The Iceking's Obsession

Chapter Twelve

He watches as I eat and his eyes never leave mine till I'm done. Even though it seemed like he was focusing on me, he finished his piece faster than I did. I drink water and thank him again.

"Zoey has been writing your notes for you."

I blink repeatedly, trying to understand what he said. Who's Zoey? Oh! Oh my! Zoey?

"She knows I'm here?"

"Everyone in school knows, but you're new and Xander's...well... Untouchable. That's why they're not flocking in here"

"Xander's nice. He's not untouchable." I don't know why I'm defending Xander but he's in no place to call someone untouchable.

"You don't know him."

"Know who? I know Xander better than I know you. And you aren't even in the position to tell me who I know."

He keeps quiet and goes to sit on the sofa by the entrance. He pulls out a bag I didn't notice and brings out a sketchpad. Then he starts to draw. He doesn't look up. He just keeps drawing. His eyes are focused on the pad and he still doesn't look up when the nurse comes in to check on me.

Okay, these nurses probably know I'm fine. My leg just hurts like hell even know I'm on painkillers and my sides hurt a little too. But none of these pains compare to the confusion I feel right now. The Noah I used to know would never give up because I snapped at him, he was stubborn, fierce even. But right now, he simply stood up and did something I've never seen him do. Retreat.

"I'm..." I don't know whether it's right to apologise but I was right anyway. Noah is not in anyway the right person to tell me who to trust or hang out with. He's just a modern day Judas anyway, just a terribly good looking version and he didn't get money for his betrayal, he got satisfaction.

He stands up and heads over to me. Then he shows me the drawing. It's a picture of someone I've seen before. It's very familiar but my brain is probably too messed up at the moment to remember who she was. She stood at the entrance to a room, holding flowers.

I look up at Noah. "I don't understand" because I truly was confused. Why did he draw this after I snapped at him. Who's this woman?

"I said I'd stay away from you and watch you from afar, that was all I asked for. I'm sorry if I'm breaking my promise now. I just can't bear it anymore."

I feel... Anger? Sadness? Why was he bringing this up now?

"This woman is Aunt Brenda" he said and takes the pad from my hands and looks at her again. Then he strokes the picture with his thumb and sighs.

"Aunt Brenda? Your aunt? Microwaved Mac and cheese?" I laugh at the last part. Of course I remember Aunt Brenda.

***

Two Years Ago

February.

"Get out! Now!"

The man laughs and then his gaze hardens. Mom is going to be mad but I don't care. I'm cradling a bat and I'm not afraid to use it on this dog. Not after what he just did.

It was the most natural thing in the world for me to walk in and find a man sprawled half naked on our couch but this evening, it didn't go like it used to. I was supposed to go quietly to my room like the good girl that I was and let mom "enjoy"

But this dude with hair on his back, oh God! Mom really has no taste, decided to hit on me.

"Little slut. Your mom's out. I could use you for the meantime till she's back from the store."

I kept hoping I didn't hear him right. None of her dogs, yes I call them dogs, has ever been this rude to me. We do a perfect job of pretending like the other one doesn't exist.

"Playing hard to get?" The ugly dude says and starts to approach me. I want to run and lock myself away in my room but my anger got the better of me. So I'm here, holding a bat, swearing at a man twice my age in nothing but his briefs.

"And if I don't?"

"I suppose you're not blind."

He laughs again. "You'll what? Beat me up?"

"I promise you your face will never see daylight again." I threatened and he inches closer.

"Oh I'm scared." He mocks and tries to get the bat from me. I swing it fast and it hits him square in the face. I don't get to celebrate because he didn't stop to wince or grab his broken nose, instead he grabs me by the waist and tries to lift me. I press my weight down and kick him in the shin with my boots. If I scream, someone will come. I don't know how long I can keep this guy from not hurting me so I know I have to escape.

The kicks to the shin wasn't stopping so his grin on my waist released. Before I could say Jack, he slapped me hard across the face. I fell to the floor from the impact and my vision blurred. I made sure my grip on the bat didn't lose. I couldn't risk getting a taste of my own medicine from this man.

He drags me up roughly and starts to nibble on my shoulder blade. I want to puke. I want to cry. I want my mom. But she's four blocks away in the store, battling with her grocery choices while I was about to be r***d by a monster. I was going to lose my virginity to a pig and mom won't even bat an eyelid.

I don't know where the energy came from but I know I channeled it all into my left knee and hit him hard in the groin. He groans and let go of me, I run.

I push the door open and realize it's already dark. I run without direction. The nearest police station was a cab ride away and I didn't have cash on me. So I kept running, he was limping behind me and I was getting tired. He was getting nearer.

I don't see the oncoming car till it's inches away from my face. I wave frantically and call for help. Then a woman came out of the car and starts to ask me questions. I don't hear anything, I only notice that he's stopped chasing after me. I smile and everything goes blank.