My Bully’s Love by Stacy Rush

CHAPTER 16: TRUST NO ONE

“Hey mom, I’m headed to the store for some last minute items that I’m going to be needing.” I inform my mother as she loads the dishwasher.

“Okay, honey. Don’t worry about forgetting anything, you can always buy it when you get there or we can send it. We will be shipping out your boxes tomorrow, and they are supposed to be at your new apartment a day or two after you arrive.” Shutting the dishwasher door, my mom turns to face me, “Are you sure you want to leave so soon? You have plenty of time before your summer classes start, it’s only January.”

This has been my mom ever since I told her my plans, she’s trying to keep me as long as she can, “Mom, I told you that I wanted to find a job and try and build up a little nest egg before classes begin and I’ll have to cut my work hours back.”

She walks over to me and grabs my face, “When did you grow up? Where is my little Ella bear?” I can see her eyes misting over, so I break free before she has us both in tears.

“It’s called life mom,” I chuckle, grabbing my car keys off the hook by the back door,”I’ll be back in a bit.” She waves me away with a smirk, and I take it as my cue to leave.

My flight to Connecticut leaves tomorrow afternoon and there are a few things that I still need before leaving. My parents are proud that I chose Yale to continue my education, but they aren’t happy that I’ll be so far away. They only agreed to let me go as long as I promised to come back every holiday break and that I call at least three to four times a week. I didn’t mind agreeing to those terms; I’d agree to anything as long as they let me go.

While in the store, I’m trying to go through the list in my head, making sure I’m not forgetting anything, when I bump into one of the last people that I want to see. Yep, Kaylee Simpson. I swear, she’s the one that follows me around just waiting for a chance to run into me and then blame me for being careless. Rolling my eyes, I wait for the cursing and name calling to begin, but she surprises me.

“Oh, sorry Ella, my bad. I didn’t see you there.” She apologizes as she looks over the items in my cart, “Are you going on a trip?! haven’t seen you in school lately, I hope everything is okay!”

The fakeness in her voice is so obvious that it makes me want to puke, but instead, I play along with her little game to see where this is going, “You haven’t seen me in school because I’ve already graduated, and to answer your other question, yes. I’m starting summer classes at the college I’m going to and want to head over early to find a job.” I’m not planning on sharing where I’m going with anybody from this town.

“Oh! I didn’t realize that you finished early, congratulations,” she gives me a fake smile, “Well, I better be going. Best of luck to you, Ella.” Something passes over her expression that I can’t quite understand, but I shrug it off. I’m leaving tomorrow, so there is no sense in trying to figure her out.

After finding the last item needed, I head to the front to check out. The cashier has a gentle smile and asks how I’m doing. I don’t understand why everybody can’t be as kind as this woman. We carry on a bit of conversation as she scans my items in, and then I pay her, and head out to my car.

After loading my car up, I head for home, but as I drive by all the local hangouts, I can’t help but become a little sad. I haven’t hung out at any of them since I was sixteen; I missed so much. I pray that things are different once I move. My thoughts wander to Mason, and I realize that I haven’t talked to him since coming back from break, when I informed him that I could no longer tutor him. I didn’t trust Jace not to go after him if I disobeyed his order, so it was easier to just stay away. That really upset me, because for once, I was starting to feel somewhat normal again, by having a friend to talk to.

I’m coming up to a small stretch of road that curves sharply, so I slow down, but just as I start taking the curve, the car behind me turns on their bright lights, and another car coming from the opposite direction has their brights on, both blinding me. I try to watch the road as best I can, but just as the road begins to straighten out, my tires hit the shoulder, causing me to lose control. I’ m able to come to a stop safely, but not without popping a tire in the process.

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Trust No One

“Seriously? Who drives with their brights on?” I ask out loud and then curse the car that was behind me for turning theirs on. I’m shaking like a leaf as I open the door and get out, so I can observe what kind of damage my car is in.

