Chapter 5

I woke up battered and bruised. How the hell was I going to explain this to my mom and to her father? Hopefully, they had already left for work and I wouldn't see them till I returned. As for Caleb, he'd see straight through me, he'd called last night. I had tried to compose myself on the other end of the phone from crying and telling him what Josh had done. And to get me the hell out of there, but I just couldn't. I know he said that he'd protect me, but there was only so much he could do without getting anyone suspicious of what was really going on. I really needed to stop running my mouth. That's how things happened the last time at my previous school. I opened it to the wrong people and ended up being beaten up on a daily basis. Now it is happening all over again. I had no idea why he hated me as much as he did. I mean, I know that I'm not the easiest person to get along with, but to stoop as low as beating me to a pulp was beyond me. I mean I know we didn't get off on the right foot, because, at a guess, we both felt the same about this marriage; neither of us wanted it to happen nor did we want to be step-siblings.

That was a dead cert, but we could've done all of this without the negativity of him using his fists, feet and whatever else he could throw at me. I just wanted this to end. But I knew it wasn't going to end any day soon. I fucking hated it here, I hated my life and, most of all, I fucking hated Joshua fucking Kingsley. I'd never hated someone as much in my entire life as I hate him right now. God please get me out of this hell I'm living in. I don't ever ask for much just for you to get me the hell out of here.

I was refreshed and got ready for school, thank fuck that my mom or his dad weren't there. "They've gone to work, it's just me and you." He said in a deep morning voice.

I jumped. "Shit."

He came up behind me. Talking into my ear. "Now no telling anyone what happened last night or you'll get it twice as worse, you understand?"

I nodded. I was fucking scared of this fucking dude, so fucking scared. I wanted to run and tell Caleb what he had done and I wanted to go to the cops and rat on him, but I knew it wouldn't do any good it was my word against him. "Good girl, I'm leaving now, so keep your trap shut or you won't be walking tomorrow morning. I went easy on you last night, but if you fuck up I won't." He turned and walked out.

My heart thumped in my chest feeling like it was going to burst out of my rib cage. When it finally slowed, I decided to get my stuff ready for school. I suddenly didn't feel like eating, bile rising in the back of my throat. I swallowed it back down with a sickly taste in the back of my mouth. I rinsed my mouth out and brushed my teeth again before heading out to school.

"Hey Angel." Caleb said, throwing his arm around me and kissing my cheek.

I flinched.

"Are you okay angel?"

"Yeah, can we just get to school?"

"Sure." He said, squeezing me into him.

I cringed, letting out a screech.

"No you're not."

"I am trust me."

He stopped turning me towards him. My lips were bust and I had two black eyes. "What the fuck Hope? I thought I told you to let me know if this happened again."

"I'm fine really."

"He did this, didn't he?"

I stared at him.

"I'll kill him."

"No, Caleb, leave it."

"He can't do this to you, Hope, and get away with it. You have to do something before it gets too bad and no one will be able to stop him."

"I'm fine honest."

"Fine let's go." He said, angrily.

I knew he wasn't happy about this, but it was the best way to deal with it. He took my hand. He had no idea what else that monster was capable of.

We entered the school and said goodbye.

Caleb turned towards Joshua. When Hope left him, his fist connected with his face.

He stumped as he took another shot. "What the fuck Caleb?"

"I told you to stay the fuck away from her, stop this shit Josh. She doesn't need you and your shit. Of all people, I think better of you after everything that has happened to you. Obviously, I was wrong."

"And I told you both to stay the fuck away from each other."

"That's never going to happen, so get used to it." He said, walking away.

"I'm gonna get the bitch for this."

He turned abruptly. "She never said shit, so leave her the fuck alone."

He tuned storming away.

Hope closed the door. "Would you like to explain what happened to your door, young lady?"

She looked up. "Oh my god what happened to your face, Hope?"

"I got into a fight."

"I thought you'd gotten passed all of this since your last school. I'm disappointed in you, Hope."

She opened her mouth. "She was just protecting herself, Miss. Evans, they were bullying her and she retaliated." Josh chimes in.

"Is that true?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, but I still want to know what happened to your door, young lady."

"That was my fault, Miss. Evans, you see they'd been bullying her that day. She locked her door behind her so she could be alone. I knocked it on when she didn't answer. She was sitting crying on her bed. I got it out of her eventually and we talked about it and I told her to stick up for herself and fight back, so I guess that's what she did."

Why is he lying?

"Were they the same people that made you stay at Caleb's?"

I guess it's my turn to lie.

"Yes mom, he found me. I was badly bruised and I had a few broken bones, so he took me to hospital and took care of me."

She nodded.

"Can I go to my room now please?"

"Sure honey."

I smiled and walked away. "Dinner will be at five."

"I'm not hungry."

"You have to eat to keep your strength up."

"Your mom is right."

I scowled at him and nodded, walking away, going upstairs to my room.

After dinner, I excused myself by going upstairs and refreshing, going into my room.

Josh walked into my room. She looked at him. "Thanks for what you said to my mom."

"I wasn't doing it for you, I was doing it for me."

"Oh."

He walked towards me. His fist shot across my face. "I told you not to tell anyone."

"I didn't."

"You told Caleb."

"He guessed."

"You should've lied."

"He saw straight threw me. I told him to drop it. I promise."

His anger grew. He got on top of her, "I don't care, you embarrassed me in front of him?"

"How?"

"You are so dumb Hope, he's only hanging with you so he can get inside you. Then he'll get rid of you like the rest of the whores around here. You're no fucking different."

She sat there, tears coming into her eyes.

"Hit a nerve, what a shame you'll see Caleb for what he truly is, and it will be no shame to see you be heart broken and no one to pick up the pieces."

"I hate you!"

"I hate you more. Just do all of us a favour and tell Caleb it's over."

"No never."

"Your funeral." He said, his hand cracking across her face before he left the room.

Tears fell off her face, hitting the pillow as they grew cold. Was Caleb really as bad as he made him out to be?