Love Hurts.

"Today spells love, merriness, and breakups," Josie muttered as she walked through the crowded halls of East High.  This was the only day if the year that Josie truly despised.  As she walked past couples holding hands, sneaking kisses, or just plain making out, Josie kept thinking about what awaited her at home.  A father that instead of chocolates handed out a lovely array of bruises that she covered up with long sleeves and sunglasses."This is disgusting." She rolled her eyes as she stopped at her locker and pushed a couple out of her way in the process.  They should just get a room.  She thought sighing inwardly.  Josie grabbed her binders and shivered slightly imagining her father's hands hitting her fair skin.  "I don't even get why they created a day that made people who didn't have someone feel lonely and let couples flaunt about that they have someone."
As Josie shut her locker, she was aware of the pair of dark brown eyes watching her movements. She didn't look at Mike as she started to head to her locker.  Mike followed her and matched her stride.
"Well hello to you too," He stated putting an arm around her shoulders playfully.  He felt Josie tense under his arm and wondered why she seemed to flinch at someone's touch.  Josie shrugged his arm off and looked at him.
"Who says I wanted to talk to you?" She asked slightly smiling. Mike was the one person that could take her mind off of her father and what awaited for her at home.  "How are you doing on this horrible day?"
"Just fine.  Got a letter from someone...." He nudged her arm and chuckled. "You wouldn't happen to be that person would you?" He met her gaze with his smiling one.  Josie shook her head.
"I don't believe in those things or love for that matter." She coldly replied looking ahead.  If you love someone you don't beat them.  She thought heading into her class leaving Mike standing in the hall with his mouth hanging open.
Mike shook his head and headed after her. He put a hand on her book causing the girl to lift her eyes to meet his. "What do you mean you don't believe in love?" He half demanded. His eyes searched hers for an answer.  The image he got sent him reeling and he pulled back his hand.
Josie watched him and then looked out the window. "Because my reason's are my own and you need to just stick to your own business." She snapped turning on him. She stood putting her shaking hands on the desk in front of her. "I don't have to tell you a specific reason why!"
Mike walked over and touched her hand. "But I want to help Josie and if..." Josie cut him off with a swift slap to his tanned face.  His eyes widened in surprise.
"Just leave the subject alone Mike." Josie said grabbing her books and moving to another seat. As she set her books down she realized that was the first time she had ever hit anyone, let alone her best friend. When she turned to apologize she had to take a step back from Mike. Josie couldn't meet Mike's gaze with her own.
"Nothing is wrong really." She slowly turned her gaze back to him. She concentrated on the Polo brand on Mike's shirt.  "I just don't want to talk about it." She whispered slowly closing her eyes.  She seemed to shrink in front of Mike's eyes and he pulled her into a big friendly hug.
"If you need a place to stay just ask." Mike whispered into Josie's blue tinged black hair. He rested his head on hers and pulled back after what seemed to be minutes but had been seconds.  He lifted Josie's eyes to meet his own and smiled. "I deserved that slap though.  I was getting a little to personal."
Josie giggled and blushed slightly. "You are like a brother to me Mike and you know how much I love you." She smiled and pulled back adjusting her sweatshirt. She looked around and chuckled. "Mind if I crash at your place tonight?" She whispered low enough for only Mike to hear.  Mike nodded and looked at the time. "Well we better get to our seats before the teacher gets mad at us.......again." He smiled and sat in the desk by Josie.  Who would have thought these two would ever have become friends.  The jock of the high school football team and the girl that kept to herself.
Josie smiled thinking of the last time the two had been sent to detention.  "That was a fun half hour." She whispered poking Mike.  "Even if we almost got suspended for it."
Mike nodded and looked at her. "Are you ever going to let me come over to your house?" He asked raising a dark eyebrow.  Josie lost her smile and looked away. "It's a mess Mike and if you come over I don't want you to think that me and my dad are total slobs." She said balling her small delicate fists.
Mike shook his head and looked back at the clock. "Listen we have 2 minutes before the bell rings.  Can you at least tell me what is bugging you?" He gently pulled her eyes back towards him and looked in her eyes with a brotherly love that meant nothing more that than. She was like a sister to him and him a brother to her.
Josie took a deep breath thinking about if she could even get that off of her chest. It's a lot to keep hidden Josie.  Maybe if you told Mike he would be able to help you. She heard a voice say in her head. She nodded and sighed.
"Mike you won't like what I have to...." The loud ringing drowned out Josie's voice. Mike huffed and silently cursed in his head hating that the bell had to ring right at that moment.  He hated seeing his friend hurt and was hurt that she had never told him. As they turned their attention to the board for class, Josie slipped him a note.  The note read: "Come on over tonight and I will show you what I can't say and that love isn't always flowers, candy, hugs, and kisses." Mike's jaw dropped and he instantly looked at her.  He could see the faint outlines of bruises hidden by makeup on Josie's face.  A face he had always looked at and could never see anything wrong. He reached out to touch her arm but was brought to attention by the teacher speaking.