Wanna Bet? Read online

  Pulling up in front of the dorms I notice

  Sophie’s car is in the car park, not ready to try walking again I pull out my phone and call her.

  “Hey Soph, are you in the dorm?”

  “Yeah, where are you”

  “I’m outside init he car park if you need a lift to the party?”

  “Umm yeah do you want to come up for ten minutes first, I know how you hate the long drive back, is Luke with you?”

  “Umm no, he couldn’t make it”

  “What?”

  “Katie broke her arm they were at the hospital this morning so he couldn’t come with me”

  “Umm ok, are you going to come up?”

  “No, I’ll just wait down here for you, if that’s ok?”

  “How bad is it?”

  “I don’t think I can handle the stairs”

  “Shit, we’ll be down now”

  “Who’s we?”

  “Just me and Matt”

  “Great, just be prepared when you come down Soph, It’s bad, I’m a bit of a mess”

  “Do you want me to stay in with you tonight?”

  Sighing I decline her offer and wince as I feel my lip.

  “See you in a minute” she hangs up. Holding my breath I chance a look in the mirror, cringing at how bad it looks, I start rubbing the dried blood from chin and the cut by my eye brow, I’m not brave enough to run a brush through my hair so I throw it up in a loose pony tail but the lump on the back of my head is unavoidable, I immediately pull my hair back down so it’s loose around my shoulders again, remembering the nail marks that are no doubt visible in my neck.

  My passenger door opens and Sophie leans in, I keep my head down and close my eyes silently willing myself to keep it together at least until I’m on my own.

  “Brooke look at me” My head snaps up at the sound of Matt’s voice, I look around but Sophie isn’t with him “I’m on my own” he informs me while running his gaze of every bump, scrape, cut and already forming bruise on my face, I don’t miss the way he winces when he sees my jaw that has already started to swell. “Anywhere else?” he asks looking as though he’s dreading the answer, I can only nod “Where?” he concern is my undoing and I feel a lone tear run down my cheep making me flinch when it touches the cup on my lip “My ribs, and left ankle” I whisper but know that he’s close enough to have heard. I watch as he sighs heavily and comes around to my door. He smiles at me and politely ignores the way I flinch away from him as he lifts me from the car and continues to carry me into the building and up the stairs to my room.

  “How is she? I ask as he sets me down on my feet and pulls my arm around his shoulders to help me walk as we get to the door

  “Worried” he says full of sympathy, I nod and take a deep breath as he opens the door and we enter the room, he helps me walk over to Sophie’s bed and sits me down. I manage to wince only once and hold back the groan as my ribs protest at the awkward position.

  “Brooke, what the hell were you thinking going alone?” Sophie demands as she sits next to me on the bed and brings a wet cloth to my face to wipe away any dried blood that I missed during my inspection in the car.

  I’m saved from answering her when my phone rings, already knowing who it is I prepare myself for the normal phone call I always get after my ‘visits’.

  “Hello”

  “Are you home yet?” My step dad hisses into the phone.

  “Yeah”

  “Who’s there?” he demands as usual.

  “Just me and Sophie no one else” I reply knowing that if he knew there were any men in my room, next time will be worse, I chance a glance around the room Matt turns away from me not before I catch a glimpse of the pure rage on his face.

  “Remember, you tell anyone…”

  “Yeah I know, I die” I finish for him.

  “Very well, see you soon, wear something nice next time, I have something a little different planned, something we have never done before, in fact wear a skirt” he laughs down the phone at me before he hangs up. I can only stare at the phone, he basically just told me in advance that he’s going to rape me, he has never even hinted at it before I don’t doubt for a second that he means it, I’m a little surprised it has taken this long but that doesn’t stop my stomach from turning. I somehow manage to throw myself off the bed and toward the bathroom where I make it just in time to empty my stomach in the toilet.

  A few minutes pass and I think I can hear Sophie crying softly but I can’t be sure because there is a slight ringing in my ears, Matt comes in hands me a glass of water and some tissue. I weakly smile my thanks to him and think that he’s going to leave but instead he closes the door and sits down next to me on the bathroom floor, I notice that he is careful to sit a small distance away from me and makes sure not to touch me, I can’t help the snort that escapes my mouth from thinking that just a few hours ago I was in a similar situation but yet completely different.

  “Any reason for your sudden need to loose whatever you have eaten?” he asks me softly.

  “I can’t go back there on my own, ever again” I say struggling for breath, belatedly I realise I’m crying.

  “Well I would have said that months ago”

  “No he told me to wear a skirt next time” I say between sobs as the reality of it hits me.

  “He didn’t … today did he?” he asks stiffening slightly.

  My body shakes with the sobs that come when I realise how I only narrowly escaped that fate today, If he is thinking it then there is no reason why he didn’t do it today.

  “That son of a bitch!” Matt shouts next to me making me jump.

  “No, no not today, he said next time” I rush to tell him when I realise he took my silence for the wrong answer.

