Chapter 28

"I know we're not on the best terms but I need to ask you a favor," I said to Sharon on the phone. I currently was getting Riley situated in my bed, tucking a blanket around her limp body. She couldn't really talk that well, because her wound was still fairly fresh. She tried to choke out a simple "thank you" but I held my hand up. "Don't hurt yourself, okay?" I said, taking the phone away from my face momentarily.

"You only talk to me when you need something," Sharon sighed.

"I know I know," I said while waving goodbye to Riley, letting her know I was exiting. "I can explain when you get here. I have to do community service today and I need you to babysit."

"Babysit?" She scoffed. "What, you had a baby?"

"An injured girl," I sighed. "Look, it'll be two hours max. I just want to make sure nothing happens to her when I'm gone."

She sighed heavily. "I'm not doing it."

"Sharon," I whined. "Please."

"You don't get it Jessica," she laughed sarcastically. "All I do is help you and you don't even care. You tell me how you don't trust me, how you never want to see me again, then when you need a favor you call me right away. I'm sick of you not appreciating what you have."

"Let's fix this then," I sighed. "Please?"

She was silent for a few moments, then decided to answer. "Alright. I'll be over in ten."

I smiled and thanked her, hanging up. I needed to be at the community college in an hour, which I was sort of dreading. My phone rang once more while I groaned, not really wanting to talk to whoever it was. Looking down, it was an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Where's Justin," the man hissed, his voice deep.

"I um, I don't know. Who is this?"

"I swear to god Jessica, I'll kill you. Where, is, Justin?"

I was speechless. I hung up, my heart beat accelerating.

Was he being serious when he said he'd kill me?

I jumped at the sound of a knock on the door, answering it quickly. Sharon appeared, an unpleasant look on her face. "Who is it I need to babysit and why cou-" she stopped and took a step forward, examining me. "What happened to your face?"

Widening my eyes a little, I tried to ignore her stare. "Nothing," I whispered. "Listen, long story short there's a girl who just got stabbed last night and she's staying here. She's upstairs and I need to make sure nothing happens to her, okay?"

"Woah," she held her hands up. "She got stabbed?"

"Yeah," I sighed. "It's a long story but if-"

"Did you even think to take her to a hospital?"

"We were going to but we didn't think she'd make it."

"We? Who's we?" She crossed her arms.

"Listen," I tried not to overreact. "I needed help and Justin was still in town. It's his ex girlfriend and-"

"You're letting Justin's ex girlfriend stay in your house?"

I nodded with my lips sealed.

She crossed her arms once more. "Listen, this girl needs to get to a hospital. I'll take her, okay? Just go to community service."

I hugged her. "Thank you so much."

"Yeah," she sighed. "Honestly Jess, put some ice on your face. It's so swollen."

"I'll be fine."

"Here," she already had the ice out. "Jesus, what happened to make it that bad?"

I just hung my head, feeling suddenly sad. Remembering what happened last night was the last thing I wanted to do.

She raised her eyebrows when she heard me sniffle a little, making me embarrassed. I hate crying in front of people so much. "Jess?"

I lifted my head up to meet her eyes.

"What happened?"

I started to cry again, more to myself then her. "He hit me."

"Justin did?"

"Yeah," I breathed out. "Listen I'm already late so I'll see you when I get back," I called over my shoulder, putting on my shoes by the door. "Bye," I fake smiled.

Driving in Brad's car, I realized I'd have to drop it back off to him before tonight. He was leaving tomorrow morning, which made me kind of sad but at the same time relieved. I was sick of talking about my mom.

Pulling up to the community college, I took a deep breath, not wanting to be here at the moment.

Walking up the steps, I was suddenly bombarded with all the teenagers running up to me. "Ms. Johnson!"

"What? What?" I was frantic, they were all terrified, a few of them crying and sobbing.

"Someone just came into the room and stabbed Jennifer!"

One of the students got stabbed? I looked over to the front desk where the receptionist was supposed to be. Why wasn't she here?

"Where's the receptionist?" I yelled over their cries.

"She went on her lunch break," one of the seventeen year old boys said. "We were here alone."

