I'm The Alpha's Challenge

39

There was a rustling of feet before Iya spoke again. "Joshua!" she called loudly. "Joshua!"

"I thought I was sweaty!" he yelled back.

Iya scoffed. "Just get up here!"

"Hopefully she'll explain this ta Josh," Coffeeblue said, as though I wasn't in the room.

I groaned inwardly as the door opened, but I didn't dare open my eyes. "What do ya guys want?" Josh asked, and his voice dropped dangerously low.

"Um..." Coffeeblue said awkwardly. "Um, your girlfriend would like ta speak with ya, um, alone, so Iya and I...seeyalaterbye!" And then the door shut after them.

"Danny..." he said slowly, his voice dropping to a growl. "You wanna tell me what's goin' on?"

No, not really, I thought, but at the same time, a part of me wanted to tell him. Maybe it was time someone knew. Maybe I needed to share this burden instead of carrying it around on my shoulders all the time. "After, um," I stuttered, opening my eyes to find his brilliant blue ones gazing at me. I sighed, looking away from him. "My father was pretty mad after you dropped me off yesterday, because I'm not...exactly... supposed to have friends, let alone a boyfriend for that matter. He.... He started yelling and he... he hit me, and then I got away from him, but he caught me on the stairs..."

"Danny..." he repeated, a frown appearing on his face.

"No," I said, shaking my head. "It's time someone knew."

His face twisted into something I didn't quite understand, but I ignored him. "When he caught me on the stairs, I got angry because he... he said that my first was... was using me, and I, uh, kind of kicked him in the face before I knew what I was doing. I—I went up to my room, and, uh, tried calling on my phone, but he caught up with me and smashed it and proceeded to, um," I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, but I couldn't continue.

"He..." Josh's voice was strained. "He... he hits you?"

I nodded, sighing. "Ever since I can remember," I breathed.

"That explains a lot," he growled, standing abruptly and pacing.

Again, I nodded meekly. "Yea," I whispered and he rubbed the bridge of his nose, sighing irritably.

"Imma kill 'em," he muttered under his breath. "That doesn't explain why Destiny's such a jerk ta you."

"No," I shook my head. "He's always loved her. She's perfect. Honestly, I don't know why—I mean, why does he hate me and love her?"

He grumbled something too low for me to hear. "Whatever," I said, sighing. "Can we talk about this later?"

He mimicked my sigh, coming back over to my side. "Alright," he said, lightly pressing his lips to my forehead.

"Girls!" he said, standing. "You can stop eavesdroppin' now," he walked briskly to the door, pulling it open to reveal Coffeeblue and Iya on the other side.

Both blushed sheepishly, but it was Iya who spoke. "Whhhaaattt?" she said.

"We weren't eavesdroppin'," Coffeeblue scoffed.

Josh rolled his eyes disbelievingly. "Whatever," he said, switching places with them as they sneaked into the room. Coffeeblue and Iya exchanged nervous glances. Josh smiled at me before closing the door.

"Okay..." Iya said, slowly strolling over to her make-up bag.

"Oh," Josh interrupted as he poked his head in the door and made all of us turn to him. "Don't make her too pretty, alright? We don't want everyone gawkin' at her." He caught my eye, winked, and was suddenly gone.