Misfits - Chapter 5 (Patreon)

What are normal symptoms for women as they get ready for their day? I find myself grazing this question nearly everyday of my life. They may fuss about their hair being tangled, not enough time for makeup, morning breath occasionally, trying to shave because they decided to wear a skirt at the last minute. Little things like that, women take for granted. I would give anything to worry about what I was going to wear to school.

But no. I wasn’t granted that luxury. I had to worry about covering bruises on my face, burns on my arms, scratches in places that just weren’t normal. I open the compactor as I stand in front of my mirror getting ready for my day. Tears of frustration were beginning to surface. The makeup I used to cover everything on my body was.. empty. I had been using more than usual the past few days because the bruises were larger than normal and in more places than one.

The bruising under my eye was getting worse, and my eye was turning every color as of late. Right now it had settled on a sickly purplish color, and it hurt like hell. I head in my room and to my dismay my gauze was gone too. The burns on my arms were beginning to swell up into blisters. I’ve had to change the gauze more frequently and I was all out. Today was just not my day. I settle on wearing a jacket to cover the blisters and some old sunglasses to cover my eye. I didn’t want people poking around and asking questions.

Three days have passed since Callums departure. Each night he made it a point to send me a message that made me smile before I went to bed. He even called me during the day, because I had no idea how to text. I mean, I could, but it was very stressful and I took forever doing it. Imagine never owning a phone in your life, and then getting one that’s the newest they have out there. You’d be having trouble too.

I can’t lie, I missed Callum. I hadn’t realized it at the time, but he was my reprieve from all the stress I was having between school and home. It was nice having someone so carefree around me. Or just someone in general that was a new face and that was so kind to me.

I keep trying to tell myself that I don’t need to get involved with this man, but I couldn’t fight the way I was beginning feeling about him. He was so kind to me. Probably the only kind person I had ever encountered. But he was a distraction. I couldn’t get distracted. If I slipped up, my scholarship and my chances at a better life would be taken away from me. I would be stuck here forever, and become just another statistic. That couldn’t happen.

* * * * * 

I sat in the back of all my classrooms. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself, and that plan failed miserably. All my professors noticed my change of seating, and the students were looking at me like I was crazy because I kept my sunglasses on. But I owed no one an explanation.

Bitterness consumed me the whole day. The way people looked at me, judging me when they had no idea what I was going through. They were the lucky ones. And I was unlucky. Sometimes I catch myself wondering if it’s even worth it anymore. Why do I try?

Class is finally dismissed and I sprint out the door. The last thing I wanted was to be held behind and asked to remove my glasses. As soon as I exit the building, my footsteps falter. Callum is standing directly in front of me, leaning against the columns. I don’t know whether to feel happy or scared as hell.

He’s wearing a black jacket and dark jeans that hug his frame perfectly. Women walking past him were looking at him with big googly eyes, but he refused to acknowledge anyone. He has one foot propped behind him on the column, and a single red rose is in his hands. He’s sniffing it with his eyes trained forward.

My palms were sweating once again. I couldn’t run and hide even if I wanted. He had mentioned nothing about being back today. Callum must have some kind of 6th sense where he knew when I was near. His head turns slowly and his eyes immediately meet mine. His eyes narrow in confusion and he raises his eyebrow at me. He smoothly pushes himself off of the column and begins walking towards me, his gaze unwavering.

He’s standing in front of me and I can smell the scent I’ve come so accustomed to. The scent of and some kind of masculine scent mingled together with a deep spicy scent. He bends slightly handing me the rose.

“Hey princess, I missed you.” 

He gives me the sexiest smile I have ever witnessed and I feel my jaw slightly dropping at the sight of it.

“H-hi...,” I say dumbly, not knowing what else to say. He laughs and stands at his full height, giving me a curious glance.

“So, did you have fun while I was gone?” His tone is joking, but there is an underlying current that sounds almost.. sinister.

“What?” I ask in confusion. I hadn’t the slightest idea what he was talking about. He crosses his arms over his chest and motions to his eyes, then I realize what he’s talking about. My sunglasses.

