Truth or Dare (Ch. 11: Violation)

I slept well that night after I packed my bag.  No longer was I afraid that I would wake up and not have Jayden; he was with me, at least for now.
Again my alarm clock rang, awakening me to the day I knew I would dread.  It was the day I moved in with my dad for two weeks, and the day my mother left for New York.  I got dressed in a long denim skirt, black ballet flats, and a black and green plaid shirt.  My hair went up into a pony tail.
When I was ready I placed my suitcase on my bed, planning to pick it up after school.  I grabbed my phone and keys and headed down the stairs.
“Good morning, Mom,” I said, entering the kitchen and seeing my mom reading the newspaper.
“Good morning.  Are you all ready to go to your dad’s?” she asked.
“Yes, my bag is packed and upstairs on my bed.  I’ll swing by and get it later so that I don’t have to take it to school,” I explained.
“Okay.  Do you have plans with Jayden today?”
“Yes.  I’m going to his house tonight so I can meet his mom,” I answered.
“Did you ask your dad?”
“No.  He’ll deal with it, Mom.  I’m not going to let him trap me inside that stupid house for two whole weeks!” I said sternly.
“Okay.  Tell him I said it’s okay if he tries to stop you,” Mom offered.  She was being cool about it.  It was obvious that she trusted Jayden, or that she was just glad that I had a boyfriend.
“I will.  Have fun in New York and tell Cameron I said hi.”
“I will, Brie.  You behave and I’ll see you in two weeks,” she ordered.
“Okay, Mom.  Bye.”  I gave her a hug and left.
I got in my car and started it.  As I backed out into the street, my phone started to ring on the dashboard.  It was Natalya.
“Hey, girl, what’s up?” I answered.
“Hey.”  That was all she said.  She didn’t sound like she normally does.  I got worried.
“Nat?  What’s going on?  What’s wrong?” I pressed.
“Brie, while you’re driving to school, be careful,” she warned.
“Why?  What’s happening?” I got scared, her voice was shaking.
“I got followed to school today… by one of Lauren’s friends.  They followed me from my house to school.  What’s going on with you and Jayden?  Is everything okay?” she worried more.
“Yes, we’re amazing.  He met my mom last night, and she actually really likes him.  The only problem is Lauren trying to split us up, and I swear that Craig is definitely in on it.  But I don’t understand, why would they follow you?”
“I don’t know.  But be careful, Brie, I’m not letting you get hurt.  Jayden is here already, but I don’t know if he got followed or not.  But please, Brie, be alert,” she begged.  Natalya was really worried about this, about me.
“I will, Nat.  See you in a few minutes.  Don’t worry.”  With that I hung up my phone.
Why couldn’t Lauren just leave me alone?  And why did she involve Natalya?  I didn’t get it.  I was confused.
My ride to school was clear, and nobody followed me, at least that I saw.  Was it all a misunderstanding?  Maybe whoever it was that followed Natalya didn’t intentionally follow her, maybe they stayed down her street last night or something.  Nothing seemed to be making sense.
I pulled into the parking lot and saw Natalya’s car parked, next to her was Jayden’s, and then an open spot.  I pulled in between Jayden’s Porsche and the silver Volvo parked on the other side of the open space.  As I got out of the car, I noticed that parking in that spot was a mistake.  In the spot facing me was Lauren’s Corvette, and the Volvo next to me was Craig’s.  I was surrounded, and I froze.  They were both still in their cars.
My heart rate sped up faster than it ever had, and I looked around frantically for Jayden and Natalya.  Where were they?  I got out my phone and hurried to send a text.  “I need help.”  That’s all it said, and it was sent to both Jayden and Natalya.
“Put your phone away, sis,” Lauren’s snide voice said as she sauntered toward me.
“Why should I?” I snapped.
“Because right now, I control you,” she answered.
“I thought we went over this Lauren.  You don’t control me, you never have, you never will.  Get over  yourself,” I said with more confidence than I thought I had.
“I’ve got more strength than you, Brie.  Before you know it, that boyfriend of yours will be mine,” she chuckled.
“How do you have more strength than me?  And no, Jayden and I aren’t going to let you come between us.  He’s mine, sister, back off.”  I was angry, and my voice showed it quite clearly.
“You see, Brie, she doesn’t have the strength… I do,” another voice explained.  I turned around to face the other direction, and my heart stopped when I noticed it was Craig.
