Chapter Ten - He Actually Likes Me?

Trish's POV

“WHATT?” The word exploded out of me, burning away the pain in my ankle.

Joseph was still kneeling beside me, but his expression had shifted from concern back to a familiar, toxic arrogance. He was responding to my desperate, clumsy suggestion that we do something “together.”

"First you slapped me when I kissed you, and rejected every approach I made. Now, you’re suddenly asking me for—for a little fun?" He stood up, towering over me. "Wow. Did the good, moral girl finally drop the act? You see? I told you you’d want every bit of me when Mom's gone. Ha! I was right after all."

My cheeks were on fire. The sheer injustice of his assumption made me snap.

“Shut up, Joseph! I… I didn’t mean it like that. I just wanted to be productive with my day! I got the words wrong, you know it!”

“You want to be productive having fun? When my mom’s gone? Yeah, right.” He crossed his arms.

“You cheap cunt! I don't want to have fun, and definitely not with Miss Britney’s son. Eww. What would she think of me? I wouldn't do anything to hurt her like you! And if I remind you, I’m still a minor! I’m seventeen! No… no s*x for me until I’m eighteen, or maybe twenty!

Now stop with all this filth, please!” I rushed out, flushed and hyperventilating.

I flinched internally. CUNT? I never used that word. It was one of the ugly terms I'd heard him use at school, and now it had slipped out of my mouth. It was terrifying… I was becoming infected by his environment.

Joseph was now standing in the center of the room, laughing; a loud, barking sound. He must think he was so hot that even I, the moral compass, was finally falling for him. I felt a kind of pull toward him, yes, but not s*xually. Not yet, at least. I didn’t mean fun in that way. I just meant something… together. I had no friends, and as much as I hated to admit it, Joseph was now my accidental home and friend. I didn't want to lose the only person who could carry me over thirty miles when my ankle twisted.

“Look, you and fun need a break,” I insisted, pushing the shame down. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten how you treated me. Sure, things are different now. But I still don't like you, and please don't mention that word to me again.”

“Okay, okay, I get it. But slowly you’re falling apart, Trish Carpenter. You say the word 'cunt' now. Ha!” He laughed again.

“You know, you’ve got two days left alone with me,” He teased, “And I can give you anything you want. Mom’s not home; we can definitely have fun. Just say the word. Morning fun? At night? Whatever you want. I’m Joseph Roland. Matter of fact, I can save myself just for you alone.”

“HELL NOOOO! Why would I… ughhh, enough!” I screamed, the sound echoing through the house. “You know, Joseph, right now, you sound just like that father of yours that you so hate for cheating on your mom!”

His laughing stopped dead. The mention of his father always hit him like a physical blow. He stared at me, and his fierce eyes lost their arrogance, becoming dark and profound.

“Do I?” he murmured, his voice gentle and throbbing with unexpected sincerity. “If it’s for the one girl I’ve got my eyes on, the one girl whose got my heart, I definitely don’t mind. At all.”

He stepped closer, holding a tender, throbbing eye contact that silenced the room completely.

“I feel… too attached, Trish, and I want you to know it.”

WHAT? What was he saying? Was this obnoxious human being, the type of guy I wished would disappear, actually confessing his love for me? The most handsome, popular, notorious bad boy at Mthland High? Confessing to a random girl? My heart was delicate, a ticking bomb. How could I trust it with someone like him?

I stammered, trying to process the impossible words. “Wait, Joseph. What are you saying? You’re sayin…”

“I’m saying I like you, Trish! I'm in love with you!” he barked, louder this time, cementing the declaration. "I know it’s inappropriate given we're under one roof, but I promise, I won't be like my dad. Never. I won’t be the guy who chases lust and fun! Even if you turn eighteen and still don't want to be intimate with me? That's completely fine! But please, just… just accept me, Trish. Please!”

My adrenaline spiked. How? The never-ending, crude boy was confessing genuine love?

“But you’re supposed to be the guy who goes around dating twenty girls in a year just so he could be on the football team, right?” I raised my voice, confusion battling a secret, overwhelming bliss. “How is it that you like someone like me? How could I believe you won’t use me like those other girls, or treat me like what your dad did to Miss Britney? How can I trust you!”

“Yeah, I know. Trust me, no one trusts Joseph Roland,” he conceded. “But if you care for me, or even my mom, you’d help me change. I want to be someone the people of Mthland City could cherish one day, someone Mom would be proud of… someone my dad could look at and burn with regret. And only you can help me.”

He stepped forward again. I pushed slowly backward, my ankle screaming, doubting the sudden, powerful truth of his words.

“Okay. Fine. You like me? What then? I’m not going to give you what you want. I know it’s what guys like you constantly chase.”

“Noooo, Trish!” he yelled, frustrated. “Can't you see? I like you because I see a light in you! Because I know for certain you can help me change, become a better person, a better man! Mom figured that out too. Maybe… just what if that’s why she left the two of us together? I want you, Trish, not for intimacy or anything like that, but so that I... I could be a better man.”

I couldn’t help but smile faintly. There was a genuine ring of sense in his desperation. He finally understood that he needed to become a man who fought for the best version of himself, not someone who sought cheap thrills to maintain a fake status. That was honorable. And it was a profound honor that the family who took me in after Mom died was putting their faith in me. I wouldn’t let them down.

“Fine then.” I said, “You like me because you believe I can help you. But help you do what exactly?”

“Like I said before, I date girls to maintain my status as the king of Mthland, not for the dubious reasons you thought,” he stammered, brushing his hair back. “And I did it so that I could maintain my popularity and be taken as a key player on Mthland High's Football Team, even though I’m not good enough. But if I want to represent our small city someday, I have to be strong and do it the right way.” He looked seriously into my eyes. “After you slapped me, I realized I’m no better than my dad. You helped me want to stop the easy way out and be a man and fight. So I still need you by my side so I could really get stronger… just by having you around. Will you be by my side, since you share my secret now?”

“Ohh, so it’s because I know your secret, that’s why you said you like me? Really? I hope you’re not playing with my heart here, Joseph.” I glared at him, and he just replied with a bright laugh.

“No, I’m not playing with your heart, but if you can make me feel the need to be a better man, then I like you. A lot.”

“Fine!” I said, folding my arms and giving him my best glare. “But still no intimacy! No s*x! And no s*x talk either! We both should be doing better things… oh yeah and no cheap thrills. Okay?”

“Yes, just as you said. A sensible relationship. No intimacy or any sort of cheap fun,” he complied, beaming. “Mom’s not gonna like that. AT ALLLL.” He laughed.

I scowled, clutching my towel and heading to the bathroom, trying to disguise the flush covering my body.

“At least… not till I’m eighteen… which is two months from today, just in case you don’t know!” I called out, rushing toward the bath.

I heard a loud, cute chuckle as I entered the shower. I popped my head out and saw him celebrating with a desperate roar of victory: “Yes! Yes! Come on! She totally likes me now!”