Finding Solace

Chapter 8

Callum

"How will you be heading home?" I asked Jillian as we were walking down the deserted hallway towards the school gate.

The sky had started to darken overhead. It will be dangerous for her to return on her own. Okay, I was also looking for an opportunity to prolong our time together, but my concern was still genuine.

Jillian seemed to snap out of her thoughts before answering me. "I'll take the bus, like usual."

"It'll be dangerous on your own at this time. I'll accompany you." I said.

"To my house?" She asked, her eyes widening with dread.

"Why not?" I asked, frowning, feeling a bit hurt by her overreaction.

"It's fine! You don't need to. It's not on your way. Besides, buses will probably have stopped running by the time we reach my place. You won't be able to return."

"Don't worry about that. I'll find a way somehow." I insisted.

"Don't be stubborn, Callum." She said in a condescending tone. "The bus station is a short distance from my house, so it will really be no trouble."

"Even if that's true, I won't be able to relax until I can see you safely home." I said.

"I could give you a call once I'm home to let you know I've returned safely." She said.

I was at a loss on how to respond to that. I wanted to obtain her phone number but I was also still unwilling to let her return on her own.

"Is it okay if I have your phone number?" She asked hesitantly.

"Of course." I said a bit too enthusiastically, and immediately took out my phone.

She took out hers as well but stalled when looking at the screen. "Damn! My brother has been trying to contact me for awhile... and he seems angry." She said worriedly.

"You're not going to call him back?" I asked.

"I don't really feel like listening to his ramblings right now." She said with a sigh. "Besides I need to think up a good excuse first. If he knew that I was with you, he'll blow up for sure."

"So you won't let him know that we're... friends?" I asked, feeling a bit dejected. I hope she at least considered us to be friends now.

She looked at me with her eyes widened in horror. "Of course not! If he knew he would kill you for sure."

"You're exaggerating." I said, smiling.

"I'm not!" She said seriously. "I don't know how well you know my brother, but I've seen enough to know that he can do anything to get what he wants. And when he gets in his maddening rage, not even I can stop him."

"Well it won't make a difference anyway. That guy always seems pissed off." I said dispassionately.

"That was not his maddening rage! He hasn't had one in awhile, thank god for that." She said with emotion. "The last time he did even I..."

"He hurt you as well?" I asked, turning to look at her in concern when she hesitated.

"Not intentionally, but I did catch a few stray punches when trying to interfere." She relented with a sigh. Our gazes connected and I could see her wariness. My heart ached for her, but at the same time I felt anger towards the guy who couldn't seem to hold himself back.

"That guy's dangerous! He should get consulted by a psychiatrist." I railed. "Sorry I know his your brother and all, but..."

"It's fine." She cut me off. "You're right, but..." She shook her head, sighing. She looked so miserable in that moment. I wanted to hold her in my arms and soothe away all her a pain and fears. "Anyway, let's just exchange our contact information." She added.

I gave an inner cry of victory once I had her number. It's a huge improvement. Learning those things about her brother made me realize that he would prove more of a problem than I thought, but I won't let myself be discouraged by that. My feelings for her were much greater than this. It is not some idiotic, overprotective psycho who's going to make me back down.

Just then her phone started ringing again. "It's Dan." She said wistfully. "I guess I'd better get this over with."

She picked up the call and barely had time to say hello before a deafening roar could be heard in the other side of the line. She put the phone some distance away while massaging her ear. The roaring voice in the speaker was sputtering out a long series of words which I couldn't comprehend.

"Dan...sorry for not answering..." She tried placating him but he wasn't listening and kept releasing a series of profanities. "Can I speak now?" She shouted back in the phone.

Finally the noise subsided. We were nearing the school gate by then and were both focused on the phone. That's why we didn't notice the other person approaching.

Suddenly, someone snatched her phone from behind. Our heads both snapped in his direction.

"Josh?" Jillian said uncertainly.

The guy sported his usual rugged look with his messy neck-length black hair. His light brown eyes were glaring at us as he spoke into the phone.

"Dan? It's Josh. I've got Jillian and I'll be taking her home in a bit... I'll explain everything later... Yeah, see ya." With this he ended the call and gave us his full attention.

"You're in big trouble, girl." he snarled at Jillian before pulling her away by the arm.

"Wait! Josh! Let go of me!" Jillian called after him while trying to free her arm.

I also went after them in a rush, feeling irritated at the way he was dragging her along with no consideration for her feelings.

I then stopped dead in my tracks at the same time as Josh and Jillian. My friends were standing a short distance away, blocking their path.

"Let her go!" Henry said menacingly.

