Chapter Four: Welcome Home 1/2

I woke up to the familiar alarm, and I sighed.

Benny groaned from across the room “Is it Wednesday already?”

I nodded after I glanced at my phone.

She groaned again before sitting up.

“Why can’t it be Friday already?” she asked.

I smiled lightly at her.

It already felt like home here, and I was enjoying it.

The classes are still very new to me, and I still need some getting used to those, but everything else felt better.

“Are you hungry?” Benny asked.

I nodded.

We were up a little earlier today to eat breakfast, and I was thankful. It was delicious.

We sat in the cafeteria, and I ate while Benny spent her eating time texting Gus.

“Love birds,” I smiled.

She grinned up at me “Are you still up for this weekend?”

I nodded, “What are we doing?”

“Michael insists on mini-golfing,” she said, “So I guess we will be doing that.”

I nodded slowly. He insists?

Why did he insist?

“Did he say why?” I asked her.

She shook her head “He said he just really wanted to golf.”

I felt myself smile.

Even though it probably wasn’t for me, I could still believe for now that it was.

The King can be quite generous, indeed.

I smile wider at Benny. “Mini-golfing sounds fun.”

++++++++++

I sat next to Benny in cooking class, and I frowned at the yarn and the colorful sticks.

I know they weren’t sticks, but I didn’t know what they were called.

“Do you know how to knit?” I asked Benny.

She made a face, “Not really.”

We were both screwed.

“Maybe we can ask Michael,” Benny stated.

I looked at her funny.

“What?” I asked.

“Michael can knit,” she stated.

“Can Gus?” I asked.

She shook her head.

I wasn’t sure how to process this new information.

Michael, the King, can knit? Juvenile Michael?

That was honestly the last thing I’d expect him to be able to do.

Benny smiled at me, “His grandmother taught him when he was younger.”

“What about his mom?” I asked.

She looked at me, “There are very few things that can’t be brought up in a conversation where Michael is involved. His mother is one of them.”

“Can I ask why?” I asked her.

“You can ask,” she stated, “But it isn’t for me to tell you.”

I nodded slowly, so I was right then. Something to do with his parents was one of the reasons he was the way that he is now.

“And I can’t ask him about it?” I asked.

“Only if you want him to hit you,” she said, “I’ve seen him go off on quite a few people because of it.”

“Really?” I asked. That sounded kind of scary.

“It’s been a while, though,” she said.

He wouldn’t really hit me… would he?

What if I told him about how brutally I was picked on? I had to stop the thought, I had already told him.

“Michael won’t care,” she interrupted my thoughts.

“You don’t know what I was thinking,” I stated.

“You could tell him that you were raped, and he still wouldn’t tell you,” she sighed.

That was kind of… wow, alright.

“Do you know about it?”

She nodded, and I saw her face.

He must have had it pretty bad as a kid, but he had Benny and Gus, so that probably made it better.

At least I know part of the reason Benny worries so much about him.

“Was it really that bad?” I asked.

She met my gaze before nodding, “Yes.”

I felt a pain in my chest. I want to know what happened.

His mother hurt him? The scars on his back…

I didn’t ask anything else about it, and I could see Benny relax.

“Hopefully, he can teach us how to knit,” I said, “Because I am hopeless.”

I knew I would wonder about them. The memory of the tree popped into my mind.

I smiled sheepishly at her, and she smiled back.

Poor Michael, his mother, must have beat him.

How old was he? When did it finally stop?

The bell rang, and I left Benny to head to Fitness.

I went into a bathroom stall to change into the dark gray sweats and the pink shirt Benny had got me. After I was dressed and my clothes were in a locker, I headed outside.

I was free to sit on my ass for the rest of the week because of the gate incident.

So, I sit in my usual spot, yes, the one near the very same gate.

A shiver ran down my body once I felt a vibration from my leg.

The only one dumb enough to text me right now was Michael.

I still hadn’t read that message he sent. I didn’t want to know either.

I just sat still as I watched everyone play Tennis or Basketball.

My phone went off again, and again.

I pulled it out to see that it was a phone call.

Part of me wanted to ignore it, the other part didn’t.

I pressed the green accept button.

“Hello,” I said.

“Ignoring me today?” he asked, amused.

His voice was a little deeper on the phone, and I already hated what his voice was doing to me.

