"Stop teasing me," I smile, biting down on my lip nervously. Almost every night Jake and I talk about anything we can think of. The conversation always flows so easily with him and ends with my stomach sore from laughing. A good kind of pain.
The late night phone calls would sometimes drift over into the early hours of the morning. He'd quickly became someone I thought of regularly and seeing him in college every day was the cherry on top of our friendship. He's funny, cheeky and not as scary or dangerous as everyone else made him out to be.
"I cannot wait to party with you. This is going to be the best night ever!"
I couldn't help but giggle in response, the feeling of excitement overcoming my anxiety and nerves. It's party time!
*****
"Trish!" I groan, staring in shock at the shortest dress in history.
"I cannot wear that! I'll look like I belong on a street corner!" I explain, handing her the dress back. I was sprawl out on her bed, watching as she rips apart every corner of her wardrobe.
"Jake will like it," she winks, causing me to shoot her a stone cold glare.
"I don't dress to please a guy."
She rolls her eyes playfully before disappearing back inside her wardrobe. Yes, it really is big enough to get lost in.
"Aha!" she yells triumphantly, appearing with a dress in her hands. It's gold, short and covered with sequins. I gawk at the dress and throw Trish an amused look.
"How many prostitute costumes do you own?"
Trish gasps, her eyes widening before she takes a second look at the dress.
"Okay maybe you're right, only a little. This one is definitely a no." Trish grimaces before hanging the dress back up.
"I think I'll dress myself Trish," I smile, rolling off the bed and heading for her wardrobe. That's how I end up two hours later wearing a long sleeved top with ripped jeans and black boots. My outfit covers the scars and bruises running up and down my body and that's good enough for me. My hair is curled to perfection and I've applied more makeup than usual with some red lipstick and dark eyeliner.
I'm definitely channeling my inner Taylor Swift.
I spritz myself with some perfume before standing back and scrutinising myself in the mirror.
"Wow. We look hot," I grin, holding my hand in the air for Trish to high five. Trish beams back at me and slaps my hand hard.
"Yes we do." Trish smiles, adjusting her bright pink crop top. She wore it over black distressed jeans matched with pink stiletto heels. Trish doesn't leave her house for a party without bringing her bright pink heels.
"Come on, we've got a party to get to!" Trish giggles excitedly, grabbing my hand and dragging me out of her room. A smile stretched across my face and I felt my level of excitement rise quickly. This is really happening.
Tonight is the night I break my party virginity.
"Let's make my first party a memorable one." I grin, feeling completely carefree. It's time for me to finally act like a teenager.
*****
As soon as the taxi parks up outside and I step out, I gaze up at Ivory's house in slight awe. The large building stood in front of me was decorated beautifully from the outside, the grass is trimmed and flowers looked after. Two expensive looking cars are parked across the driveway, their shine so bright despite the darkness of the night.
"Wow," I say under my breath, my stomach breaking out into nervous butterflies. Beside me, Trish let out a low whistle.
"Are you ready?" She asks me, holding out her palm. I glance down at it before nodding. She takes hold of my hand, intertwining our fingers together. Her warmth spreads through my palm, calming down the nerves bubbling inside of me.
When we enter, the hallway and living room is crowded with teenagers, laughing and chatting. The music blared all around the house, bouncing off the walls. I crane my neck, noticing a large group of tightly packed people dancing in the living room. Across from them, a bunch of guys are playing beer pong, clutching bottles of alcohol with silly carefree smiles on their faces.
"Emily! Trish! You made it!" Ivory grins, appearing in front of me. She hands me a drink in a plastic white cup and I take it from her, smiling back.
"Hey! Yeah I did, this looks great!" I said loudly, leaning into her ear so that she could hear me over the loud music. Any louder and we'll all be deaf within the next hour. . .
"It's one of my legendary parties, trust me. You won't forget this night!" She grins widely before wondering off into the crowds of people. I lift the cup to my nose and sniff it warily. The smell of alcohol knocks me back so I slowly put it down behind me on a table, grimacing slightly.
