Chapter 5 5

I let out a weary sigh as the blaring alarm clock disrupted my peaceful slumber. With deliberate slowness, I managed to coax myself out of bed, begrudgingly trading my comfortable pyjamas for school attire.

Descending the staircase, my bleary eyes fell upon a surprising sight: a black school bag and an assortment of fresh school supplies arranged meticulously on the table. I couldn't help but wonder who had thoughtfully provided these essentials for me. Although I could have continued using my well-worn materials from previous years, I couldn't deny my gratitude. My own father had consistently refused to invest in new supplies each year, leaving me no choice but to make do with the same items for as long as I could recall. The only exception, of course, was pens, which seemed to mysteriously vanish without a trace.

Taking a seat at the table, I began to peruse the contents of the bag, my curiosity growing. Suddenly, Susan materialised seemingly out of thin air, nearly startling me out of my chair.

"Do you like it?" she inquired, her presence catching me off guard.

"Yeah, it's wonderful. Thank you," I responded, my voice tinged with sleepiness as I rested my head on the table. Time seemed to slip away from me, and it dawned on me that I was running late.

As I reluctantly tore myself away from the table, I glanced at the clock and realised that I had no more time to spare. I mumbled a half-awake farewell to Susan, who wore a warm smile as she waved.

"Have a great day, dear," she wished me.

"You too," I nodded in response before making a hasty exit through the door.

How did such a kind woman get caught up with that type of man?.

I reached school after a decently long walk.

I strolled towards the lockers before being blinded by a pair of hands.

"Guess who?" the person giggled evilly.

"Mmm, I have no idea," I replied sarcastically, knowing exactly who it was.

"It's your best friend" she uncovered my eyes.

"Hey Mandy," I said before hugging her.

"Hey!" She cheered, wrapping her arms around me. "It's been one crazy weekend," I mumbled, resting my head on her shoulder.

"Tell me at lunch," She said happily, while we walked slowly to class.

We strolled leisurely through the echoing hallways, our conversation meandering through a myriad of topics. Amid our casual chatter, Mandy leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper as she shared a secret with me. "Jake is totally checking you out."

A jolt of surprise shot through me, and I instinctively denied it, my heart rate quickening as a hint of panic crept in. With cautious curiosity, I stole a quick glance in Jake's direction, almost locking eyes with him in the process.

Mandy, meanwhile, continued in her hushed tone, her voice tinged with a hint of disappointment. "He's not exactly subtle about it."

Attempting to brush off the situation and alleviate my nerves, I replied, "Come on, he's not going to approach me or anything, Danni."

Just as I uttered those words, my sentence was abruptly cut short by Jake himself, who had stealthily made his way over to where Mandy and I were engaged in our secretive exchange. His sudden appearance took me completely by surprise.

Jake used to be one of my bestfriends as a kid. He left for a few years and returned only this year, looking a lot different than when he left. He wasn't scrawny anymore; He was the captain of the football team apparently. He was tall and muscular with black hair that was thick and silky with dark brown eyes. He left Asia as a child with his family and ended up living across the road from me. I suddenly had a new friend after that.

"Danni" I heard a deep voice call me. I sighed hesitantly as I stared at Mandy grinning. "Hi" I smiled as I turned around.

"Hey" Jake beamed happily.

"I know we haven't really spoken since I got back but I was wondering if you wanted to come to my game tonight?" He questioned, seeming quite hopeful.

I didn't want to disappoint him, he seemed happy. "Okay" I replied with a warm smile.

"Great, I'll see you then" He smirked before he jogged back to his buddies in the hall.

I had liked Jake for years, I couldn't let my engagement to Ghost blind me. If he could be with other women, why couldn't I be with other men?

I heard them all cheer as Jake was smiling like an idiot.

"He really likes you, and he's very attractive" Mandy nudged me, attempting to persuade me.

"He wouldn't be able to handle my life style" I replied as the fantasy of having a normal life quickly faded. Reality was like being hit by a truck. I could flirt with guys, but my chance of ever finding love was ruined.

"You can't shut every guy down because you're afraid of getting hurt, just please try with him for me" Mandy pouted as she pleaded with me.

"Fine" I shook my head while grinning. That took little convincing.

"I'm coming with you to the field, of course I have to watch my baby play" Mandy mumbled as she appeared from thin air. She was talking about her boyfriend, Ryan.

"You're so supportive" I teased her as we walked through the school doors.

