I went to bed early that night, hoping for some decent sleep for a change. The twins lingered in my thoughts both day and night. I couldn’t stop thinking about them, even dreaming about them. Tossing and turning for half the night, I finally fell asleep around three in the morning. I didn’t bother setting an alarm; I wanted to sleep through as much of the day as possible.
I woke around one in the afternoon to a voicemail on the flip phone Lauren had given me. The social worker had received my message and sent the next check in the mail. Lauren would be thrilled, at least until she reverted to her usual self. Hopefully, she would keep her word and give me half the money.
I quietly trudged down the hall, slipping into the bathroom when I thought the coast was clear. As I brushed my teeth, the bathroom door creaked open, and a very drunk Darren stumbled in.
I choked on the toothpaste and took a tentative step back. My skin turned clammy, and fear coursed through my veins. Darren had that dead stare common to drunks, and he reeked of piss and liquor.
“You a liar now, girl?” Darren slurred, taking a fumbling step forward.
I shook my head. “Of course not.”
My voice was scratchy, muffled by the toothpaste in my mouth. I cringed as I swallowed it, nearly gagging from the overwhelming taste of mint. There was no way out of this without a confrontation.
“You’re lyin’ to me right now.” Darren rumbled, his beefy arm shooting out. His hand slammed into my shoulder, and my teeth clicked as my back hit the drywall. The windowsill’s corner jammed into my shoulder blade, leaving a stinging pain.
“I’m not lying,” I forced through gritted teeth. Staying on my feet was my top priority. If I ended up on the floor, who knows what would happen.
“You were talkin’ to the social worker, tellin’ her you didn’t get none of them checks. F*ck*n’ liar.”
“I called her back and told her I lied,” I said, knowing reasoning with a drunk was useless.
“What else did you lie ’bout? You lie and say I touch you?”
I clamped my lips shut. I wouldn’t tell anyone about that. Living with Lauren, I had some freedom. She didn’t care where I went or what I did as long as I supported myself.
“Of course not,” I shook my head furiously.
Fear made my hands slick with sweat, and adrenaline rushed through me. The only exit was the bathroom door. If I was fast enough, I could reach my bedroom and lock the door.
“F*ck*n’ liar,” Darren snapped, and everything seemed to happen in slow motion. His hand lurched out, aiming a punch at my torso. I made the mistake of ducking, and his fist connected with my face, sending me off to the side. My rib cage slammed against the bathtub, but adrenaline blocked the pain.
I didn’t stay down long. Darren, being drunk, took longer to recover. Alarm flashed over his features, realizing he had hit my face. I used his confusion to dart under his arm and out the bathroom door. I sprinted to my bedroom, slamming the door shut and locking it just as Darren’s hand reached it.
Darren pounded on the door, screaming obscenities. I didn’t plan on sticking around until he broke it down. Thankful I had fallen asleep in sweatpants, I grabbed a jacket, slipped on shoes, and stuffed my wallet and cellphone in my pocket. I yanked my bedroom window open and climbed onto the roof over the back porch.
Dropping down sent a small pain through my ankle, but I ignored it. The adrenaline was wearing off, and I was too aware of the throbbing pain in my face. I slid my body off the roof, hanging by my hands before letting go. I landed awkwardly, feeling my ankle roll out from under me, shooting sharp pain up my leg. I was fairly sure it wasn’t broken, but it hurt badly.
I let out a relieved huff and looked around our dismal backyard. I hadn’t thought about what to do once I escaped. The backyard was a mess, with a rickety old playset in the corner and patchy grass overgrown with weeds. It hadn’t been mowed in at least six months.
It was nearing 2 o’clock, and school would be letting out soon. My stomach’s angry rumble cut through my thoughts, so I headed towards the gas station I visited on the first day we moved here.
The same girl was at the front counter. I gave a tentative wave and grabbed a water and some granola bars. As I approached the counter, I spotted a familiar face-Lilian.
“Hey, Sophia,” Lilian greeted with a sheepish grin, as if she had been caught doing something bad.
I frowned. “What’re you doing here?”
“I’m skipping last period,” Lilian shrugged, her cheeks turning pink. “Don’t tell anyone you saw me, alright?”