  “Damn it Brooke there isn’t going to be a next time” he sighs “why didn’t you call me? I would have come with you, I told you this yesterday” he says more softly and seemingly has his temper controlled.

  “I didn’t want to bother you, I knew you had plans to go to the party, which your missing by the way, you should get a move on, you’re already late” he just stares at me looking at a loss for words.

  “Could you help me up please?” I ask him softly seemingly bringing him out of his trance. Once he has set me down on my own bed I clear my throat getting their combined attention. “I think you should both leave now, I have kept you from your party long enough, if you could help me down the stairs I’ll give you all a ride over there” I announce.

  “No, we’ll stay” Sophie says softy making her way over to my bed and gingerly putting her arm around me.

  “No, I would really like to be on my own … honestly I can deal with it better that way, I’m probably just going to go to sleep after I’ve iced my jaw”

  I’m woken up by the sounds of someone opening and closing drawers and cupboards in our little kitchenette. I pull my eyes open and frown at the sight of a topless Tucker moving around in my kitchen muttering “coffee” to himself.

  “In the freezer” I say amused as he drops a cup at the sound of my voice.

  He spins around to face me smiling sheepishly “Morning, sorry I didn’t mean to wake you”.

  I throw my legs over the side of my bed and gingerly stand to test my ankle. There’s only a little pain so I limp my way over to him.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask moving around him to start the process of making coffee.

  “Umm ... Matt and Sophie took my room last night, his room mate had a few guys over and you were here so they kicked me out and sent me here” He explains as he watches me pour the coffee beans into the machine.

  “Can’t you just use the stuff from a jar?” He asks and laughs at the look I send him.

  “Not is you want a decent cup of coffee” I sigh bending over to inhale the scent as coffee drips down into the pot.

  “You’re crazy” he laughs at me.

  “No, I just like coffee” I return getting two mugs down and pouring us bot
h a cup before taking a seat at the table.

  He sits opposite me and frowns at me.

  “What?” I ask warily.

  “What happened to your jaw?”

  I lift my hand up to touch it and although it’s not swollen it’s sore so I’m guessing from the way he winces when I do that I have a bruise on it. “Slipped in the bathroom caught it on the tub”

  “Ouch”

  “I didn’t keep you up last night did I?” I ask trying to keep my expression blank as I remember all the nights I’ve kept Sophie up screaming and shouting from my nightmares.

  “Umm ... no why? You was asleep when I came in” he replies watching me curiously.

  “No reason, I usually keep Sophie up most of the night that’s all”

  “I’m a light sleeper and slept right through so you must have been quiet” he smirks at me.

  I feel my jaw drop open as what he’s implying I was doing finally registers in my brain and glare at him.

  I’m completely caught off guard when he raises his hand towards me I watch wide eyed as it comes closer and before I can stop it I flinch away from him just has his hand comes up next to my face.

  He quickly pulls his hand away and his eyebrows pull in together. I turn my attention to my coffee when I am no longer able to bare his questioning eyes.

  A few minutes of silence pass and I hear him sigh.

  “You didn’t slip in the bathroom did you?” He asks quietly.

  “I did” I reply sternly not looking up from cup.

  “Brooke…”

  “I’m going to take a shower” I cut him off and push away from the table.

  When I come out of the bathroom the room is empty, I rush through getting dressed and dry my hair. Making another cup of coffee I settle down into a full day of studying for a test I have on Monday.

  Chapter Two

  “What’s he staring at?” Sophie whispers in my ear. I look and over to where she is glaring at someone.

  I shrug. “He’s in one of my classes” I smile over to Jason and he gets up to start heading our way. “Oh shit” I whisper to her and watch as Jason takes the seat next to me.

  “Hi Brooke” he says smiling at me.

  “Hey” I smile back not sure what he’s doing because we have only spoken a few words to each other since we met at the beginning of the year.

  “I was thinking it would be good if we went out sometime” he says taking me off guard.

  “Umm…”

  “I know we haven’t really spoken but I’d really like the chance to get to know you”

  I’m aware that he is waiting for me to say something but I just there staring at him. Sophie pokes me in the side.

  “Uh yeah, sure” I say quickly.

  “Great, we’ll arrange in next class” he smiles getting up and tapping the top of the chair he’s just vacated before walking off again as quick as he came.

  “Well that was interesting” Sophie says to herself.

  “Umm … no that was bizarre” I correct.

  “Not really, everyone thought you were gay but after hearing Tucker spent the night in our room it’s been decided that you are straight just shy” she tells me as if this is common knowledge.

  “Oh my god” I groan and start hitting my head on the table.

  “What’s up?” I hear Matt say from somewhere above me but continue my head banging.

  “Jason Hunter just asked Brooke out” Sophie explains.

  “Really?” he asks not sounding that surprised “Are you going?”

  “No wonder she’s always covered in bruises if she does stuff like this” I hear Tucker say besides me, I lift my head to see him watching me curiously and Matt and Sophie quickly look down at their food.

