Less than Perfect, S. J. Evans [classic literature books txt] 📗

in the fact that he should watch out when he goes around Skye. Jules let out his hand and helped Skye up. She instantly ran into him, throwing her arms around him and embracing him, ignoring the beating pain.
“Thank you,” she said against his chest, closing her eyes with security, “for everything.”
Jules cautiously watched the yard as he soothed her, wrapping his arms around her and holding her as if she was his own. “I’m going to be here for you, Skye. He’s not going to hurt you.”
Only when you’re around he won’t, but Jules, the moment you leave me he’ll have his way. No one can stop that.

She wanted to tell him. She wanted to confide in him, to really be able to count on the fact that he would

always be there for her, but of course she couldn’t. Her life isn’t that simple. “I don’t deserve your help.” She whispered, feeling quilt pinch inside her.
“You deserve so much more than me, Skye.” He sighed. “I’m the one who doesn’t deserve you.” he added so quietly that Skye didn’t even hear him.
“Jules,” she suddenly felt cold and week and let her body shut down. She needed rest, real uninterrupted rest. Jules caught her in his arms and cradled her, worry gripping a painful hold on his heart. He wanted to protect her and keep her safe. He could feel the pain Bryan brought her and knew that she needed help; but he didn’t feel that he was destined for it; someone was taking that away from him.
***

“Princess, where did you go last night?” Johnny asked Skye as leaned against the doorway of her bedroom. She had been reading and the moment she heard his voice she dropped the book.
“I went to Rachel’s.” Skye answered, swallowing the lump in her throat. Again she was lying, only this time it wasn’t to cover for Johnny or Bryan, but for Jules.
“Rachel’s.” He repeated in disbelief. “Skylar, don’t lie sweetheart, you know I don’t like that.”
What? How could he possibly know I was lying?

Skye tried to hide the fact that she was surprised and shook her head. “I’m not, I was with Rachel. You didn’t see her pick me up?”
“No, I did.” Phew!

“But I also saw you come home with someone else, and I don’t think that he had anything to do with Rachel.”
“What do you mean?” Skye wanted to run away, she knew that he would take everything out on her. He has tried his best to keep her away from people; he doesn’t want her to have friends. In his mind, two friends are too many; too many that she could crack and tell them all about him.
“The boy last night, the one who brought you up to the door in his arms; what Princess, you didn’t think that I saw you two?” Johnny chuckled as he unhitched himself from the wall, setting himself up for any minute attack. “Come on, Princess, nothing gets passed me.”
He saw Jules carrying me, he knows about him; he was looking for me. Crap!

Skye set her book down on the bedside table and started walking around to the doorway, fear clutching at her. She could make a quick escape from his presence if she needed. Leah was at work, and once again, Skye was left alone with Johnny. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Skylar, your lying to me is getting old, who was he?” He said urgently.
Skye took a breath and ran for an escape. She slid past Johnny and out into the hall, shoving her way past a few boxes stacked high. Johnny was right behind her as she descended the staircase her balance completely off and her feet slipping under the other. She ran for the front door but it was too late, Johnny was already right in front of her. “Where you going Princess, you can’t be seriously trying to get away from me when I have asked you a question? That’s not a good idea you know.” He said darkly as he grabbed her arms.
Skye cried out as his hands pressed on the old bruises. Her heart was racing and her mind was flooded with regret; she should have somehow gotten a ride home with Rachel. She took sharp breaths, fighting Johnny’s strong grip. “Johnny, please don’t do this right now. I’m sorry, I—I just didn’t know what to do. I was wrong, please let go

.” She pleaded desperately.
“It’s okay,” Johnny’s mouth tipped into a smirk, “but you have to tell me who he is first; then you’re free for now

.”
Skye couldn’t do it, she couldn’t say the truth; she cared for Jules too much. “It was just a guy from the party I went to, I passed out and he gave me a ride home. He was one of Rachel’s friends.”
Johnny grinned sickly and let her go. “You better not be lying to me, Princess. After all, you owe me.” He warned her. He left the room and into the kitchen, leaving Skye suddenly very cold.
She looked after him and moved back against the door, her heart pounding. What have I done now?

