My Life Exposed

New Friends

I wake up to the sun shining brightly through the livingroom windows. Jace and I must have fallen asleep during our last movie. I wake him gently and remind him that we have school to get to. We get up and try to make ourselves look presentable. When we get to school, we meet our friends out front and make our way inside. Everyone still seems to be staring and whispering about me. Taylor and Kelly walk up to Sarah. Taylor says, "Really? You're going to betray Jade with this trash?" Jace gets mad at the comment and I grab his hand and tell him it's okay. Sarah replies, "Yeah, I traded up for a better crowd. You two should try it sometime." They both laugh and Taylor says, "Not going to happen." She looks at me and says, "Just because Jade may be in some trouble right now doesn't mean we still aren't out to get you. Watch your back Mila, because we will hit you when you're least expecting it." I roll my eyes and say, "Good luck with that. I'm so over all of your drama. You're just annoying now." Kelly says, "Well that's going to change soon because we're going to show the whole world who you really are - a trailer trash whore." They laugh as they walk away. Jace turns to me and says, "Don't let them bother you. They aren't going to do anything." Everyone agrees with Jace and says either way they still have my back. I thank them all and head to class. As I sit down, the teacher walks in, motions to a boy in the front row and says, "Class, let's welcome our new student. Scott Manuel." I look up and my heart sinks into my stomach. What the hell is he doing here? As soon as class ends, I race to catch up with him. I grab his arm and pull him aside and ask, "What the hell are you doing here, Scott?" "Well, Jade and I made a little deal," he says. "What kind of deal," I ask. "I still need money and she is willing to pay if I help destroy you." "Scott, you were my first boyfriend, the first guy I've ever loved. We had such a great relationship. Why are you doing this to me? Why are you trying to hurt me?" "Well, let's see, Mila. You up and left me out of nowhere. You got a new life and a new boyfriend. Your mom dies and you just vanish." "Okay, for one I didn't just vanish. I came to your house and told you that I was leaving to move in with my dad." "Yeah and I was in love with you, but you just left." "You made a deal with my mother to record us having sex for the first time. I wouldn't exactly call that love. You have absolutely no reason to hate me right now, but here you are teaming up with my stepsister to ruin my life." "I'll tell you what. You give me a second chance and I'll stop the plan." "Are you kidding me? Give you a second chance, Scott? I don't have those feelings for you anymore. Not to mention, you broke my trust when you filmed us and tried to blackmail me with it. What makes you think that you even deserve a second chance?" "Because I love you and I want to be with you." "You are crazy, Scott. Do us both a favor and just go home." "Nah, I think I'll stick around for a bit. Have me a little fun." He winks at me and walks away. Are you freaking kidding me? What the hell am I going to do? This guy knows everything about my past, the good and the bad. Just when I think I solve one problem, another one pops up. What in the hell did I do to deserve this shit? I skip class and leave school. I can't handle this today. I walk a few blocks down to the little pond that I found a few months ago. I sit there and enjoy the quiet for a few hours. Jace has called me about 20 times. I finally decided to call him back. He answers right away. "Mila, what happened? Where did you go?" "I just had to get away," I tell him, "Scott transferred to our school and now he plans to work with Jade but he's also begging me to take him back." "Wait, hold on. Scott? At our school? And he's trying to get you back?" "Yes," I say. "Where are you," he asks. I tell him about the pond and he says he will see me in 10 minutes. Jace sits next to me on the bench and puts his arm around me. "I'm sorry that I just left," I tell him, "I just couldn't deal with anything else today." "We were all worried about you, but I understand. I just wish you would've told me sooner so I could have left with you." "Jace, you can't fight all of my battles." He steers my face so that I am looking at him in the eyes and says, "I know that I'm not your boyfriend, but I would do anything to protect you." "I know," I sigh, "I just don't know why Jade wont let this go already. She's already in so much trouble and now she brings my ex back to distract me from you." "Mila, I have to ask, do you still have feelings for him?" I grab his hand and tell him, "Jace, the only person I have feelings for is you and honestly I'm tired of hiding them." So I kiss him like I've never kissed him before and I don't care who sees. He kisses me back and says, "It's about time. I've waited for this for so long. Can we finally stop hiding our feelings from each other?" "Absolutely. The