Heir of Luna

~4~

The end of the day soon rolls around and I head down the steps with Issy and Ricky. We make it to the car park and split off different directions.

I begin walking down the path when Josiah steps in my way.

“Ready to tell me the truth about that bruise?” He asks solemnly, like he expects the answer I am about to give.

“No.” I step him around and continue walking.

He lets me go and I find my bike out from this morning. The ride back is uncomfortable now, the bruise irritated by today’s events. My body is also wound tight which isn’t helping.

As I pull up at home I see my father’s car is still out front. Thankfully it would seem he is not out drinking today.

I quietly step inside and walk into the kitchen. I manage to grab two slices of bread and a jar of peanut butter before climbing the stairs to my room. Once inside I slide the lock closed.

Then I pull out my phone and send Issy a text message.

‘Sorry, rain check on the sleepover? Homework is going to swamp me this weekend’

The bubbles appear as she types before the message pops up.

‘Deal. Josiah has ended up staying anyway this weekend.’

A swarm of guilt assaults me at the mention of Josiah. I feel terrible for lying to him and even more terrible for asking if he was ordering me to answer him. Josiah may be a pain in the ass most of the time but he does have good intentions. I will have to be more careful going forward, I need to distance myself more. Issy may be my best friend but she is also part of the Alpha family. In order to distance myself from one, I will have to distance myself from all.

-

By the time Sunday evening rolls around I have a bunch of missed calls on my phone. Both Issy and Josiah have been calling me relentlessly. Even Ricky tried calling me, I had to send him a text to explain I wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t meet to study. My stomach growls at the hunger pains again but I ignore it.

I stand from bed to refill my water when I catch my reflection in the mirror. The bruising around my eye is almost gone now. The bruising on my ribs is turning a greenish colour. A brick hitting my window makes me jump as I whirl toward it. Another brick hits my window.

I rush over and see Josiah standing on the ground below. I slide the window open and stick my head out the window.

“What are you doing?” I whisper yell to him.

He gestures, “move back.”

I stumble back away from the window and Josiah jumps. His hands grasping the window ledge before he pulls himself up. Once inside my room he slides the window shut. His eyes scrutinise me and I suddenly remember the fact I am wearing tight shorts and a sports bra. I turn and grab a hoodie before sliding it over my body.

“Don’t cover up on my account,” he says with a hint of a smirk in his voice.

I glare at him, “what are you doing here Josiah?”

He steps toward me, “you have been ignoring our calls all weekend. Last time I saw you, you had a massive bruise with no real explanation.” He reaches for my hand. “Plus you now have a black eye that is fading.” He gently tugs me toward him.

I allow Josiah to pull me close to his own body but I drop my eyes, I cannot stand the pity that will be in his eyes. “I‘m fine.”

His hand slides to the back of my neck and he rests his forehead against my own, “who hurt you Cleo?”

I slowly shake my head, unable to voice the refusal again.

A minute of silence passes, Josiah just holding me close to him. My heart thunders in my ears, is he debating whether to use his rank order on me? He lifts his forehead off mine but doesn’t move away, instead he tilts my face up so I have to look at him.

“Please, I can’t help you if I don’t know the problem.”

“I promise that if there is a problem you can help with, I will tell you.” The words come out in a whisper. “I also promise that I am fine.” I lean up on my toes, “but thank you for checking on me.” I lightly press my lips to his cheek before starting to pull away.

I barely touch my heels back to the floor before Josiah moves, i watch as he jumps out the window.