Fighting to be Free by Kirsty Moseley (29 page)

"Hi, where's your date?" I asked, looking around for whoever he was with tonight.

He frowned. "I came on my own. I didn't want to bring someone to a dance if it wasn't you," he replied, shrugging.

I winced slightly and hoped that Jamie didn't come over right now; I didn’t want trouble between them. The atmosphere when they were near each other at the after game parties was so tense that you could almost cut it with a knife. "Oh," was the only thing that I could think of to respond to that remark.

He smiled sadly. "Want to dance?" he asked.

I laughed and waved down at myself and the group of people that I was dancing with. "I'm already dancing," I countered.

He nodded off to one side, so that we would be dancing 'together' instead of just part of a group.

"On our own?" he asked, raising on eyebrow.

I flicked my eyes to Jamie again, he was still on the phone, running a hand through his hair, he looked stressed. "Umm…."

Mark sighed and took my hand. "You're allowed to dance with another guy, I'm sure," he stated, pulling me off to one side, away from the group.

I looked at him disbelievingly. If we were still dating there would be no way he would have let me dance with another guy, so that statement was just stupid. Jamie probably wouldn't mind though because he wasn't the possessive type like Mark was.

We danced awkwardly together; I had no clue why he couldn't just give it up already. Ten weeks was a long time to still be pining after someone. After about thirty seconds an arm snaked around my shoulders. I jumped and looked up to see Jamie; he was frowning in Mark's direction. "Thanks for looking after my girlfriend for me," he stated, putting emphasis around the 'my' part.

Mark's jaw tightened. "No problem, she was looking a little neglected. Phone call important, was it?" he asked, smirking at him.

Jamie seemed to stiffen as he nodded. "It was, but I'm done now." He turned to me and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, little girl. I'm all yours now, I promise."

He cupped my face in his hands and kissed me. I knew this was for show, this was for Mark's benefit more than mine but I kissed him back regardless. Everything else faded away when Jamie kissed me, my eyes fluttered closed and I literally could have been anywhere and it wouldn't matter so long as his lips didn't leave mine. I crushed myself to him, wrapping my arms around his waist, wanting to melt into him and stay there forever. But as with all good things, they have to end sometime. He pulled out of the kiss and smiled, stroking my face with his thumb. Glancing to the side, I saw that Mark had already walked off, probably so he didn't witness us kissing - that was probably Jamie's intention.

His nose trailed up the side of mine. "Sorry," he whispered.

I shook my head dismissively. "Don’t worry about it. Is everything okay?" I asked curiously.

He sighed and nodded, putting on a fake smile, probably so I wouldn't ask about it. "Yeah fine.

Want to get some fresh air or something? I have a headache," he replied, nodding back towards the gym doors.

I smiled sympathetically. It was probably the music that was giving him a headache; it was pretty loud in here. "Sure."

I followed him outside, smiling as he slipped off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders as we stepped into the cold night air. He walked over to the little brick wall and sat down, taking my hand and pulling me towards him gently so I was standing in-between his legs, our faces level. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he looked at me. He gripped the edges of his jacket, pulling it closed around my body as he pressed himself closer to me keeping me warm. My eyes locked on his and I seemed to get caught in his gaze as his hand stroked up and down my back softly. We didn’t speak, I just looked at his handsome face and memorised every inch of it. The music playing in the background, the stars shining down on us, the solitude, all of it was perfect and almost magical.

"How are you feeling now?" I asked after a couple of minutes, stroking his face softly.

He blew out a big breath and shook his head, rubbing his forehead. "It's pretty bad actually. Right above my eyes," he replied. "You don't have any pills for it, do you?"

I shook my head apologetically. I usually carried pain killers on me, but I only had that stupid little clutch bag with me tonight. "No, sorry I don't. Maybe we could try and get you something from the first aid room?" I suggested.

He smiled and shook his head. "Nah, it'll go in a little while. Want to go back in?" he asked, standing back up again. I tried not to notice that he was checking his watch again as we walked back into the gym. It was almost as if he was counting down the minutes until this would be over or something.

After another hour his headache was getting worse. He was putting on a brave face but he kept rubbing at his forehead, wincing. I was sobering up now because I'd stopped drinking when he said he wasn't feeling well. His phone was continuously buzzing and beeping in his pocket but he didn't answer it again, just rejected all calls that came through.

