Forever His & His Ghost

Chapter 10: Evil Bunnies

      "Come on baby, let me do this." Jaxon begged as I was picking out some school outfits.

      "It's just a birthday, nothing special," I grumbled from the changing room.

      "No, it's your birthday, not just a birthday. Please let me do this. I will take care of everything." I peeked out at him sitting in the waiting area with his perfect puppy dog face.

      Oh, who am I kidding, this boy has me wrapped around his finger. "Fine, but babe, nothing extravagant. Just a few friends."

      I felt his arms reach in and pull me out of the dressing room, thank goodness I was decent, he didn't seem to mind as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his chest looking down at me with those enchanting eyes. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." He chuckled as he planted kisses all over my face. "Saturday okay. And I am wrangling Marie into help me."

      "Okay Saturday it is, now let me finish trying on outfits so I can get some new school clothes. I have to look good my junior year you know, especially if I am on you arm." I laughed as I stepped back into the dressing room.

       "Baby, I am the one that stands in your shadow, not the other way around. You could wear a burlap sack and still turn heads." We both laughed out loud at that one, some of things he says.

      I grabbed the clothes I wanted and sat them on the table as I put the others back, but I turned around to grab them, only to see Jaxon standing at the register paying for them. "Jaxon, why do you do that? I can pay for them."

      He gave me his signature smile and pecked my lips, "Because I want to. You will be my queen one day, and I want to spoil you rotten, cause lord knows you already have me spoiled."

      I followed him out to the car, and even though his arms were full he was always the gentleman opening the door for me, "Thank you Prince Charming." I giggled climbing in.

      In a second the driver's door opened as he climbed in, "My pleasure my Cinderella." We both laughed and made our way to the diner.

      The rest of the week went by as usual, my morning runs, accompanied of course by Jaxon. Then my daily chores around the house, some days me and Jaxon spent time alone in the park just talking or walking, some days I helped Marie out at the diner, and other days, we all just hung out at the lake. Well, they did, I very rarely got in the water, nor did I wear anything revealing more than my knees down, or elbows down. The beatings had gotten worse over the summer by Darlene and sometimes Samantha when she was at the house, but I never spoke a word, I always just played it off to it was that time of the month or something. No one second guessed me, and I got away Scot free.

      Friday came and Jaxon dropped me off early that night so he could finish setting up my surprise party. I tried to argue it wasn't a surprise because I knew about it, but he just waved me off. Walking up the drive I noticed mom and dad's car was gone, but Samantha's was there. I contemplated going in or walking away. I really wanted to walk away, but I was also exhausted, then an idea hit me. I grabbed my phone.

     "Marie."

     "Yea?"

     "Are you helping Jaxon tonight?"

     She was quiet for a moment, "No, why?"

     "Want to sleepover? The evil bunnies are here."

    She snickered and I knew why, this was how we called them, ever since the Halloween party. "Yea I will be there in a about an hour. Give me time to close up shop."

     "Okay see you then, just come through the back; it's always unlocked."

     "See you then." She hung the phone up. I took a deep breath knowing I only had to deal with them for an hour, maybe I can hold them off till then. I knew if Preston was here, they wouldn't get away with it, but it's Friday and he is always with Terr on Fridays doing who knows what, but at least he wasn't getting in trouble.

      I stuck my hand on the handle and could hear voices in the foyer. Instead of opening the door I stuck my ear to the door to listen.

      "You know he is throwing a party tomorrow, and we aren't invited." Evil bunny one. Sheesh, they sounded so much alike it was hard to distinguish at this point.

     "Yea it's a birthday party for her." Evil bunny two.

     "Well, I have a plan, I am slowly working on putting in action." Bunny one, she let an evil laugh out that shook me to my core, and not a good way either. "But I know what to do for now, we just make it look like an accident."

     With that I didn't wait to hear anymore, I backed away quietly and made my way to the curb under the neighbor's tree where I waited quietly becoming one with the tree. What are they going to do to me, to make it look like an accident, this can't be good? And I can't tell anyone, no one would believe me at this point, I have done well hiding everything. And what will Jaxon and Marie think if they learn the truth. I wouldn't dream of getting anyone else involved in my drama and possibly get hurt from my decisions. I stood up dusting my butt off, no I will take this like a woman and face the consequences and I will keep everyone safe. I checked the time really quick, and I had about fifteen to twenty minutes before Marie got here.

