Page 2 of Love and War

“Hey, you okay?” someone asked above me. Looking up, one of the boys stood a few feet from me. Again, I opened my mouth to say something, between “Yeah, I’m fine,” or be a smart ass and ask, “Does it look like it?”

“Kills, I think he did more damage than we thought,” he joked. It was a terrible joke because I could have brain damage. But he didn't hit me that hard.

“How many fingers am I holding up?” the same boy asked me. Focusing on his hand, I could clearly see he wasn’t holding up any fingers. This time I couldn’t stop the eye roll, and I shook my head a little.

“Come on, let's go,” the other one said—Kills. If that was his name, his parents must hate him.Who names their kid Kills?

“That’s his nickname.” I hadn’t realized I spoke aloud until non-Kills let out a chuckle. Glancing around him, I finally took in Kills. Dark brown hair hung in his face, and his arms were crossed over his chest. He was glaring at me like I was the one who hit him with the toys. Which was completely ridiculous. I don’t just throw random things at people. Unless they’re bullies.

“You got a name?” non-Kills asked.

“Do you?” I asked back, finally getting to my feet.

“You can call me Z.”

“That’s stupid,” the words flew from my mouth. Holly hated when I spoke the words from my head. Always yelling at me to think before I speak. I usually do, but sometimes, my mouth worked without my brain’s knowledge.

“You’re funny.” Z laughed. It wasn’t exactly funny me calling his name stupid. Shrugging my shoulders, I dusted off as much sand as I could. I really needed to find a place to get cleaned up. I don’t know when Holly would come and get me, but she’d freak if she saw me like this.

“Are you okay?” Z asked.

“I’m good,” I muttered, walking to my backpack on the bench. Pulling out a water bottle, I sipped it before pouring some on an extra shirt I had, wiping the blood from my face as best as I could without being able to see myself.

“I haven’t seen you around before,” Z said.

I didn’t understand why he continued to talk to me. Should I thank them for running the bullies off? I guess that would be the polite thing, but I oddly liked their company.

“AZIZA!” I knew that voice. I stiffened as I clutched my now bloody shirt, looking over at Holly, who stood at the driver's side door. She looked angry. “LET’S GO!” Not leaving me a chance to say anything, she turned on her heel and threw herself into the driver's seat.

I zipped my backpack closed, ready to run to the car, not wanting to anger her any more than she was. Before I could take a step, someone reached for my elbow, stopping me. Looking up, Kill's hand dropped from my arm as if I was on fire.

“I’ve seen you every week, I expect to see you again,” was all he said before backing away from me.

Nodding my head, I ignored the weird butterflies swarming in my tummy and ran towards the car. Getting buckled into the back seat, I watched Kills and Z as we drove away from the park.

One more week.

1

Aziza

Present

“Don’tignoreme!”Hollysnapped. I probably should have closed the door the moment I realized it was her. I didn’t have the energy to deal with her while also dealing with the mess of Luca. I was so close to getting rid of him and that mess that I could taste the freedom. “AzizaRusso.”

Holly had a habit of using a last name that was not really mine. I refused to be a part of him, even if it was just his last name. It was still a part of him, and I wouldn’t be part of that monster.

Rolling my eyes, a habit that has always bothered her, I turned towards the kitchen, trying my best to ignore the heavy footsteps of her following behind me.

“You can’t just shut me out,” Holly growled.

The thing was I could. I could shut her out, I’ve been doing it since I was thirteen. Ever since I learned how to hack into a computer. It was the only good thing he ever taught me. But I refused to even think abouthim. My mind may not get the hint after six years that I didn’t want to think of him, dream of him. I wanted nothing to do withhim.So, if my unconscious body couldn’t take the hint, my awake self could.

“I raised you; you can’t just ignore me.”

“Barely,” I muttered under my breath. Reaching for a cup, I filled it with water before turning around towards her.

“What did you just say to me?” she spat out. Holly always was quick to let her anger show. No matter what, she found a way to be angry at me. It didn’t matter if I cleaned the entire house, cooked all the meals, even did her laundry. She would find the one thing Ididn’tdo.

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