Chapter 1:
The illuminating light glowing from the computer screen shown brightly as a guy sat behind it in the dark room. His fingers were moving as quick as lightning as he typed the words. This was it. This was his chance to let go of the hurt he felt because of his father. This was his chance to poor his heart out to her.
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Jaz: I walked into the apartment and instantly realized that something was wrong. Wade wasn’t playing his guitar, so I called out his name but heard nothing. I walked into our bedroom, and there he was starring at the computer, his fists were so tight that I could see the whites of his knuckles. I tried to back out of the room without him knowing, but he spoke. "What is this?" he said darkly. I tried to sound curious and upbeat so I said, "What is what baby?" He turned and said "Don’t you lie to me you little whore!" Then he lurched at me. He pinned me against the wall i tried to catch my breath but i was drowning until that first blow. Then the second...then black...just like always I had escaped into the black and tried to stay there as long as possible because there I was happy, there I was free, and there I had my mom and dad again.
I woke up to the alarm clock going off...my whole body was stiff from the night before. Wade, of course, was no where to be found. I jumped into the shower trying my best not to look in the mirror but I knew I had to. I put my make up on to cover the bruises and headed back to the place where I had first met Wade.
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I began to walk past her locker, I guess I didn’t know what I was expecting. But I really didn’t want this. As soon as I approached Wade grabbed her arm and jerked her away just as the bell was ringing. Her poor angelic face was covered in bruises, she had obviously tried to cover it with make up but I could see right through it. I wanted to reach out…to touch her…to tell her that she was safe now…that I would never let him hurt her again. But I just kept on walking to class, at least she would be in there, why did I have to be so stupid to think that she would ever like someone like me? She could have anyone but she chose him and now look at her. The once strong, beautiful, bright gray-eyed girl I had once known was now broken down, black and blue, scared to the bone, and never ever looked someone in the eyes again. Her eyes were no longer bright and beautiful, now they were always dull and brimming with tears.
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Wade: I couldn't believe after everything I've told her she would even think of cheating on me, I mean after everything that I had done for her and now look it is getting thrown back in my face. Last night she wouldn’t tell me who it was because she suddenly had amnesia but I have to find out so I can kick the dudes butt and get her back on my side. I walked into the band room and saw Marc. I walked over to him and the other guys and said “Hey what’s up man?” Marc turned and said “Dude what’s wrong? You look totally pissed.” I smiled and said through clenched teeth “I think my girl is cheating on me.” Marc said “Dude how do you know?” I pulled out the printed letter. He read it and said “Dude what we gunna do bout this?” I looked down and said “I don’t know she wont tell me who it is.” Marc said “Well, why don’t you trace the email…it will lead you straight to the person.” The light bulb suddenly turned to on in my head.
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Jaz: I walked into History class only to find my ex best friend sitting in the seat behind mine. It wasn't unusual but the look on her face had worried written all over it. I wondered what was going through her mind as I took my seat, but the pain that shuttered through my arm threw my thoughts back to Wade... what could be going on in his mind? What had happened last night? Normally if Wade was mad he would give me a reason like not making up the bed or looking at a guy at lunch. But last night was totally different. He was in a complete rage and never told me why. Normally he screams the reason at me but he just kept asking who was it. What did I do to deserve this? I laid my head on my desk even though my muscles screamed in protest.
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Cabel: After seeing the beaten and bruised Jasmine, my sister threw me a worried look. I watched as Jaz laid her head down hesitantly. I knew she was in pain but how could I help her? After the bell rang she started putting her books away. I walked over to her desk and said “Hey are you ok?” Just then Wade walked through the door and said “What the hell is taking you so long?” She looked up at me with those sad beautiful eyes and replied to him “Nothing sweetie, just getting my books.” He grabbed the back of her jacket and pulled her through the door. I didn’t see her the rest of the day, even though we have all of the same classes.
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Jaz: Poor Cabel I know that he was only trying to be nice but he should have known better by now. I got into Wade’s car and asked “Why are we leaving early?” He grabbed my hair and said “Because I don’t want queer boy messing with my girl and besides you look like you need a day off.” He let go of my hair as he pulled out of the student parking lot. My head began to throb but I held back the tears because I knew that if a single one fell, things would only get worse. When we arrived at the apartment he pushed me through the door and into the kitchen. He kept saying “So you want him over me eh?” I tried to say “Who?” But he grabbed my throat so that I couldn’t talk. He said “I don’t want to hear your excuses anymore!”
