And my stupid ass brain tried to come up with answers to assure me that it wasn’t because they didn’t love me or didn’t want me.
Giving my head a shake, I get to my class where Sebastian waves at me. I give him a nod and slide into the chair that he's saved for me.
I want to keep Rose.
Not like an object, but asmy person.
Because when she’s next to me I can relax, knowing she’s safe.
No one will understand how much I used to worry about her — I still do — when I saw bruises and marks on her that weren’t an accident but inflicted upon. I spent hours, days and weeks trying to find the person who was the reason behind them.
Every day I got excited to see her at school, but also felt my stomach tied in knots when I’d see her sad eyes and the evidence of abuse.
It’d make me want to break the rules and just protect her.
This feeling has grown a million times.
It’s worse than before.
I don’t want to let go of her.
A pen taps against my temple and my chain of thoughts breaks. Turning my head, I find Sebastian studying me. “You okay?”
I nod.
“Everything good?”
I nod again.
He narrows his eyes. “Are you insane?”
I start nodding, then midway shake my head.
He slams his palm on the table. “I knew it! Your head is somewhere else.”
More likewithsomeone else.
“I’m fine, Sebastian,” I assure him.
“I didn’t ask that, Heath.”
We stare at each other for a few seconds and I feel like he can see everything just by looking at me.
“Trouble in paradise?” He arches an eyebrow. “From what Marie told me, you guys had an amazing time. Hope loved it.”
I know she did. It was written in the bright, beautiful, bold colors the way she smiled and looked at me.
“The date was perfect,” I say.
“Then, what’s the problem?”
My jaw ticks as the thought crosses my mind. “I met her mother this morning.”
His green eyes fill with surprise. “You’re kidding, right?”
I shake my head. “I went to her room to grab her stuff and she came in. It was almost like she knew I’d come.”
“Maybe she did. Mothers are freaky like that.” He shivers a little as if a distant memory revisits him.
