Page 11 of Hidden Truths

I turn back around and start to walk away when a voice from the past stops me in my tracks.

“Arabella, can we talk for a minute?” Fallon speaks up, his voice washing over me and sparking something I buried deep a long time ago.

“No, we can’t. I don’t have anything to say to you. To any of you. There are plenty of people here you can get help with anything you need, Fallon. Leave me alone. You’ve done it very well for the past ten years. Don’t stop it now,” I say, keeping my eyes on Brock and only him.

“Please, Bella. It’s important,” he says, his voice showing how vulnerable he is right now.

Well, I’ve been vulnerable for the last ten years and no one has given a shit about me or what’s been going on in my life. Without saying another word, I keep walking as if Fallon never once said anything to me. All the guys have gotten extremely good at ignoring me and not stopping their little group of sluts from making my life miserable. I don’t need to hear anything he has to say to me after so long. None of them could possibly have anything to say that I’d want to hear.

However, since starting here, I’ve had more interaction with these guys than in the last ten years combined. This is not how I envisioned my college career going at all. I thought I’d be able to hide out and stay hidden from everyone that hurt me in high school. I’ve been so naïve about everything and I don’t like how it makes me feel. As with every single day of my life, today is just another day that I’m proven how stupid I truly am. Everything I thought would happen in college isn’t. My bullies are still as mean as ever and go out of their ways to ensure my life is nothing but pure hell.

Before we leave the library, Brock puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me close to his side. For the first time I feel safe walking around this campus. Brock has proven he’ll be at my side and defend me against those who want to hurt me. He doesn’t force me to talk when I’m not ready to or ask me a million questions about what the hell has happened to me. He lets me process things and only speak about things I’m ready to disclose to him. Brock is the best friend I could ever have in my life. I don’t know what I did to deserve his friendship, but I’m going to treasure it every single day.

As the door closes behind us, I can still feel the eyes of the guys staring me down. Why can’t they leave me the hell alone as they’ve been doing for so long?

“I’m not gonna ask about what that shit was, Arabella. You know I won’t ever push you to talk about things you don’t want to. I know your life is shitty and that you hide secrets from everyone around you. Just know that I’m not ever gonna leave your side. Anythin’ you tell me, I’ll take to my grave. I’m proud of you for stickin’ up for yourself with Amy. She’s no better than those other sluts. Just lookin’ for a man with the largest bank account so she doesn’t have to work a day in her life for anythin’ she wants,” Brock says as we make our way across the campus with multiple people staring at us.

“Thank you, Brock. I’m done with her shit. I should’ve known that she was going to be a problem when she tried to force me to do her work for her instead of helping her learn the material herself,” I tell him, my voice no more than a whisper because I’m embarrassed at the compliment from Brock.

I won’t ever know how to accept a compliment from anyone. The last person to be proud of me or show me any kind of love was my dad. For the last ten years, I’ve lived in hell and no one has stopped for a second to help me or offer me any kind of way out.

“If you need anythin’, call me, Arabella. I’ll always be here for you,” he says, squeezing me just a little bit as we make it to the gate of the campus.

“I know, Brock. That means more to me than you’ll ever know. Now, get to practice before you get in trouble. I’ll see you tomorrow, Brock,” I tell him as he finally releases me from his hold so I can start the long walk home.

“I’m goin’. I’ll see you tomorrow, Arabella. Why don’t you get some rest tonight and we’ll work together tomorrow. And don’t think I’m not gonna say anythin’ to the Dean about what Professor Rollins is doin’ to you. I’ve got an appointment with him tomorrow,” Brock informs me as I stop and turn to face him.

“Don’t do that, Brock. Just let it go. If you tell the Dean what’s going on, the target on my back will only become larger and I’ll be the one to suffer,” I plead with him, knowing he’s going to do what he wants at the end of the day, but hoping he’ll take in my words and hear the desperation filling my voice.

“Are you sure? I’m sure the Dean will put an end to his treatment of you. Probably the treatment from Karmen and the others as well,” he says, concern filling his face.