I glanced behind me to see him sitting alone.

“Obviously not,” I said, “I did answer the phone.”

He chuckled, “Yeah, you did.”

I waited a minute, but he didn’t say more.

“I actually have a question for you,” I said.

He took in a breath, “What is it?”

“I have a project in Home Ec., and Benny told me that you know how to knit, and I just wanted to know if you could help me with it?”

“Knitting?” he asked, “It isn’t like a five-minute project, knitting takes hours.”

I made a face. Did I sound like I just asked him to do it for me?

“I didn’t mean for you to do it for me,” I stated, “I just don’t know how to knit at all.”

I expected a laugh, but I didn’t hear one.

“I can teach you,” he stated.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Hold on,” he said quickly.

I turned around to see a few people walk up to him. All of them wore the same black pants and a white button-down shirt and gray tie, except for the girl. She wore a knee-length black skirt.

I hadn’t really noticed it before, but they had a uniform.

Voice One: “Who are you talking to?”

Girl: “Is it your girlfriend?”

Voice Two: “Damn, Michael, another one already?”

Michael: “Do you guys mind?” he asked, irritated, “I’m trying to have a conversation.”

Girl: “With who?”

Voice Three: “Yeah, I’m interested too.”

Michael: “None of your fucking business.”

I sat there awkwardly. Was I meant to hear this?

Voice Two: “Damn, is this one that good?”

Voice One: “I Doubt it, Michael has an addiction to the pussy. She’d break before he was satisfied.”

I frowned, but I strangely found that interesting.

“M-Michael?” I asked, “I can always talk to you later.”

Michael: “Fuck that,” he said before sighing, “I’m sorry you have to hear these fucking idiots.”

“I don’t mind, I just…” I was interrupted.

Girl: “Excuse me?” she asked, offended.

Michael: “Shut up,” he snapped “I’m trying to listen.”

I hesitated before continuing.

“I just don’t know what they are going to say,” I stated, “Or if they’ll say something you don’t want me to hear.”

Michael: “That won’t be a problem,” he said, “I can find a bathroom.”

“Why a bathroom?” I practically squeaked.

Voice One: “Kinky.”

Voice Three: “That easy, huh?”

Girl: “What a fucking slut.”

I felt myself getting nervous.

Michael: “She is not a slut, unlike you, so shut the fuck up.”

It was definitely awkward now.

Michael: “You’re a dumb fucking cunt Mandy,” he hissed at her. “Learn to shut that dumb fucking trap of yours.”

It was silent now.

No one came to her rescue, and even she didn’t try to defend herself.

“Don’t you think that was kind of harsh?” I asked him.

“Not even a little bit.”

He really sounded like he didn’t care at all.

There was a minute of silence, and I looked back to where he was before, and he was gone, the other four now occupied the spot.

“Since I’m going to the bathroom anyway,” he said, “Want to make some noises for me?”

My whole body felt his words.

“Why would I?” I tried not to hiss.

“I can get her to suck my dick while you make the noises. It will feel more like the real thing.”

“I don’t want to be a part of that,” I ground my teeth.

What an asshole.

I had to think for a minute before I said anything.

“Do you really have a sex addiction?”

“And if I do?” he asked, “Will you?”

“Why do you even want me to?” I hissed.

“I can always do it myself, and you can listen.”

“Stop messing around,” I hissed.

“Who said I was kidding?” he asked.

His voice didn’t give him away, I think he is serious.

“Why?” I asked.

“Why?” he hissed. “Is that all you ever ask?”

“I thought I was off-limits,” I said in a pleading tone.

“I don’t see you in front of me,” he stated, “I’m not touching you, so stop whining.”

Was he serious?

“Seriously?” I asked.

“Did I strike a nerve?” he hissed.

“Not what I meant,” I said, feeling my whole body shake.

“Then please specify,” he said.

“Are you seriously going to the bathroom to do that?”

“Do what?” he asked irritated.

“I knew you were messing with me,” I glared at the ground.

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” he stated, “I could have a shy bladder, maybe a little noise from you would help distract me.”

“Liar,” I growled.

“It’s not like it matters anyway.”

“I am tired of you messing with me,” I hissed.

There was a short silence.

I barely heard the ding from the other end.

“Michael?” I asked.

“I’m not messing with you,” he stated, “Now, are you going to listen or not?”