fantasty kiss, raj say hello [bill gates best books .TXT] 📗

and I could see how much it hurt. I turned on my heels and pushed past the shrew and to my room, slamming my door shut behind me.
I went to my desk to retrieve the tiny mirror there. I gazed at the reddened flesh upon my cheek. It stung something fierce but I refused to let the tears stain my face.
My sigh was small but sure. I couldn’t stay here tonight. I grabbed my bag, it was only carrying one book since I hardly ever had homework, and stuffed it with the things I’d need for overnight.
Once I was sure I had everything, I climbed out my window and down the ladder covered with wild flowers. The thorns pricked my skin but not enough to stop my mission. I got to my car and, after pushing it to the street, left the premises.
I’d decided to go to Marinas but then decided against it. Her mother knew my father and if she sensed something wasn’t right with my story she’d definitely call and check. I couldn’t go to Jack’s either, his parents didn’t know he was dating, let alone dating a foreigner. He’d told me he’d dated a Latina girl once and they tore her to shreds. It was one of the reasons we kept our relationship a secret from both our families.
I didn’t know why but I then thought about going to Devin. Would he understand? I was sure he would but I didn’t want to bother him. I wasn’t sure what it was about Devin that made my stomach turn flips but I kind of liked it. But I couldn’t go to him because not only did I not know where he lived, I wasn’t sure where things would go if I went.
If I couldn’t go to Marina’s or Jacks and Devin was definitely out, then there was nowhere I could go. Well, nowhere with a roof over my head.
I smiled to myself and pulled a U turn. I could go to the dock. I’d gone their numerous times but never for an overnight trip. There was never really a reason to, but now? Yes, now was a good time.

Chapter Five

It was warm tonight. Warmer than any other night for which I was grateful.

