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Not able to look at him any longer, I pull harder on Banner’s arm. “Come on, I want to go. I’ll email my teachers and say I’m sick.”
Banner doesn’t say a word as we turn back to his car. Taking a glance over my shoulder, I’m surprised to see Darren still standing there, holding his nose. He looks defeated. Something catches his attention, because his head snaps to the side like he’s seen something.
A shiver runs up my spine at the look he gives me, like he wants to call out my name.
“Did he hurt you?” Banner asks as he pulls open his door. He had been in such a rush he left the car running.
I get in the car, rubbing my hands together. “No.” I let him walk around the car and get in before speaking. “Thank you for coming for me. I didn’t know what to do. And I didn’t want him following me home.”
Instead of driving me home straight away, he faces me, reaching over and pulling me in for a hug. “When I heard his voice over the phone, I thought my heart had stopped beating. I kept picturing the worst. Are you sure you’re okay? He didn’t do anything?”
We pull apart, and I force a smile to reassure him. I don’t think Darren would have hurt me tonight, however, my judgement has been impaired before when it comes to him. There’s no telling what he would do.
“I promise he didn’t do anything. Can we go home? I don’t think I can stomach meeting Becky or going to class right now. I just want to go home.”
He nods, putting the car into gear. I take my phone out, explaining to Becky I’m heading back home because I’m not feeling well.
Banner takes my hand, holding it in his lap as he drives, only letting go when he needs to change gears.
When we get back home, exhaustion hits me. I ache everywhere. We’re just walking up the stairs to the flat when I hear Mark and Levi’s hurried voices.
“He’s not answering, Levi. If something’s happened to her?”
“Hey, it’s okay. She’ll be okay. I’m sure she just forgot her books or something,” Levi answers, trying to soothe him.
I give Banner a questioning look and he grimaces. “I kind of ran out before I could explain anything. But they knew it was you calling, ‘cause I told them you’d probably forgotten something and was calling me to drop it off to you.”
“Banner? Is that you?” Mark yells, rushing to the top of the stairs. When he sees me with him, his face turns pale and he walks down the few steps to get to me. “Thank fuck. Are you okay? Did something happen?” He pulls away to glare at Banner. “The next time something happens, don’t fucking rush off. You’re lucky I don’t lay you out for scaring the shit out of me.”
“Sorry, mate. I heard Darren’s voice over the phone and just panicked. I didn’t stop and think. I’m sorry.”
Mark’s eyes widen. “Darren? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
I slap his arms away from inspecting for injuries. “I’m fine. He didn’t touch me.”
“What the fuckdid hewant?”
“He wanted to explain—to say sorry.” I shrug, trying to erase the picture of his expression when I told him no. I hate myself for feeling sorry for him. He ruined my life. I could have gone off to college with my other friends had he not destroyed what remaining part of my soul I had left. The pieces I had, he scattered. And now I’m standing here feeling sorry for him. It’s not right.
Mark’s face is filled with anger when he looks to Levi. “You fucking hearing this? He’s sorry. Fucking sorry. Like that is going to make up for the shit he caused.”
“Let’s get inside. My balls are blue, they are that cold,” Levi says, pushing Mark towards the door.
“Where were you two going? I thought you were staying in tonight,” I remind them, looking around the room. Before I left, they had the X-Box out and was playing Call of Duty.
Mark glares at Banner one more time. “To look for you two. When he didn’t answer his phone or come back right away, we decided to come find you ourselves.”
I give him a sweet smile. “Thank you. But I’m okay, I swear.”
“Should we call the police?”
“Yes,” Banner snaps as I say, “No.”
“What do you mean, no?” he demands, watching me take my coat off.
I don’t look at him when I answer, dropping into the love seat and curling up. “Because he didn’t do anything. I don’t want to waste police time on nothing. It will only get my hopes up for a restraining order, only for them to say they won’t issue one without cause.”
“He beat you the fuck up,” Banner growls. “That’s cause enough.”