The next day...
Getting off the bus, I immediately noticed Ruben and Jesse standing with their group outside the front doors of the school. I could feel my body trembling, and I felt my heart pounding as I realized there was really no way around them. Unless I wanted to take the long way to my locker and take the side door. They were blocking my path, probably on purpose too, particularly considering what happened last night. I swallow air as I force my body to start walking toward the doors, toward them...
"Hey Makena, what are you doing? Come over here!" I stop and turn towards the parking lot, spotting Suri climbing out of Jake's bright yellow blazer. I smiled at her, feeling a sense of relief. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my heart. I take a deep breath as I approach her, watching Jake pull away to park the car. I smile and then tell her everything that happened the night before, and laugh as she looks over and stares daggers at him. She looks at me with a comforting smile, her eyes full of understanding. "It's okay, Makena. You don't have to worry, I'm here now."
Suri hugs me and Jake approaches us cautiously. She tells me to inform Jake as well, or she will do it for me. Therefore, I relayed all the information I just told her to him as well. As I informed him about how his knocking scared me, he decided he'd start walking me to all of my classes. He wanted to make sure nothing happened. "No one will touch you today. Not while I'm here. That jerk should be locked up or something. Jeesh, what is his problem anyway?" Jake's expression was serious as he spoke, and it was clear to me that he was determined to protect me. He wanted to make sure nothing like this happened again, and he wasn't going to let anyone harm me. His protectiveness gave me a sense of safety and assurance.
We walked together through the doors, so I didn't have to walk the long way around. Jake very carefully put himself between Jesse and me. I was extremely grateful to him. I knew he was only doing it to impress Suri. However, I would be an idiot not to accept his help. Jake liked Suri, and Suri liked Jake. But neither would make a move. If nothing changes soon I may have to take matters into my own hands.
Jake was true to his word, ensuring I got safely to and from all my classes. He was either waiting for me, or a guy from our group took me through the day after he told them an edited version of what happened. Jake was not only true to his word, but he also made sure to go the extra mile to make sure I was safe, demonstrating a true commitment to my safety.
After the last bell rang, I was exhausted as I left the gym. My last class was dance. I enjoyed dance so much that it was an excellent alternative to getting my PE credit. Jake wasn't waiting for me, and I didn't see anyone else there either. Jesse would be heading this way for football practice and I needed to get to my bus. As I rounded a corner I run into something stiff and almost fell backward onto my butt. I felt a hand grab my arm, keeping me upright. Upon looking up to see who I had run into, my breath caught as I realized I had run into Jesse. This was the very guy I had been avoiding all day. He smiled at me and said, "Oh hello, I was looking for you." I felt my heart flutter and I was suddenly speechless.
"I'm so sorry," I say quickly coming out of my daze, and then try to run away in the opposite direction. As I attempt to pull my hand away, he tightens his grip, holding me in place. My heart pounded, as I wiggled my arm trying to break free from his grip. But that only caused him to tighten his grip even more than before, and I glanced up and saw a devilish smile on his face. He leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Apologies won't help you now." I felt a chill run through my body and I knew I was in trouble. I had to find a way to get out of this situation.A gasp for air escapes my mouth as I inspect his face. The very thought of being here with him makes me want to run away.
"Jesse, please let me leave. I can't miss my bus!" I pleaded with him in a whisper. I didn't know what he would do after what happened last night. He stares at me with a dark expression that sends a chill down my spine. He remains silent, which only fuels my fear and dread. I know he won't let me leave, not now.
"Of course, we don't want you missing your bus, do we? Nope, it's not as if I own a car now do I?" He growled out, his friends who were standing around us laughing. He tightened his grip even more when I tried to wiggle free. He was hurting my arm, and if he kept on like this, there would be a bruise on it in an hour or so. His aggression towards me only made me more determined to leave, not wanting to be stuck in the same spot any longer.
"Please Jesse, I need to be on that bus!" I replied to him, grabbing his hand with my free one. Suddenly he grabbed it with his other hand, pulling it away roughly. Shoving me up against the wall, he kept me pressed there with both his hands and his muscular body. "What are you doing?" I screamed at him. He looked me in the eye, his expression unreadable.
"You're not going anywhere," he said firmly, his grip tightening.
"Please..." I whispered to him. A tear fell down my face.
"Oh, do I scare you Makena?" he asks looking into my eyes with a smirk, and I knew he was enjoying this. I glance around looking for a way out and notice everyone walking on just ignoring what he was doing to me. I was too scared to move and too scared to say anything. I felt like I was going to be sick I was so nervous. I was hoping someone would come to my rescue, but no one did.
"No," I try to lie to him, biting my lip against the urge to say anything else to him. I glance back at him, shaking my head. He didn't believe me, he stepped closer and I could feel his breath on my face. I wanted to scream but I was too scared to move. I felt like I was trapped and there was no way out.
"Then tell me, love. Why are you crying?" he asked sarcastically. Tears streamed down my face. I couldn't stop them even if I tried.
"Because I don't want this, Jesse please... let me go!" I admit to him. "This isn't what I want," I sob, feeling powerless and utterly defeated.
His lips curl slightly as he stares down at my face. "You know what, I'm not really giving you a choice here now, am I? Let me say this again: nothing will come between us. If ever you feel the need to get the cops involved and I do end up getting arrested and locked up, remember that when I get out I will be coming for you! Do I make myself clear here? You are mine and will always be mine!" he says, laughing out loud. As he begins to stroke my cheek, I flinch on impulse, not knowing what he was doing. I look into his eyes and I know he means every single word. I swallow hard, trying to keep my composure, and nod slowly. He smiles and grabs my hand, squeezing it tightly.
"Hey, what the hell are you doing to her? Let her go now!" Jake screamed out running up to Jesse and pulling him off of me. Jake glared at Jesse, his face full of rage. He then turned to me and asked if I was okay. I nodded silently, still shaken from the encounter. He then wraps a protective arm around my shoulders and begins to lead me away from Jesse.
"Remember what I said Makena, you're mine and you will always be mine!" he shouts at me, as Jake leads me away. If Jake hadn't shown up when he did, I couldn't help but wonder what might have transpired. As soon as we were out of earshot and beyond his prying gaze I was overcome with emotion and began to cry helplessly. Jake put his arm around me and gently told me that everything was going to be alright. I looked up at him in gratitude and he smiled reassuringly. I knew then that I was safe.
Jake pulls me in for a hug and whispers, "I am so sorry Makena. I asked Tiny to come and get you. When he failed to show up with you, I came looking and am glad that I did." After a short while, I felt another set of arms wrap around me. Glancing up I recognized her immediately. After all, she was my best friend. I hear Jake tell her what he saw, and immediately after she demands that I tell her everything. So I tell her what happened as I left dance class. She listened intently, her eyes widening as I spoke. When I was done, she hugged me tighter and told me that I was brave and strong. Then she promised that she would always be there for me, no matter what.
"That is crazy, Makena. He is crazy! I can't believe that he did that... he shouldn't get away with it." she declares, trying to convince me to press charges against him. Once we got to the bus lanes, we found them empty. Unfortunately, I missed my bus.
"I'll give you a ride home Makena." I hear Jake's offer, and I smile up at him and gladly accept it. As I climb into his yellow blazer, I hear a shout coming from the football field and I turn to see Jesse standing there watching me. He looked pissed as I shut the door. So what if I accepted a friend's offer to get me home? Jake put the car in drive and we drove off. I glanced back at Jesse and saw him still standing there, his fists clenched at his sides. I sighed, knowing that this was going to be a long night full of nightmares.