Chapter 2

Chapter 2:
The next morning, when I woke up my torso was killing me. I got up and stumbled into my dresser. My parents were at work and I had school. I took a shower and watched as dried blood went down the drain. I finished shampooing my hair and flinching when I hit a tender spot. I got out of the shower and brushed my teeth, my hair, and I put my clothes on. I headed down the stairs and out the door.
I started walking to school when I saw that Rylee was waiting for me. We waved at each other but walked silently. We arrived at school just in time for the first bell. I had English first-my favorite subject. I sat at my seat and watched as Jared too came just in time. He glanced at me and I ducked my head. Mr. Craig started the class, today was a movie day. ???Mr. Hensen, what in the world happened to your nose???? the teacher asked.
???I ran into a pole.??? Jared lied then glanced at me. I knew he recognized me and ducked my head down again. What am I going to do? I???ll just ignore him. I am going to the ball game today; I liked watching it, I will just leave early. That is what I am going to do. English flew by and before I new it, I was at lunch. Every day I sit with Rylee, Jacson, and Joshua Bradford, a star football player and Rylee???s boyfriend. The cafeteria lady served meat ball surprise-it doesn???t even taste like meat.
???So, Nikki what did you do yesterday???? Rylee asked.
???Nothing, I did nothing.??? I couldn???t tell them what had happened between Jared and I. I glanced over at the baseball team who sat at the back of the room. Oh gawd! Jared is looking at me. I swiftly looked down and hid myself. ???I am going to go to biology early. I need to talk to Mrs. Craft.??? I told my friends as I got up to leave. I walked out the cafeteria doors and headed down the hall toward my locker-which was right by Jared???s. I hurried and retrieved my textbook for the appropriate class and when I turned to go Jared was coming toward either me or his locker (hopefully he was going to his locker.) I looked at the floor as I walked and went right past him. I could see his feet stop when I got close enough to touch and I moved to the side and continued on my way.
I took my seat in biology; it was in the back of the class where you never get called on. Jared sat up front. I sat with my book ready on my desk and looked at my watch. I still had twenty minutes till lunch was over. I got up from my seat, leaving my stuff and I went for a walk outside. There was a bench outside the school, I walked to it and a flash of memories from last night went through my head. I saw Jared tackling me, I remembered the sound my fist made when it came in contact with his nose, and I remember the worried expression on his face. I sat on the bench anyways, I needed to think. I needed to be alone. I stretched out my shoulders and winced, they still hurt.
???Nikki!??? a familiar voice yelled. I looked up to see Rylee running toward me. When she reached me she said, ???Jared Hensen is looking for you.??? My heart stopped and restarted. Jared was looking for me? Why? Didn???t he already put me through enough? Ugh! Guys were so complicated. First thing you know they are tackling you and then the search the school for you. I mean come on! He could give me a break. I???m still sore from last night.
???Okay,??? I told my best friend and then she fled away-and I mean fled. It was as if someone had been chasing her. That is when I saw ???him???. I was so scared my stomach tightened and I thought I was going to puke. I got up and started walking toward the school doors. I did not know the bell had rung until I was in the abandoned hallways. I had just opened the door and was still standing outside when I saw that Jared was waiting for me in the corner of the hall. The only way you could have seen him is if you had completely entered. He took a step forward and I staggered back. He gave me a heartbreaking smile and took another step. For a moment I couldn???t think correctly, but when my thoughts were rational I took a few more steps back. ???Stay back.??? I ordered him. He shook his head at me and reached for something I his pocket. I watched his hands retrieve a piece of fabric. It was a blue, denim peace. It belonged to jeans, my jeans. He knew they were mine. But how? How could he tell?
???It???s yours isn???t it???? he asked.
I nodded. He took another step toward me but turned toward the door, when he was turned I shifted, getting ready to go down the hall. ???Don???t move,??? he told me, forced me was more like it. I didn???t move though. I felt like I had to get this over with. I had to make things right so he could go back to ignoring me. Jared opened the door and motioned with his hand for me to exit. I did as he told me. He led me to a bench in the park; it wasn???t until we got there that I realized where we were. It was the same bench me and him met and were he tackled me. I stretched my shoulders the memory. Jared watched me as I did this.
