chapter 20

•••••Daxton's POV•••••

 I was asleep when Xavier called me and asked me to wake up and warned me about Ethan but I couldn't wake up because nothing is more important than my beauty sleep. 

The next thing I know is that someone was shouting. I hurriedly woke up but before I could register what was going on, someone splashed cold water on my face. 

 I was fuming with anger and I just wanted to kill whoever did it. I looked around and saw the culprits who did it to me. And they were none other than my assh**e  best friends. (Groans angrily)

 I stood up and went to take a shower and get ready for school, then I heard say

Xavier: Daxton, why are you going to the bathroom? We already bathed you(laughing loudly) 

He thinks that it is funny (pissed)

 ( I peeked out of the bathroom door and show them both middle finger and return to do my business)

 I hear them laughing loudly which only pissed me more(angrily) 

I hurriedly take a shower and wear clothes and came out and saw my room empty. They must be downstairs. 

I went downstairs and saw them laughing and without speaking I went towards the main gate and get in my car followed by other two my asshole friends (sighs) 

After that, we start driving towards the school while racing and trying to reach faster than each other. And as always Ethan won( groaning).

 Can't he let me win at least once, my morning mood is spoiled and now I'm sure that my this day can't be any worse than this already is?                      ( groans Irritatingly) 

As we were walking toward our locker hallway we went silent as always. 

Well, it's good because I'm in no mood of talk or hear anyone especially makeup coated fake beauties (sighs).

 I was thankful for it until some girl decided to bump into me and caused me to lost my temper and I looked towards her. 

She slowly looked towards me but I was too pissed to notice her scared eyes. 

I thought she was one of those girls who wanted to throw themselves on me for popularity or money. 

Girl: Sor... Sorry. I didn't mean it.. mean to. ( She whispered, looking anywhere except me, which pissed me more)

Daxton: Look where you're going bitch 

( I growled and pushed her, I didn't mean to push her on the floor. I just pushed her back but she fell on the floor and I instantly started to regret my actions. She didn't look like those fake girls. I wanted to help her but I saw Benny helping her and she started to argue with me ) 

Benny: Shut that fucking mouth Daxton, you can't just push her ( she glared at me) 

Daxton: Ohh, you're here too. But let me tell you that don't talk back and tell that friend of yours to stay away from me or else don't... 

(I was cut off by Ethan) 

Ethan: Daxton leaves it and let's go. 

I moved my gaze back to that girl and saw her shockingly looking towards Xavier and Ethan, then she hurriedly apologized to me and went away.

 But what caught my attention was her neck. She was wearing a hoodie but I could see some makeup on her neck.

 Why was she wearing makeup on her neck? I was curious to know but soon forgot it when Xavier came and dragged me away.

 We didn't talk to each other on our way to the next class. 

But I don't understand why Ethan was pissed? 

I'm sure that Xavier also sensed this change of mood because he was also not saying anything.

 We went to our next class and was shocked to see that hoodie girl in the class.

 She was trying to hide her face, but why? 

She looked towards me and I smirked, then she lowered her head. She made me more curious. I know she's new because I've never seen her around. She was short and cute too.

I couldn't stop myself from thinking about her for some reason and unknowingly I started to stare at her neck but I couldn't see properly. 

I was thinking why would anyone put makeup on her neck? 

I sighed and noticed that Ethan was staring at her like he wanted to make a hole in her head and suddenly started to scroll on the phone.

 I looked towards her and saw she was looking at him then at me. I didn't move my gaze because now I can see her neck clearly. 

Then I realized that I was right about makeup. She turned back and started to study. 

After the bell rang she ran like her life depended on it, which made us laugh. 

The next period was English with Ethan, so we went towards our way and Xavier went to his science class. 

I decided to ask Ethan about that staring thing but before I got the chance he got a call from Xavier. 

Ethan confusingly looked towards me.

 Xavier rarely uses his cellphone during class, which means there was something wrong. 

Ethan received the call and looked worried and started to put back his textbooks and signalled me to pack and follow him.

 After exiting the class, he told me about Ana's incident and we hurriedly went towards the parking lot and drove to Ana's school. 

(Ana's like a niece to me and Ethan because we don't have a sister and Nora has always been with us and always treated us equally).

•••••Aaria's POV•••••

            ••••• Next Morning •••••

 I suddenly wake up and slowly start to open my eyes after some time. 

