|16|

•Charlotte•

My determination for getting out of bed every day was my dad. I didn't care if my body was screaming in pain, he mattered more. 

I sat up in bed, slowly as I felt my face. I could feel the sore parts that were probably bruised and the rest of my body hurt. My arms, my stomach, my ribs. Every inch of my body above the legs hurt as I pushed myself out of bed. 

I walked out of the room, heading towards the bathroom when I heard a curse from dad's room. Without hesitation, I ran into the room to see him lying on the ground, trying to lift himself up. 

"What happened?"I asked as I walked towards him quickly. I bent down and lifted him up by the waist so he was leaning against the bed. 

"I think I need sugar. I can't feel my legs." He mumbled quietly.

It happened with Dementia patients. There were days when dad could hardly get up from the bed unless he was given sugary stuff to boost his blood sugar levels up. He would lose every drop of energy from his legs and lifting a man who couldn't control his movements was hard. Extremely hard for one person. 

"Okay, let's get you up in the bed and then I'll bring you some food, alright?" I told him, moving behind him. "Work with me, okay?" I asked and he nodded as I put my arms under his armpits, while bending down. I ignored the pain my body screamed at me. 

"One, two, three." I counted for him and on three, I pulled him up. It was hard, and he fell back down, cursing at himself but I didn't question it. My back ached as I bent down and pulled him up again.

Dad pressed his hands on the bed, holding himself up. He had upper body strength from all the years he worked in the gym. I quickly pulled his legs up onto the bed, while keeping one leg besides his back so he didn't fall down. I helped him climb back into bed and smiled to myself as he pulled his legs together. 

There was nothing worse for a human than feeling dependent on someone, knowing that you were hurting them along the way.

I knew that was how dad felt as he looked at his legs. 

"I'm sorry." He said looking up at me. He frowned, holding onto my face. "What happened to your face?" He asked, giving me confusing looks. 

"I fell down the stairs last night." I lied to him as I sat besides him on the bed. 

The bruises hadn't formed last night so when I came home, Mary hadn't questioned anything. She hugged me and said she was tired so she was going to go home. I had closed up everything after she had left and checked on dad to see he was sleeping. I took a hot shower, letting my body burn under it as the shower washed away my tears. 

"I wish I was better and I could help." He mumbled to me. "I know you're struggling and I'm sorry." He apologised to me and I shook my head. 

"Dad, you don't have to apologise for anything." I held his hand. "You're fine, you're okay and that's all that matters." I smiled up at him. 

"I feel useless." He sighed and I shook my head, moving closer to him. 

"In this house, we do not let the negativity run through us. You taught me that. Let's shake this negativity out." I grinned at him as I held onto both of his hands. 

Dad chuckled as we started doing the wave with our hands and shaking our heads as well, big grins on our faces. My hair from the ponytail loosened as I laughed. 

I heard the doorbell ring downstairs and I stood up. "That's Mary." I said to him and he nodded as I headed towards the door. "I'll bring you breakfast." I told him. 

Walking down the stairs, I headed towards the door. I opened it and smiled at Mary who widened her eyes at me. 

"What in Jesus's name happened to you?" She walked inside, shrugging her coat off and hanging her bag up as I closed the door. 

I let out a breathless laugh as I lied. "I fell down the stairs last night." 

"Are you okay? Did you ice it?" She asked, moving towards me and touching the sore parts of my face. I glanced at myself in the mirror. 

My cheek had a purple and blue bruise on it, it was dark, but other than that, my face was pretty much clear. I could see a bruise peeking in through the collars of my shirt. My body was another question. 

The first rule my dad had ever taught me was to always protect the face. To have my guard up, and to never show a weakness to anyone. I drilled it into myself, to never cry, to never show a weakness to anyone. Lizzie was the only one that I had cried with and that was on my worst days. 

"I'm okay. I'm going to make breakfast-" I started to say to her and she shook her head. 

"No no. You have to rest. That looks nasty." She told me truthfully. "I'll make breakfast. Where's Steve?" She asked, glancing into the empty living room. 

"He's upstairs. Maybe we can give him porridge with berries today and jam. He needs sugar." I told her and she immediately nodded. "I'm going to go and try to hide for school." 

"Are you going to school?" Mary asked as she started walking towards the kitchen. 

"I have to. I can't afford to miss a day." I said to her as I headed upstairs. 

I walked past dad's room and told him that Mary was making him breakfast. He smiled and nodded at me as I headed towards the bathroom. 

I needed to cover the bruises. 