???Sorry, I didn???t mean to hurt you.??? He explained. ???Do you ever talk???? he asked.
???Yeah I do talk. I???m kind of freaking, you tackled me last night remember? I sure do. What do you want???? I said in a mean voice.
???I want you to forgive me. I am sorry for tackling you; I didn???t know you lived by the creek. Don???t be afraid of me, I will not hurt you.??? He said sadly.
???You already did! I didn???t hit my shoulders by myself; you threw me to the ground! I didn???t bruise my whole body, you tackled me! You did this! You hurt me already! It is way to late!??? I was yelling now.
???I know I already hurt you! I am just telling you I won???t do it again! I am honestly a good guy! Maybe, you shouldn???t have been following me! If you would have left me alone, none of this would have happened! It is your fault, not mine!??? he yelled back but his voice sounded like ice.
???I did not follow you I live by the creek and it is the only way home! I already told you that after you tackled me!??? I said this with wet eyes. His words hurt me. I wouldn???t lie to him.
???Sorry,??? he said in a softer voice. He reached out with his hand to comfort me. I cringed away. ???I will not hurt you.??? He reached out again but this time he ignored it when I cringed. His fingertips touched my cheek and I tried to pull away from him but his other hand was holding my shoulder. He raised his hand from my cheek and rubbed my shoulders with strong fingers until I winced in pain as he hit the sore spots. His hands were warm, they were strong too.
???I really am sorry. I was never going to hurt you. But yet, I did. It was never my intention though. I also did not mean to bruise you.??? He said this as he raised his hand and pulled up my sleeve. He gasped at the sight of my black and blue arms. He then gripped his long fingers around them, his eyes filled with rage.
???Ouch! You???re hurting me! Let go!??? I was crying now as I said these words in a scream like pain.
???I did this to you? I hurt you this bad? I am a stupid idiot! Sorry! I am so very sorry!??? he too looked like he was going to cry.
The throbbing pain was so excruciating, I started to fall into him. I didn???t want to but I couldn???t fight it. He was to strong and I was pretty sure he was cutting off the circulation off in my arm. I fell into him, my knees giving out and with a gasp of pain I hit him. His hand let my wrist go and his arms were now holding me up. He held me close to him for a moment then I pulled free. What had just happened? What was he feeling when I fell into him? Guilt maybe, sadness could be possible too.
I forgot about school and went towards my house. I glanced back and he hadn???t moved from his spot. He was really beating himself up about this, I thought to myself. How can he feel this bad? Why should he? He was the star baseball player, he didn???t need me. Every girl in school wants him, but he doesn???t tackle them. Does he? Why are guys like they are? I know I like Jared but did he like me? Would he have done what he did if he does? I think not. Who would do that to someone they like? Who would do that to anyone at all?
I didn???t even notice that I was at the creek; I go here to think and right now that was exactly what I needed to do. I was already doing that though, thinking. I had thought myself out. Why was this guy so important? Why did I need to be around him? I needed Jared like I needed air, not an accessory a necessity. He just got through yelling at me and yet I already miss him. I wanted him to caress my cheek again. Just as I thought that my mind went through flashbacks, when Jared touched me. His fingertips were warm, soft, and smooth. His touch was also fierce, as if he had let all of his anger out within that moment. I also remembered when he tackled me, how fierce his touch was then. He must have had a lot of anger built up to do something like that. I needed to go to the ballgame tonight, I wanted to go. I would just leave early so I don???t run into anyone. I really don???t feel like getting tackled again. Last night was awful. I was completely useless; I couldn???t use my legs or my arms. I was too sore to move an inch.
I had to remember that last night was over and I shouldn???t think about it anymore. I tried but I could not ignore my erg to see or think about Jared. He was in every thought I had. How could you not think about somebody as beautiful as him? He was better looking than Zac Efron and Brad Pitt put together. He was enough to stop a girl???s heartbeat. He was breathtaking, unbelievable, and he was smart. It was hard to find a good looking, smart guy in one package. Jared must be a deluxe package because he was all of this and more. I had to talk to him but when? Not at the game of course. Not with all those people there. What if he went off again? Those people could have him arrested. I did not want him arrested, but I did want him.