Page 9 of Flute for the Forgotten (Rejected 6)

Chapter 7

Birkley

The following week we fall into a routine. I get to school and spend every possible second with Parker. We’ve only been able to sneak away a couple of times during lunch, but my dream of making love in the library's stacks has been fulfilled, and I blush every time I think about it.

“What are those rosy cheeks for, Kitten?”

He finally talked me into taking a ride on the back of his bike. All the guys and their girls joined in as well. So today, after the pep rally, we are all going riding. I’m a mix of excited and nervous as hell.

“Nothing. I’m just excited about going for a ride,” I tell him as he grabs my hand and leads me down the hallways toward the gym.

“A ride on what?” he asks, wiggling his eyebrows, and I throw my head back and laugh.

I love how much Parker makes me laugh. I’m so focused on him and his silliness that I miss the girl beside me. That is until I feel a foot come out just as I go to take a step. I go down, hard. Parker is holding my hand, but he isn’t fast enough to catch me. I fall to the ground and scream as I feel something crack in my wrist.

“WHAT THE FUCK!!!! Birkley, baby, are you okay?” Parker asks, bending down to help me. I’m holding my wrist close to my chest and whimpering at the pain shooting up through my arm.

“Oh no, Birkley, being clumsy again?” Kim says, snickering at her other friends. I see the moment Parker loses his shit. He stands, and I try to reach for him as quickly as possible, but he’s advancing on Kim, who looks terrified. I don’t blame her. The look on Parker's face is murderous. He backs her up into the lockers right outside the gym.

“You are fucking lucky,” he says, pointing a finger in her face.

“She just tripped. I didn’t…” He doesn’t let her finish.

“I know you fucking tripped her. I know you have done nothing but make her life a living hell for over four years now. You have bullied her, belittled her, and physically hurt her. I swear you are fucking lucky you are not a dude cause I would beat the absolute shit out of you. You selfish, deranged bitch. What type of self-centered evil maniac picks on someone as sweet and loving as Birkley? What the hell did she ever do to you? Oh, that’s right, you’re just one of those stuck-up, snobby-ass bitches who hates her life, so she feels like she needs company in her misery. That insecure chick in high school who opens her legs for the whole damn football team until she’s used up. The one who gets pregnant and marries right out of high school, then spends the rest of her life hating everything about who she is while her husband is out sticking his dick in his secretary, your little girls' ballet teacher, and god knows who else. All this, while you get to sit back and watch the people you belittled, you bullied, live their life to the fullest. They are the ones that get out of this town and make a life for themselves while you’re stuck reliving your glory days of being prom queen and head cheerleader while thinking of the next plastic surgery procedure that will get your husband to finally come home to your bed and take notice of you. You will never amount to anything more than a bitter old hag,” Parker rants.

I watch as each word is spewed at Kim and her face slowly crumbles with each word thrown her way. I look around the hall to see everyone has stopped to watch, most have their phones out recording, and I know this will be plastered all over social media by the end of the day. I don’t want that for me, but I especially don’t want that for Kim. I know she’s been nothing but evil to me, but I still don’t want her bullied by the rest of the school. I reach out and grab Parker's hand.

“Parker, I need you. I think I hurt my wrist pretty badly. Can you take me to the nurse?” I ask softly. I can see the battle warring in his eyes. He wants to say more, but his worry over me wins out. He lifts me into his arms and carries me through the crowd and down the hall. Right before we get out of sight of Kim, he turns back.

“If you ever, and I mean ever, come near my girl again to hurt her. I don’t care that you are a woman. I will protect her if it’s the last thing I do. You’ve been fucking warned.”

I’m shocked by his words and his actions. Parker is always the funny laid back guy, quick with a joke, and always looking for some fun. This is not the Parker I’ve known, but I can't say I don’t love it.

I move my wrist, and the pain shoots up my arm again.

“Shit, come on. I think it's broken, Birkley,” he whispers, kissing the top of my head and moving quicker than before to the front office. He bursts through the doors and rushes back to the nurse's office as the front office ladies yell for him to slow down.

“What do we have here?” the nurse asks as Parker places me gently on the cot.

“I think she broke her wrist. Someone tripped her, and she landed on it wrong,” Parker tells her, worry lacing his voice as he runs his hands through his hair. I want to tell her how bad it hurts, but I know the minute I open my mouth, the tears will fall, and I might scream out in pain. The nurse walks up to me before turning back to Parker.

“You can go, Mr. Morris. I will handle it from here,” she tells him before grabbing my wrist a little harder than necessary.

“I’m not going fucking anywhere, and watch it,” Parker growls. She rolls her eyes, then turns back to me, scowling and lifting my hand with even more force. I let out a whimper, and that puts Parker into action.

“Move out of my fucking way. I’ll take her to the hospital myself,” he says, stepping around the nurse and scooping me up. The nurse and front office all yell out their protests as we walk out of the office, but Parker doesn’t pay them any attention. He keeps walking down the hall, heading back toward the gym.

“You won't be able to ride with your wrist fucked up, so I can't take you on my bike. I need to get Bailey and see if I can borrow her car. I promise I’ll take care of you,” Parker tells me.

I smile before laying my head on his chest and closing my eyes. The pain is unimaginable, but something settles in me at his words. I trust him more than anything. I know he will protect me. I know he will always be there no matter what. My eyes well with tears, but they are just from the pain this time. I kiss his chest before confessing all these emotions that have built up in me. I look up from under my eyelashes and say a phrase I don’t think I ever have before, not even to my parents.

“I love you.”

---