  “How do people know you spent the night in my room?” I ask ignoring his comment.

  “Uhh .. people saw me leave … don’t worry everyone knows nothing happened” he assures me confidently.

  “How?” I ask not sure I want to know the answer.

  “Because I’m talking to you now and you haven’t hit me yet” he says as if it’s obvious.

  “That can change” I smile innocently at him making him chuckle softly.

  “I’m glad we decided be friends”

  “Where was I when we had this discussion because I don’t remember agreeing to any such thing” I frown at him.

  “When you say friends, do you mean …” Matt asks Tucker but eyes me curiously.

  “No. But that’s a good idea” Tucker watches me for a second.

  “What’s a good idea?” I ask worried now.

  “Why don’t we do the whole friends with benefits thing?” he asks seriously.

  “Because I don’t think I’d enjoy having the benefits you give me removed” I answer back not missing a beat.

  “Just friends it is then” he says not perturbed and starts eating his lunch.

  “You two are weird” Sophie sighs watching us, Matt nods in agreement.

  “I’ve got to go, I got a date to arrange apparently” I stand up from the table picking up my coffee.

  “What date?” Tucker asks looking up at me from his plate. I shrug and walk away as Sophie starts explaining the Jason situation to him.

  When I walk into English a few people nod at me, I manage to hide my surprise and smile weakly back at them, normally I manage to slip in to my classes unnoticed. I slump down into my usual chair and gather my things from my bag, when I look back up Jason is sliding into the chair next to me, the one that Tucker sat in last Friday.

  “Long time no see” I smile shyly at him.

  “Yeah … was it random me approaching you like that?” he asks with a shy smile of his own.

  “Just a bit, normally people just leave me alone”

  “But you don’t mind me asking you out?” he checks, I shake my head at him. “Great can I have your phone so I can program my number into it please?”

  I pass him my phone and catch Tucker watching us.

  “Was there anything in particular you wanted to do on our date?” Jason asks mindlessly while he taps things out on my phone.

  I’m unable to answer him when our conversation gets cut short by the lecture beginning. I rip out a piece of paper from my notebook and scribble a note on it for him to see.

  No what did you have in mind?

  He leans over to read it then writes his reply, we carry on our conversation on paper.

  Dinner, movie, bowling, coffee, golf?

  Golf? I look up and raise an eyebrow at him, he just shrugs grinning. Dinner’s fine.

  It’s date then, Tonight?.

  “Mr Hunter, is there something interesting going on up there?” We both look up when the lecturer calls Jason.

  “No sir, just helping Brooke with her notes” he replies easily.

  “Well Miss Daniels maybe you should consider taking one of Mr Hunter’s tutoring sessions if you’re having problems” he raises an eyebrow at me.

  “Of course” I reply sinking into my chair to avoid everyone eyes that are now on me.

  You’re a tutor? I quickly write

  Yeah, extra credit, need help keeping up? He’s smirking at me now. I roll my eyes at him and slip the paper back in my notebook to start paying attention to class.

  * * *

  “How was it? Where did you go? What’s he like? Did he kiss you?” Sophie doesn’t even wait for me to close the door before she throws her questions at me bouncing on her bed excitedly.

  “Good, FB’s, sweet, yes” I answer all her questions stripping my jacket and collapsing on my bed while she screams and claps her hands together. “Oh my god” I groan and pull a pillow over my head to block her out.

  “Aww come on Brooke, I’ve known you nearly three years now and I’ve never been able to do the whole girly date run down with you before” I look up from my pillow to catch her pouting at me.

  “Fine you can question me on the way”

  She freezes at the subject change “Whe
re are we going?”

  “Wear something pretty” I wink and get up to grab my suitcase from under the bed, she claps when she notices the dress I’ve selected.

  * * *

  We meet Matt outside the old gym where he hands us our tickets. The old building is full and we have to push our way through to the bar. We make our way through the crowds and Sophie guides us to the front, getting us as close to the cage as possible. This isn’t the first fight we’ve been to so we both know that as soon as it’s over we’ve got to make a quick exit unless we want a few bruises of our own. The lights dim as one corner of the cage is lit up by a spotlight, illuminating the first contender. He isn’t one I’ve seen before but he looks mean and fast. His opponent however is Matt’s friend Jack. The fight starts quickly and is over just as quick when Jack knocks him out in the second round. We make our quick exit, meeting back up with Matt outside.

  ***

  “Oh god, I’m starving but I can’t stomach food yet” I grumble collecting my coffee and handing one to Sophie.

  “Tell me about it” She whispers back wincing slightly.

  “What the hell happened to you two?” Matt asks when we take our seats at our usual table.

  “Shh, don’t shout” Sophie says.

  “You’re hung over?” he asks us both when we wince he lowers his voice “I thought you had a date Brooke?”

  “I did, but we went out when I got back” I tell him barely above a whisper.

  “Anyone told you that you both look like shit?” Tucker informs us cheerily as he joins us, he put his hands up in front of him when we both glare at him “Okay, never mind”