“Of course not,” I grinned. “I’m not in school either.”
“That makes me feel much better about skipping gym,” Lilian chuckled. “Jessy has been insufferable today.”
“Really?” I frowned. “Glad I didn’t show then.”
“She’s been extra obnoxious since she and Kieran got back together,” Lilian rolled her eyes and flipped her long hair behind her back.
Something painful echoed in my chest at the thought of Kieran getting back together with Jessy. They had me locked in a d*mn classroom, and Kieran was back with her as though nothing happened. I wasn’t the type to sleep around, and I certainly wouldn’t be used as a toy for anyone.
“They got back together?” I tried to keep the disappointment and pain from my voice. It doesn’t even matter, I told myself. He was never yours, and it’s your fault for getting swept up in them. You probably didn’t even mean anything to them, just another piece of *ss.
“Seems like it,” Lilian shrugged. “She’s been hanging off his arm all day.”
“Best of luck to Kieran, then,” I forced a chuckle.
“When are you planning on coming back to school?” Lilian asked as I swiped my card to pay for my things.
“I’ll be back Monday,” I shrugged. What I really wanted to say was ‘never.’ I needed to get a grip and learn to resist the twins. There was no way I’d be Kieran’s little plaything while he was still involved with Jessy.
“I’ll see you Monday then!” Lilian smiled as I headed for the door. “Oh, don’t forget to be ready by 9 p. m. Saturday!”
“Put your number in my phone,” I mumbled halfheartedly, still peeved that Kat had given me an entire cellphone.
After Lilian put her number in my phone, I sent her a quick text and headed out the door. I wandered aimlessly around the parts of town I was familiar with and shot a quick text to Kat.
– Me 2:23 p. m.
Hey, my folks needed me out of the house for a bit. Any chance you could pick me up early?
Another bold-faced lie. What else was I going to say? ‘Hi, can you pick me up early because my drunk piece of sh*t step-Darren decided to go crazy and hit me? Oh, and I messed up my ankle jumping out of the window, so bring some ice along.’ That definitely wasn’t going to cut it.
– Kat 2:26 p. m.
Sure thing! 🙂 I’ll be at your house in five!
I wasn’t sure what I did to deserve a friend like Kat, but goodness, was I thankful. I hadn’t had a friend like her since elementary school. Once middle school rolled around, bullying began, and I learned to stick to myself.
– Me 2:37 p. m.
Actually, could you just pick me up from the park in the center of town?
I felt horrible for asking even more of her, but my ankle was throbbing like crazy. The short walk to the gas station had me hissing in pain with every step.
– Kat 2:39 p. m.
D*mn, you walked that far? Be there in five.
By the time I thought out a coherent response, Kat was pulling up next to the curb.
“Hop in, b*tch!” Kat yelled from the car, sticking her head out the window to grin at me. Her fire-colored locks shifted with the wind and hung out of the car window.
I rolled my eyes at her, but a grin crept onto my face. I bit the inside of my cheek and tried not to limp as I walked over to the passenger side.
“Just a little heads up,” Kat grinned at me sheepishly, and I nearly groaned.
“What is it?” I raised an eyebrow at her, a bad feeling nestling in my stomach.
“So, I kinda sorta live next to Ethan and Kieran,” Kat squeaked, her voice getting higher with each word.
“You what,” I stared at her deadpan and let out a long breath. “Alright, it’s alright. I can handle it. I’m not giving in to them anymore. I’m done with them.”
“You got this, Sophia,” Kat nodded proudly, speeding off down the road.
“I’m tough, I can handle this,” I nodded sternly, giving myself a half-hearted pep talk.
“Super tough,” Kat nodded, obviously doing her best to cheer me on.
I gave her a pointed look and chuckled when she burst into laughter.
“You gotta work on your pep talk skills.”
Kat shook her head mournfully as I munched on my granola bars.
Kat pulled down a road that led directly into the vast forest surrounding the town. I cocked an eyebrow at her questioningly, and she shrugged.
“A lot of people live out here,” she shrugged, as if it were no big deal.
Some familiar words ran through my head, words the young cashier had spoken to me when I first moved here: “Town’s pretty small. Most of the people in town have houses further out in the woods. People around here seem to like their privacy.”