Chapter 196 I Like You
"Hey," he whispers. He looks absolutely miserable, and I'm pretty sure it's mostly my fault. I want to make it up to him, but I don't know how.
"Hey," I give him a strained smile. "I'm sorry I didn't get back to you-" I try to explain, but he gently cuts me off.
"Charlie, it's okay. I understand. I really do. Melissa is a bitch, and she loves to make you suffer. I'm sorry I didn't stop it last year," he whispers, reaching for my hand. "I should have, but I didn't. And now I hate myself for it."
I gasp at the touch. His calloused hands are warm and secure, and they feel like they could take on my uncle with no problems. I wonder what he'd do if I told him the truth? Would he really think I'm worth saving? Or would he only stand up against Melissa and her cronies? I'm not sure if I'm ready to find out yet.
"Charlie, are you okay? You're shaking," he asks with concern. "Did I do something wrong?"
I swallow hard. And shake my head no. He hasn't done anything. This is all me. But how do I explain this to him?
What am I supposed to tell him? I can't tell him about Jay. I can't tell anyone about Uncle Jay! He's already threatening me... I need to come up with something else. But before I can even say a word, something else catches our attention... Or should I say someone.
"She's such a fucking slut!" one of the girls from the front row whispers to her partner.
My face flushes in shame because I know they are talking about me. I just don't know why. Don't they have anything better to do?
"I know! Has she no shame? Look at her, putting on some sob story to make everyone feel sorry for her!" her friend snickers beside her.
At that moment Trent stands up and snarls at the gossiping girls. He looks like an avenging angel about ready to rain hell on the girls spreading lies about me.
"Jamie, Tammy, you'd better shut your fucking mouths before I shut them for you," Trent growls.
Tammy pales. "Why? Just look at the piece of trailer trash! She should've stayed where she was! No one want her here!" She might look brave, but the tremble in her voice gives her away.
"Yeah, can't you tell she's a slut? She's making you fight with-" Jamie tires to back up her friend but falters the moment Trent marches to the front of the room, facing everyone, but focusing his fury on the girls.
"ARE YOU FUCKING BLIND OR JUST STUPID? HOW THE FUCK DID YOU EVEN END UP IN THIS CLASS IF YOU CAN'T USE YOUR BRAINS?!"
Both girls seem to shrink away from Trent. Not that I'd blame them. He can look pretty scary.
"W-what the hell are you talking about?" Jamie asks quietly.
"Look at her!" He demands. "She isn't pretending anything, unlike your fucking idol princess. She's the liar! You know exactly why I broke up with Melissa, or did you suddenly grow a tumor that causes you lose long term memory?"
Tammy swallows. "She was just messing around, Trent! She wants you back now!"
"Well, guess what! I don't want her! Now maybe you can use your brain and realize that a relationship actually takes two people, not just one slut saying she and I are back together! Fucking use your heads! If I didn't want to be with Charlie, I wouldn't be. But I am. You are only listening to the bitch whispering words into your ears because you want to be popular. Well guess what! That is not going to save you from my wrath!" Trent seethes.
Then he stomps his way back to me and sits down, vibrating with fury.
He reaches out and threads his fingers through mine.
I let him hold my hand for a moment before I dare speak. "What if they are right?" I whisper.
Trent looks up at me like I've grown a second nose. "What the hell does that mean?"
"Well, I don't think Melissa is ever going to take this seriously," I mumble lifting our clenched hands. "If you leave me, she would-"
"No," Trent says simply. "I'm not leaving you, Charlie. I don't care how long it takes, but I'm going to prove it to you," he insists.
I try to blink back tears, but Trent sees and cups my face in his large and wipes away the tears.
"Why?" I whisper.
"Because I like you, Charlie. I have for a long time, I was just too stupid to fight for you," he whispers.
My heart pounds in my chest, but before I could respond Professor Bruno and started class.
Halfway through, a note lands on my desk from Trent.
I'm shocked. I really didn't expect him to send me a note like they do in middle school.
And I'm even more shocked when I read it.
Charlie, do you know something about a contract? Melissa told me to ask my dad, but he's lying to me. Melissa says you are part of contract, and I don't know what she's talking about.
A contract?
My mind flies back to Josie and Rick. He raided his father's office and found many contracts. But they didn't say anything about my name being on any of them...
I check to makes sure Professor Bruno isn't paying attention and then write:
I know something about some contracts. But if you want more information, we are going to talk to my brother-in-law, Rick Kingston. He might be able to help.
Shock registers on his face but he nods his head.
Okay. After class. We need to talk to him.
My heart thumps heavily in my chest. Just where the hell did he hear about the contracts, and what do they mean?