Quickly brushing my teeth, I washed my face gently. I patted it dry before picking up my makeup bag. Needing to cake my face, I applied the primer and then the foundation before applying concealer. 

I was okay at makeup because Lizzie had taught me the basics. I finished my makeup quickly and turned my face towards the mirror. The bruise was covered, but if someone looked closely, they could still see it. 

Time to stay six feet away from everyone. 

Putting my stuff away, I walked out of the bathroom and towards my room. I quickly got changed into a pair of black jeans, which I lived in, and a big beige sweater. It was cold outside today, and I wanted to keep away from everyone. I twisted my hair up into a bun. 

My outfits always depended on my mood. If I was feeling happy, I wanted to look pretty. If I wanted the world to swallow me up, I would dress in something that kept me away from people's eyes and made me look completely invisible. 

Today was one of those days. 

I stuffed my books into my bag and laced up my shoes before heading downstairs. Lizzie  would be here any second and I was in no mood to eat.  I could hardly move my jaw. 

I noticed dad and Mary sitting in the living room and I smiled to myself as I walked towards him. "I'm going to wait outside for Lizzie." I told him as I leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. 

"You look beautiful." He smiled up at me as I turned to Mary. 

Leaning down, I kissed her on the cheek as well as she looked at my face. "You did a good job. I can't see it that well." She said with a smile on her face. 

I grinned at her as I pulled back. "At least I didn't have to cake my face a lot." I said and she chuckled as I waved at them and walked out of the living room. I picked up my black raincoat and headed out of the house with my phone and keys in my hand. 

Lizzie pulled up to the side walk in her car. It had stopped raining as I walked down the stairs and towards her car. Opening the door, I placed my stuff inside first before climbing inside and locking the door. 

"Why are you wearing makeup?" She asked immediately, a confused look on her face as I glanced at her. 

I sighed. "Can we have a girls night today? I really need one." I mumbled to her and she nodded instantly.

Lizzie reached behind and pulled her black scarf. She handed it to me. "Wear this. I can see the bruise on your neck. You haven't covered it properly." She smiled at me softly as I wrapped the scarf around my neck. 

It was warm but that was perfect on this cold day as she started driving. "I'm going to need a couple of those boxing classes soon. I'm tempted to rip Logan's dick off and hand it to him in a bin. He doesn't even deserve a gold plate." Lizzie huffed in her seat. 

I laughed but stayed quiet. I just wanted this day to end. She started talking about the way she could hurt him and how she had seen the show How to get away with murder, so she was even tempted to kill him. I stared out the window, with my bag in hands as we arrived at the school. I noticed Ramon standing besides Calvin's usual spot. 

"I'm not going to say hi." I told Lizzie as she parked up her car and I saw them notice us. 

"Just get to class. I'll tell them you're on your periods. They'll keep well away." She smiled at me and I nodded as I got out of the car. I threw the strap of my bag over my shoulder and closed the door before walking towards the entrance. 

"Amore." Ramon called out to me as I walked past him and up the stairs. 

I didn't want to talk to anyone today. Lay my head down and ignore everything. That was the plan as I headed upstairs to my first class. History. 

It was still early, very early for people to be standing near the class as I walked into the empty hallway. I stood besides the wall, in front of the locked door. 

"Charlotte." I heard Ramon's voice as I glanced to my left to see him walking towards me. "What happened, amore?" He looked confused as he stood in front of me. 

"Nothing. Just girl problems." I smiled at him as I noticed the confusion in his eyes as they ran over my face. 

He didn't say a word, as he took a step closer to me, his eyes narrowed at my face. 

"Who did this?" He asked me, his voice low but the rage grew with every breath he took as he stared at me. Ramon took a step towards me, raising his hand. He grabbed a hold of my chin, gently as he turned my face to the side. 

"It's nothing." I muttered.

"No matter how much makeup you wear, I can see the bruises, amore. Tell me who did this and I'll kill them." His touch was soft on my skin, as if he was afraid he would hurt me. I took a step back, pulling myself away from him. 

"It's nothing." I repeated. I was not in the mood to talk to anyone. 

I wanted to lay down in bed and disappear forever. Should have never come today. 

"That's fucking bullshit." He took a step closer, his grey eyes darkening as he grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him. I tried not to wince at the bruises he touched. He let go immediately as he noticed my pain. "Tell me who hurt you." 

"What can you do, Ramon?" 

"I'll kill them. I swear to fucking God, I will kill them." His voice was a promise to hurt anyone who had hurt me. A part of me believed him but I shook my head. 

"No one hurt me. I just fell down the stairs." I told him as I turned my face away from him. When would the first bell ring? 