      I texted Jaxon: Thank you for being you, and all you do. XOXOXO.

     I turned the phone off, putting it in my back pocket, I took a deep breath and entered the house, only to be met with complete silence. I tiptoed around the main floor silently and I was almost excited that they were nowhere to be found. There was not any movement upstairs, asleep, I prayed. I double checked the back door and front door to make sure they were unlocked before I quietly made my way up the stairs. I reached for my door, and just like that my world came crashing down. I felt myself pulled backwards by my braid and soon I was on my back with the evil bunnies staring down at me in disgust.

     "Hey guys, I must have tripped again." I laughed trying to accept my fate.

     I grunted as Samantha smashed her booted heel into my rib cage. "I thought I told you, more times than one to stay away from him." She spit, as she stomped my rib cage again, and I swear I heard a c***k.

     My hair was grabbed again, and I was pulled to the top of the steps, I was trying to catch my breath with the pain radiating from the stomps to the rib cage. Darlene came into my view with an evil grin, "Just give up now, and we walk away. Jaxon belongs to one of us, and it isn't you."

     I rolled over and spit on her shoe, laughing at the same time, "I will never willingly give him up. I am his, as he is mine. Get over it." I screamed.

     Darlene grabbed my hair again and Samantha pulled me up by my arm, "Last chance," she snarled in my ear as she faced me toward the steps.

      I just smiled as I heard the front door open, they didn't seem to notice. "And I will tell you again, I am his, as he is mine." And that was the last thing I remember as I tumbled down the stairs, head over feet until my head met the wall at the bottom of the landing.

      I wasn't sure how long I was out until I managed to open my eyes only to look up into the eyes of my best friend. "I am calling the ambulance." She squeaked but I grabbed her arm as she tried to move away.

      "I am fine, promise, just help me up." I tried to give her a smile, and everything in me hurt.

      "What happened?" She asked as she put her arms under mine to try and help me stand. I tried not to cry out in pain, so I bit my tongue until I could taste the all too bittersweet taste of copper.

      "I tripped; you know clumsy me." I laughed as I wrapped my arm around her shoulder, and she helped me limp up the stairs to my room.

      "I don't believe it. I saw the evil bunnies at the top of the stairs just as I walked in. And they disappeared as soon as I ran to you laying at the bottom of the steps."

       I took my arm away from her shoulder and hobbled to the bathroom, "I am fine I promise. Just give me a minute to get cleaned up."

       "I am calling Jaxon, maybe he can talk some sense into you." She shouted behind me and my heart stopped.

      "No, Marie, promise you won't call him, I just need a shower, and some sleep, I promise I will be okay." She stared blankly at me, but then she shook her head indicating she wasn't calling him. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. I promise I will be more careful from now on and watch my step. I just don't want to bother him; he has worked so hard with you to put this together."

       She laughed plopping down on my bed, "Honey this is all him, I have had almost nothing to do with it. Now go get ready for bed." My heart stopped at the thought of how much he had done for me. I will make sure he knows tomorrow just how much appreciate him.

     "Okay be back in a few." I smiled and turned locking myself in the bathroom. I made my way over to the bathroom and almost shouted in horror.

      My lip was busted and swollen, and I had blood coming from my nose. My left eye had a small gash that ran through the eyebrow, I was sure I could cover it in the morning. To look at the surface though, it could have been worse, this I can hide. I slowly and painfully peeled my shirt off and almost screamed yet again looking at my torso. One rib on my left side looked almost deformed and come to think of it, it hurt bad when I tried to take a deep breath, cracked or broke probably, I thought. The bruising had already started to show, my whole abdomen was turning black and blue.

       I turned my head in disgust and turned away from the mirror discarding the rest of my clothes and climbing into a hot shower. I don't know how long I was in there before the water finally turned cold. I slowly climbed out, wrapping my abdomen in an ace bandage and popping some ibuprofen, I threw my shorts and t-shirt on and walked into the bedroom. I smiled at my friend, curled up on her side of the bed with the covers tucked up to her chin. I quickly turned off the lights and made my way onto my side of the bed, and thankfully I fell into a deep sleep.