I removed my shoes and lied on the end of the dock. My feet hung freely, swaying through the murky water. The water, too, was warm, almost inviting but I wouldn’t dare go for a dip, not tonight.
The wood beneath me was hard but bearable. I could sleep peacefully tonight.
I let myself slip under, with the sound of the crickets to soothe me.
My phone ringing woke me too soon. I looked at it groggily and realized it was my father. Tossing it to the fish was a pleasurable thought but catching the hell from him later for a waterlogged cell wasn’t.
The ringing stopped but I’d have to get up soon enough. I dressed in the bathroom the rent-a-boat place at the dock offered, then headed for school.
I was on my way to breakfast when I bumped into him. Devin caught me as I stumbled and I let out a string of apologies. He held my hands, which were still a little sore from my escape. I also tried my best to shield my face from him. It was still a bit red from Rebecca.
He smiled down at me but when he felt the flaws in my skin he frowned a bit. He looked down at my hands questionably.
“Thorns.” I shrugged.
He stared at my face for a moment then horror took his. Anger blazed in his eyes.
I pulled away from his hands and pulled at the sleeves of my jacket.
His face changed from fury to composed.
“Did he do this?” He asked voice tight.
“It’s nothing.” I ran my fingers through my hair self-consciously.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
I rolled my eyes. “My father didn’t hit me.”
“Then who…” Recognition lit his face, followed by confusion. “Rebecca? Why would…”
“Because I called her a fake bitch.” I shrugged, not even caring that I just swore in front of him. I tried to keep that part of myself under control. I didn’t too much care for swearing, it was a filthy habit that was hard to break.
“Does it hurt?” He lifted his hand to touch my face then hesitated. I almost wished he’d touched me. He quickly dropped his hand to my disappointment. What the heck was wrong with me?
If someone saw us, they’d no doubt think the worse.
I stepped back and adjusted my bag. I didn’t want anybody getting the wrong idea. I knew quite a few male teachers in this school who seemed a bit…pervy but I doubted Devin was like that. He was sweet…sexy-but not in a “I want to jump my teacher” way. I didn’t know anything about him, not to mention he was my freaking teacher. I had to stop thinking of him as a regular guy. So I took my mind off of it.
“No,” I lied. “I’m good.”
He smiled and I couldn’t tell if he knew I was lying or not.
Well, I’d had worse. My father had only hit me once and I’d made sure he never did again. He’d done it in the heat of the moment when I was on verge of hysterics from my mother dying. Not to mention the whole moving situation plus the fact he was marring that woman. I had basically deserved it. After he’d done it I broke down crying and he swore he’d never hurt me like that again.
“Well,” he said, not meeting my eyes. “I need to go. I’ve got papers to grade.”
I nodded and we went our separate ways.
Most people didn’t comment on my face but when I got to the gym Jack was furious. He’d seen my hands and I explained but my face was something different.
“How could she slap you?” He asked twisting my face this way and that. He was examining the flesh and it made me a little uncomfortable. “Where the hell was your father?”
“Standing behind me.”
“And he did nothing?!” He whispered fiercely.
“Yes,” I said removing his hand, though kept a firm hold onto it. “Now, let’s go, we’re going to be late for lunch.”
“It can wait. I’m worrying over my girlfriend.” He placed a kiss on the tip of my lips.
“Really?” I asked leaning into his chest. “Is she pretty?”
He wrapped his arms around me and said, “Beautiful. Magnificently beautiful.”
I giggled despite myself.
“Babe, are you sure you’re okay?”
I nodded.
“Yet you slept at the dock?”
“Hmm…well, I’m fine now. Like I said I couldn’t stay there. Not with them. I just needed to get out.”
I felt him nod.
“Can we go to lunch?” I asked pulling back. “I’m really hungry.”
He laughed and took me to lunch.
The day seemed to pass quickly and I dreaded that. It meant I’d have to go home soon.
I stayed in the showers longer than I should’ve which earned me a look from Devin when I entered the classroom nearly eight minutes late. Jack laughed silently as I took my seat.
When the day ended I was upset. Jack had told me practice was canceled for the rain that was coming. I frowned but he’d made me laugh by telling me not to go sleeping at any docks anymore. I shushed him and kissed him goodbye. Before I could walk out the door, Devin called me.
I went to his desk and he asked, “Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Yeah.” I shrugged.
He studied my face, which made me nervous. I couldn’t help the blush that rose to my face.
He saw this and tried to smile. “Go home, Layla,” he said taking out some papers.
I sighed.
“Or…” he began. Or? “Or you could…help me with these?”
I smiled. “I would hug you right now if I didn’t think it’d make you feel uncomfortable.”
He smiled at me but it seemed forced. I took half his stack and went to a desk up front.
After about five minutes of grading, my phone vibrated in the silent room. I could feel Devin staring at me but I didn’t look up from grading. I knew who it was and I didn’t want Devin to hear my cussing out.
The phone died down after a moment then started up again. I took it from my pocket and turned it to silent.
I didn’t meet Devin’s eyes, though I knew he was willing me to do so. I continued to grade my half of the papers.
We had them done in nearly two hours.
“Anything else?” I asked.
“Yes, you’re not grounded or something, are you? Is that why you weren’t answering your phone?”
“No.” I shifted uncomfortably. I went to go sit back in the seat. “After our…tiff last night I snuck out.”
“Layla…” He shook his head. “Did you go to Mr. Riley’s house?”
He sounded a bit disappointed when he said my name but there was a small smile playing at his lips. He also didn’t sound too please at the idea of me spending the night at Jacks. I wasn’t too sure why though. It wasn’t any of his concern who I spent the night with. Unless he’d like to make it his concern. I smiled but pushed that dirty thought away.
“No, I slept somewhere else.” It wasn’t a lie; I just didn’t feel the need to tell him every detail of my great escape.
“When you left, that’s how you received the…” He pointed to my hands.
“Yeah.”
He did his staring again and my face got all hot. Again I fidgeted in my seat.
I looked at my hands and couldn’t meet his eyes. When I did, I saw he was smiling.
Placing a strand of hair behind my ear and standing, I said, “I should be heading out.”
“Yeah…me, too. I’ll, uh, walk you to your car.”
“Thanks.”
We grabbed our things and headed out. When we reached my green punch buggy I thanked him and he left.
I sat in my car and looked at my phone. Six voicemails blinked rapidly on the screen. Four of them consisted of death threats and torture treatments while the last two my father actually sounded worried.
I listened to the last one twice.
“Layla, sweetheart.” His voice was shaky. “I know. Okay? I know I was wrong. I don’t-something about him…just please, baby. You don’t have to come home if you don’t want to. If you’re not ready, just…please, at least call me. Let me know you’re safe and not somewhere dead in a ditch. Please, Layla. I’m sorry.”
He ended with an I love you and I nearly cried if I hadn’t been thinking about the witch that slapped me. Where the hell was her apology? What did she think about the last two messages my father sent?
I sighed, letting my head fall onto the steering wheel. I let out a scream so loud if anyone were near, they’d think I was being murdered. After a few seconds, I sighed then drove off the property.
My car pulled into my driveway too soon for my liking. Grabbing my things, I got out and went for the door.
Before I could reach for the knob, the door swung open revealing my father. I stopped, waiting for the screaming that was sure to come. Instead, he hugged me.
My things dropped to the floor as his arms wrapped around me. He held me so tight, lifting me from the floor, that I thought I’d run out of air.
I couldn’t hug him back; my hands were pinned to my chest.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured against my hair. “So sorry.”
“I shouldn’t have said-”
“It doesn’t