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Wade: I had to teach her discipline. If I didn’t then she would run wild like my mother had and she would have had a child at 15. But I saved her. I showed her what it was like to feel love for the first time and dammit I am going to be the last time. After a few more hits she was finally unconscious. So I left her in the kitchen floor, grabbed my car keys, and the torn piece of notebook paper with the directions on how to get to Marc’s uncles place.
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Jaz: I felt something hard and cold against my face, I tried to open my eyes but my head was on fire. I blinked a few times and as my vision cleared I remembered that I was in the kitchen. I got up and went to the bathroom…my face was worse that usual but instead of putting make up on I grabbed my jacket and left. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go but I knew I had to go. Then I saw the pier 12 fair. My dad used to take us there all the time when we were kids, and now that was the only place I wanted to be.
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Cabel: Sitting here on this pier makes no sense, but I still sit here anyway. I look at all these happy people and wonder why can't it be that way for me. I glance up and there she is. Wait oh my God! Did he try to kill her this time?
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Jaz: The ferries wheel has always been my favorite ride. When I was little my dad told me that the when the ferries wheel stops at the top you became invincible. Nothing could stop you. That’s how I wanted to feel right now. I wanted to just get away from it all. As I went to board the man stopped me and said “Ma’am you need a partner to ride.” Just as I went to say something, someone behind me said “I will be her riding partner.” I turned and saw Cabel standing there. I smiled lightly and said “Thanks.”
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Cabel: God! Her face looks so pain stricken, why does she let him do this to her? As we sat down I watched the way she sat down and could tell that the pain was in more than just her face. She spoke softly and said “Do you remember how my dad used to say that when you were at the top of a ferries wheel, you were at the top of the world and that nothing could get you?” I looked over to her and said “Yea I do. Jaz what happened to you?”
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Jaz: “I guess it was just bad timing?” I lied hoping that he wouldn’t press for anymore details. He lifted his hand and brushed the hair away from my face. I could feel his fingers tracing the edge of the fresh bruise and I knew that I couldn’t keep lying any more. As we got closer to the top I felt the tears pushing upward. Once the ride stopped at the top I broke down and said “He hit me for no reason this time. Normally it is my fault, but this time he just does it like I’m supposed to know why…” The tears finally spilled out. He put his arm around me and kept saying “It is never your fault. You deserve better Jaz! Why do you let him do this? When did it start?” I looked away and said “A few nights ago he was looking at the computer and then he just went ballistic and kept asking me who?” I felt him stiffen up but he softly said “You have got to get out of there.” The ride stopped and I said “Oh yea, where do I go Cabel? I don’t have a home anymore…?”
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Cabel: I looked back at her and said “You could go back to your aunt’s house? That is where your sister still lives. You don’t have to put up with this.” She glared at me and said “Oh yea, go back so I can take someone else out of her life? I’m the reason she doesn’t have a mother or a father. It was my fault they died that night! I was driving too fast and ran the stop sign…you know the rest. For that, all I do deserve is Wade and his beatings.” As soon as the ride stopped she ran off back toward the town. What could I do?
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Wade: "Your results will be here in a few days. We'll give you a call when we get something," said Marc’s uncle James. As I headed home I thought about earlier, I knew she would be there when I got back but I knew I couldn’t lose my cool again. Not yet. I had to win her back. When I walked into the apartment she was sitting at the kitchen table wiping her tears away. I walked over to her and sat beside her. She tried to pretend that she wasn’t crying but I put her hands in my hands and said “Baby you know that I love you and that I didn’t mean what happened earlier.” She looked up at me and said “I know you didn’t sweetie. I did something and made you mad. I’m sorry.” I smiled to myself thinking yea you apologize for your punishments. When you know that I know what is really going on. “I’m sorry too baby. Do you forgive me?” I said as sweetly as I could manage. I pulled her into my arms and thought this is how it should be.
