Less than Perfect by S. J. Evans (librera reader .TXT) 📖

way around the counter and over to her. He touched her shoulder gently with one hand and crouched so that he was closer to her. “What’s wrong, Skye?”
She sniffled and brushed away her tears. “It’s nothing,” she mumbled between a quiet sob.
“Hey, it’s okay, what happened?” He said gently, rubbing his hand on her other shoulder. “You can tell me, I’m not going to tell anyone.”
“It’s nothing; I just didn’t want Bryan to leave. It doesn’t matter, Jules, I don’t want to talk to you, okay?” She pulled herself out of the chair, dropped the money on the table, and took a deep breath. “Goodbye, Jules.”
She pushed herself passed him, leaving him staring with disbelief after her. He called her name but she was too far away to stop. She couldn’t turn back though, she had promised Bryan that she wouldn’t be around him and she couldn’t let him down, no matter how many times he had let her down.
She ran out the door into the oppressing heat and let out a desperate sob. Her mind was swimming with pictures of Jules, pictures of his beautiful face and his breathtaking smile. She wanted to cry for everything; for Bryan’s anger, for Jules’ confusion, for Johnny’s abuse, and for Leah’s complete lack of knowing the truth. She wouldn’t though, she had to be strong enough.
Instead of walking towards home she wandered the streets, anger flaring through her veins as she thought about Jules’ face when she had left. He looked helpless, confused, shocked, and sad. She hated that she had let him down and hadn’t given him a chance because of the mess with Bryan.
“Hey Skye, need a ride?” Came a familiar voice.
Jules!

Skye whirled around and looked at the boy staring back at her in a Mustang convertible. “Jules? H-how did you get off work so fast? And how’d you find me?” She scrambled to find the words, her heart suddenly speeding up.
He ruffled his hair and pulled on his neck nervously. “Actually, I was dying to take a break from work, and when you left in such a hurry I thought it was the perfect time. Do you want to get some lunch?”
She wanted to smile but couldn’t. He looked too adorable staring at her with that smile and those bold eyes that smiled back. She wanted to go with him but she couldn’t get herself to do it, she knew that she would be breaking her promise to Bryan. “Look, you’re sweet, but I really can’t be around you, can’t

. You shouldn’t have followed me, go home, Jules, just go.” She began walking away, tucking her hands in her jean pockets and slowly shaking her head.
“Skye, please tell me what you mean. I don’t understand, I thought we were actually getting along. I mean, I know I can be a little bit pushy and playful sometimes, but I thought you liked it. What changed your mind?” Hurt was trembling its way into Jules’ tone. He cruised along, keeping in line with her.
She wanted to cry, he sounded sincere as if he actually really did care about her. “Nothing! Nothing changed my mind, Jules. I was just messing with you, I thought you were messing with me and I wanted to play along. Just do me a favor and forget about me, forget that you ever met me and leave me alone!” She shrieked, tears welling up around her eyes. She ran away from him, as far and fast as she could, not looking back to see if he was following her. He wasn’t following her; instead, he was lost in the words she had spoken to him, Leave me alone

.

Skye hiked up her house’s front steps, her legs about to give, her heart pounding, and her breath catching between gasps. Why can’t I let myself cling onto two separate worlds? Bryan wouldn’t even know that I’d talk to Jules.

She looked down at her hands, the hands that used to touch Bryan’s face and play with his hair in pleasure, but now are scarred from the bruises that have been made on them.
She glanced up at the front door between gasps and wondered if Johnny was inside. He very well could be inside; but I hardly have anywhere else to go. The only place I could go is too far for my legs to carry me to.