Josh scoffed. "So you guys were lying in wait?" Turning to Jillian he said. "See that? You were being fooled, after all. They were surely planning something nasty."

"It's not like that!" Jake argued. "We kinda had a hunch that some of you bastards will try to intercept Callum. So we came here just in case."

"And looks like we were right!" Henry added, his eyes ablaze.

Jillian took this moment of distraction to snatch her arm back. "What gives you the right to manhandle me, Josh?" She thundered.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Dan was getting worried because you weren't answering his calls. So he asked me to look for you. But that's another matter." He said, growing incensed by the minute. "What the hell were you doing hanging out with those guys?"

"It's none of your business!" She growled. "You're not my brother. Heck, we're not even friends. You have no say in my life!"

"We've known each other since childhood, how can you say we aren't friends?" He said, appearing hurt. Then he frowned. "Whose jacket is this?" 

Jillian looked down self-consciously, seeming to realize just now. She briefly glanced in my direction, appearing flustered.

I couldn't take this anymore. I went to her side and pulled her protectively behind me, glaring at Josh. Jillian gave me a surprised look but didn't protest. It heartened me to see her trust in me so completely. 

"What the heck are you doing?" Josh barked. "Jillian, get back over here!" 

She didn't obey, instead getting closer to me, much to my delight. "It's not what you think." She  explained. "My clothes got kinda... messed up, so Callum let me borrow his jacket."

"And why the hell were you with him?" He snarled.

"Who do you think you are to be acting this way towards her?" I snapped at him. "She's free to do whatever she wants with whoever she wants."

"Shut up!" He barked. "This has nothing to do with you."

Turning back to Jillian, he added. "Should I call your brother here to deal with this matter then? Surely he will have a better say in this?" Josh said.

Jillian took an involuntary step backward, seeming at a loss. 

"You're threatening her now?" I bit out, my ire rising.

Jillian touched my arm to stop me when I started advancing towards him. I wanted to tell her that it was okay, she didn't need to do this guy's bidding. He could call Daniel over and we would deal with him. However, in doing so, I would be selfishly involving my friends in another dangerous situation. However, Blake surprised me with his next words.

"You don't need to listen to him for our sake, girl. Just let him call your brother here. It's about time we dealt with him."

"Thanks." She told him with a smile. "But I don't think it's a good idea if Dan learns about it in this manner." Looking at Josh, she added more sternly. "And you better keep quiet about this, too. I'll explain everything to Dan personally later."

"You'll come with me then?" He asked.

She nodded. "But only if you promise to not tell anything to Dan."

"I won't." Josh said. "Even I don't want to deal with his temper if he learns about this. That's the only reason why I still haven't told him anything."

"At least we agree on that part." She sighed.

 I was feeling frustrated at not being able to do anything to make this situation better. I knew they were both right. It was better to not try Daniel's temper. He goes off like a fuse whenever someone so much as talks about his sister in an inappropriate way. There's no telling what he'd do if he learns she was with me of all people, especially considering what happened in the last few hours. Even now, I felt my heart rate picking up as I remembered the way we were so intimately locked together.

"However, Jillian, I want you to take off his jacket." Josh said patronizingly. "I'll give you mine instead."

"No!" She said vehemently, clutching at the jacket. My heart was going rampant again. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw my friends trying to hold back their laughter. "Listen." She continued in a serious tone. "I'm totally exposed beneath, and it won't be appropriate for me to remove it here. Callum, is it okay if I return your jacket tomorrow?"

"Sure." I said.

"See? It's all fine. Can we get going now? I have lots to do at home." She said.

Josh still appeared dissatisfied. "As you wish." He eventually grumbled out and started walking away with Jillian following after him.

"Wait!" I called before I could help myself. "Are you sure you'll be okay?" I asked her. It pained me that she had to go along with this guy's controlling manners because of me.

She smiled and walked back towards me. Josh frowned in displeasure but didn't stop her. Looking into my eyes, she said in a low voice. "I'll be fine. Josh may act like this, but he's harmless  for the most part." Her gaze grew more fond as she added. "Thank you for everything today, and I didn't get to say this earlier but thanks for saving my life." 

It took me awhile to realize she was referring to when I prevented from falling through the window. "It was nothing. Be careful on your way... and don't forget to call me when you're home." I said, smiling in return.

"Okay. Well then, see you tomorrow." She turned away and waved at me and my friends one last time before waking away with Josh. His bike was parked a short distance away. I couldn't help the sting of jealousy I felt at seeing them riding away together. However, I felt slightly better when I noticed she was looking at me throughout, and not him. I kept looking in the direction they had disappeared for some time. The girl who has now totally stolen my heart. I could finally admit it, I have totally fallen head over heels in love with her.