He sighed deeply and shook his head at around ten thirty. "Ellie, I'm gonna have to go home, I'm sorry. My head feels like it's gonna explode," he moaned.

I nodded quickly; I didn't mind leaving now actually. I would rather just leave if he was poorly anyway. "Okay, let me just find Stacey and tell her we're leaving, and then we can call a cab," I replied, looking around for my best friend or Paul.

Jamie took my hand squeezing gently to get my attention. "I'd rather leave you here with Stacey. That way you could enjoy the rest of the night and I'll get home quicker if I don't have to get the cab to drop you home first," he said.

I frowned. "We'll get the cab to drop you home first then it can take me on to my place. I don't want to stay here without you anyway," I countered.

He shook his head fiercely. "I'm not letting you be on your own in a cab. If we leave together I'll have to take you to your place and then go home after that. If you stay here then Paul can drive you home at half past eleven like he was supposed to in the first place. It's easier this way," he explained.

I sighed. He was always sweet like that, protective; not wanting me to be in a cab on my own was a typical Jamie thing to do. "Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?" I asked, looking at him worriedly.

He smiled and nodded, looking at me softly. "Stop worrying about me. I'll be fine. Let's go find Paul so I can make him promise to get you home safe," he suggested, slipping his arm around my waist, leading me through the crowd. We found Paul laughing with a group of the football team, including Mark. Jamie patted his arm to get his attention. "Paul, I have to go, I feel like shit. You'll take Ellie home for me, right?" he asked, looking at him sternly.

Paul grinned and nodded. "Of course, man. You okay?"

Jamie nodded. "Yeah, I think I have a migraine coming or something. I just need to go home."

Paul squeezed his shoulder. "That's shit. Feel better, dude."

Jamie nodded. "Just watch out for my girl, okay?" He tightened his arm on my waist, looking at me worriedly.

"Sure thing," Paul replied. Jamie did the manly arm punch thing that I guess was bro code for thanks, and then led me off through the crowd again.

"Want me to help you find Stacey before I go?" he asked, cocking his head to the side, looking like he really didn’t want to leave me here at all.

I smiled and waved my hand dismissively. "I'll be fine. Now it's my turn to tell you to stop worrying about me," I teased, going up on tiptoes and kissing his lips gently. "Just go. Go home to bed and call me in the morning, okay?"

He nodded, stroking the side of my face, looking at me apologetically. "I really wish I didn't have to go. I'm so sorry, little girl. I'll make it up to you I promise," he whispered, kissing me again.

I smiled against his lips. "Stop apologising, you're not feeling good, that's nothing that can be helped. Go get some sleep," I instructed.

He smiled and slipped off his jacket again, holding it out to me. "You keep that; it'll be cold later when you leave. Stay inside, and don't go wandering off in this hot little dress, it's way too tempting for guys not to ravage you when you look like this," he teased, winking at me. I laughed and he kissed my forehead, putting the jacket into my hands. "Want to meet me for lunch or something tomorrow?"

I frowned. "You still going out with Callum tomorrow night?"

He nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor, shifting on his feet. Jamie was a terrible liar. I tried not to think about what he was really doing tomorrow night, maybe he was meeting someone else, or maybe he just didn't want to see me and he was going to break it off with me tomorrow lunchtime instead…..

"Okay, yeah, lunchtime then. Call me in the morning," I agreed, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"I will. See ya," he replied, squeezing my hand gently before he turned and walked out of the door, leaving me on my own in the middle of a school dance. I sighed and looked down at his jacket, stroking my hand on the material, trying not to cry because this just kind of confirmed my suspicions that it really was over. That he was over me.

"You okay?"

I turned to see Mark standing there, smiling a little smugly. I nodded in response, putting on a fake smile so he wouldn't know I was upset. "Yep," I lied. I headed over to the drinks table and downed another glass of punch.

"Think maybe he's gonna go meet that chick he's been texting all night?" Mark asked from my side.

Oh God. Why had it never even entered my head that it might have been a girl that was distracting him all night? I swallowed and poured myself another glass of punch. "No. He's gone home to bed.