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Jaz: He held me tightly just like he used to before all this started. It was nice to be in his arms again, but I couldn’t help but to think about Cabel. His reaction at the fair was so odd, but how was I supposed to know what normal with him really was? I hadn’t talked to him or his twin sister, my ex best friend, since I had gotten together with Wade. I really had no choice in that matter though. It was either move get together with Wade, or make my sister suffer for the rest of her life. I couldn’t do that, not to her. I stifled a sniffle as Wade pulled away just enough to see my face. “I’ve got some stuff to do before the show tonight, so I’m going to head to the bar. You should stay here, you look like hell,” Wade said as he pushed my hair behind my ear revealing his handy work.
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Cabel: “I am so worried about Jaz, I mean did you see that bruise she had today in class?” said Belle . She might have been my twin sister and we might not always agree but she hit this nail right on the head. “I saw her today.” I said slowly not sure if I wanted to have this talk just yet. “Where at?” She looked up suddenly. I tried to think of just the right words to say, “She was at the fair…on the ferries wheel.” Belle looked up in shock and said “I thought she said she would never go there again?” I waited a moment and said “She did. But she was there tonight and she looked worse than she did at school.” “I wonder what happened to her?” She questioned. Then as if a light bulb went off inside her head she said “I bet Wade did it to her! I bet he has been doing this the whole time! Why hasn’t she told anybody?” I looked at her then quietly said “She told me.”
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Wade: “BEEP. BEEP.. BEEP…” I slammed my hand down hard on the alarm clock. School time, crap. I felt Jaz get up and head for the bath room. I laid there a few more minutes before finally getting up. I walked over to the computer and decided to check her email again but it was empty. I decided to go on and get dressed because I knew she would be ready soon and I didn’t want to give her a chance to get on the computer, even though she wouldn’t be able to since I changed all of the passwords. I am a genius. Maybe if she can’t talk to him she will come to her senses. I heard the shower turn off so I headed to the kitchen for some frosted flakes.
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Jaz: As we got into the car I noticed that my muscles were still sore but not as bad as I thought they would be. I couldn’t get Cabel out of my head. He thought that I could just go back to my aunts house and face my sister, but I couldn’t. Everything was my fault. The flash backs hit me like waves against rocks. The truck, me in the middle, mom beside me telling me to quit kicking the dash board because we weren’t going to the fair. Dad promising to take me that weekend. Then I saw the other headlights, they were so pretty but I realized they weren’t headlights. It was the lights out in front of the pier! Dad went to turn on another road but I grabbed the steering wheel to turn us back. I didn’t see the 18 wheeler truck in the other lane. Mom and Dad were killed instantly, I walked out with a broken arm and a few lacerations. Mom’s body took the impact away from mine. That night kept flashing over and over until I realized that we were pulling into the school.
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Wade: What did I do to her now? The entire way to school she acted like a zombie staring out of the window. She better not have been thinking about him because as soon as I find out who he is I will crush that precious dream of hers. “Baby are you ok?” I asked sweetly. She looked up kind of startled and said “Yea, I’m fine.” We got out of the car and I walked her to her locker, and then to her history class where Cabel and his dorky sister were waiting.
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Cabel: Seeing him near her kills me. After telling my sister everything that happened last night one thing just kept bugging me…the fact that the first time it happened she ran to me, and last night she just ran away. Probably because she thought I would run away again and leave her alone. But I am not going to leave her alone with him ever again. She deserves better. I hope my sister’s plan works.
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Jaz: “Jaz you will be partnered with May Belle.” said Mr. Belkov said. I took the slip of paper with our assignment on it. Great. We had to research the Medieval time period and plot the events that lead to it. I turned just as Belle had finished reading her slip. She smiled and said “So when do you want to get started?” I smiled slightly, leave it to Belle to get started as soon as possible and not even know the due date yet. “How about this afternoon?” I said knowing that Wade had some new gig in the east side of town. She smiled even bigger and said “Sounds great. We will meet at 4 at the library, do you need a ride?” I thought for a minute and then said “No, thank you. But I will be there at 4.” I turned around to listen to the rest of the teachers instructions, but I could feel that old fear starting to ball up at the base of my throat.