She concluded, thinking about Johnny’s ill temper.
The front door suddenly opened and she backed away in surprise, her legs stumbling from underneath her and causing her to collide on the cement. She braced herself for the fall and winced as the cement cut little slivers in her skin. Johnny looked down at her in surprise and smiled. “Oh, you’re back.”
She tried to talk but she couldn’t find her words. Her breath had been knocked out of her from the run and fall and she couldn’t form any words.
“Honey, what are you—doing?” A woman with frazzled auburn colored hair, hazel eyes, and tanned skin stepped out next to him, dressed only in a gown. “Who’s this?”
Skye’s face twisted with confusion and anger, her mind whirling and her heart hammering. “I’m his step-daughter, Skye. And who might you be?”
“Oh, that’s sweet. I’m Maria.”
“Maria why don’t you go inside, I’ll handle this.”
“Handle what? She’s no problem.”
“Of course she isn’t. Just go wait for me in the room, I’ll be back soon.” He kissed Maria on her forehead and she walked back inside, shutting the front door behind her. Johnny looked at her painfully angry.
Fear took a quick and strong hold on Skye. She just saw firsthand how Johnny was cheating on her mom, the one person he supposedly loves. She never could have expected this; she never would have guessed that he could do something so horrible to her mom. But, it would explain all of those times he stayed home when he could have been out working, though, and it would explain all of the beer bottles too. His “friend” was a little more than that.
She started stepping back, anger whipping at her insides. “How could you be doing this to Leah? It’s not like she ever did anything to you. How long have you been lying to us? You never wanted to stay home to get work done, did you? You only wanted to—”
Johnny took a painfully strong grasp on Skye’s wrist and dragged her towards the car, growling under his breath. She gasped at the sudden pain that was searing through her arm and her body instantly tensed. “This has nothing to do with your mom. And you’ll be quiet if you know what’s best for you.” His voice was full of venom, he was furious.
“So you’re just a full blown creep then?” She hissed, anger driving through her veins and making her speak out.
He slapped her violently across her other cheek with his free hand and shoved her towards the car. “Get in,” he spat.
She hardly had time to realize what had happened before he ripped the door open and brutally shoved her inside. Completely dizzy, she scrambled to get her seatbelt on. Everything was in pain and she could hardly see through the blurriness from the impact she had taken on.
Johnny swung himself in the car and slammed the door shut, turning the key in the ignition and backing out of the driveway. The tires screeched under the car as he sped down the road. “Why did you come back so soon? I thought you were hanging out with Bryan!” He yelled at her.
She tried to collect her thoughts and to take deep and long breaths, but when she didn’t answer right away, Johnny slammed his fist into her chest. “I asked you a question!” He bellowed, his breathing harsh and ragged.
She could hardly breathe much less think or talk. The world spun around her and she had to shut her eyes to even try breathing, and she didn’t want to look at him when he hit her again. The wind was knocked out of her and she couldn’t even grasp what was going on around her. His bellowing voice sounded slurred but high pitched in her ears. Her body was shaking and when she fluttered her eyes open, she couldn’t see anything but a blur. “W—we weren’t speaking to each other and h—he left, so I c—came home.” She stuttered, coughing up blood. It trailed down her chin and onto her shirt and she whimpered. What are you doing to me, Johnny?

“So you just decided to come early? Brilliant

.” He growled, starting to calm down, but his knuckles were still white on the steering wheel and she could see how his chest was rising and falling quickly. “Here,” he shoved a napkin in front of her, keeping his eyes on the road ahead of them.
Her head was spinning and her body was going numb, she could hardly feel anything anymore. She wiped at her mouth and shirt and tossed the napkin aside, rubbing her aching head. “Where are we going?” She croaked, her voice quivering with sobs.
Johnny’s lips crept up into a smirk and he chuckled under his breath, “We have some business to take care of,” he replied venomously as they turned down an unknown street and her heart stopped beating.

Breathe

Skye crawled out of the car, her body aching and everything spinning. She wobbled across the hot and dirty gravel, gasping harsh breaths as she tried to get further away from Johnny. The car door slammed on his side of the car. No, don’t come near me, please don’t touch me!

Skye tried to say, but she choked on the words.
“Princess, we have something to talk about.” He was getting closer, so much closer.
She stretched her arms in front of her and clawed to get up, but she couldn’t, her arms were too weak, her body was growing cold and numb. “Don’t—please—don’t—touch me,” She breathed desperately, fighting with each and every breath.
Johnny picked her up by her shirt and dragged her to the corner of the empty alley. He threw her up against the wall and stared into her eyes, their faces inches apart. “Maria, she is our little secret, right?”
She coughed on her own sobs and took a deep calming breath, closing her eyes and thinking back to the days