“No. Karmen doesn’t ever get in trouble for anything she does. I’ve been down this same road with her for years. I thought she might actually grow up over the summer, but I was wrong about that. I only have four years before I can get the fuck outta of High Point,” I tell him, trying to put a smile he’ll believe on my face.

Brock doesn’t say anything in response. He simply watches me walk away from campus while biting his tongue. I turn back around and head away from school. My mind is in turmoil about what Fallon suddenly had to say to me. There truly is no reason for him to want to have any kind of conversation with me after everything we’ve been through. I’m content with only having Mrs. Andrews and Brock in my life. I don’t need to hear any false bullshit from Fallon or the rest of the guys. Vinnie will always be my first priority and no one will ever take him from me. Everything I do for the rest of my life will be for my brother.

First Piece of Truth

Kash

THE SECOND ARABELLA leaves the library with Brock’s arm around her shoulders, we all decide to leave as well. There’s no reason for us to remain here when the entire reason we’ve been sitting in here has now left. Arabella stood up for herself for the first time and I wanted to go up and tell her how fucking proud of her I am. But, I know she won’t appreciate that shit from me. It appears as if she’s getting whatever it is she needs from Brock. I know Fallon said they spent all of their time together, but it’s completely different to actually see how she interacts with him. None of us know anything about Brock aside from the fact that he’s new to High Point and plays football with Braxtyn, Dash, and Fallon. He doesn’t go out and party like everyone else and only spends time with Arabella. I’ve never seen him with a girl of his own. Maybe they really are together. My heart breaks at the thought of her being with someone who isn’t one of us.

Together, we walk to our house on campus and ignore everyone who tries to capture our attention. Today is one of the rare times I don’t have my face buried in my tablet, depending on the guys to guide me around any obstacles in my way. Dash and Fallon are the main two who lead me on the path we’re supposed to be following. Right now, my mind is spinning with the thought of what’s really going on with Arabella and Brock. I’ll be in front of my computers soon enough and don’t need to be on my tablet right this second. It’s mainly for when I’m not at home and I don’t want to have anyone’s attention on me.

The second we enter the door, Dante stops us all in our tracks with a few words.

“We need to find out what the fuck is goin’ on with Sunshine. She literally bumped into me at the gate of campus on her way inside a few days ago and yelped in pain. Someone beat the absolute hell out of her. I saw the bruises on her arms and I’m sure that’s not the only place she’s hurt. In fact I know it’s not. With her hair down actin’ as a fuckin’ shield against the world, I’m positive her face has marks on it as well. But it’s her ribs and I imagine most of her body. I tried to get her to tell me what the fuck happened to her, but she refused and walked away from me,” he informs us, anger filling his face as he looks at each one of us.

“You’re just now fuckin’ tellin’ us this shit?” Fallon questions him as all of our levels of anger rise and fill the living room of the house we share on campus.

“Yeah. None of us are home at the same time and I don’t want to have to repeat myself multiple times with the same fuckin’ information,” he says, his voice cold and hard as he looks around the room again.

Before I can respond, my phone starts vibrating in my pocket. I pull it out and groan in response when I see my father’s name on the screen. He’s the last person I want to talk to right now. I’m not in the mood to ever talk to him, but today is really not a good day when my entire world is shifting and I don’t know what the fuck I can do to stop it from happening.

Taking a deep breath, I hit the answer button and put the phone to my ear. “Hello, Father.”

Everyone in the room around me goes silent because we all know when one of our fathers call us, it’s never going to be a good thing. They’re simply going to issue some order or demand and try to force us to bend to their will. I’m so fucking over this shit. I’m not a minor any longer and yet my father still feels as if he can control me with a few well-placed words and threats. He can cut me off from his money, but he can’t take away the money from my mom or my grandparents despite his effort to get his hands on the money that’s in my name.

“Kash, what the fuck are you doing?” he barks into the phone and his voice lets me know he’s been drinking and he’s pissed as fuck.

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