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Wade: “Babe I’m going to my new gig. I will be home around 10. Don’t wait up for me.” I said. What better time to catch her than when she is dreaming about the stupid guy? I walked out to my car and headed to James house. When I arrived he took me to the back part of his house where all of the computers were. He handed me an envelope and said “Here is the address.” “Address?” I questioned. He smiled and said “Firewalls can protect names and phone numbers but they can’t protect the address that the computer is located at. And might I add that who ever it is he is really good at computers.” I looked up and said “How do you know?” He smiled and said “We ran into so many damned fire walls and trap doors. This guy definetly knows his way around security.” I got into the car and pulled the paper out. I knew the street, it wasn’t too far from here. I decided to drive out there and see who’s house it was. Why did technology have to make things difficult?
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Cabel: One thing I hated more than being forced to work for my dad was the walk to the stupid warehouse. Our house wasn’t too far from it but the thing stunk and was a total mess. Unlike my dad I liked to be organized while he just had stacks of junk everywhere. I opened the door and headed inside. At least I was alone so I could think about my sisters plan. Then as I walked into my office, which unlike the rest of the warehouse was perfectly neat, I noticed headlights pass through the window. It would be one thing if I was at the front of the warehouse but I was at the back where no cars were supposed to be after 9. I ducked down to peak out of the window. Then I saw Wade getting out of the car! I locked the office door and hid behind the wall that covered my desk.
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Jaz: Since Wade was gone I headed to the library to meet Belle. I knew that it was going to be awkward since I hadn’t talked to her in forever. Though it wasn’t all of my fault I guess I could have found ways around Wade. But I didn’t and now here I am about to go in and do an entire project with her that I knew would take more than just one trip to the library. I walked into the door and saw her sitting in the corner already working up a storm. I sat down and said “Sorry I’m late.” She smiled and said “Your not late I was just way early.” I looked at the books and the notes she had already taken and knew that she must have started right after school.
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Wade: Getting in here was pretty easy I just credit carded my way through the lock on the back door. As the lock clicked into place I walked in like I owned the place. I knew this warehouse, it was a computer company but how many computers did they actually have hooked up?
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Jaz: After taking some notes I noticed that Belle was no longer writing or even reading. She was staring at me, like she was studying me under a magnifying glass. I looked up and said “So are you done?” She smiled and said “For now. But I was wondering if I could talk to you about something?” I hesitated knowing what the question was going to be. I mean after all her brother had asked me the same thing last night. She continued “What has happened to you?” I smiled and said “Nothing, why do you ask?” She leaned in closer as if to make herself clear “You come to school covered in bruises, you never look anyone in the eyes, you never talk to anyone anymore, you always look so, so, so depressed like you are slowly dying inside.” My mouth kind of hung in awe. Belle had never been this straight forward, she was always the quiet one.
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Cabel: I could hear him down stairs, I remembered that I had forgotten to reset the alarm when I came in. Instead of being worried about my self, I was worried about Jaz. What he would do to her if he found out it was me. I didn’t care what happened to me I just wanted her to be safe.
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Jaz: I tried to think of some way to explain it but I knew Belle would see right through it. I had never been able to lie to her, why start now. I stood up and said “I’m sorry but I’m late for an appointment.” As I turned to leave Belle said “You know you can tell me Jaz. Please tell someone. You don’t deserve this.” Before walking out I whispered back “Yes I do.”
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Wade: I looked around for a few minutes and then I saw a room labeled “The computer Lab” I walked into it and the blood began to boil. There had to be at least 50 computers in here! I didn’t know where to start or even which one it was, even thought James had given me the IB code I didn’t know what the hell to look for. I picked up a loose two-by-four off of the floor and began swinging at everything in sight. I could feel the glass raining down around me but I just couldn’t quit. I had to make sure he never got in touch with her again. Maybe if his boss finds out what he really did on his computer he will get fired?
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Cabel: The first loud bang I heard I thought that maybe he punched a wall? But as they continued and grew louder and louder I realized that he was in the computer lab right below my office. I thought about calling 911 but I didn’t want him to know anyone was in here. After the 4th loud smash I changed my mind. I called 911 and told them who I was and told them that someone had broken into the warehouse and was damaging our computers. They said that they would send cars out right away. What they didn’t know is that they would probably have a body on their hands if he thought about coming up stairs.
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Jaz: When I got home Wade was still gone. I decided to check my email but the computer wouldn’t let me log on. So I just shut it back down and got in the shower. When I got out I fixed a pizza and began watching a movie, around 11 o’clock I got the phone call.
