𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 17: 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤

Olivia's POV

I wiped the sweat off my forehead as i continue to mowe the lawn. Dad has me doing very hard chores for the past three days. I couldn't catch a break not once. My sleeping schedule is off the course. He's keeping me busy like crazy. I didn't see my mother nowhere in the house. She must've escaped before he saw her. He would flip out if he saw her in the house. But I thank her for helping me out. I couldn't do all of those things by myself.

I groaned as the sun kept shining on me. Why me? This is total punishment for something I haven't done. As I was mowing the lawn, I noticed a jogger passing by me. I did a quick wave before continuing my hard work. Suddenly, the jogger came back & took off it's shades.

"Liv?"

"Marco?"

"Liv!" He jogged towards my direction covered in sweat as well.

"What are you doing on this side of town?"

"My parents moved to this neighborhood. So now, we're neighbors!" He laughed.

"Really? That's amazing."

"I can finally see you more often now" He said happily.

"I didn't know you jog."

"Yeah, I'm practicing for the track. When school starts back, I'm gonna be on the team" He said.

"School. I miss that place."

He scoffed "Who misses school?"

"You know, that's exactly what my best friend said. I don't get it, what's so bad about school?"

"Everything is bad about school" He giggled.

"When can we hang out again?"

"Anytime, anyplace" He said.

"Sure thing."

"Listen, I got to go. My parents are calling me already" He rolled his eyes.

I laughed "Okay, bye."

He jogged away, I sighed. He looks so hot when he sweats. Those fitted legs, pulsing arms. He didn't even have a shirt on. I saw that six-pack glistening in the sun. It looks so delicious.

"Olivia! I need help!"

I quickly ran inside to see my father struggling to sit down. I huffed & helped him.

"Thanks, I thought I had to call the ambulance" He said.

"Oh god, I hope you didn't."

"Are you finished with the lawn?" He asked. He crossed his legs & took out his book.

"Yes, sir."

"Good, because I need you to wash my car & clean the garage" He added.

I rolled my eyes "Yes, sir."

As I was about to walk away, I felt a very sharp pain on my lower back. I screamed & fell to the ground. The fuck was that?

"You thought I wouldn't notice?" He smirked looking down at me.

"Noticed what?!" I touched my lower back.

"The fuck are you doing wearing those shorts while your outside? Do you know how many people walk by us everyday knowing we're the Jacksons? Are you trying to ruin our reputation?" He spat.

"But Its hot as hell outside!"

Another sharp pain went across my stomach almost hitting the healed bruise. I looked up to see a leather whip in his lap. When the hell did he have time to get a whip?

"Don't you curse at me again!" He pointed the finger at me.

"I'm sorry!" I couldn't see his eyes due to his tinted glasses. I know they're brown right now due to his rage.

"Go put on some pants & you better leave it on. I don't care how hot it is outside. Your gonna look like a lady! Now, get out of my sight!" He exclaimed.

I immediately ran upstairs into my bedroom. I stripped down from my clothes. Funny thing, I didn't cry this time. That's very weird to me. The pain hurts but it didn't hurt me enough to cry. I felt something dripping down my leg. I'm bleeding, once again. I fixed up the bloody bruise & put a bandage on it.

I have a lot of bruises but most of them fade away. The ones I'm  receiving haven't went away yet. Is this really my life? Being beaten for the smallest thing? My phone vibrated on my bed. I picked it up to see a text message.

"Hey, Liv! How is your father holding up?"

I smiled at my mother's message. Finally, someone I needed to talk too.

"He's the same as usual."

"Sorry, I didn't say goodbye to you. I didn't want to leave you alone in that house."

"Its okay, you had to go before dad caught you."

"How are holding up?"

"I'm fine, what about you?"

"The symptoms are starting to kick in."

"Are you okay?"

"Definitely, nothing but weed can fix it."

"Mom! You don't smoke marijuana!"

"I know, but its very calming."

"I wish I was with you."

"I know baby, me too. But your almost done with school so therefore you can move in afterwards."

"Let's hope I can."

"What's taking so long up there?" Dad shouted.

"Just a second!"

"I have to go, love you!"

"Love you too!"

I rushed downstairs tugging on my baggy sweatpants. I stood in front of him.

"Much better, now go get me some brandy" He ordered.

Glad, he didn't see me & Marco talking. I was gonna be doomed for real.