"Oh come on, it's not that bad." Trish chuckles from my side and I roll my eyes before picking the drink back up.
"I guess it is my birthday tomorrow, right?" I said, justifying my action. Trish nodded eagerly, signalling for me to take a drink. I lifted it up gingerly to my lips and let the liquid run down my throat. Surprisingly it didn't taste as bad as I thought it would, fruity with a little zing to it.
"That isn't as bad as I thought it would be," I tell her and Trish giggles, taking a large drink from her own cup. She leans in closer towards me, her features turning serious.
"Lesson number one, don't leave your drink unattended. Lesson two, stay away from the hoe's and their bro's. Lesson three, don't wonder off with a weird guy you don't know, okay?" She says firmly. I nod at her, trying my best to remember all of her tips. Trish nods in satisfaction, her head bouncing up and down.
"Good, and most importantly. . . have fun!" She grins, pulling me into a tight bear hug. I return her embrace, breathing in deeply.
"Thanks Trish."
She pulls back and smiled at me, placing one hand on either shoulder.
"You've got this Bestie, say it with me."
"Yeah, I've got this." I repeat her words, sounding confident. The volume of the music grows louder and Trish cheers loudly along with several other people.
"I'm going to get another drink, I'll be back in a minute!" Trish yells, disappearing off into the crowd. I nod and smile, watching her go before taking another sip of my drink.
My eyes scan over the crowd and land on a familiar face - Austin. I wave at him, giving him a friendly smile. We've spoken once or twice but never had a full on conversation. Austin is good looking with his caramel toned skin and large brown eyes. His lashes are long and fluttery, much to the dismay of every girl in here. He's never short of female attention and I watch as he wonders over towards me, shooting me a cute grin. His eyes drink in my appearance and I find myself blushing, a red tint covering my cheeks.
"You look cute when you blush!" He laughs, pointing at my cheeks. I gave him a shy smile, feeling my cheeks heat up further.
"I look like a tomato when I blush, don't lie to me." I say playfully, taking another sip of my drink. Austin throws his head back and laughs, his eyes lighting up.
"Are you enjoying the party?" I ask him and he nods, taking a step closer with the same wide smile on his face.
"I haven't seen anyone I like the look of, until now." His words are suggestive and I can feel the blush deepen on my cheeks. I don't reply and instead nibble on my bottom lip nervously. Austin takes a step closer towards me, resting a hand on my waist.
"You look great Emily! Do you want to dance?" He asks eagerly, I don't respond for a few seconds as I think about his question.
Hey, why the hell not?
"Yeah, let's dance!" I respond, following him towards the crowd of dancing bodies. We both begin dancing carelessly with each other and I close my eyes, feeling free. I feel a hand on my waist and I open my eyes to find Austin very close to me, his body dancing against mine. I let out a little nervous giggle, glancing around warily for a familiar face.
His hips press into mine and I shuffle backwards, feeling uncomfortable. Austin's hands settle on my hips and I pause, my body stilling. I suck in a breath as he massages the area where Trevor beat me. My body is still tender, covered in bruises.
Austin's hands are directly above the bruises.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all...
I lean towards his ear, a frown fixed on my face from the dull pain in my sides.
"I think I'm going to go find Trish!" I yell into his ears, placing my hands over his in an attempt to move them. His hand's tighten, causing an instant flare of pain to shoot through my body. I yell out, yanking myself away from him.
"Stop." I tell him, my hands beginning to shake. He's staring at my body with hunger in his eyes and I watch as they turn shades darker. Austin takes a step towards me and in return, I take a step back. I'm trapped between sweaty bodies, caged in like an animal. I find myself struggling to breathe, my throat tightening. The nauseating smell of alcohol hits me and Trevor's face instantly flashes through my mind.
The last person I want to think about tonight is Trevor.
Austin doesn't seem to hear or see my discomfort. He pushes his body into mine and I shove hard at his chest, hating the way he feels against me.
"This isn't fun anymore Austin!" I protest, my words doing little to slow him down.