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Wade: I must have set the stupid alarm off and that is how the police got here so quick. I couldn’t believe that the email had come from a computer warehouse. Just then a tall police officer knocked on the jail bars and said “You get one phone call punk.” I snatched the phone from him and called Jaz. She sounded worried but I told her that it was all a big misunderstanding and that I would be home sometime tomorrow, probably while she was still at school. After I got off of the phone with her I laid my head back on to the tiny little pillow and tried to rest. All I could think about is how this guy would have the perfect opportunity to talk to her tomorrow while I’m not there to protect her. Didn’t she see that all I was trying to do was keep her safe? And yet she went to another guy for comfort and emotion and all that stupid gushy crap. Hell, I could be gushy if I wanted to but I preferred to be in control and not all love struck. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her.
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Cabel: “Wade is in jail” I told Belle. She smiled and said “Perfect, the only thing is that Jaz doesn’t trust me. She wouldn’t even talk to me today about that, she just got up and left.” I sat there my mind reeling after the long night I had. Then I had an idea. “What if I go over there right now and ask her to skip school with me. I will take her to the fair and stuff and see if she will talk to me?” I asked. My sister thought about it for a minute before saying “Nah, that would be stalkerish you going in the middle of the night. What about skipping lunch and you take her to that restaurant she used to love?” I thought about the idea and the more I thought about it the better it sounded.
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Jaz: For the first time in 3 years I was home alone. I didn’t know what to do so I decided to get some well needed rest after taking a super long bath that I knew Wade would have disapproved of. I went to bed dreaming of my baby sister for the first time in forever. It was the day that mom and dad had taken us to the beach for no reason other than to just go. My sister and I were making sand castles and playing in the ocean. That day was perfect and for the first time I didn’t wake up crying, I woke up happy and wishing I could go back to that day.
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Cabel: I walked up to her after history class unsure of how to ask so I just asked “Hey do you want to go grab a bite to eat down at Sammy’s?” She smiled at me and said “Yes, I haven’t been there in forever. But I have to be back at school before 3.” I smiled even though I knew why she had to be back I was happy that she was going. We walked out to my motorcycle. I gave her the extra helmet, which I had brought along just for this, and we headed off to the beach.
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Jaz: Sammy’s used to be my mom and dads restaurant. Dad used to tell us that when they were in college mom was the best cook and she dreamed of owning her own restaurant and that he dreamed of owning one. So for their wedding he bought her Sammy’s but he had one condition, that he got to pick the name. He used her nickname but still it was sweet and romantic. We loved playing in that restaurant. There was a small attic upstairs that mom had turned into a playroom for us, she even let us decorate it with crayons. I smiled thinking about these moments. For the first time in forever I wasn’t scared, I was happy being lost in the moments.
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Cabel: Through my leather jacket I could feel the soft weight of her small delicate arms as the gripped my waist tightly. I could feel the way her body leaned against mine and in this moment everything was perfect. When we arrived to Sammy’s she hopped off first and I helped her take the helmet off, my hand brushed lightly against her jawbone. I thought I saw her shutter a little bit but her cheeks were red, so maybe that was a good sign? We walked into Sammy’s and sat down at her favorite booth. The one at the very back that had the biggest window in front of the ocean.
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Wade: I decided to head to the beach for the day while I was waiting for Jaz to get out of school. And that is when I saw the bike. It passed by me while I was walking from my car to the pier. I could have sworn Jaz was on the back of it but it couldn’t be her. She would never disobey me like that. Just to double check though I followed them to this little restaurant beside the pier. I walked down towards the end of the pier so that I could see inside. Sure enough I saw Jaz with queer boy Cabel. I felt my temperature rising with every moment passed between them. First I saw her smile a smile that she had never given me, and then she playfully hit his shoulder in a sort of flirty way. I saw him place his hand over hers on the table, and I also saw the look of comfort in her eyes. It made me crazy! I was definitely not going to stand for it, but I couldn't make my move here. So, I headed towards the school to wait for her. She would get what was coming to her, and I couldn't wait!
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Jaz: I couldn’t believe I was actually sitting here at the old restaurant with Cabel. I kept glancing up at him while I was reading the menu. I couldn’t help but notice the cute way his hair fell in front of his eyes while he was reading. He looked up and I smiled and said “Are you ready to order?” He smiled back and said “Yea, I’m starving.” I laughed. Wait did I just laugh? Is that what laughing feels like? I haven’t laughed in so long but it felt so good to laugh.