"Why the hell were you here alone? You're not supposed to be!" I was terrified for myself. Why are all these people getting hurt?

"No one was in the classroom but her, she came in early like she always does. When we all got here she was dead," he said, trying not to look as scared as he was.

"We need to get out of here," I said quickly. I counted heads and there turned out to be 22 students total.

"Shit," I whispered. "You can't all fit in my car!"

"I don't want to be next," one of the girls screamed, her sobs never letting up.

"Um," I tried to think of a way to keep all these kids safe. "Get outside, now!"

They all tried to squeeze through the door at once, all of them making it outside eventually. I turned around and counted again, making sure they were all here.

I was frantic to find something, anything. I was scared out of my mind. Turning left and right, I saw a vacant school bus parked down the road.

"Come on," I called, leading them over.

If I was going to need to steal a bus to keep everyone safe, then so be it.

Once everyone got in, I slammed the door shut, speeding down the road. I dialed 911, starting to cry myself. I explained the emergency and where Jennifer's body was, then hung up.

I pulled into my driveway, not knowing where else to go. "This um, this is my house," I said quietly to all the people on the bus, tearing staining their cheeks. "Come in."

They all had calmed down a little by now, but were still so shaken. I don't blame them though, they just saw one of their fellow classmates die.

I walked in through the front door with 22 teenagers behind me, Sharon immediately coming into view. "What the hell is going on?"

"You guys can take a seat on the couch," I called to the crowd. "Um, here." I handed my phone to one of them and grabbed my house phone from the kitchen. "You guys can start making phone calls to your parents. I'll write my address down so you can tell them where to pick you up."

They all nodded lifelessly, their worn out faces making my heart break.

Sharon instantly dragged me by the arm to another room, shutting the door behind us. "Why is your entire classroom of students now in your living room?" She hissed.

"One of the students got stabbed before they got there," I breathed out, my voice cracking in the process. "Something's going on Sharon. Something bad." I ran my fingers through my hair.

"What?!" She screamed. "Did you call the police?"

"Yes," I said, breathing heavy. "I-" I paused, trying not to break down in tears. "I don't know what to do anymore." I whispered, tears springing to my eyes.

She brought me into a hug, my phone going off loudly while doing so, making me jump.

I looked at her with a worried look, hitting the answer key with my thumb. "Hel-"

"I've decided I'm bringing you with me." Justin's voice flooded into my ears. "You don't have a choice."

I gave Sharon a look that said "I need privacy," and she caught on immediately, going to the living room to check on the kids.

"No way," I whispered. "Would I ever come anywhere near you again. Understand?"

"What? No, you don't get it-"

"I get it perfectly fine." I seethed. "Don't call again."

"You're not safe!"

"Stop saying that!" I yelled. "The only person I'm not safe with is you."

"What did you just say? You-" he stopped. "You don't feel safe with me?"

"You hit me," I whispered. "You hurt me-"

"I what? I hit you?" He sounded like the most hurt person in the world.

"Don't act like you don't remember," I said. "I think it's best if we never see each other again."

"Jess," he breathed. "I honestly don't remember hitting you. I'm- I'm so sorry." He couldn't believe his ears, his voice cracking.

"Why wouldn't you remember that?"

"I- I don't know." He was silent. "Oh my god."

"What? What?" My heart was about to beat out of my chest.

"You need to come over." He said bluntly. "Now."

"Why? What's going on?" I felt like passing out.

"Jessica?" Sharon called. "Come say goodbye to your students."

"I have to go," I said to Justin.

"Don't hang up. Jess, I'm so scared."

"I'll be over in an hour," I said frantically. "Stay there, okay?"

"Okay," he whispered, hanging up.

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NOTE:

WOW, WOW AND WOW. I AM EXTREMELY THRILLED FOR YOU TO KEEP READING HERE ON OUT. OMG OMG. SHITS ABOUT TO GO DOWN. anyway, here's your second "short" chapter. (lol this isn't short) but hey, you guys deserve it. that last chapter was hella short. please please PLEASE comment and tell me what you thought! i absolutely love hearing what you guys have to say.

twitter: @avonsshawtyy

next update: sunday, the 17th.