“You’re in on this,” I spat.  “I knew it!”
“Maybe you did, Brie, but you can’t control it now.  There’s nothing you can do,” he coolly explained as he began to get closer to me.  If it were possible for steam to come angrily out of my ears, I’d look like a train at that moment.
“I can do anything I put my mind to,” I stated.  “Don’t come any closer, Craig.”
“What are you going to do about it?” he quizzed as he moved even closer, he strides quickening until he was right up against me.
I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.  My hands began to shake.  Where was Jayden?  I needed him to help me.  Suddenly, I looked up at Craig’s face, and spat.
“You little…” he started, raising his hand to hit me.
“You touch her and you’ll be sorry,” I heard Jayden threaten behind me.
“Jayden, this doesn’t concern,” Lauren declared sweetly.  She moved over to his side and tried to grab his hand.  “He’s helping you and I be together.”
Jayden jerked his hand away from her and said, “Lauren, get real.  I don’t like you, at all.  I never will.”
Lauren glared.  “I can change your mind.”
“No, you can’t,” he promised.  Then he turned back towards Craig and I, where he was still trying to work up the courage to hit me.
Jayden and I made eye contact, and his eyes were furious.  “Craig, I said let go… now!”
“Fine,” Craig spat.  “But not before I do this…”  He dipped his head quickly and caught my lips in a forceful kiss, showing me no kindness or gentleness at all.
I started to move around, trying to force his body off of mine.  He had me pinned to my car, though, and his strength was more than me, I couldn’t get him off.  I went weak in his grasp trying to show him that I wasn’t interested, or enjoying his cute.  I felt as though I’d puke.
Suddenly I felt a force pull Craig’s body away from mine, and I opened my  eyes.  Jayden was in the middle of throwing a  punch.  He saved me; he was serious about hurting Craig if he ever touched me.
“Are you okay, babe?” Jayden asked as he approached me and took me into his arms.
“Yea, I’m fine.  Can we go?” I asked, wanting to get away from Craig, who was bleeding ruthlessly from the nose, and Lauren, who had an evil glare on her face as she ignored Craig’s need for help.
As we walked, Jayden just looked at me.  We got up to the court yard, and he pulled me to him.  “Brie, are you sure that you’re okay?” he asked wrapping me in his arms.
It wasn’t until he said these words that I noticed I was crying, tears streaming quickly in rivers down my cheeks.  “Just shocked and mad, that’s all.  When are they going to leave us alone?”
“I don’t know, Brie, I just don’t know.”  He was hurt as well, I could see it in his perfect eyes, he was mad that he couldn’t stop Craig from kissing me.  He used his thumbs and wiped away my tears.
He just held me tightly in his arms, not daring to let go.  We sat like that for a few minutes, until the bell rang demanding that we get to class.  “Are you ready?” he asked me.
“Yea, I guess so,” I looked into his eyes and smiled a thanks.
“Let’s go.”  Jayden took my hand and led me to English.
My first class passed slow, and I was dreading Algebra immensely.  Jayden could tell, too, because he wrote a note.  I felt the paper land on my desk, and I opened it quietly so Mr. Jameson wouldn’t notice.
Are you okay?
I guess.  I just really don’t want to see Lauren.
Then let’s ditch algebra.
Are you serious?  Do you know how much trouble I would be in?  Lauren would tell my dad.
then pretend to get sick.  You already look pale, brie, they’ll easily send you to the office.
Maybe I should.  It would get me away from Lauren.  But what would you do?
I’ll walk you to the nurse, then not go back.  Can you make it convincing that you don’t feel good?
Easily.  I’ll just tell Mr. Jones that I’m going to puke or something.
okay.  It should be all good then.  And brie?
Yah?
I’m sorry about this morning.
I must have cringed because he reached over and comforted me quickly before Mr. Jameson noticed.  My eyes met his and I let him know that it wasn’t his fault.  I folded the note and put it in my school bag so that the teacher wouldn’t see it on my desk and read it.
The bell rang and we got up to go to Algebra.  Once inside the classroom, Natalya looked at me concerned.  I must have been more pale than I thought I was.  My eye’s scanned the room nervously, and when I saw Lauren, memories of that morning flew into my mind.
I became instantly dizzy, and my body started to sway uncontrollably.  What was happening to me?  Suddenly everything went black, and the last thing I hear was Lauren laughing, and Natalya and Jayden shockingly exclaim, “Brie!”  I hit the floor.