Chapter 4

The day at school dragged Joshua was staring daggers the whole time at Hope. I knew he wouldn't do anything at school, but I feared he would once he got home we had to go back to mine to pick up her belongings. I hadn't gone into much detail of why she was staying with me, well mom hadn't either which I was grateful for she'd talked to Hope and had tried to convince her to go to the police but she blatantly refused knowing he'd lie about the whole thing. She told he if it got worse to let her know and she'd go down to the police station and file a report. She nodded and thanked my mom for listening and understanding.

She just smiled hoping she would take her advice, but I doubted she would she would put up with it just to please her mom to think she was as happy as her which made me sad that a girl or anyone for that fact should never have to go through that. Josh should know that from his own experience that's how we'd become friends I'd helped him fight back his bullies after saving his ass. He'd thanked me and we became friends we'd been friends ever since now I was starting to regret that decision as the tables and turned and he was doing the same to her. He'd begged me not to tell his father now she was doing the same pleading me and my mom not to tell her mom and his dad we just had to accept it.

After school we picked up her belongings and I helped carry them back to the house which was a few streets form mine. I was surprised Josh had never came round demanding to take her back home and to chose between him and her, as if I was going to so that. I saw how happy she was when she was at our home her eyes sparkled, she laughed and joked unlike when she was there they were dull and expressionless just like they were now. Her smile and laughter had disappeared with it too. "Do I really have to go back there?"

"Yes angel. Your mom is expecting you."

"What if Josh?"

I squeezed her hand. "He won't. I'll be there to make sure he doesn't okay?"

"Okay."

I smiled she smiled weakly back how I wished she could stay longer but her mother wanted her back home they had spoken regularly but she had refused to tell her what was going on.

Her mom opened the door hugging her. "My baby, I missed you."

"Me too mom please loose I can't breathe."

I smiled they had such a good relationship it was just a pity she couldn't reach out to her and tell her what was happening.

She dropped her arms from around her. "Thank you young man for taking care of my daughter."

"It's a pleasure Miss. Evans. She was a delight to have, my mom, enjoyed having another female in the house to talk to."

"I hoped the pair of you behaved?"

"We did."

"Good come in, come in.'

We walked in and she closed the doors. 'I'm just going to take my things upstairs mom."

"Sure honey."

"I'll help."

"No, you're fine I'll do it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

I handed her the other bag and she smiled heading up the stairs. Her mom looked at me. "Now tell me young man, how is she really?"

"You can call me Caleb and she's doing fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. She shut herself off for a week then she started taking it wasn't much."

"Thanks for helping her through it all Caleb. She hasn't got many friends she left them behind when we moved here. I was hoping she'd make some here.'

"Well she has now Miss. Evans."

She smield sweetly. "You're a nice boy Caleb. I hope she finds more friends like you. She always relied on her father and brother. But after the divorce she put up many walls her and her brother are really close, but he's touring right now and won't be back till the summer she misses him a lot."

I smiled widely she'd never mentioned her brother before. I hoped he'd put Josh in his place when he returned.

"Would you like to stay for dinner Caleb? As thanks for your generosity, in the week I'd like you to invite your parents over."

"Sure that would be swell Miss.Evans."

She smiled sweetly. "It shouldn't be too long. Josh had gone out with his father, they should be back before then so please take a seat Hope shouldn't be too long."

"Thanks Miss. Evans."

She smiled walking away I sat down in the sofa waiting for Hope.

She strode down the stairs. "I thought you'd be gone by now."

"Your mom invited me for dinner. Hope you don't mind?"

"Not at all."

I smiled patting the empty sat next to me.

She returned her smile and walked over to me sitting down.

Josh and his father retuned, he looked shocked at me with a questioned look on his face. "Oh I invited Caleb for dinner hope you don't mind.?"

"Not at all. How are you Caleb?"

"I'm good Mr. Kingsley."

'I'd like to personally thank you for helping Hope out, I can't imagine how difficult it is to enter a new school and know no one there and have to deal with adapting to a new life and a new school."

"No problem at all Mr. Kingsley."

"Dinner is ready."

"Let's go."

Me and Hope pulled ourselves up. I couldn't help bout notice how Josh cut his eyes and glared evil daggers at Hope, god I hoped he wouldn't do anything dumb over dinner.

Thank god he didn't. "Thanks Mr. Kingsley and Miss Evans for dinner."

Josh grabbed me. I looked at him the look in his eyes told me he was beyond vexed. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Nice to see you to Josh." I glared at him. "Miss. Evans invited me."

"You should've said no."

"Why would I do that? I'm hospitable unlike you."

"If it wasn't and enough you put her up, you had to fucking rub it in."

'I'm not rubbing anything in."

"I think you are. What's your game Caleb?"

"I haven't got one, I like her unlike you. And think yourself lucky she didn't press charges think what your father would say knowing his own son is beating the shit out of his step sister."

"You wouldn't dare."

"If you don't book your ideas up I will.' I stared him straight in the eye. "She doesn't deserve this Josh any of it, and you know she doesn't. You were her once remember, I saved you now I'm beginning to wish I hadn't because you've tuned into the one person I never thought you would be, a bully a cold hearted bully think about it Josh."

"It's me or her Caleb."

"Are you threatening me Kingsley?"

"I am."

"Well back the fuck off, cause right now she is my main priority and if you lay one finger on her I will make her go to the cops you understand?"

"Whatever." He said, taking his grip of me.

"I'm off now Mr. Kingsley Miss. Evans."

"Sure honey come round anytime."

"I will thanks Miss. Evans."

"Good night Caleb."

"Night Mr. Kingsley."

Hope peered from the corner of the stairs. I looked at her I could see desperation in her eyes. "I'll see you at school okay."

"Okay."

"Night Hope."

"Night Caleb."

I turned opening the door, giving Josh a death glare. I walked out closing the door with out telling him goodbye.

~

Hope shot into her room locking the door. he banged loudly on it. "I know your in their Hope open the fucking door. "

She sat shaking tears streaming down her face.

"I'll give you to the count of three then I'm kicking it in. 1....2....3..."

The room shuck as the door flew off its hinges. He stalked over to her bed where she sat shaking her knees up and her arms wrapped around them. Her head down as she sobbed into them. "I thought I told you never to talk to my friends again!" He boomed.

She ignored him.

He stalked closer. "Look at me!"

She denied him he got onto the bed yanking her head back she screamed "I said fucking look at me bitch!"

"Leave me alone!"

"I told you to stay away from my fucking friends."

"He found me, how the hell was I supposed to stay away from him?"

"He should've left you there to rot."

"For our parents to find me and ask questions?'

He stared at her. "Like I fucking care what could they do, anyway who would believe you over me?"

"Just leave me alone!"

"Stay away from my friends."

"No."

"You will, especially Caleb."

"No we're we're."

He looked at her. "You're what?"

"Together."

He started angrily at her. "You're fucking lying!"

"No I'm not. He asked me out and I said yes, so suck shit you jealous ass."

He looked her hair and punched her she screamed out. 'You leave him. I don't care how just do it, or things will only get worse for you."

"No I won't. You're not my mother, you can't tell me what to do."

His fist shot across her face. "I can and I am. Stay away from Caleb and my friends."

"No."

His anger grew he got on top of her. "What are you doing?"

"Making sure you listen."

She screamed throwing her hands in the air he caught them pining her down.

"You're going to regret the day that you were ever born."