Addison

“Did you hear, Braxton’s back in town for the summer?” one more kid whispered animatedly to another, causing the terror that was already swarming in my stomach to go into overdrive. Braxton. Great…
The idea of having to hide in my room all summer long was not a pleasing one, especially since I would be in my first year of college after the lengthy vacation time. I wanted, no, I needed to be outdoors, soaking up as much Vitamin D as possible. I did not need the bane of my existence, Braxton, to re-enter my life, not after 2 years of being free of his torment.

Sinking inward and stroking my ginger hair subconsciously -a habit which started when I was a freshmen- I tried my hardest to pay attention to the principal’s final last words.
“…and I wish you well in the future. Congratulations, Class of 2013!”
We all did the notorious act of throwing our graduation caps into the air simultaneously to the sound of our family and friends cheering. Such a joyous and momentous occasion, we were all meant to feel elated; proud to have completed this chapter in our lives and moving onto the next.

Except me, that is.

Growing up, getting older, and having more responsibility. It was what I dreaded most in all my life. I could hardly get by with being a teenager, so what made people think I was ready to become an adult? It was as if watching people fail in life was a sport and I was the Olympic Gold medallist; the more hardship I went through, the more people paid attention to me.

Everyone dispersed, which left me alone and searching for my big brother who said he would try his best to make my graduation. But when I checked my phone, I found there to be a voicemail from him.
“Hey Addie! I’m so sorry, but something’s come up so I can’t make it to your school thing. I’ll see you some other time, bro. Love ya.”
Though I had tried not to get my hopes up when he agreed to attend the ceremony, my heart dropped when I heard his message. My parents definitely wouldn’t show their face at something that was to credit my accomplishments, and I had no one else except my brother.

I should really be immune to disappointment, what with the quantity I’ve experienced during my 18 years.

Deciding that I’d had enough, I walked out of the auditorium, pulling off my gown as I went. No one, as usual, took notice of me, so I exited the school in silence once I had collected my skateboard and backpack.
Racing out of the building and towards the parking lot, I said my final goodbye to the school; confidently giving it the bird, only to instantly regret the action when I spied a couple teachers staring at me. But it was while I continued on my way, performing an Ollie down the steps and narrowly missing a parked car, that I saw someone who could rival Adonis.

Slowing down to give myself more time to observe, I marvelled at the gorgeous male leaning against a Classic Mustang, wearing aviator sunglasses, a tight white tee and a pair of black skinny jeans. His arms and neck were canvases; bright, colourful art inked onto his skin.
His hair was black as night, styled and sexy. Of what I could see of his face, his expression was that of a stone, but he still looked edible.

Skating away as to not look like a total freak, I wondered who he was and why he was outside the school. Someone’s older brother? Friend? …boyfriend? Hopefully not the latter, even though someone like me would never win the attraction of someone like him.
Making my way down the street, cutting through alleyways and paths, I got home in only 15 minutes. Of course, no one was home. Dad was most likely in a bar with work colleagues, and mom would still be working or with her friends, avoiding spending time with me.

My parents and I, well, we didn’t get along very well. I hadn’t done anything, not that I know of anyway, to deserve their hatred and disappointment. The only thing I was good for was being my father’s punching bag and the person my mother could point her finger at.
My brother didn’t have to put up with this stuff when he lived here. It wasn’t as if he was the holy child who could do no wrong and would receive no punishment for the things he did. He just didn’t get punished to the extent that I did.

Once I had grabbed my backpack filled with my sketchpad and pencils, as well as some food, I left the house and made my way to my sanctuary; the park. It wasn’t anything special, just a vast field surrounded by grassy hills and trees with a kid’s play park and a skate park.
My refuge was under a specific large oak tree at the top of one of the mounds, looking out onto the rest of the park. It was where I could glance around me, smelling the fresh air infused with pollen, and be inspired to draw to my heart’s content. It was my safe haven.

***

I wasn’t really paying attention to what I was sketching; the music flowing through my headphones into my ears was distracting me in the best possible way. So when I took a moment to really look at what was portrayed on my sketchbook, I found there to be a familiar scene playing out which caused me to blush a little.
It was of the tall, dark and handsome guy who stood against his navy blue Mustang, a sexy smoulder on his face, giving nothing away.

