You're Mine

Chapter 5

I got to the library around 5 like I promised and Lance is no where to be found... Maybe he stood me up? I read a little bit more of my book and end up falling asleep on the table.

Just for a little while. I wake up to the sound of my phone going off. Lance text me that he is on his way and should be there by 7. I get up and start looking at random books. I find Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach. Annoyed that I am tempted to pick up, I pull it from the shelf and sit on the ground. I think the last time I read this book was in 6th grade and there he was yesterday reading it as a senior in high school.

I start reading again but ultimately fall asleep on the floor against the bookshelf. I feel a hand in my hair. It feels so warm. It reminds me of my Father's when I would fall asleep in my room and he would come visit me to say goodnight. The hand pulls away and I groggily grab for it. I look up and see Lance squatting in front of me. Still groggy and confused, I don't let go of his hand.

"What time is it?" I ask.

"8." I take a better look at him. He had a bruise forming on the side of his face. I let go of his hand and reach both of my hands to his face.

"What happened to your face?" I ask. He grabs my wrists so I wouldn't touch him. He wouldn't say anything. I stand up and grab his hand and pull him to the small closet kitchen in the library. He slowly moves.

"What are you doing?" he asks.

" I'm getting you some ice." He starts limping with me. Everyone is staring at us as we head over there. We finally get into the small kitchen. I sit him down at the table. I collect some ice from the ice machine and put it in a bag. I slightly put it on his face. He winces when I make contact with him.

"What happened Lance?" He doesn't say anything. I remembered that he was holding his side when we were walking. I place my hand on his side. He winces. I don't break eye contact with him. I lift his shirt waiting for him to make a facial reaction telling me to stop.

There is a bruise from his stomach up his ribcage. I cover my mouth.

"Shit, Lance." I whisper. I get out of my chair and grab more ice. Now I am panicking. It must have been Viper stuff he was up to. I feel a lump forming in my throat. I can barely keep my hands still. I never stomached violence well. I have to control my breathing. I put it on his side and put saran wrap around it to keep it from falling.

"Rosie." He says. I have to keep wrapping it. "Ros.." His voice becomes distorted. Why did this happen??? He puts his hands on my cheeks and makes me make eye contact with him. "ROSIE!" He yells. I snap out of my trance again. Tears start forming in my eyes. He has been nothing but kind... Why did this happen to him?

"Please... tell me what happened." I say softly. He looks down and sighs and scratches his head.

"I got beat up by some Jackals." He says finally. So it was gang stuff.

"But they are all on the north side... Why??" I ask. He places the ice back on his face.

"I had to do something for my brother over there."

"Does this happen often?" I ask.

"Not that often, but quite enough." I rub my face and lean back into my seat.

What have I gotten myself into?

"Rosie..." He says again. I lean my head against his shoulder.

"Please don't say anything... I need a moment to process this." This is the main reason why I have to leave. I can't handle violence well at all. Seeing people hurt like this.... it hurts too much. I feel his arms wrap around me and pull me in tighter. There goes the smell of cigarettes and vanilla.

"I am really sorry." I wrap my arms around him and cry in his shoulder. He pulls my face to his... Tears are streaming down my face. He just stares into my eyes. What does he see? The smallest tear escapes his eyes.

The doors open. The librarian pops her head in nervously. "I am sorry but I am closing to library... Its past curfew." My mouth drops. Holy shit I am so dead!

"Shit." Lance mutters he pulls my arm and leaves the library. "You have to leave with out me. It will look bad if I stay with you. I don't want people to know you're with me like that..." I understand his concern, but I don't want to leave him alone on the streets.

Will he be okay?

"I better see you at school..." I say to him. "I won't forgive you if you don't." He nods. I sprint on home not looking back.

Damn it Mrs.Donnabee.

I turn on my street.

"HEY YOU! You know curfew is at 9!" I stop and turn around.

"I stayed at the library too long and overslept. My house is on this corner." The cop walks up to me.

"Show me." I nervously get up on my lawn and open the door. I turn to look at the cop he shakes his head and walks away. "Get home on time next time!" I get into the house and see my mother and Tony waiting for me.

"What the hell happened?!" said Tony.

I put my bags down and take off my jacket. "I had homework to do."

"Past curfew? Why does it look like you were crying?" My mom adds.

" I wasn't crying Mom. I was waiting for my partner and I overslept he came late." Her eyes bugs out of her sockets.

"HE?!" I roll my eyes. Really?

"Who is he?" Tony asks. Don't start acting like a dad now. I ignore him and grab my bags to go up to my room.

"ROSE ALEXANDRA VEGA!" Stop in my tracks. I curse under my breath. I turn around to face him.

"Some guy my teacher partnered me up with. Would you just relax? It was a mistake it won't happen again." I continue going upstairs.

"Your right it won't. Because of you Gloria got picked up late. The school called me to pick her up." Tony says as I walk all the way to my room. I totally forgot about Gloria. I kind of feel bad but they just piss me off.

I slam the door and lay on my bed.

I wonder if he got home safe.

Rosie: Did you make it home okay?

I didn't here from him so I took a shower and got ready to do my AP BIO work. I ate some snacks in my room because I didn't want to face my parents for the rest of the night.

My cell phone rings. It's a call from Lance. I stare at it in shock. A gang member is calling me!? Okay I need to breath and calm down. I have never gotten a call from a boy before... I take a huge breath and answer the phone.

"Hello?" I say nervously.

"Hey, I made it home. I figure you wouldn't believe me through text so I am calling." A smile forms on my face.

"I am glad to hear that. Make sure you keep icing your bruises so they can heal faster."

"I will. Thanks." He doesn't say anything after that for a while. It felt like a long time. "Rosie, I think maybe you should ask Miss Donnabee to switch partners." I sigh and rub my face.

"I all ready tried she told me no." Then I wince... Shit. That could be misunderstood. He may think that I don't want to work with him.

"I could talk to her... I can work alone." Doesn't he want to work with me too?

"I mean at the very beginning I asked but I am okay with it now. Since I know you a lot better... I want you to be my partner."

There is a long pause. I hold my breath waiting for his response.

"I see... If that's how it is... I am glad... I have to go but I will see you tomorrow."

"H-Have a goodnight." I get out.

"You too." I hang up the phone and place my head on the desk. My heart is beating so fast. It's all over thank goodness.

Another day in the books.