It’s too dark to see much, so I turn my flashlight on my cellphone on as I walk around my car. When I get to the passenger side, I notice the back tire is flat, so I squat down and examine it closer. It is completely torn up. Sighing heavily, I go to my trunk and move everything aside, so I can get to my spare. I’m so glad my dad taught me how to change a tire!

I’m trying to get the bolt unscrewed to pull it from the trunk when I hear a car pull up behind me. I turn around, but the car’s . headlights are blinding me, and even using my hand to shield it, I still can’t see the person that gets out of the car.

“Looks like you can use a hand.” A familiar voice calls out, but I can’t place who it belongs to.

Another person gets out of the same car, “You’re lucky that all you got was a flat tire, it could have been worse.”

I freeze in my place, recognizing the second voice, “Uh, thank you, but I’m good. I can change the tire myself, but thanks for the offer.” I reach my hand into my trunk and pull out the tire iron.

“Oh, don’t be like that, let us help a damsel in distress!” A third voice pipes in, totally confusing me.

my eyes again, I call out, “Mason, is

think about it, the first one was Brandon’s, but why is Mason with

making it impossible for me to see their faces, not that I really need to, because I’d recognize their voices anywhere. What I want to know is what are they wanting?

that you stopped but I know what I’m doing. I don’t want to keep you from

there, Ella. We are right where we are

“Huh?”

speaks up, “You are a

are quick as two of the three grab each arm, making me drop the tire iron, and drags me closer to the tree line, away from the lights of the two vehicles. I struggle to get out of their grip, but they only tighten it as they drag me further. There is whistling coming from behind us, as if we are going for a happy stroll, but I can’t think about that at the moment. I try kicking out at them, but they just move out of the way. I then try something different, and stop fighting all together, causing me to be deadweight, but then one grabs my upper body,

this point, and the tears begin to flow. Suddenly, we stop and my legs drop to the ground, but whoever has hold of my upper body secures their hold as the other

us, Ella, so we wanted to throw you a going away

was up to! She was the only one who knew that I was leaving. That was quick, she must

one of them slaps me, “Since you like it rough, we figured we would have a little fun,”

hands grab hold of them, helping his friend to get the job done. I’m full out crying while they laugh and pull off my pants and underwear. They next pull off my coat and tear my shirt

this under your clothing!” It’s Mason that grunts

minute or so, I would have had her naked before you came into the restroom pretending to be her

in horror, as Toby’s words sink in. Mason never wanted to be my friend; he was using me! Jace

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Trust No One

along; Mason is a piece of shit! I shriek as one of them grab my nipples through my bra and pinch them hard, before Toby turns me

as he squeezes my butt cheeks, “Wish there

hitting her, if that’s what you’re going to do! We don’t have all night, and we all need to take our turn with the

will they? I begin to put more effort in trying to break

is out of enjoyment, for their entertainment. My bra is pulled

does

can keep her all to himself while we get nothing. Who does he

impact. I try getting up to run, but I’m back handed, hard, three times in a row. I become dazed and I can feel my body being jostled around. My legs are spread wide and I feel someone kneel between them while hearing a zipper

voice and jerk,” I said

us have our fun

a lot of fun, but if any of you stick your dick in her, you can just forget it! I don’t understand what’s so special about the bitch, that Jace keeps turning me down for her!” I feel her

to be mine!”

kill her!” Mason grabs Kaylee around the waist and

“I hope you liked your going away present, bitch!” she spits on me

be kicked, before they spit on me as well. Mason is the only one left as he squats beside me before leaving, telling me that he could have been good to me if only I gave him a chance. He doesn’t spit on me like the others, no, he takes the gag from my mouth

around for my phone that I know I had in my hand, up until they tore my coat off, so it’s got to be around here somewhere.

seeing me like this. There is only one person that I can call, and I hope to God that he

rings twice

“Jace…” my voice cracks.

baby?” I hear the concern in his voice, and it breaks me.

can you come find

“Where are you, Ella?”

try to explain where I’m at, “Please hurry…I hurt