sex tape is out. What else can she do to me?" He hugs and kisses me again and says, "Does this mean I can call you my girlfriend?" I smile and say, "I am your girlfriend and you are my boyfriend." He picks me up and spins me around and says, "Finally! Now should we head back to class?" I laugh and agree. We make it to the hallway right after lunch ends and Jace shouts, "This girl right here is my girlfriend!" I slap him on the arm and say, "Shut up and let's go before we're late for class." Everyone is just staring at us but I don't care. For once, I am actually just happy. Jade or Scott can't take that away from me. Jace and I part ways to enter our classrooms. Scott stops me before I go in and says, "Really? I come back for you and you go and start dating that tool?" "You should have never come back for me," I tell him. "I'm not giving up on us, Mila. I want you and I am determined to show you that you belong with me." "Whatever," I say, and walk into my class. Jade walks in behind me and takes the seat next to me. "So I hear you and Jace are dating now," she asks. "Yes, we are, so get over it," I tell her. "I'll make sure it won't last. Now that Scott is here, it should be real easy," she says. I give her a look and say, "Just give it up already, Jade. You're lucky you're not in jail right now. You may want to consider stopping while you're still ahead." She flashes an evil smile and says, "Do you really think the sex tape is all I have on you? Just wait; there's more to come." "Bring it on, Jade. The whole school already knows you're a mean bully so go ahead and make things worse for yourself. You can try and break me and Jace up but it's not going to work and bringing Scott here isn't going to help you either." "You see Mila, I brought Scott here because he just loves to talk about your past and I'm enjoying hearing it." I look at her in silence. "That's right; be afraid Mila, be very afraid. You don't want some things coming out, just remember that." She moves to her chair and leaves me sitting there speechless. I couldn't move. I don't know what Scott has told her and there's a lot in my past that I'm not proud of. There are things I've had to do just to survive. Since my mother couldn't take care of me, I did what I had to do. Scott knows about all of these dark secrets so of course he is trying to bring them up again. I text Jace to ask if he can meet me at my house after school to talk. I finish up the rest of the day trying to avoid as many people as possible. All I can think about is getting home and coming clean to Jace before he hears it somewhere else. He deserves the truth from me. After school, Jace arrives at my house. "Mila, what's going on," he asks when he walks in. "Please, sit down," I say. "Are you breaking up with me?" "No, I just have to tell you something." "Tell me, babe." "Okay," I take a deep breath, "when I was younger, Scott was like my best friend. He was always there for me when my mom wasn't. I had to do stuff to survive. I met this girl named Sasha who gave me an opportunity to make a lot of money. I was 16 when I got a fake ID to show I was 21. Sasha ran an escort service; I was paid to go on dates with business men. I didn't sleep with any of them, but I went on dates, to their business meetings, and to social gatherings. I made a lot of money. It was going okay, until one guy tried to take it too far. He thought I would have sex with him and I told him no and he got a little rough with me and thankfully Scott saved me from that situation. After that night, I quit and got a regular job at a grocery store. Scott never told anyone about it and he was there for me to put me back together and I think that's why he's here again. To bring up my past and try to break me so he can put me back together again. He pretty much made that very clear this morning. I know he's told Jade about all of this and Jade is just waiting to use this against me. Jace, I can't go back to being the victim; I refuse to be that person. I certainly wont let Scott try and use this to get closer to me." Jace gives looks at me and says, "I will kick his ass if he tries anything with you. I also will not let Jade come between us. Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me this. I told you that whatever you did in your past will not change how I feel about you. Mila, are you ready for the fight of your life to secure our future and make sure Jade and Scott don't ruin it?" "As long as you're beside me I am ready for anything." "We'll find a way to make him go home. I don't like him here." I laugh lightly and say, "You don't have a thing to worry about." Jace grabs my hand and says, "Mila, I just got you and I'm sure as hell not going to lose you. Especially not to Jade or Scott." I smile and say, "I agree." I climb onto his lap and kiss him. It feels so good to just kiss him and not have to worry about anyone seeing. "Okay Jace, let's fight. It's time to go to our families to tell them everything and see what can be done."