Free Emerge by Lila Felix

yelled.
                  I thought he was angry, so I went into a rambling of apologies.
                  “I’m so sorry.  My Mom found out that you brought me home and she accused me of some weird stuff and then she…um…I couldn’t talk on the phone. I know you’re angry.  I DID want to talk to you.” 
                  I wa s still on my rant when he said , “Hey, hey, stop…I’m not mad.  Shit…I’ve been worried sick.  If you didn’t answer the phone I was 2 minutes from c oming over there and knocking until someone answered. I figured something was wrong when your Mom told me that last night but then you didn’t come to school… I mean I had a bad feeling about your parents… ”
                  He went silent like he was remembering the day. 
                  “I’m sorry.  I couldn’t come to school today.  You’ll probably see why tomorrow.”              
                  He didn’t say anything for a while and I said , “You there?” 
                  He let out a breath that he was apparently holding and said , “Yeah, I’m here.  Just so we’re clear…what am I gonna see tomorrow?” 
                  I stalled , “It’s not a big deal…I just couldn’t come today.” 
                  I could hear a tapping sound and imagined the noise was his foot on the floor as his knee bobbed up and down. 
                  “Jenna…you have no idea…thinking about why you wouldn’t talk to me yesterday and then you didn’t show up today…I mean you don’t worry about someone that much unless…” 
                  Every muscle in my body had tensed at hearing his words. 
                  “Unless what?”  I whispered.  Now he was whispering. 
                  “Unless it’s someone you love.”  
                  My defenses suddenly went up like metal walls in an FBI building. 
                  “Don’ t joke about that. ” 
                  He was silent for a few seconds too long and then he said “Jenna…I’m not joking. I know it’s fast , but I think I’ve… well since the moment I saw you thr ough that gate.  It seems like I was just biding my time until you. ” 
                  Car l ights came through the windows like warning signs reflected in the dirty glass. 
                  “Hey, I think they’re home. I gotta go.  And , Carlos?”   I said it really , really fast.
                  “Yeah , ” h e said. 
                  I could hear a sound like he stood up and his chair legs pushed back against the floor. My rabbit heart fluttered in building the courage.
                  “I love you more.” 
                  I hung up the phone quickly and pressed the “erase” button on the caller ID .  I then ran on my tip toes to my room and flounced into my bed.  I forced my breathing to mimic sleep as my insides still shook from his revelation. I listened to the normal sounds of “them” as they tromped through the house noisily and then went to bed.   He loved me.  This guy who is sweet and kind and gorgeous, h e loves…me.   No, no matter what… I’m not giving him up.
                 
                 
     
                 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 10
     
                  The next morning I tried to cover what was left of the already yellowing bruise on my ch eek with concealer .  I also wore my hair braided to the side of my face so that some of my not curly , but not straight wisps fall on that side of my face. I walked through school and remained unnoticed by most. T he famous last period came around and when I entered the classroom the chairs were back in a circle formation.  “Crap” I muttered under my