***

Skye ran through the perfectly cut grass, the sun blazing down on her back. Despite the heat Skye was cold; every time she thought about Johnny finding out about Jules her heart would beat rapidly. The city’s park was nearly vacant. There were only a few people walking their dogs and a few other people jogging along the dirt path.
She was headed for the only place she could get away from Johnny, the only place she knew she could breathe: the old tree house the town had built years ago. It was made out of rows of wood and had a couple wooden rails but there wasn’t much to it. The town had built a better one near the playground a couple years ago, and the one she grew up with was dirty and hidden in the woods, completely forgotten about.
She climbed the dirt caked ladder and sat down at the top. She breathed in the muggy air and it actually felt refreshing for her. No matter how dirty it got Skye would always go to the tree house when she needed space; and she really

needed space.
She thought about the many times she had dreamed about what her father was like, and about what he could have offered her. If he hadn’t left Leah she never would have had to obtain the abuse Johnny throws at her; but there always the possibility that he could have been just as bad as Johnny or possibly even worse.
She lay on the dirty boards, collecting her thoughts and shoving away as much pain as she could. Her bruises were healing—besides the few Johnny had irritated—and the scratches were becoming only scars. She was finally beginning to heal. Skye inhaled as much of the outdoors air as could, who knows what Johnny will do when he finds out she lied and she goes home. It would only be a disaster.
“Hey stranger, what are you doing up there?” Jules called up to her. She flinched and scrambled to look over the boards of wood.
The moment she laid eyes on him she smiled, her world falling back into the corner of her heart. “I came here to be free, get out of the house and refresh myself. What are you

doing here? No one ever comes here.” She said as she watched him glance around the small woods. He looked slightly uncomfortable, as if she had asked him a question he never thought about.
“Problems at home?” He countered in response.
“Not exactly; I just wanted to think. You didn’t answer my question you know, and you’re not getting off that easily.” She quietly laughed.
“Ah,” he shook his head and chuckled, “You’re right. May I join you then?” He squinted up at her, even though it was quite shaded in the cove of trees.
“Sure, I guess you may.” She scooted herself back against the tree trunk behind her, clearing a spot next to her. She was smiling as he mounted the top, pulling himself up with ease. His hair hung in his eyes a bit but she could still see the beautiful emeralds underneath. She sighed inside, wishing that she could reach up into his hair and brush her fingers through it.
Skye took a deep breath when he sat down so close that their shoulders bumped for a moment, and let it out a moment later. She struck him with a look that spoke: and?

He laughed and glanced away from her. “I came here to get some air too.”
“But how did you know about it? Like I said, no one comes here anymore.” She said as she dropped her hand in the small space between them.
“My dad helped build it years ago. We all had lived here in my childhood, but my dad and I moved back a few weeks ago from New York.” He said it quietly as if he was ashamed.
Skye bit her lip and looked at him, the desire to know everything about Jules consuming her. “What about your mom?”
“She left us when I was young. I never really got to know her well.” Jules sighed and dropped his head, intentionally avoiding Skye’s eyes. He couldn’t look her in the eyes; he wanted to forget his mom, to believe she never existed.
“Oh Jules, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” She trailed off, turning away from him and cringing.
“No, don’t be. I never got to know her well, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t know who she was. She never cared about me; she left us both when I was young to go off with her new boyfriend. I never have understood why she did it, but now that I look back I know it was for the best.” He said, his voice cracking every now and then. “Hey listen, don’t worry about it, Skye; it doesn’t matter to me.” He touched her hand and pulled it into his, looking at her delicate face.
She looked at him as she spoke quietly. “I know, it’s just I can’t believe you had to go through that