where?" I probed, half interested because she did teach two of my subjects, but also half in memory land, feeling the clouds drifting in and dampening my mood.

"At my mum's shop."

I paused for a moment. "But... your mum only sells things for babies."

"Exactly."

"Is Miss Fischer... Does she have a partner?"

"She had a guy with her..."

I shook my head. "She's close with my Aunt. Maybe she's buying something for my parents' baby shower."

"But isn't that forever away?"

"If she was having a kid... why would she be shopping now?"

"Because people do that when they are announcing and things..."

"No... What did she even buy?"

"One of our new stock lines... A onesie that says 'coming soon: 2032'."

My eye twitched. "My sibling is due in December."

"Exactly."

I shook my head. "Maybe she knows someone else with—"

"Why would she buy that for someone else though..."

Heaving a sigh, I said, "I guess if she starts growing a bump, then time will tell... Does she even have a partner?"

"Well... she came to the shop with a guy. And they were holding hands so..."

Almost having completely forgotten my weekend and engrossed now in Ashton's gossip about my teacher, I turned to him and said, "What does he look like?"

But before I could hear any further, Miss Brooks said, "Ashton and Callie. That's enough out of you. Focus on your study. We don't have long until your final exams."

"Yes miss," we both said in unison, turning towards our notes.

But as she turned her back, I quickly whispered, "You better finish this story at lunch."

And while I was still fixated on all the questions I wanted to ask Ashton at lunch as I wheeled my way to maths, all memory of our conversation fled from my mind as I wheeled up to the door.

Pencil case and book in my lap, I paused in the doorway as I glanced into the room.

Because there, at my normal seat, sat the boy with the brown hair, chocolate skin, and obsidian eyes.

He seemed to feel my gaze on him too.

Because as I blocked the way to the room—not that anyone was arriving after my slow self—he slowly tilted his head up, eyes meeting mine. 

And at first guilt echoed in his stare. 

Then he gave me a small, apologetic smile.

But quickly after, his brows pulled together and his eyes left mine as he focussed on the chair and my stump.

When our eyes met once more, his face was full of concern and questions.

So I wheeled into the room.

Closed the door behind me.

Then pushed right past him and my usual desk, going through the effort to maneuver around everyone to a free seat up the back.

Away from him.

He may be back in class.

He may be looking at me again.

But he's dreaming if he thinks he can just walk back into my life like that and sit with me in class like nothing ever happened.

Absolutely dreaming.

Guess who's back

Back again

Flynn is back

Tell a friend

Flynn is back

Yeah he's back

Yes he's back

...

We happy? :D