He turned my chin towards him again so I was staring up at him. "Don't give me that bullshit. Is it your dad at home? Is he hurting you?" 

"No. It's not my dad." I frowned at him. 

"Then it's Cameron." He was seething, a glare in his eyes as he took a step away from me. Ramon turned around and started walking away. 

"Ramon!" I called out to him in the empty hall. 

"Nobody is ever hurting you, amore." He said as he walked away from me and down the stairs. 

I wanted this day to end. 

***

"He just walked away?" Lizzie asked as she carried her tray to the bench. I hadn't bought anything because I knew I wouldn't be able to stomach the food today. They also weren't serving fries. 

Nodding, I sat down opposite her on the bench after placing my coat on it. The sun was shining a little, the rain no longer drizzling down on us. "He said nobody is ever hurting me, and I didn't see him after that." 

She shrugged her shoulders, as she opened her sandwich box. I shook my head as she offered me one. "Calvin is coming." She glanced behind me, as I placed my arms on the table, and rested my head against it. 

"I really don't-" 

"Hey." Calvin said besides me as I became quiet. I lifted my hand up and waved at them without looking up as they sat around me. 

I didn't dare look up, just in case Ramon was with them but I couldn't feel his intense stare. The one that made feel like my body was burning in heat and I was starved of affection. Pushing that feeling away, I listened to them talk to Lizzie.

"Is she okay?" Alex asked softly besides me. 

"She's on her periods." Lizzie answered him and I heard Alex move away a little, muttering cool. 

Ignoring them all, I tried to shut out the world around me and closed my eyes. The sun glared on my back, as if it would burn through my sweater and burn my skin. I lifted my head up, ignoring the boys glancing at me. Ramon wasn't here. 

I turned to look at Lizzie to tell her I was going to the library when I heard the chants surround us. Fight fight fight. 

"Fuck." Calvin cursed and immediately the boys ran away from the table, leaving their trays behind as they headed towards the group of people. 

Lizzie looked at me confused as I followed after them quickly, holding my bag in my hands. I pushed my way through the crowd, and my eyes widened as I saw Ramon lifting his fisted hand up and punching Cameron across the face. 

He saw red. I could see it in his dark eyes, as he grabbed Cameron by the collar, whispering threats to him in a voice filled with rage as the chants to fight filled the ground. They were childish. Ramon punched Cameron, never stopping as Calvin and his friends ran towards him, pulling him away. 

He was making it worse. I lived a life where I controlled everything that happened with Logan. They made threats but never acted on them because they knew they would lose me. They controlled aspects of my life but I was getting a hold on everything. 

Ramon was damaging that, tainting it with his mark as he cursed at Cameron who lay on the ground, his face covered in blood as the teachers came running out. Everyone scattered quickly, and Lizzie pulled my arm as the teachers glanced at Cameron who sat up with his broken nose. I could  see genuine fear and unspilled tears in his eyes. 

Cameron wasn't the bad guy. He never truly wanted to hurt me, I knew that but getting involved with Logan was his biggest mistake. 

There was a day that I was tempted to accept Logan's deal, to get my dad the help he needed but Cameron had come to my house. It was two in the morning and he had knocked on my door. I didn't want to let him in, but he had placed a foot in between the door and looked me straight in the eyes. 

They will ruin your life, Charlotte. Don't listen to him. He's fucked my life up. Do not join.

That was all he said before he walked away. I never accepted Logan's deal and I never told them what Cameron had told me. Everyone had problems of their own and I had no right to judge him. He hurt me, but I also saw the hesitation in his eyes, the silent pleading to forgive him. 

Cameron's eyes glanced at me as Lizzie pulled me away. That was my lie that had hurt him. I could see the fear in his eyes. Logan scared him, holding something above his head that Cameron could not ignore. 

I felt the burning gaze on me and I removed my eyes from Cameron to see Ramon staring at me. I turned my back towards him, and walked away with Lizzie. 

Needing this day to end, I let out a sighing knowing Logan was going to make my life twice as miserable now. 

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Does anyone feel sorry for Cameron? Or am I the only one...

Also let's talk about Ramon!

Question- What is something you crave to eat right now?

Bonus Question- Would you guys like me to upload the Badboy series (the original versions) on Inkitt? I'm tempted but I want to know everyones thoughts first.

My plan is to update all five books up into one book on Inkitt(since the old versions have very short chapters) so you'll get all five books in one book. If that makes any sense.

Let me know what you think! 

[Follow me on Instagram where I post so many aesthetics on my story that its ridiculous. @ glitterxox1]