"Only when I'm nervous."
"Why do I make you nervous?"
"You don't." I lied.
"Now you're contradicting yourself Muffin. You told me you only do it when your nervous so why are you nervous?"
"Don't call me Muffin."
"I like Muffin, Muffin suits you."
I scowl, looking up for the first time to show him the effect his pet name has on me.
"I hate it."
"What would you prefer I call you?"
He's looking at me intensely, eyes sparkling in my direction. Moments pass and I feel the air grow thick between us as we silently stare at one another from one end of the classroom to the other.
"Emily?" I finally whisper, clearing my throat. I want my voice to sound confident but it fails miserably.
"Emily is what everyone else calls you."
"It's kind of my name."
"No, I'll stick with Muffin. It's cute, like you."
I shake my head, my lips twitching up into a smile. Jake sits back and grins widely at me, looking like he's won the argument. I look at him from under my lashes and when I do, his eyes narrow and the smile on his face vanishes. My heart begins to pick up pace as I watch his features turn to stone.
He swings his legs off the table and begins to walk slowly towards me, like a predator after it's prey. My heart hammered against my chest as he crouches down, his piercing blue eyes staring straight into mine. His head is tilted slightly and his eyes appear emotionless, miles away from the playful glint in them previously. His alluring scent hit me and I could feel my head spin, throwing me off balance.
I swallow nervously, my gaze flickering back up to his eyes. They are so beautiful. Dark and mysterious, with a story to tell. Swirls of blue mixed in with his eyes and I find myself feeling lost in them, almost as if I'm in a dream induced daze. My breathing hitches as Jake inches a little closer.
"Where did you get that bruise?"
His voice is blunt, snapping me straight out of the daze I'm in. Disappointment settles inside my stomach. Oh right, the bruise.
"Emily, where did you get the bruise?" He repeats, growing impatient. I stare straight back at him and without hesitation, reply in a bored, monotone voice —
"I'm clumsy, I fell down some steps yesterday."
Jake studies me for a second, a deep frown on his face.
"You're lying to me."
I immediately felt a lump lodge itself inside my throat, restricting me from being able to defend myself.
"I'm not lying." I whisper.
A look of hurt flashes through his eyes before he stands up, walking away from me and towards the door. He swings it open but before he leaves, he turns around and stares straight into my eyes.
“Bullshit." Jake calls me out, his voice low. He doesn't wait for me to reply and pulls his hood over his head, disappearing from the doorway. He leaves me alone in the room, my heart hammering against my chest.
That's when his words dawn on me.
He's the first person to know I'm lying.
Chapter Seven - Numb.
I stop off at the local chemist after college and look around the shelves for something to ease the pain in my stomach. I desperately need something to numb the agony. I'm still dressed in Jake's clothes, my own still damp inside my bag.
"Can I help you?" A voice asks, directing the question at me. I snap out of my little daze and turn to face a worker in her early forties, smiling at me.
"Yes please. My brother is a boxer and he's in pain with his stomach. I wondered if you had anything to help him?" I lie, knowing I'm babbling way too much. I can't help it, I'm a crappy liar.
"Has he been treated professionally?" She asks me, frowning a little. My eyes widen at her question and I feel my heart pick up pace.
"Y-yes but he's also been recommended to take painkillers, strong ones," I mumble quietly, staring at the floor.
"Follow me," she responds politely, disappearing down an aisle. I breathe a sigh of relief, following her in the same direction she disappeared.
"Tell him to take these three times a day after food. They are strong painkillers so no more than three," she informed me strictly. I nodded and thanked her, paid for the tablets and left the chemist. Once I was outside and around the corner, I immediately swallowed two without water.
"Please help me," I whisper, shuffling myself in the direction of home.
*****
I'm halfway up the stairs when Trevor stops me, slurring his words once again.
"What the fuck are you wearing?" He yells up the stairs. I turn slowly, feeling exhausted from the day. Much to my dismay, my heart begins to pick up speed in fear.
Trevor is stood at the bottom of the stairs in his pyjamas even though it's the afternoon. Slob. I can feel him glaring straight at me, eyes burning holes through mine. He was clearly growing impatient, his foot tapping against the floor.
"It was raining this morning so I changed into some dry clothes," I explain myself quietly, signalling at Jake's clothes. I turn back around, wanting to escape to my room as soon as I could.
"You filthy slut. You disgust me."
Filthy slut?
"What did you just call me?" I ask, turning back around and narrowing my eyes at him.
"You're a filthy slut. Do you let every boy have a go on you in school?" He snaps back, his eyes flashing with hatred for me. I don't miss the smirk that grew on his lips as he tore me down with his words.
I immediately feel my chest tighten with anger.
My fists clench by my sides and I