I continuously blink and move my eyes to look around the room and all I see is darkness. 

Everything looks pitch black. It's night. 

I grabbed my cellphone from the table near my bed and saw that it's 4 in the morning and realized that I've been sleeping for the last 8 hours. (Sighs).

 My stomach starts to growl loudly. (putting her hand on her stomach) 

Then I remembered that I didn't have dinner last night.

 So I decided to wake up, get ready for school and make breakfast for everyone and leave before anyone wakes up.

 I don't want my aunt and uncle to see me in this condition because if they see me like this they'll not sit silently and force me to tell them everything. 

And that's the last thing I want (sighs). 

Slowly I started to sit but suddenly I started to feel pain in my body due to last night's beatings. 

I struggled to stand up, for a second I wanted to lay down again but I needed to get out and from the house so that my aunt and uncle will not worry or ask any questions about my condition. 

And I don't want to skip my school because I don't want to give a bad impression to my teachers on the second day of my new school and I needed to get good marks for college too.

 I slowly walked towards my mirror and saw the broken girl I always see. 

My face which was covered with blue bruises on my cheek where Robert had slapped me and my head and lips held a cut mark where blood was clotted. 

There were some bruises on my neck too.

 More damage was done on my back and arms. I could easily hide or fix my physical bruises with makeup, but what about my mental injury.

 Will I ever be able to hide or fix my inner injuries? 

Will I ever be able to fix myself? 

Will anyone ever be able to fix me?

 I wanted to ask answers of these questions to others and myself, but deep down I know that I don't have answers for my questions.

( Aaria starts to trace her bruised and cut marks and flinches.  Slowly tears start to flow out Aaria's eyes ) 

I slowly move towards the bathroom and do my morning routine and walk out and head towards my closet. 

Today I chose to wear black skinny jeans with a dark red woolly jumper and a black scarf around my neck to hide the bruises.

 I put some make-up and bandage on my neck, face and my head to hide my marks and cut them. 

I left my hair open, they could help me by shielding my face from others. 

After picking my bag and cellphone, I make my way downtown as slowly as possible because I don't want anyone to wake up. 

After coming into the kitchen, I started to prepare breakfast for everyone. 

I made Casserole with turkey sausage and orange juice. 

After making it, I had my breakfast and did my dishes and took some painkillers because my body was aching everywhere. 

Before going to school I put a sticker on the refrigerator for aunt and uncle saying that breakfast is in the oven and juice is in the refrigerator and I'm going to school because I have extra class in the morning.

 I made my way towards the front door and my heart stopped seeing Robert in front of me. He was just coming back from outside after his morning run.

 I wanted to hide and wait for him to return to his room but I was late because he had already seen me and came towards me. He stared deep into my eyes, making me scared and wanted to crawl back to my room. 

Robert: You better come straight home. If you're a minute late, you'll regret it. (Looking into Aaria's eyes). 

Aaria: Oka....okay. I....... I'll come... ( Before Aaria could finish her sentence, he left his room) 

"Thud"

 I heard his door slam closed and sighed in relief. 

I walked out of the house and put on my earphones and started listening to Delicate by Taylor Swift. 

I checked the time again and saw that it's only 6:05 A.M. 

I had enough time before my class. So I decided to walk more slowly. 

              ••••• Xavier's POV•••••

I woke up feeling refreshed and decided to get ready for school.

 I'm excited about today because I really wanted to talk to the supermarket girl oops my mistake(Chuckles). I mean Aaria. 

I was so happy after seeing her in both of my classes and I wanted to talk to her after the class but I got a call from Ana's school and had to go there.

             •••••Flashback••••••

 Ethan and Dax also followed me after but when I reached there and went towards Ana's class I was shocked to see everything in front of my eyes. 

I saw Ana pulling the hair of a boy older than her and the teachers were trying to separate them. 

I heard Ethan and Daxton laugh behind me after seeing Ana beating the crap out of that poor boy. 

"Jerks"

 I muttered and went to hold Ana and separated her from that boy.

 I saw that the boy had nail marks on his face and was crying and Ana was perfectly fine. 

I took Ana to the teacher's room following the teacher and Daxton and Ethan following me. 

Ana was in my arms snuggling close to my neck and was hiccuping.

 I tried to ask her what happened but she refused to say anything and started to hiccup in more. 

Teachers called the parents of that boy too.