He's not feeling well," I replied, trying to make my words sound true. Even I could hear the doubt in my voice though.

Mark laughed. "Yeah, sure," he agreed sarcastically. "Want to dance?" he asked, raising one eyebrow.

I shook my head in rejection. I just needed to go home now too, I didn't want to be here without Jamie, there was no point in me waiting for Stacey and Paul, my night was ruined already so why string it out for another hour? "No thanks. I think I'm just gonna get a cab home." I pushed myself away from the table and headed over to Paul again, gripping his sleeve. He smiled down at me.

"Hey, I think I'm just gonna get a cab home. Tell Stacey I said bye, okay?"

He frowned and shook his head. "Jamie would have my balls if I let you leave here on your own.

You know what he's like," he countered.

I smiled reassuringly. "He won't know if we don't tell him. I'll be fine. See you Monday. Tell Stacey I'll call her tomorrow." I patted his back and headed off quickly before he would have a chance to stop me. He was right, Jamie would be seriously pissed if he found out I was leaving on my own.

He was very protective like that. As I walked through the crowd I slipped on his jacket, immediately engulfed by his smell. I sighed and stepped out of the building, opening my little clutch bag as I headed over to the same wall we'd sat at earlier.

I pulled out my cell and dialled the local cab firm, but the lady told me they didn't have anything for an hour. The other number I had stored in my contacts list, just rang continuously. I debated calling my dad and asking him to pick me up but it was already eleven and he was probably in bed already.

I tried the second cab company again, but to no avail. The way I saw it I had two options: one, go back inside and wait for the dance to finish so Paul could drive me home. Or two, walk home. It was only about thirty minutes and it wasn't too cold tonight.

I sighed and pushed myself away from the wall, I didn't want to wait anymore; I wanted to just go home and get this day over with already.

After about three minutes of walking down the street, car headlights lit the road next to me, a car pulled up behind me, keeping pace with me. I gulped and walked a little faster, trying not to look, silently wishing I hadn't decided to walk. This was an okay area, but it was late, and dark, and I was in a stupid little dress. I should have put a sign over my head saying
'defenceless, slightly drunk
teenager, please feel free to attack me'
. My stomach started to ache as I thought about all the things that could possibly happen to me. My God, I was stupid! The car horn blasted making me yelp and flick my eyes to the car. It was too dark for me to see properly, plus the lights were on full, hurting my eyes. I turned back and walked a little faster, praying that there would be a cop car parked at the end of the street or something.

I pulled out my cell phone, getting Jamie's number up on the screen ready to call him. I knew he would help me, even whilst sick he would race here and pick me up if I called him and told him I was frightened. I snuck a glance at the car to see it was still following me, just about three feet behind me, slowly creeping along.

"Oh shit," I mumbled. I quickly stopped and slipped off my heels in case I needed to run. In my mind I planned out where I would go. The school was the closest place to me; I could cut down the next street, double back and run back there. Hopefully the person in the car wouldn't jump out and grab me and force me into the sex slave trade or something else horrifying like that.

My cell phone buzzed in my hand, Ridin' Solo started blasting from the speaker. I frowned, that was the ring tone I still had on there for Mark, I'd forgotten to change it after we broke up. I started walking again quickly, like a half run half walk, my shoes knocking together in my hand.

"Mark?" I answered. Maybe he could come and meet me if I told him I needed him to come and get me.

"Yeah. Ellie, will you stop walking? Why are you ignoring me?" he asked incredulously.

Ignoring him? What was that about? "Huh?" I mumbled, sneaking another look at the car, but it hadn't started up again; it was just stopped where I had stopped seconds before to take off my shoes.

"Ellie, just get in the car and stop behaving like a drama queen. You shouldn't be walking home in the dark," he replied.

"Car?" I mumbled. Without easing up on my run-walk, I looked at the car again and squinted through the glare of the lights to see the car was black, and sleek, and expensive looking. I felt my body relax as I realised that it wasn't some deranged axe murderer that was following me and honking at me, it was Mark! I laughed and disconnected the call, sprinting to his car and throwing open the door. I had actually never been gladder to see him in my life. "Oh God, you scared me," I scolded, climbing in and punching him in the arm.