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Cabel: I didn’t realize that her hand was on the table when I put my arm down. But when I felt her hand underneath mine I looked up at her and she smiled, I went to move my hand but she said “Don’t. Your hand is warm, and it is a little chilly in here.” I instantly took off my jacket and draped it over her before laying my hand back down onto hers. We started talking about the good times, like when her sister and her tried to draw a mural on the attic wall upstairs. And like the time she stayed endless nights with my sister and while I was napping by the pool they decided to push my chair into the pool. It was great to see her laugh again. I thought for a minute though that I saw that old spark of life in her eyes again.
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Jaz: I never wanted this day to end. Everything had been so perfect, here with Cabel. It was almost as if wade never walked into my life. Cabel smiled a crooked grin that sent shivers up my spin as he helped me fasten the helmet His fingers lingered on my jaw bone once again, but this time it wasn't weird. This time is was just Cabel, and for a moment I could almost imagine what life would have been like with Cabel instead of wade. We climbed onto the motor cycle and the rumble of the engine starting flowed through me as I wrapped my arms around him. I knew deep down that this is were I wanted, no, needed to be. This was where I belonged, but I just didn't know how to get away from Wade.
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Wade: Those idiots think that they’re smart by getting here right at 2:45. They didn’t even see me sitting here as they passed by. I saw them get off the bike and run back into the school holding hands like they were meant for each other. But they weren’t. She was made for me and I am going to keep her. Just wait until that bell rings, she will realize how much of a mistake today was…
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Jaz: We decided to hide out in the library until the bell rang. I couldn’t believe everything that had happened today. We sat in the middle of an isle just looking at each other. The librarian didn’t see us come in and we wanted to keep it that way. He took my hand and held it up against his face. Then he closed his eyes, I then in turn took his hand and laid it across my heart. I wanted him to know that though Wade had hurt me countless times, I was still alive and that soon I would be free. Just then the bell rang and just like that our afternoon ended. Before parting our separate ways he leaned in and kissed me so softly and so sweetly unlike Wades rough sloppy kisses. Cabel disappeared into the crowd and I headed outside to wait on Wade.
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Wade: Here she comes, acting like she is so innocent. I couldn’t wait to get her home and show her how I felt about her today. As she got into the car I asked “So how was school without me?” She smiled at me and said “Almost unbearable baby.” I smiled back, I knew that she thought she had gotten away with it but boy was she wrong.
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Cabel: Oh no here comes Belle. I am still trying to figure today out, I don’t need her to analyze it right now. She walked up and said “So?” I looked at her and said “So what?” “How did today go? Did she open up to you?” she questioned. I looked up towards Wade’s exiting car and said “No.” She looked stunned and said “Well why not?” I looked down as I crunk the motorcycle back up and said “Because I didn’t ask her to.” I took off leaving Belle in the dust, I knew that she would be mad but I didn’t care I had too much to think about already. I decided that the last place I wanted to go was home so I went for a long drive, I didn’t know where to go I just knew that I didn’t want to stop. I couldn't stop because I knew if I stopped that somehow that meant that today was over, and if today was over then it might be the last time I get to spend the after noon with the most amazing girl in the world. I drove towards the pier because I knew that the bright lights and the children's laughter would remind me of our childhood. The time before Wade, when everything was perfect. I just couldn't stop praying that nothing happened before she had the chance to change and get away from him.
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Jaz: I couldn’t put my finger on it but for some reason the way Wade’s eyes fell on me I felt dirty. Like I had been working all day in a sewer. So when we got home I decided to take a shower so I said “Babe last night I didn’t sleep a wink with out you here to protect me, so I’m going to go take a quick shower and then catch a nap before dinner. Do you feel like ordering pizza? I bet prison was awful.” He smiled up at me and said “Sure baby, anything for you.” That was weird I thought but I walked into the bathroom and turned the water on, the truth was I slept better last night that I had in ages. I just wanted time to think about Cabel. So what had today meant? I could almost feel his kiss still lingering on my lips, and the way his fingers brushed my jawbone gave me chills again just thinking about it. Maybe he and Belle were right? Maybe I do deserve better than Wade? But I would never be good enough for Cabel no matter what he thinks about me. Or maybe, just maybe he is the one I am supposed to be with. Just then there was a knock on the bathroom door! I quickly wet my hair, took off my clothes, and wrapped a towel around me. It was Wade he said that he was going to pick up the pizza and that he would be right back.
