'Give me four minutes,'

As I locked the door I sat on the floor leaning onto it. My dad saw me as my mom because I looked exactly like her but I wasn't her. I cried and cried until I felt numb and then got up went to take shower. I felt the water brushing on my bruised back and as I touched my new bruises I screamed in pain. I got changed and before I put on my top I looked at myself in the mirror. I was thin but healthy then I turned, my back was blood red and there were scrapes all over. I was too exhausted and too familiar with this feeling when my dad went off the tracks really bad. I put on my top and got into bed waiting the pain to numb away with the night as always.

******

'Hey, what happened to you yesterday we were looking everywhere and then Jayden said he dropped you home ,' said Reagan as she and Tessa reached my locker while I was unpacking. 'Oh yeah MJ had to leave early,' I lied 'By the way are both of you staying after school for student union selection,' I asked already knowing their answer very well 'Aren't you supposed to like apply for it or something,' Tessa asked 'Well I applied for you both,' 'Ah,' 'Yeah didn't you talk about extra credits,' 'We did but oh come on Stella student union,' Reagan who was distracted by her phone joined in 'But you both already did apply so your obligated to come,' 'Here you go with the word obligated again,' Tessa mimicked me 'Fine do what you'll want and at the end of the semester don't come begging for extra credits from me,' I said partially mad at them 'Why would we...,' and Tessa stopped mid sentence looked at Reagan then at me back at Reagan and both of them when to fizz of laughter 'You didn't,' I smiled 'Make way for the new president of the student union,' Tessa announced softly so only the three of us could here' 'Now she is the president why not sneak a few marks for our report cards,' Reagan said and I nodded my head 'You both have to earn it on your own and do everything on your own like me,' as the bell rang we started to leave the hallway to get to our classes 'Oh I need you both to drop Emma and Leo at home to MJ though,' 'And you call that doing everything on your own,' Tessa said as they walked passed me to the English class as I stopped in front of biology class. In no time at all the day went by and I was in the meeting room getting ready when the door opened with massive sound and Jayden and couple of his friends came in. I looked at them stunned 'I'm sorry but the room is already booked,' 'Oh its sharpe tongue,' said Alex one of the football players who came in. I raised my eye brows at them 'Well we need a few chairs and a table or two,' Jayden said walking towards me 'Did any of you ask for it before hand I said taking the list of pre booked places to see whether anyone has booked chairs 'Oh come on Stella,' Jacob wined behind them 'I can't help it, you'll are not going to get any stuff. Do you think that only the football team is joining new members,' saying so I showed them the list in my hand which was filled with clubs and sports teams that had pre booked chairs and various rooms and places. 'But we didn't know that Jayden was coming back and I mean the football team is the most important team right,' 'And do you think I give a damn about it,' I said really annoyed and Jayden looked at me surprised 'Ok Stella can't you just try to adjust it or do something,' 'I already clearly said no Jayden do you know that not only football contributes to the school right? so there will be no exceptions made for any team or anyone,' I said directly looking at Alex 'And what damn thing does the school union do,' Alex shot back. My temper rose and all the physical and mental pain and frustration crept on me successfully as I yelled back 'It keeps this hell hole running peacefully and keeps people who are disoriented and malfunctional as you out of the street. I said no once and it still stand even if you burn this place to the ground. LEAVE all of you,' and they all froze on the spot and left without another word whispering to themselves but Jayden waited on the spot staring at me as I felt the frustration that I had been holding in since yesterday leave me. 'Are you ok? ' Jayden asked concerned I wanted to tell him no but I couldn't 'You too,' and with he left and not even a few minutes went before people came to be interviewed.

'Thank you all for coming,' I said and picked up my stuff and left the meeting room. Before I even reached the bus stop a jeep stopped, it was Jayden he rolled down the window 'Café,' 'Home,' 'I'll drop you,' 'No its fine the bus stop is right here,' I said pointing the bus station. Jayden looked at his watch 'It's six thirty the last bus leaves at six,' I hesitated for a moment and as he opened the door from in I smiled and got in. 'Thank you' I said 'Seat belt,' I looked at him surprised 'What,' 'Nothing,' and he drove and stopped at the café 'You need anything,' 'Black coffee,' and he got out and came after at least twenty minutes because of the evening rush with only one container and handed it to me. 'What did you get ?' 'Nothing, I didn't want anything,' 'Then why did you stop,' 'To get you something,' 'But if you told me you didn't want anything I wouldn't have asked and we would have gone home early cuz I am sure the café must have been packed,' 'Exactly,' he said pulling out of the parking lot and onto the road. 'Exactly for what ?' 'Would you have asked if I said I didn't want anything,' I looked at him quite thrilled and said 'Thank you,' and took a sip and choked on it. 'This is what you call coffee,' I shot back at him as it was herbal tea 'I got you herbal tea if you drink caffeine now you won't be able to sleep,' 'Exactly,' I replied distinctively 'What do you mean exactly why don't you want to sleep,' 'Because I have so many things to do at home before sleeping and it takes at least a gallon of coffee to help me deal with Leo,' 'Leo?' Jayden asked taking his eyes off the road 'My brother he never does his work,' 'Tell your mom to deal with him,' 'I would if I could,' and Jayden went mute and lowered his voice 'I'm so sorry,' 'Nah I mean she's not dead which kind of makes it worse though she is just never at home she left, not that my parents are divorced but you know how it is so yeah,' I've never told anyone about my mom even with my friends I would change the topic. I suddenly remembered how I yelled at them before and kind of felt bad 'Jayden I'm sorry about before is just that..,' 'It's fine but you really shock the guys,' I smiled. 'Oh by the way yesterday.... I don't even know how to thank you,' 'Give me just four minutes,' I looked at him surprised 'For what,' 'To make you fall in love with me,' and I choked on my tea for the second time as he came to a stop in front of his house and I could see his mother was fixing their garden and the fence was laid in the road blocking the way to my house. I turned and looked at him as he looked at me back and I knitted my eyebrow in a expression of are you serious 'I'm dead serious,' he replied I was confused but slightly amused at his gesture.