My Bully’s Love by Stacy Rush

CHAPTER 7: FORGIVE ME

Something happened the night that Jace came to my room. I’m not quite sure what it was, or what caused it, but he hasn’t bothered me in over a month. Our eyes will meet in the halls at school, but it’s as if he is looking right through me, and not seeing me at all. No more being shoved against lockers or tripped in the halls. There are no more punishments in the Art room during last period; those are what I miss. I try thinking back to that night, when his hands touched, and caressed me; where they filled me with a desire that I have never felt before. I had sworn to put on a show for him that night, because it’s what he had wanted, but in the end, there was no acting on my end. He had succeeded in taking what he was wanting from me; he knew I would deliver like the good girl that I am, and he was so right.

I watch him when nobody else is looking, and he is the same guy around everyone else; it’s just me. I’m not sure what is worse, him bullying me, or him ignoring me completely. At least when he bullied me, I still felt like a person, like someone who was still thought of, even if it was just to torture me. Aside from Jace ignoring me, nothing else has changed with the rest of my classmates…or so I thought.

I’m just sitting down to eat lunch in my own little corner, away from the rest of the student body, I sense a presence behind me. My eyes roam the cafeteria before I dare to look to see who it is. There are a few students staring in my direction with stunned expressions. Whoever is behind me must be a big deal, if other students are finding it surprising. I turn slightly, peeking over my shoulder. A face that I see on a daily basis, but never interact with, is gazing down at me with a slight grin.

“Hey, Ella. It’s been a long time.”

I’m momentarily speechless. Mason Baker stands in front of me with his hands in his pockets, looking a tad uncomfortable, but still grinning, “Hey, Mason.” I turn back around and pretend to be interested in my lunch. What else am I supposed to do? It’s been two whole years since Mason last talked to me, just like everyone else. Why is he choosing now to come talk to me?

“Do you mind if I sit down?”

I shrug, “Sit wherever you like.”

Mason is a lineman on our football team, so he’s pretty big, muscular-wise, and when he sits beside me, I feel the table lift a little bit. He has no food with him, and. I’m pretty sure that this isn’t his lunch period, but here he is anyway, bothering me. I really feel no need to talk to anybody in this school since they all shunned me, Mason included. I shuffle around my pasta salad on my plate before bringing the fork to my mouth to take a bite, trying to ignore the guy beside me.

“So, how have you been, Ella?” If he’s noticed my lack of interest of him sitting with me, he doesn’t show it, as he continues to ask questions, “Why don’t I ever see you around town anymore?” He makes it sound like I’ve been unsociable, forgetting the fact that everybody turned their backs on me, including the Baker twins.

His questions are annoying, so I just stop him before he can ask anything thing else, “What is it that you want, Mason?” Annoyance laces my voice, and he flinches.

“I’m sorry, I was just trying to make conversation, Ella.” He actually looks a little sheepish when he answers me, making me want to bite back my snarky comments, but I can’t.

“Oh, it took you two years to come over and ask me? I’ve been around, but you all,” I point around the room, “chose to not acknowledge me.”

Mason’s face reddens a little, and he looks away for a moment. When he turns to face me again, there’s a look that can almost pass as apologetic, “I’m know, I was a douche bag, along with everyone else, but I wanted to make amends. You didn’t deserve any of it, and if it weren’t for Jace, then we…”

Hearing my bully’s name has me holding my hand up, and cutting Mason off, “What about Jace? Do you know why he stopped being my friend, or how he got the whole school to shun me?”

He’s quick to answer, which only brings me to the assumption that there is more to this whole thing, but I sit and listen anyway. I don’t trust anybody at this point, but at least Mason is putting forth effort to try and make amends.

“I don’t think anybody knows for sure, but I do remember a rumor going around that you stabbed him in the back, or something. As for how he got the whole school to turn on you, I can’t answer that, but with me, he had pulled me aside and told me that you had told him everything from that night of the party and that if he ever saw me even talking to you that he would make me

Forgive Me

disappear because he has friends that can make it happen,” he sighs, “You have to remember that we had just moved here, and I didn’t think a girl was worth that kind of trouble, so I ignored you. I’m sorry, Ella.”

I don’t utter a word as I contemplate everything he’s telling me. On one hand, I believe what he is saying, but on the other hand, why would Jace threaten him like that if Jace no longer wanted anything to do with me, and he didn’t know anyone at that time who could get rid of people. I’m not sure what to believe, but I have to admit that it’s nice to have someone other than my sister to talk to at school

forgive me, Ella. I’d like to start over, if you do.”

forgive you,

teeth, “Thank you, Ella! I promise that I will make it up to you! How about I buy you a coffee

excited I just made the big guy beside me, “Don’t you have football

I pick you up after supper and I’ Il take you to go get a blizzard, or whatever ice cream

was in his vehicle, “As long as you promise to keep your hands

hands, “I promise! This is completely

me up at my house about seven,” I go to turn back to my food but I give him a warning

will be on my best behavior.” He holds his pinky out and waits for me to grab it with mine. I roll my eyes, and give in to the childish way of promising. He swipes his dark brown hair away from his eyes, so I can see the twinkle in his brown orbs before he stands up, “I’ll see you

pumpkin spice or hot chocolate, but because this is a new establishment, it’s the ‘IT’ place to be. With that being said, all eyes turn to us as Mason holds the door open for me as we walk in. I

and I instantly feel a little less nervous. Giving him a little nod, I step up to the counter and glance up at the menu. “You can order a cone or a

like a buffet bar, and that’s exactly what it is, only it’s filled with every kind of ice cream you can imagine. Another buffet table has the same, only with different toppings, “Oh my! How does a person even decide?” I

and then just chooses the toppings that I like,” He winks at me,

chuckle, “Only, I don’t like nuts

fakes a gasp. “I’m the same way, no nuts for me!” We both laugh and precede in filling our

other couples had the same idea, but we get here first. We give both couples an apologetic look as we sit down across from each other. Digging into my ice cream, I can’t help the moan that slips out as the chocolate ice cream melts in my mouth. It’s so

good, huh?”

never would have taken you for a plain vanilla kind of guy.” I tease before putting

Forgive Me

into my

“I’m willing to ty

response, but it wasn’t flirtatious; more like friendly than anything else. We grin at each other and continue to share our ice cream with each other as we chat about nothing in particular, school and classes mostly. I offer to help tutor him in math because he isn’t doing so well, and he has to maintain a certain grade to in order to play sports.

few of the middle tables, leaving an empty space and allowing us to see across the shop. A pair of green eyes glower at us from the other side.

a little crowded in here, how about we take these to go?” He

eyes, trying to refocus on the person across

that’s a good idea, it’s getting a bit stuffy in here.”

they did the first time I looked over. Chills slide down my back when I feel Mason place his hand on my lower back again, as we leave. I feel a hole being burned into my back, but I don’t

Mason asks as we settle back into his vehicle, “I saw the way

that for two years now. At least he hasn’t bullied me in over a

how bad it really was. What do your other

I shrug, “Jace made sure that I had nobody but my own

if it wasn’t

be leaving for college, and I can start a whole new life far away

Seems as though Mason Baker grew up. I’m smiling as we pull up in front of my house, happy

of other things, and I want you to know that I forgive

I will continue to make it up to you, but I want you to know that I am here as a friend if you need it.” For the first time, I notice that he has