"Please get — "
I don't have a chance to finish my sentence as he's ripped away from me in an instant. I blink and step back, stumbling into a few other people behind me. Austin was lying on the floor, his eyes wide with surprise and fear.
"Oh my god," I gasp however I could feel the relief run through my body. My sides are throbbing painfully and I can't help but wince in pain every time I move. Jake stands over Austin, his shoulders squared defensively. My eyes travels down to his fist that is tensed, ready to strike.
"Jake, don't!" I cry, lunging towards him as he leans down to hit him. One of Jake's friend picks me up in one swift move and pulls me back in the crowd, not allowing me to get in between Jake and Austin.
"You don't want to get in the middle of that sweetheart," he mutters in my ear, holding me back.I continue to watch in horror as Jake grips Austin by the collar and drags him to his feet. He makes it look effortless despite Austin being the same size as him.
"The girl asked you to get off her. She shouldn't have to ask twice."
His words are icy, dripping with danger.
"She was enjoying it." Austin spat back, his eyes burning with hatred and fear. My own widen in surprise at his words and I shake my head, protesting. Jake didn't turn around to ask me if he was right, he already knew the answer.
"If you try that again, you can enjoy my fist in your face." Jake hisses, leaning down to his ear. He doesn't make an effort to quieten his words down, everyone could hear his threatening words. Austin simply chuckles at Jake, challenging him to hit him already.
"She isn't yours to protect, get the hell off me."
Jake makes a low sound in protest and it almost sounds like a growl coming from his throat. I watch in horror as he swings his head back before smashing it into Austin's face. A scream escapes my throat and I want to squeeze my eyes shut so I don't see the blood pouring from his nose. Jake's head snaps towards me and I almost recoil backwards from his eyes.
I immediately grow silent, frozen to the spot.
His eyes hold a murderous glint and my heart skips a beat in fear. My entire body begins to shake and I open my mouth before clamping it shut again. His eyes are cold, bloodshot and vicious.
Just like Trevor.
Breathe Emily, breathe.
I remain frozen, staring wide eyed in terror at Jake. Visions of Trevor beating me with the same cold eyes clouds my mind and I feel like a hand is closing in around my throat tightly. I gasp like a fish out of water and Jake's eyes soften considerably. He walks towards me and I shake my head further, unable to tell him to stop.
"What's wrong Emily?" I hear Jake ask distantly but Trevor's threats filled my eyes, taunting me. An arm wraps around my shivering body and I whimper, yanking it away from me. My head is pounding hard and my lungs are tightening further. I whimper in fear, feeling my head go hazy and disorientated.
"Emily?"
I began to push through the crowds, my legs wobbling underneath my weight.
"I need some air," I whisper, barely able to hear my own words. I use the bodies of others to keep myself standing but it isn't enough.
The inability to breathe finally catches up with me and I feel my eyes roll the back of my head.
Chapter Eleven - Exposed Secret.
"Emily? It's me, Jake."
Jake.
I blink away my blurred vision and begin to make sense of my surroundings. I'm lying on a double bed, the sheets crisp white and soft. The walls are painted a baby blue shade, the furnishings white to match the rest of the decor.
"Jake?" I say turning towards him, my voice shaking. I watch as he sighs heavily, his gaze dropping to the floor to avoid making eye contact with me.
Embarrassment fills my body and I sit up, stepping off the bed to leave the room.
"I have to go," I mumble, my mind disorientated and confused. My legs buckle underneath me weakly and I close my eyes, getting ready to meet the floor. Jake's hand flies out, circling around my waist. He guides me so I'm stuck between his legs, one on either side. I sigh and push on them in an attempt to be free but they don't move an inch.
"Stop struggling Emily, turn around."
His voice is quiet, smooth.
I turn around, my head hung low which caused my hair to fall over my face. I like it, it acts like a curtain to protect me. . . I think Jake knows my secret. Nobody else ever suspected a thing besides from Jake. I figured it out by the way he treats me, gentle and caring. He treats me this way because he knows my secret and he feels sorry for me.
The girl who's beaten by her stepdad.
Jake's hand reaches up, hovering near my face.
