Love Is Where They Are

We drove and drove and drove. I sat in silence for most of the way, just listening to the steady thrum of the engine of the Range Rover. I was so comfortable and at ease that I had almost forgotten where we were going. Almost. I groaned as he pulled in front of the school, cut the engine, and put the car in park. “Can’t we skip today?” I asked, jokingly. Harry smiled, showing his pearly whites. Oh my God, those dimples. “Well, normally when I have a pretty girl in the car,” he began, smiling at me. I tucked a piece of stray brown hair behind my ear, blushing. “We would skip. But, there’s this fun thing called truancy, and I don’t want you to get in trouble because of me.” I groaned, knowing that he was right. I knew that there was no way that I actually could skip, since my dad is in contact with the principal all the time. I sighed and opened the passenger-side door and grabbed my backpack and purse. “Thanks for the ride.” I told him, as I slammed the door closed. I began to walk away, when I heard him call my name. “Calla!” I turned to see him leaning out the window.
“Same time tomorrow?” he asked cheekily. I laughed. “Patience, grasshopper. Wait and see tomorrow.” Harry made a pouty face, and I laughed. “Again, thanks.” I aid, as I turned around and walked off. “See you around.” I called over my shoulder. I took a deep breath and walked over to the glass doors that opened to purgatory. Ugh. I took a deep breath and shouldered my backpack. Maybe today will be a better day. I thought. I got through the hallway, to my locker, and to the stairwell without any trouble. I sighed. Maybe today would be better. I made a move to climb the first step, but was suddenly hauled backward by the strap of my backpack. I fell backward onto the hard tile floor. My backpack went off like a bomb and papers exploded everywhere. I began collecting them as frantically as I could. I managed to get every last paper as quickly as I could, and was about to stand when I saw my book, The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban lying about three feet away on the floor. I moved over to grab it when a very large foot stepped on it, holding my precious purchase to the floor. Air hissed through my teeth when I saw who it was.
“Cartis.” I sneered, glaring at him. He smirked. “Calla.” He said, with equal venom. I sighed with exasperation, and pushed some stray hair out of my face. Cartis never accepted the fact that we were OVER, and makes my life miserable. I think he thinks that I’ll come crawling back to an abusive boyfriend after he made, and still makes, my life a living hell. “What do you want, Cartis?” I asked, annoyed that he was going to make me late for Biology with Mrs. Rietz. I tried to stand, but Cartis shoved me back down to the floor. “What do I want?” he asked softly, his voice laced with anger as he let out a low, menacing chuckle. “I want to have a little fun.” He said, his voice dripping with innuendo. I backed away quickly. No. Please God, no. Don’t let them do this. I stood and began to run. Much to my chagrin, however, they were much faster than me.One of Cartis’s lackeys grabbed me and dropped me on the floor. I landed painfully on my hip. Cartis kneeled down. “I was going to make it quick and easy. But, since you tried to run, we’re not even going to go gentle. It will be rough and quick, and you will bleed.
I whimpered as he got closer to my face. “You’re lucky.” He whispered. “We picked you to do this to, out of all the other girls who would have come running if we so much as waved our fingers. You should be happy.” I shuddered as he grabbed my hair and yanked it to the side so that my neck was exposed. I felt tears prick my eyelids as he began to kiss me. “I’ll scream.” I whispered. Cartis looked up, and I felt a shot of true, terrible, all-encompassing terror. “If you do, we’ll kill you.” He said. I had no doubt that he would. He motioned to one of his friends. “Stand her up.” He said. His friend hauled me up into a standing position. Cartis waved his hands. “Take her where we discussed and I’ll meet you there.” He said. They began to haul me toward the glass doors that led out of the school. I began to struggle. I writhed in their grasp, trying to get out, but it was no use. I tried and tried, but it was no use. “Please,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. “Don’t do this.” None of them responded. I finally managed to get my foot free and kick one of them in the groin. He groaned, and their grip loosened as they looked over to check on their buddy. I managed to get free for a moment, but then they pushed me to the floor and started hitting me. My side, my head, my arms. I started sobbing. “PLEASE! STOP!” I cried.
I was about to pass out from the pain when I heard a voice. “I believe the lady told you to stop.” I looked up. It was Harry!
Cartis held his fists up. “Oh yeah? And, what are you gonna do about it if we don’t?” Harry sighed, and, before I knew what happened, he had punched Cartis in the face! Cartis staggered back, then came at Harry like a snorting bull. They began to scuffle. “Calla!” he yelled. “SCREAM!” I nodded and took a deep breath before letting out a scream loud enough to shatter glass. Classroom doors opened as teachers came out to see what all the ruckus was. I nearly fainted with relief as I saw Mrs. Rietz coming down the stairs. I ran to her, and she enveloped me in a hug. I breathed in deeply, and the smell of jasmine relaxed me. Principal Barringer came in, and he helped Mr. Estrada pull the boys apart. “What’s going on here?!” the principal yelled.
Harry motioned to Cartis. “Sir, this boy,” he said, putting extra emphasis on the word “boy”. “Was trying to make Calla do something she obviously didn’t want to do. He had friends helping him, who I am sure have run off by now, but I can give you names.” I trembled, and Mrs. Rietz hugged me all the tighter. I heard footstep, and someone laid a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Calla, what happened?” Mr. Estrada asked me. Mrs. Rietz released me, and I turned to face him. “Cartis would have raped me if Harry hadn’t stepped in, and I’m sure he would have let his friends do something too.” I began to tremble as Cartis glared at me.
Principal Barringer whispered something in the secretary’s ear, Mrs. Bates, who was also out in the hallway to see what was going on. She hurried into the office and came back a few moments later with three pieces of paper in her hand. The principal handed on to Cartis, one to me, and one to Harry. I looked down. It was an excused absence slip, which meant they were giving me permission to go home. I glanced over at Harry’s. He got the same slip I did. Mrs. Rietz stepped forward. “Harry, would you be so kind as to take Ms. Brennan home, and stay with her until her parents get home?” Harry nodded. I glanced over at Cartis. He was staring at his paper, his eyes as big as saucers, and his face was as white as a sheet. I already knew what it was. Cartis had been expelled.
I didn’t get a chance to say thank you to Principal Barringer though, because Harry pushed me toward the door and we got out of there as quickly as humanly possible. Harry opened the Range Rover passenger door for me, and I scrambled inside, remembering that morning’s conversation about step ladders. Harry climbed in wordlessly and started the car. Then, he did something I didn’t expect. He reached across the seat and engulfed me in an enormous hug. I was startled at first, and tensed up, but then I relaxed, and hugged him back.“I’m so sorry I didn’t get there sooner.” He said, his voice muffled as he spoke into my shoulder. I sighed. “It’s okay, Harry. You came when I needed you, and that’s all that matters.” Harry put the car in drive, and I started to give him directions, but he waved me off. “I live right next door, remember?” My mouth dropped open. “So, last night, you weren’t just walking around?” Harry shook his head. “Nope.” He said, popping the P. I smiled. Harry Styles is my neighbor. What more could a girl ask for?

Notes

Hey! So, a horrible person, I know, but I hope you enjoy this. I know I said I would get it out earlier than this, but life happens, and I have been super busy. But, yea, hope you guys enjoy. Oh, and please subscribe if you like this story. It would mean the world to me. Hopefully, I will get the next chapter posted sometime this week. Thank you for reading!
~Juliet