10.

It was finally Monday morning, I checked how I looked in the mirror. I had no make-up on, my long brown hair was loose and combed and because my lips felt dry I decided to put a little chapstick on my lips. My outfit consisted of black skinny jeans and a white shirt, I finished it by wearing Jake's zipped hoodie to keep me warm and in case he wanted it back.

When I arrived Jake was already surrounded by girls. I was prepared for this when I opened the car door Jake immediately knew I was near. He looked like he made an effort to look his best today, he was dressed in white, which complimented his skin tone, and his hair was freshly cut over the weekend. Jake looked amazing and from the second he knew I was near he only paid attention to me.

"Morning beautiful," Jake immediately kissed me on my forehead and wrapped his arms around me to greet me.

"Morning," I said feeling a blush spreading across my face and being thankful Jake didn't change his mind. Today was the end of my doubts, Jake liked me and I liked him. Now our group was complete since the others were here already and greeted me too.

 When it was time for lunch break I walked to the cafeteria, I found Jake's table, where Jake kept two seats free for us while Wyatt and Ximena had already sat down and a group of girls Jake had gathered to sit with us if a place would empty.

"Is that all you're going to eat?" Jake looked at my plate only filled with a small salad and a coke.

"Yes, why?"

"No wonder you're so tiny," he said while he took a bite of his food.

"I'm petit because of my genetics, which you know already thank you and I simply don't eat much because I don't have a sense of hunger very often but show off you have adapted over the years to American food smartass," I said while I stabbed my salad with my fork and took a bite. Jake pulled me closer to whisper in my ear.

"As long as you don't eat so little because you are afraid to gain weight, I was just worried babe I'm sorry."

"It's fine, just don't shame me for it."

"You're right, I shouldn't have said it the way I did, and you shouldn't have to justify not being hungry." While I still felt the stares of the girls around our table hoping for my spot I was glad he also apologized and kept on eating while the topic changed and appreciated finally belonging to a group of friends in the cafeteria.

While I shoved the books I wouldn't need at home in my locker and took out the ones I would need to do homework tonight, Jake hugged me from behind and kissed me in my hair.

"You look so beautiful today," he said before he let me go and waited for me to walk out of the school building together.

"Thank you."

"Lilly told me you usually have to wait for the cab to drive you home, why is that?" We walked to the stairs to sit down where I always waited.

"Because my legal guardian is afraid I run away."

"Why would you run away?"

"Because it's what I feel like is the only solution at times, over the years I developed some anger issues, and sometimes it's better in my opinion to run away than to cause physical harm."

"Fair enough, please promise me not to run away anymore, just call or text me next time," Jake said while Josie talked with Wyatt on my other side and Ximena joined their conversation.

"Okay, I promise." Jake kissed me softly making me more relaxed after we talked. We decided to sit down on a bench in front of the school I didn't feel like we were waiting today, I felt like we were just hanging out.

That night I got another call from my mom I walked into the garden so no one could hear her and took the call.

"Jade? Are you there? You really need to listen, you need to visit me as soon as you can."

"Mom, you need to listen, you can't keep calling me and you shouldn't encourage me to break the rules so I can get in trouble," I said thinking about what I promised Jake today.

"Jade, you don't get it, there is something I need to tell you," she continued as if I hadn't said a word.

"No, you can't keep blaming the world for your alcohol addiction and the mistakes you made," I hung up, taking a deep breath and selecting Jake's number to call him while trying to calm down.

It was a few days later when I walked towards the school library to find some books to read. While reading the back of a thick book about George Washington I got hit from behind, my head didn't hurt from the hit, but I did register it.

"No one to protect you now, where is your faggot of a boyfriend now Mercier," Kevin said with a smile on his face. I turned around to face him, he was at least eight inches taller than I was.

With clenched jaws between my teeth, I replied "Don't touch me or I will hit you so hard you'll need plastic surgery to fix that already messed up face of yours."

"You heard that guys," Kevin said amused by my threat, "she thinks she could hurt me." Kevin and his friends who appeared now too started laughing. Kevin decided it was worth the risk and hit me with his fist on my ribcage.

Without warning I reacted, after my fist hit Kevin, he tried to hit back but I knew how to defend and made use of his lack of defence.

Not only did I hit hard and defend as I learned in boxing classes, but I was also fast, while Kevin registered one hit the next one already landed, step by step he tried to take distance but I closed the distance with every step he made until he was only held up by the desk.

A teacher walked in, trying to take us apart while other students already formed around us, Kevin had tears falling down his cheeks and while three students tried to disarm me by grabbing me by the arms, Kevin spit on me, a red fume of blood and while I still kicked him, he landed some punches on me now.

"Jade, are you okay?" Mrs Davis asked while she sat down next to me. Mrs Davis knew about my home situation, she knew I was a start student and never did anything like this without a reason.

"No, I could have hit you, what if..."

"No what-ifs, you would never, I was asking if YOU are okay, that's what I want to know."

"I am, I just feel really guilty now." Mrs. Davis laid her hand on my shoulder,

"Jade, he has been bullying you for weeks, months even by now, you had every right to defend yourself, and although I usually don't condone violence, self-defence is sometimes necessary."

"Am I in trouble?" I asked after a short silence. Mrs. Davis waited a few seconds to reply.

"No, you're not in trouble but I will inform your mentor, group home, and Kevin's parents."

"What's the catch?" I asked, not being used to this treatment.

"The catch is, whenever you need to study in the hallway instead of the class, make your effort to create distance between the two of you okay?"

"Okay, Mrs Davis, thank you for this solution and your understanding."

"I'll leave you here for the first classes so the both of you can cool down, I informed the lunch lady you can order food if you want to early."

After Mrs. Davis left I did some homework and ate one burrito after the other, while I usually wasn't hungry, today I felt hungry. When the last bell rang, announcing break started the students walked in I was eating my second burrito already when Jake rushed to me, his eyes were worried as he inspected every visible inch of me to make sure I was fine before he hugged me. Josie was right behind him.

"I told you she beat him up, not the other way around smartass," she said, knowing I could fight my own fights.

"If he ever even breathes her way I will kill him," Jake said with a rage I've never seen on him. "Are you fine?" He asked while he turned to me again.

"I'm fine, just hungry.." I held up my burrito to prove my point. Jake sighed relieved, "I do mean it though if he ever dares..."

"He won't, I think he learned his lesson."