Chapter 13 - Hurt

I came out of the bathroom from taking a shower. Ethan will probably come over. Actually he is coming over. I rolled my eyes at the thought of it and picked up my cell phone. I checked for any calls, voicemails, or text messages. There was one text message. From Alec. I opened the text message.

'What are you doing today?'

I have a very good guess that Alec wants to hang out today. Ethan doesn't want me near him. But I don't know why. Alec seems like a good guy. He 'seems' like a good guy. Ethan's coming over. So I have a good excuse. That sounds mean. Using Ethan for an excuse. I shrugged to myself not thinking anything more of it. I replied back saying I was hanging out with Ethan today. I put the phone in my pocket and went downstairs. I went to go sit on the couch but then the door opened. Ethan came in.

"Why are you here so early?" I asked him as he shut the door.

"I couldn't sleep well last night so I was up early." He answered.

I crossed my arms in front of my chest.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing." I shook my head as I said it.

Ethan came over and sat on the couch. He did look exhausted. I wonder what kept him up all night. My phone vibrated.

"Who are you texting?" He asked not looking at me.

"No one in particular."

He raised an eyebrow at me like he didn't believe me. "Who are you texting?" He asked again.

"Do you need to know everything?"

He shrugged. "Sometimes."

"Where's Mya today?"

"Shopping."

"You didn't want to go?"

"It's girl shopping." He corrected. "Don't ever, ever go to the store with Mya's mom."

"Okay . . ."

I sat on the couch away from him. He looked at me curious like he was about to ask something.

"What?" I asked.

"I don't know. You always sit away from me like I'm going to bite you."

I wouldn't doubt it.

"Sorry. I just want my space."

"You planning to do something today?" He changed the subject.

I thought about it. My phone vibrated again. I took my phone out and opened the text message.

'Ditch him and hang with me. You already hung out with him the other day.' Alec said in his message.

I looked at Ethan who was staring at me and I looked back at the message. I have been hanging out with Ethan for a while. And to tell you the truth I kind of do need my space. I also think that Ethan wants his space too.

"I was actually asked to hang out with one of my friends." Ethan continued saying. "But I can stay if -."

"No." I said stopping him. "You can hang out with your friend. I was planning on going shopping." I lied to him.

"Shopping? You don't want me to help."

"Girl shopping, Ethan."

"Forget I asked."

I smirked to myself. Ethan stood up and started backing up to the door.

"So . . . you'll be okay today?" He asked.

"Yes."

"I can leave?"

"I never asked you to come over." I corrected.

"You don't need a ride to the store?" He asked as he put his hand on the doorknob.

"No Ethan. Go hang with your friend."

He smiled. "Text if you need something." He left my house.

I looked down at my phone.

'Pick me up?' I replied back.

I stood outside waiting for Alec to come pick me up. I kind of feel bad I lied to Ethan but . . . I wanted to get away for a while. And Alec is the only other person I know who is the closest thing to a friend. I leaned up against the house waiting. A couple of minutes later Alec came up the driveway. I got in the car.

"Finally came on my side?" He said sarcastic.

I smirked. "I just need to get away is all."

"Where do you want to go?"

I shrugged. "Wherever."

"Do you want to go to my place? My parents are home. Nothing's going to happen." He reassured me.

"Uh, yeah. Sure."

He back out of my driveway and drove down the road. I looked out the window.

"What made you hang out with me anyway?" Alec asked.

I shrugged. "Just wanted to get to know you I guess."

He didn't say anything else. I watched everything pass by in the window until we got to Alec's house. I got out of the car and stared at the house. It was a beige colored house. They had a small porch with a couple of lawn chairs set to the side.

"This is my house." He said coming around the car.

"Looks homey." I said glancing at him.

He shrugged. "It's okay I guess. I'll show you around." He said going up the side walk.

I followed behind him and walked up the three steps that led up to the porch and then went inside with him. The first room was the living room with tan carpets and a couch on the back wall and a little TV on the stand in the middle of the room. Alec shut the door behind me and I heard a click.

'Get out.' Something told me.

I turned around and noticed Alec locked the door.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

He smirked at me and swung his hand and slapped my face. I didn't even know what happened until my face started throbbing. I rubbed my face and looked at Alec.

"What are you doing!?" I screamed at Alec.

I heard someone behind me and went to go turn around but it was already too late. I was knocked out.

My eyes flew open and I was staring at a ceiling of a car. I heard laughing and looked around my surroundings. I sat up rubbing my neck. It hurt, everything hurt. My face was throbbing and so were my arms, and legs. As I looked at my body I was covered in bruises. Tears filled my eyes until I realized what really happened.

"Hey look she's awake." Someone said as I turned around.

I was in a back of a van. Alec and a friend were sitting beside me as his three other buddies were sitting up in the front seat. I rubbed my face trying to wake up from this horrible nightmare but no matter how much I tried I wasn't going to wake up.

"Cute girl." His friend said as he moved forward to me.

I pushed him and moved away. "Why are you doing this!?" I yelled.