“Oh! No... I just stayed home, came to school,” I give a nervous laugh. He doesn’t look like he’s buying it in the least. He leans into my personal space.

“Well I know I’d only wear sunglasses for one of two reasons in the classroom. If my eyes were dilated, or if I was hungover. And you’ve said nothing about an eye appointment, princess,” he says. 

His eyes are narrowing at me, seeming like he’s trying to burn a hole in me.

After a moment he seems to give up. Standing tall and shrugging.

“You hungry?” he asks. I shake my head.

“No, I stopped and got something to eat on the way to school.” He laughs at me. Laughs! When his amusement subsides his eyes meet mine in a challenging way.

“You’re lying, princess,” he says it with such certainty, I can’t help but wonder how the hell he knew.

He turns away from me walking in what I’m assuming is the direction of his car.

“Come on, I’ll feed you,” he says over his shoulder as if expecting me to follow. I breath a sigh of relief that he didn’t push me for answers. I had no excuses this time. How do you fall that hard to black out your eye and burn yourself? Highly unlikely.

We reach the parking lot and Callum is continuing to walk, but I don’t see his car anywhere. He continues walking towards a silver Aston Martin. I slow my walk as he walks around to the passenger side, pulling the door open for me and watching me expectantly.

I’m still shocked though. This was a 200,000 dollar car. And Callum didn’t even go to college.

“Whose car is this?” I ask in confusion. He scoffs at me rolling his eyes.

“Mine,” he says simply.

“I thought you had a mustang?” I ask. He only shrugs.

“What is it you do again?” I ask.

“Deal with people,” he says simply. Not bothering to offer me anymore than that as an answer.

“And what does that mean, exactly,” I ask not letting it go this time.

“Means, I deal with people princess. You getting in the car, or not?” He says. I slowly walk towards the car. I’m about to get in when my sunglasses are yanked off of my face. I turn immediately in the direction that they were taken, completely forgetting why I was wearing them in the first place as I start to panic.

“What the fuck?!” Callums harsh tone causes me to flinch. Callums furious gaze is staring at my face. I immediately try and look away, shielding my face but he catches my cheeks in between his fingers forcing me to face him.

“Rue, what the hell happened to your face?” he’s shouting.

“Shhh, please, I don’t want people to notice,” I beg him. He stares at me in disbelief.

“You don’t want people to notice? Rue you fucking have a black eye!” His stance becomes rigid as he tenses in anger.

“Who did this?” I shiver from the venom in his tone. I try and look away but he grabs my chin between his fingers.

“Rue. Who did this?” I bite down on my jaw, refusing to answer. Callum looked ready to kill someone.

“Who’s hitting you, Rue.”

“No one! Ok?” I rack my brain quickly for an excuse.

“I was playing baseball this weekend and I missed the catch, it hit me in the face.” I give a nervous laugh but Callums gaze doesn’t waver.

“You’re a shitty liar.” He growls. I can feel myself shaking from his tone.

“Don’t you lie to me. Who did this.” Tears fill my vision.

“Please, Callum.. just let it go.” I duck under his arm trying to run away but his reflexes are too fast. He grabs my arm touching the burns and I hiss in pain wrenching my arm from his grip. He watches me in shock.

“Rue, what the hell is going on with you?” I cradle my arms to my body looking at my feet. My shoes were so worn, they were dirty and holes were beginning to wear in the soles of them.

“I told you, nothing Callum, no one did this to me. I’m just a clumsy girl.” I try and blink back the tears but they are too heavy and fall. This was embarrassing. All my hard work had gone to shit because of him and his highly tuned skills

I don’t even hear him walk to me. I see his arms gently place themselves on shoulders. I look up into those flame colored irises, but Callums face has a sympathetic look to it.

“Hey. You don’t wanna talk about it, we won’t talk about it. ok?” He slowly brushes a knuckle up the side of my face. I feel him pulling my body in for an embrace and I don’t fight it. His arms slowly wrap around my body and I revel in the feel of his warm body around mine. No one has touched me so gently before since my mother died.

Callums warm embrace causes more tears to surface and I cry even harder burying my face into his chest. I feel his hand on my head as he pulls me in closer.