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Wade: I climbed into the car with a grin on my face. I felt like I was getting soft because I hadn’t done anything to her yet, but maybe waiting for the right time was even better. I thought of going to the hardware store and buying something that would help her understand what she had done, but that thought just seemed too wimpy. A real guy wouldn’t have to use a weapon on dirt like her, but the point was that she is my dirt and no one else’s. He didn’t have the right to touch her like that, hell, he didn’t even have the right to look at her. The more I thought about that queer the more I wanted to kill him, but I wouldn’t because he would suffer just as much as she would without me laying a hand on her. I stopped by the pizza place, and I picked up the scalding hot cheese pizza and grinned widely thinking about how she’d like it. She would, as soon as I got home, know the hurt that I felt at the sight of seeing them together, and then she couldn’t possibly leave me.
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Jaz: I was nearly half asleep when I heard the door open. I knew it was just Wade, so I didn't bother moving for the moment, that was until I felt a hand around my ankle. At first the hand rubbed my ankle so I tried to move it and playfully slapped at Wade’s hand. Then he gripped it so tightly that the blood no longer flowed to it. “So you think that you can betray me and me not find out?” He said as his hand gripped tighter. I sat up and said “Wade, please, you are hurting me.” He smiled devilishly and said “Oh, you think this hurts?” Then he yanked me out of the bed, my head crashed onto the hardwood floor. My vision was blurry for a moment, then he hit me so hard that I heard my nose break. Instead of slipping into oblivion something inside me woke up. I grabbed at his throat, my nails slicing through his unblemished skin. He picked me up by my hair and drug me into the kitchen where the fresh pizza laid on the counter. I tried to stand up but he kept kicking my feet out from up under me. He slammed my head down onto the counter, I felt the hot blood escaping through my skin. It was as if the blood was running from him like I should be doing. I grabbed one of the kitchen knives and stabbed it into his leg. He screamed in horror then hit me again and again until I passed out.
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Wade: That little whore stabbed me with a knife and thinks she can get away with it. I picked her body up and slammed her against the wall, she was no longer conscious but she was about to be. I took the hot iron poker I had been warming up and stuck it to her skin. I watched as she instantly woke up screaming. I liked the way the iron made her skin move out of the way for my mark. Then I picked her pretty little head up and slammed it down again hoping that this time she would stay asleep.
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Jaz: My skin still burned where he stuck the hot iron rod. I kept my eyes closed until I knew he had turned around. I jumped up at that moment and gripped his neck as tightly as I could. But he was too strong he pulled me over his shoulder and I landed on the coffee table. I tried to get up but he kept holding me down. I bit down on one of his arms while drawing blood he screamed. While he was stunned at the ice pick I had in my hand he also didn’t realize that I had gotten close enough to the phone. I dialed the only number I could think of but then Wade was beside me. He slammed the phone into the wall breaking it into a thousand little pieces he grabbed my neck and threw me into the wall. I slid down the wall slowly sinking into oblivion.
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Wade: That little piece of dirt thought that he would come and save her like a knight on his white horse. What she didn’t know is that while she is down for the count I would be waiting on him to arrive just so she could watch him die.
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Cabel: I arrive at school a little earlier than usual. I needed to see her again, even if she was with Wade, as long as I could see her beautiful face today would be alright. I waited for nearly half an hour, but there was no sign of her or Wade. I thought back to the day before. She flooded my mind but then so did a black car. It was similar to Wades and it had followed us. Oh God, what could he have done, I ran back out to my bike just as Belle was arriving to school. She tried to stop me but I didn’t have time to talk, I had to get to Jaz. I had to save her from that monster.
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Wade: I sat there watching her bleed onto the floor. Blood is kind of fascinating to me. It seems like we have so much of it in our body’s but as soon as we lose just a little bit of it we lose strength and our bodies try to save their selves by causing black outs. But also being choked out keeps us passed out as well. She looked so uncomfortable on the floor but I knew queer boy would be here soon looking for her and then the real show would begin.