We sat down at the bleachers.

"Aye, Lopez, I heard you're here for Jake" Ryan joked as he pecked Mandy on the lips.

"Yeah, I said I'd come watch him play" I shrugged carelessly.

"He's very excited" Ryan smirked raising his eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes as I snickered.

"Good luck baby" Mandy yelled. Ryan blew a kiss to her as he jogged back onto the field. Sometimes they make me want to throw up.

It was half time and I was talking to Mandy.

"You came?" Jake smiled at me, coming over to the bleachers.

"Yeah, I thought I'd check it out" I nodded staring up at him.

"I'm glad, I have to get back onto the field, talk after though" He smirked before running to Ryan who was already in position.

"He knows that was code for you're checking him out and not the game" Mandy smirked evilly as if she was hatching a plan.

My phone was suddenly flooded with messages.

"Where are you?"

"Come home now"

"School ended an hour ago"

"Hurry the fuck up"

"Right that's it, I'm coming to get you"

Why was I only getting these now?.

"Shit" I frantically grabbed my bag from under our seat. Then I saw him, Ghost. He walked towards the bleachers and I could've sworn I saw fire in his eyes. "Holy shit" Mandy's jaw dropped at the sight of Ghost. "I know he's hot, now shut up" I hissed at Mandy.

"Where the fuck were you?" Ghost shouted at me, grabbing everyone on the bleacher's attention.

"I was here" I uttered, afraid to speak due to how angry he was.

The whole football team stopped playing because of the scene that Ghost was making.

"We need to get home....now" Ghost demanded, his voice full of rage as he stood at the bottom of the bleachers. I walked down to Ghost. I walked beside him as we left .

"Danni?" jake called out for me. I watched Ghost's face become infuriated than he already was.

"Where are you going?" Jake grabbed my arm. I flinched and turned to Ghost who was now focused on Jake.

"Did I say you could touch her?" Ghost snarled at Jake.

"You shouldn't have to say if I can touch her" Jake snapped back at Ghost.

Ghost was taller and more muscular than Jake. "Jake, I'm okay I promise" I muttered quietly as stood next to Ghost. I was praying to Jesus, hoping Jake would just turn around and walk away but he didn't.

"Get out of here before you regret it, I don't give second chances" Ghost warned Jake, squaring up to him.

"And what if I...." Jake was interrupted by Ghost's fist colliding with his jaw.

I stumbled back due to Ghost's sudden burst of anger. Was it really sudden though?.

Jake lay on the floor, in a haze with blood spilling from his mouth. I cringed at the sight of Jake on the ground, he was fading in and out of consciousness and he could barely keep his eyes open. A single punch from Ghost caused that much damage to Jake.

I gazed in shock at the sight of Jake as the whole football team stared in amazement.

"Fuck", Ghost grumbled, holding his fist. He turned towards me. I flinched, thinking that I was next yet I didn't feel anything.

Ghost just stared at me weirdly.

"Get into the fucking car" He grumbled viciously, obviously not in the mood for anyone else. I basically ran to the car.

I sat in the front seat with Ghost.

The drive was silent.

"Why did you protect yourself?" Ghost's deep voice questioned me. I glanced up at him before bringing my attention to my hands. He stopped my hands from moving with his.

"Answer me!" He snapped; It seemed like he hadn't calmed down at all.

"No reason" I replied with no tone as I watched his hand that was still on mine. He didn't say anything.

"You're lying" He finally spoke up.

"I'll find out what happened to you" He muttered with a determined tone.

"Why do you care?" I uttered, glancing up at him. Ghost raised his eyebrow at me. He raised his hand in the air to mimic hitting me and I flinched again.

Shit.

"That's why" He replied with a disgusted face; I wasn't quite sure what he was disgusted at.

"Just leave it alone, it's not important" I mumbled, acting carelessly as I stared out the window at the passing cars.

"You should know if you're going to marry me, I'm not going to hit you" He voiced as if he had been holding that in since our conversation.

He knew exactly what was wrong with me, he just wanted to hear me say it.

"You're angry now but eventually you'll get angry at me and then you'll get used to it" I shrugged, knowing he would repeat the cycle of my father and I.

"I don't hit women, especially not someone who's going to be my wife" He cleared his throat, stopping the car; I barely knew this guy and he was going to be my husband.

I'm not going to take his word. He'll have to prove it through his actions.