Falling for bad

"Zen! Zen!!"I shout for my younger brother to wakeup. It is time for school and I don't want us to bump into dad. He gets real aggressive in the mornings. I hear Zen's cute little giggles "Not here Le." He giggles again.  "Come out Zen. Its time for day care." I urge him "I don't wanna go Le." I could literally hear his pouts.  "I promise you ice cream when I come back today." He immediately runs out from his hiding spot. " You promise?" He asks "Pinky promise" I put out my pinky finger. "OK Le." He smiles. Gosh he is cute. He runs to take his bath and dress up. He doesn't let me do those things for him anymore, claims he's *grown up*, he's literally six years old.  I use the opportunity and time that I have to get our things ready. I just hope dad is still asleep. I'm still healing from my previous scars.  The thing is ever since mum left, dad hasn't been the same. He although has always been aggressive but never with me. He was the reason mum left, he used to beat her. They were always yelling and then two weeks after she gave birth to Zen, she left, without a single word. Then dad started taking his anger out on me. He said I reminded him of mum do I'll take her place.  "Done Le." Zen pulls me out of my reverie.  Just as we were about to leave dad came down. "Stop right there Leah." I froze. Then told Zen to wait outside. "Where is breakfast?" He asked "Um....well... There isn't any." I stuttered "Why?" He yelled "I didnt have money to get one." I refused to look up at him. "Didn't i tell you to get a job." He roared "It's hard for a minor like to get one." I instantly replied. Mistake number one. "You are talking back to me now." He chuckled darkly "No..." Before i could find wish the statement my head jerked back and I felt a sting on my face.  He hit me again. "You were about to leave without serving me breakfast. I told you to get a job, I don't freaking care if you are a minor or not. Get one!" "I will try." I tried to hide my tears.  I felt a thick sticky substance trickle down my nose. I'm bleeding. I used the arm of my hoodie to clean my face. "Get out!!" He yelled I didnt need to be told twice before I scurried out of the house.     **********☪☪☪☪*********** "I'll come pick you up soon. Okay." I assure Zen "I know, 3pm." He smiles. Then his smile drops when he finally sees my face. "You are bleeding Le." He frowns " It's no big deal Zen. I'm fine." I try to smile, just to make him forget. Who the hell was I kidding, he might be six, but he is not stupid. Zen always notices all these things. He is the smartest six year old I know.  "He hit you again, didn't he?" Zen asks "Yes, but I promise, I'm fine." I peck his cheek. "I'll see you after school." "OK. Bye Le." He waves my off, the look of concern still on his face.  I puul up the hood of my sweater to cover my face, just got to school and I don't want anyone to recognize me. I have scars and because of that I cover myself all over. " Oh look, it's the church girl." Brittany, captain of the cheerleaders and a royal pain in my ass mocks. Her friends laugh. I ignore the comment and walk away. Obviously she is angry that she didn't get a reaction from me so she pulls me back and slams me against one of the lockers. "What? Too big now or what?" She slams me harder. I don't comment and neither did I fight back "b***h!" She spits out and her minions try to pull down my hood. "I'm sorry" I struggle with them. Being bullied is the worst, I try as much as possible to hide my scars. " Leave her alone Britt." The voice was thick, deep and sexy? But it also belonged to Axel Black. The most popular guy in school. "But Axe, she was getting what she deserved." She whinned child-like.  " What did she do?" He asked looking directly at me.  I avoided his gaze, praying to whoever is listening that he doesn't see the scars. "Well.........are you taking her side now Axey?" she pouted, changing the topic cuz shebknew she had no reason to gang up on me. "No, but just leave her alone. Come on, it's time for class." he looks at me one more time before pulling her away.  I stood there wondering why the hell Axel helped me. Normally he ususally just stood and ignored when Brittany and her squad humiliate me. I was so in my taughts that I didnt feel the blood tricking down my back quickly.  "Great!" I sighed when I noticed that she has opened a recent injury. It was in the healing process. I went to the girls bathroom till clean it up.There are no tools to clean it up so I hurry to class like that.  "Late, miss Reed" Mr Mandry the moment I walk into class. The class echo's with laughter. "Sorry sir." I whisper. "That's the thing Reed, you always come late without an excuse." he sighs I stand there quietly.  "Get to you seat" he finally permits. Something hits me on the way to my seat, then I hear giggles. Did I mention that I have this class with Brittany and her minions. And yeah also Axel. I ignore everything and head straight to the back seat. "Hey." someone says and that person was Axel.  I didn't realize I was seating beside him. I ignore him "You know it's rude to ignore someone that's trying to be nice." I could hear the smile in his voice. "Hey." I timidly whisper just to avoid him picking on me.  "Leah, right?" he asks. I nod. If Brittany sees me talking to Axel, I'm going to be in it for a beating. She believes Axel is for her, like he's some kind of toy or something. "Why do you always wear a hoodie?" he asks. I shake my head. "That's not an answer." he says. This time I do nothing. Maybe if I ignore him, he'll stop talking to me. But no, ignoring Axel gives him the chance to poke my sides. I try not to hiss at the fact they he is poking at my injuries. "Can you please stop that?" I groan, this time looking up at him. "Can you please answer my questions?" he smiles. He is so cute when he smiles. I quickly look away. "Looks like Mr Black and miss Reed have something so important that it couldn't wait to share to the class." Mr Mandry said. The entire class looked back at us, including Brittany. She glared at me. If looks could kill, I'd be a thousand feet in the ground.  "I. was just asking Leah here why she always wears a hoodie?" Axel smiled. The entire class laughed at that. Most of them were quietly agreeing with him. I gasped at his courage, though not a new thing, he never fails to amaze me.  "And that couldn't wait till after my class?" Mr Mandry asked. "It really couldn't." Axel replied. "Well how about this, why don't you take miss Reed to detention and ask her everything you want to know about her, while you are at it you can discuss your assignment because she's your partner." He pauses, "the assignment is: a written project explaining the nervous system. And mind you, you both need to contribute, I'll ask questions." Once again I caught Brittany's gaze. I'm so dead.  Why did you do that?" I asked Axel the moment we left the class.  "So it takes me getting us into detention for you to speak well to me?" he asks I don't rely. I just start walking ahead of him to detention class. I've never been there before. "Wait up partner." He chuckles. I ignore him, going ahead into the class. "So where should we meet for the assignment? My place or yours?" he asks "Don't worry, I'll do it and submit it. Just read on the topic." I say lowly. "There is no need for that, it's our assignment and in plan to put in equal effort." I think my statement made him angry. "Just because I play around doesn't mean I take my studies for granted." he snares. "I'm sorry." I whisper. He exhales, trying to clam himself I guess. The moment the bell rings he stands up heading out "catch you later princess." he winks.