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Cabel: The drive to her apartment seemed like an eternity as I went over all of the things he could have done to her in my mind. If he hurt her I swear I'll kill him... I saw the apartment building come into view and I pressed the gas harder. I finally got into the parking lot and threw my motor cycle on the ground as I ran towards the door. The stairs were my next step and I was standing in front of the door of their apartment in a matter of minutes. I slowly pushed opened the barely cracked door only to see her small poor body crumpled on the floor.
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Wade: I watched him race over to her just like I thought he would. He picked her up into his arms begging her to wake up that she was ok now. I slammed the door shut and said “So you think that you can just take my girl and get away with it.” He set her down lightly and then stood up. His fists were clenched as he said “She is not YOUR girl!” I jumped at the little boy, he got a couple of hits in but he wasn’t ready to play my little game.
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Cabel: Standing here in his apartment I realized that Wade was a little taller than me but he had a lot of muscles. I saw scratches where Jaz had tried to fight back, I’m guessing it was her first time fighting back since I had never seen a scratch on him. I yelled at him “How can you do this to someone you love?” He tackled me and we fell over the couch. He was right over top of me as he said “What do you know about love? I gave her a home, I fed her, I helped her while you left her all alone. That’s right I know that she came to you for help but you left because you couldn’t handle it.” My mind raced with those thoughts. I remember the tears streaming down her angelic face begging me to help her escape from him, but I didn't know what to do. I was afraid, and I didn't know how to help her. I seemed to always know how to help her, but that time was the only time I had ever let her down, and now I wasn't about to do it again. Then he tried to punch but missed I grabbed his wrist and pushed him off of me. I punched him in the throat, but then he caught me off guard.
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Wade: He wasn’t ready for these skills. I flashed back to the first time one of mom’s stupid boyfriends thought they could hit on me. I didn’t know how to fight then but I do now and this little boy was not going to beat me. I punched him in the gut then pulled his face toward my upcoming knee. I heard a crunch and knew I had broken his nose. Then I threw him against the wall. He tried to stand back up but I kicked him between his legs and while he fell over in pain I stepped on his hand crushing the bones inside it. I leaned down and whispered “Is she really worth it? I mean you would risk your life for a piece of dirt?” I stood up feeling proud until he said “Any day.” I kicked him in his gut but he grabbed my foot and twisted until I fell to the ground.
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Jaz: “Cabel. Run.” were the only two words I could get out of my mouth before Wade was back on him. I tried to slide my way into the edge of the bedroom where the other phone was but I just wasn’t strong enough. Oh no the blackness is coming back…
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Cabel: I was slammed back onto the ground, the wind was knock out of me until I heard her voice. The voice of an angel telling me to run. But I wouldn’t leave her again. I rolled over so that I was now on top of him. All of the rage that had built up inside of me all of these years just let lose. The thought of him ever getting his hands on her again enthralled me. I punched and punched until he was unconscious. I ran and grabbed the phone and told the police every thing that happened. Then I went over to poor limp body. She tried to say something but I told to shush and that everything was going to be ok. That was when I felt the searing pain in my shoulder.
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Wade: The little queer thought that he had put me down for the count…luckily the ice pick that Jaz had used last night on me was still lying in the floor. I stabbed it through his shoulder, but I didn’t see the cops coming through the door. I heard some one say “Step away from them!” It was a female cop and as soon as I turned around I knew why.
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Jaz: I could hear the lights buzzing above me. My body kept telling me to wake up and that I was safe. But was I? Where was I? Would I wake up in the floor of our apartment again? I forced my eyes open to see that I was in a small white room. There were a lot of tubes in my arm and I was under a blue sheet. I turned my head toward the door and saw my Aunt Claudia standing there talking to a doctor. Then I looked down at my other hand and realized that Cabel’s hand was over top of it just like at the restaurant. I looked over at him, he was asleep in the recliner, his hair falling cutely in his eyes. I could see the bandages on his head and shoulder. I looked down at my own body and saw all the damage that had been done. I began to cry, not because I was sad but because it was finally over.
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Cabel: I woke up to Jaz’s sweet tears dripping onto my arm. I sat up and said “Hey, what’s wrong? Were ok now. He is never going to hurt you again.” She smiled weekly and said “I know. I’m just so glad that it is finally over.” I slipped up into the bed beside her, my body screamed in agony but it was where I wanted to be. I put my arm around her and she cried softly onto my chest.