"I'm not going to hurt you, don't flinch," he whispers. I stop breathing from his words, my heart beating wildly against my chest. He slowly tilts my chin up until I'm looking directly into his eyes. They're soft and warm, completely opposite to the murderous look he was sporting before.
When Jake is like this, he's harmless. Yet with everyone else, he's as cold and dangerous as the first time I'd seen him in the classroom. His thumb strokes my jaw and I sigh, completely content with the slightest bit of affection. Jake chuckles at my reaction, his stomach vibrating and I blush in embarrassment.
"Stop laughing at me." I mutter, my cheeks flaming up in embarrassment. My heart is beating wildly against my chest.
"You're adorable, I can't help it." He gives me a cute, lopsided smile. I feel my heart somersault and I open my mouth to reply. The words I really wanted to say are lodged deep inside my throat. When I'm around him, I feel butterflies, constantly.
I push back away from his legs, building up the courage to let him know what's really on my mind. I walk around the room, stretching my legs as I examine it, my way of buying myself some time.
"Don't do that," Jake says suddenly, pushing himself off the bed and walking towards me. My eyebrows crease in confusion and I look back at him, frowning.
"Don't do what?" I ask innocently, my back hitting against the wall. Jake's eyes land directly on my lips, causing my heart to stop for a moment.
"Don't bite your lip like that."
"Sorry, it's a thing I do when I'm nervous." I explain, chuckling lightly.
Jake silently walks towards me, closing the space between us. His hand reaches up and combs back his dark hair, leaving me melting from the way his biceps tense.
"What do you really want to ask me?" Jake whispers, placing a hand on the walls on either side of me. He leans down so his face hovers in front of mine, inches away. I'm knocked back by his sudden question and I simply blink at him in return.
"N-nothing" I stutter, cursing myself silently. Whenever I'm around Jake, I lose the ability to act or talk like a normal human being.
"You're still doing it," Jake mutters, his eyes flickering between mine and my lips. As he speaks, his warm breath fans my face and I swear, my legs actually b
uckle underneath me.
"Don't stare at me and it won't bother you," I shot back, my confidence levels rising.
"Don't be so beautiful and maybe I won't stare," he smirks, barely hesitating with his response. I let out a small squeak at his words and immediately regret my decision.
Nice move Emily.
Jake's eyebrows shot up in amusement, blue eyes twinkling at me. I pull my lower lip into my mouth, biting down on it hard due to my nerves.
"Stop Emily."
"No Jake."
He glares at me and I glare back in response, daring him to break eye contact. The corners of his lips tug up and I know he's on the verge of laughing. In one swift move, Jake grabs hold of both my arms playfully, surprising me.The pain shooting through my body is instant and I hiss, feeling fire burn through my skin. My reaction is one I deeply regret. . .
I instantly lift my knee up, hitting him hard between his legs.
Jake groans loudly, dropping to the floor with his eyes squeezed shut tightly.
"What the hell Emily?! There goes my chance of ever being able to have kids." Jake yells, his voice strained.
I don't respond, the pain becoming unbearable to handle. It's shooting down my arms, making me lightheaded. Pain flashes through my face and I turn to face the wall, not wanting Jake to see my tear stricken face. Jake gently turns me around, his eyes full of worry and confusion. Fresh tears sting my eyes and I blink, feeling them slide down my cheeks.
"Stop Jake!" I whisper, my voice breaking apart as I speak.
Jake takes no notice of my protests and silently tugs my sleeves upwards. I suck in a breath, feeling like I've been punched in the gut. Ugly bruises etched into my skin stare back at us.
"Emily?" Jake questions, his eyes filling with confusion.
I thought Jake would take one look at a broken me and he would walk away. Away from the pain and misery in my life. Instead he drops one of my wrists, using his hand to clutch my chin. He lifts it slowly so I'm staring into his eyes. He's searching me intently, blue eyes flickering between mine.
"Let me help you," he pleads, his hand stroking my cheek gently. I've never heard those four words from anyone in my entire life.
His Mission (HIS SERIES Book 1) Page 6