It was then when I heard a rowdy uproar in the distance, causing me to divert my eyes to the source of the noise, panic immediately washed over me. It was a group of people from school, the ones who picked on me the most, who were the root of the commotion.
My heart began to race, my face going white. I didn’t want to be the target of their torture, not in my place of peace, but I didn’t really have a chance because as soon as I had glanced at the gang of tormenters, they spotted me.

I quickly repacked my bag, shoving everything in it without any order before standing up and attempting to make my getaway. But I was too late.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Michael snarled, shoving me back against the oak tree. I was soon surrounded by the majority of the gang, the rest were still making their way up the hill.
“I-I… I, um, I wasn’t g-going anywhere…”
“Liar,” he replied with a wicked smirk, pushing me harder against the tree, causing the others to snigger. This was just the beginning, I could tell.

One took my rucksack from me, another took my skateboard. They emptied the contents of my bag onto the ground, stepping on my things and ridiculing my sketches.
A second later, I cried out in pain, my breathing haggard and my body bent over. It took me a moment to register what had caused so much pain in my abdomen. I realised it was the result of someone striking my skateboard across my stomach, all to which made the group laugh.
I heard the sound of wood cracking and knew it was my beloved skateboard against the tree; the vibration ricocheting through its thick trunk.
“Oops, I think your board broke. It must have been really cheap like everything else you have.”

I rolled my eyes at the last comment. It wasn’t my fault my parents never spent money on me; they had their own lives to worry about. Everything I owned was bought out of my own pocket from all the weekend jobs I could manage to work.
It was when Jamie started searching through my sketchbook that things got worse. I expected to be mocked, as usual, but not mortified beyond words.
“Hey, Braxton, it looks like someone has an admirer!”

Braxton?! Crap.

I had completely forgotten that the leader of the Addison Attack Squad would be returning for the summer, let alone showing up so soon. My stomach dropped, my heart skipped, and everything else just crumbled into nothingness. This was just great!
I could see the group parting as the man himself walked up to me, taking my breath away and making my insides twist in turmoil. I wasn’t sure what scared me the most; the fact Braxton was here, in front of me, with his old gang, the ones who made my life a living hell, or the fact I was crushing on him right now only hours ago.

They all passed my sketchpad around, laughing and making fun of the detailed drawing while I felt Braxton staring at me. I was looking everywhere but at the people who surrounded me, embarrassment and fear consuming me.
“Braxton, look at it! How ridiculous is this guy?!”
To everyone‘s surprise, the older male didn’t find it amusing nor did he comment on the image. “Give him his sketchbook back,” Braxton’s deep, husky voice said. “Now.”

I peeked up at him in shock, expecting it to be a joke and for him to come out with something worse than what the rest said. Michael threw me my pad with a grunt before turning to the tattooed boy, glaring at him. One thing’s for sure; you don’t say no to Braxton.
“You can all leave now,” the handsome male declared with a stern look. They all submissively did as he asked, mumbling to each other in confusion, and leaving me alone with him.

“You should really stop being a fucking pussy and grow a pair. You’re such an easy target, Addison,” he snapped, startling me. Shaking his head, he put his sunglasses back on and turned to walk away.
“Thank you, B-Braxton,” I mumbled, trying my best to portray confidence.
Stopping, but not turning back around, he replied, “for what?”
“For getting those assholes to return my sketchbook…and, I guess, for making them leave me alone.”
Braxton turned and laughed coldly, “I just didn’t want those fuckers to ruin some good art, that‘s it. I guess I felt sorry for such a puny little thing like you.”
“Oh. Okay…”

With that, I stood up and dusted the dirt off my jeans then reached down to pick up my backpack, causing my sleeve to ride up, exposing my lower arm.
“What’s that?”
I shot my head up and pulled my sleeve down at the same time, looking anxiously at him. “What’s what?” yes, playing dumb would surely help…not.
“Tell me,” he demanded.