Alec crept closer to me and made me look at him. "I think maybe you should have listened to Ethan."

He was drunk. You could smell the alcohol from his breath. I took my foot and pushed him away from me.

"Let me go!"

"Ha, you're so funny." He said all droopy as his cold alcohol lips touched mine.

I pushed him away again and the car stopped moving.

"Let her out here." The guy in the front said.

Alec's friend grabbed me and opened the back door. He threw my out on the ground on to the cold road.

"Have fun." He said throwing my phone at me. He slammed the back door and the car took off.

I sat up weak on the road. The tears in my eyes filled up so bad that I couldn't control it. I looked at my cell phone. I grabbed my phone off from the pavement. They were so drunk I don't think they realized they gave me it. Picking up it up I moved to the side of the road just in case another car would come which I highly doubted. I was out in the middle of nowhere. I feel dirty and hurt. I feel . . . exposed. I had five missed calls from Ethan. I quickly went to my contacts and was about to press send to call Ethan, but I broke down crying remembering that I lied to him. I lied to Ethan about where I would be going. How can I ever tell him that? I can't call Sam, he's too far away. The only one who is left is . . . Mya. I clicked on her name a pressed send. Slowly I put the phone to my ear. I listened to it ring until I heard Mya's voice.

"Kasie, hey what's up?"

"Can you do me a favor?" I said trying to get it out of me.

"Kasie, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"Can you come pick me up?" I said rubbing the tears off from me.

"Why? What happened? Where are you?" She burst out all these questions at once.

"I don't know where I am." I stood up and walked down the street.

"Well how did you get there?" She asked worried.

"Please." I said still crying. "Just come find me."

I heard the door slam in the background. "What do you see around you?"

I looked around my surroundings. It was too dark out to see anything. Clouds were covering the moon so I couldn't even get a little light.

"I'm out in the country somewhere I think."

I started running down the street trying to find at least a sign somewhere. I didn't even know which way was town.

"Are you still there?" Mya asked me.

"Yeah."

I turned to my left and saw a street sign. I ran over to it and looked closely at the name of the street.

"I'm on Witten Street." I said quickly.

"Okay, I'm on my way."

We both hung up at the same time. I rubbed my arms feeling insecure. I know what they did to me; I just don't want to believe it. I fell down to my knees crying. I should have listened to Ethan when he told me to stay away. I didn't do it, I didn't listen. Looking at my wrist I noticed Jake's bracelet was gone. I searched my pockets quickly. That was the last piece of Jake I had left and now it's gone. I tightened my fists and cried hard. This isn't fair! Why is this happening!? My whole world is falling apart. I did nothing wrong. I don't deserve this!

I saw lights coming down the street and glanced up to them. It started slowing down and parked next to me.

"There you are." Mya said getting out of the car and running over to me. "What are you doing all the way out here?" She said helping me up. She noticed I had bruises on me and her eyes looked glassy like she didn't what to say. "Who do this!?" She asked angry to whoever did it.

I shook my head knowing I wouldn't be able to speak with tears in my eyes.

"Get in the car." She said pulling me to her car.

She was in her pajamas. I don't even know what time it is. I didn't care, I just wanted out of here. Getting in her car I felt a little bit secured but felt dirty and ashamed.

"I'm calling Ethan." She said getting her phone.

"No!" I yelled.

"Why not!? Look at you!" She screamed at me.

"Pleases don't tell him." I begged. "Don't tell him please."

"He's going to find out when he comes over to your house!"

I shook my head. "I'm not letting him in my house." I continued.

"Yeah right Kasie! He's going to get in. He's going to find out what happened to you."

"You don't even know what happened." I hissed.

"Whatever happened you're a mess and you need Ethan right now."

"Mya!" I screamed at her. "No." I pleaded. "Don't tell him for a couple of days. Just do me a favor and keep him occupied for a few days."

"Kasie I'm not -."

"Mya, please. This is the only thing I'm asking from you."

She paused and thought about it. "I can't keep away from you Kasie."

"Just don't tell him."

She looked away from me. "And what are you going to do in the mean time?"

"I'm just going to heal."

"You'll never be able to cover it up Kasie. You're a mess. It's impossible."

"Don't do it tonight, please."

She threw her phone down and did a U-turn. I relaxed in the car as she drove me home.

"Who?" She asked getting closer to my house.

"No one."

"Who!?" She demanded.

"I don't wanna say."

"Did they threaten you because if they did I swear -."

"No Mya they didn't. I'm just afraid is all."

"Of what?"

I shook my head.

Mya pulled up in my driveway. "This is wrong." She said. "We need to report whoever did this to you. You can't just take it as it is Kasie. You need to do something."

"Leave it Mya." I said opening the door. "Don't say anything."

"He's going to find out Kasie."

I got out of the car and slammed the door. Remembering I don't have a key to my house I got the one that is under the rock next to the step and went into my house. I shut and locked the door behind me. I felt empty, lost, dirty, exposed, and all the other horrible feelings in the world. I didn't like the feeling of it. I lied to Ethan and this is what I get.