Fiddling with the hem of my sleeve, I kept my gaze towards the ground. I didn’t really want to get into this conversation, not with him, but he continued to push.
“Addison,” he said through grit teeth, obviously impatient.
“Umm…A couple years ago I was absent for like a month, not that you’d remember or have even notic-”
“October 16th to November 12th, right?” he interjected, surprising me with the exactness.
“…yeah, how did you…? Anyway, I, uh, I’d just had enough of everything so I…well, y’know…”

Turning his head away to the side, Braxton’s face still didn’t portray any emotion. I wasn’t sure if the discussion was over or not, but then he replied softly, his voice filled with some emotion that didn’t fit him. “Why?” he turned back to me, removing his sunglasses, “why did you do it?”
Gulping hard, I tried to shake off my nerves. “It’s not easy being the punching bag for everyone in your life. Going to school and getting bullied, coming home and…” I swallowed the lump in my throat, deciding not to continue for a minute. “It wears you down to the point where nothing seems worth living for. So yeah, I had just had enough of it all.” It was quiet for a while, my eyes downcast while I sensed Braxton staring at me.

Deciding I’d had enough, I broke the silence with trying to be bold. “Whatever. It’s not like you care or anything, what with you being the person who harassed me the most. You’re probably disappointed I failed at killing myself.”
“Don’t be a bitch, Addie, it doesn’t suit you.” Braxton snapped, sadness evident in his eyes which was a major shock. “I’m sorry, okay? For everything I’ve done. You didn’t deserve it…well, most of the time you didn’t. I was…I still am an asshole, that’s who I am and probably who I always will be, so get over it. And anyway, it’s your own fault for being so weak.”
“Excuse me?!” I gasped, utterly appalled at what he said, even though it was kind of true…

Braxton stepped towards me, his tall frame towering over my tiny one. I wasn’t sure what was going on, especially when he grabbed my wrist and pulled it towards his face, examining the scar. I tried to tug my arm away but he held a firm, yet gentle, grip.
“Addison, promise me you will never do this again,” he said, looking straight into my eyes, causing me to blush at the change of topic and the change of tone. But I wasn’t going to promise things without negotiating.
“Promise me you and your friends will never terrorize me again.”
“Fine, I promise,” he said with no hesitation. “Now you.”
“I promise.”

“You do realise I never meant to hurt you, I mean, not in that kind of way,”
“Oh, because making my life a living hell was meant to be fun for me,” I snapped, trying again to pull my hand back but he wouldn’t give. Instead, he placed a soft kiss on the scar, his lips warm and smooth which sent a shiver down my spine. If I wasn’t in pure shock before, I was in complete disbelief now.
“Wh-what are you d-doing?”
“You’re pretty cute, Addison. I should have probably told you that earlier but I guess I got sidetracked.”
I was blown away, but also kind of angry.

“You think telling me that I’m ‘pretty cute’ is going to make the past less painful? Wow, Braxton. You’re not only a monster, you’re an idiot.”
“Hey! I’m trying to do the right thing here, no need to get all bitchy with me. I just told you I like you and now you’re making me feel like shit. Who’s the monster now?” he growled, dropping my hand and looking at me sternly.
“Wha…Wh-why would I even believe you anyway?! This is probably one of your pranks to make a fool out of me, right? Of course it is! Why wouldn’t it be, I mean, it’s you. I’m not falling for it, Brax-” I was cut off by his lips crashing against mine, taking me completely off guard. I tried to push him away but he was a lot stronger than me so it was easy for him to hold my arms down by my sides.

I kept trying to reject him but his mouth was so delicious and his strength was making it harder not to give in to him. It wasn’t long before I relaxed and let his tongue slip past my lips and entangle with mine. His restraint eased off and his hands moved up my arms to my neck before he cupped my cheeks, kissing me deeper. It was all very confusing and strange and amazing. He irritated and hurt me but for some reason I just couldn’t say no.

When we parted, the both of us breathing heavily, he leaned his head against mine, our eyes gazing into one another’s.
“You’re even cuter when you’re pissed off,” he smirked, causing my cheeks to redden. I smacked his arm and pushed him away, needing to leave and clear my head.
“I have to go.”

He let me get my things and turn to leave before he spoke up. “I’ll pick you up at 7.”
I stopped, spun around and glared at him. “What? No. Why?”
“To hang out. Like a date type of thing,” Braxton grinned cheekily.
“Wh-what if I don’t want to go?”
“Addie, it wasn’t a question. Stop being a little bitch and do as you’re told.”
I couldn‘t help but roll my eyes, annoyed and, I guess, a little happy.
“You’re such a fucking asshole,” I stated with a slight smile, then turned to walk home and get ready for my unorthodox date.