Flipped Again

Chapter 10: A Missed Oppurtunity

Bryce's POV:

As I slumped into my bed I heard a scream from Shelly's room. I jumped up and opened her door to see her on the other end, ready to open the door also and flee.

"Bryce!" She wailed, flinging her arms over me and crying into my chest. Her hair brushed against my face, a peculiar, but familiar scent. I couldn't quite place my finger on it.

"Shelly what's wrong?" I asked.

"Oh it's horrible Bryce!" She cried dramatically. "I laid on my pillow, ready for a goodnight's rest and it was the most awful squelching sound and my head and my neck felt so cold!"

I raised my eyebrows in confusion, prying her off me to inspect her allegedly tainted-with pillow. I held it up by the corner and there was a Shelly's-head-size shape of liquid. I grimaced.

"What is it?" I asked repulsed.

"I don't know! All I know is I've to wash my wretched hair, all over again!" She sobbed.

"Don't cry Shelly. Your hair isn't wretched, I consider it one of your leading qualities." I said.

Shelly sniffled. "Really?"

"Yes really." I said truthfully, although not quite the compliment Shelly thought it was. I peered up to the ceiling to see if something had maybe dripped. Nothing. Then, I crouched down and looked under the bed, and there was the culprit, clear as day. Egg shells.

This was the doing of Juli Baker.

"Bryce? What'd u find?" Asked Shelly, seeing me hesitating.

"Nothing" I said getting up smartly. "Now let's get your hair washed shall we?"

•

I lay awake half the night, thinking of all the events that had led to my dad's actions, concluding with the fight earlier today. I couldn't quite believe the betrayal. And also the news about my sister and my parent's reaction plagued my head too.

My hand closed in a tight fist when I heard him return, with my mother, from a late dinner out.

I drifted to sleep that night wondering how on earth I was going to fix this.

In the morning I stayed in bed again, staring up into the ceiling. I realised that Juli may not want to come to near me ever again after all that had happened. How was I going to communicate this to her.

As my hate for Juli subsided, I was left struggling to fathom what there was left. I couldn't decide how I felt about Juli Baker, or at least, I couldn't decide how I wanted to feel about her.

Then, I heard a stern knock at the door. I basically ignored it, thinking I may have imagined it. But then there it came again, clear as anything.

I sat up trying to listen out to the conversation. I could hear my dad talking to the person at the door, but I couldn't quite make out who and what they were saying from this distance.

"It's not possible at this time. I'm sorry Juli, good day." And then, the slam of the door.

Wait. Juli?

I jumped out of bed for the second time in 24 hours and rushed to my bedroom window.

Sure enough, I spied Juli, wearing a green button- up collared halter top and jeans, her hair tumbling past her shoulders, untamed and unbrushed.

"Whatever is the girl doing? Knocking at this time in the morning?" I heard my mother say

"Juli! I have to talk to Juli!" I cried, spinning round the stair banister and flying down the steps.

My father halted me in my tracks.

"Where do you think you're off to son?" He said scornfully.

"Juli. I have to speak to her." I struggled to get out of his grasp. "I have to dad- please!"

I desperately started calling out, belting as loud as I could, cupping my hands in an 'O' around my mouth "JULI! JULI!" I could hear the patter of Shelly's satin slippers rushing to the top of the stairs.

Just in time to witness as my father extended his arm out and slapped me clean across the face. My mother cried out and I heard Shelly gasp.

My father didn't seem to hear them.

"That girl's no good for you" He spat. "Trust me son, I'm your father. Remember when you got all caught up in her and she lost interest? Remember that? Well-"

"No" I said firmly "I don't remember" I shouted now. "Because it didn't happen! You made it up! I know Juli, and I know the truth. you're the monster, not her!"

In his shocked silence I got up to try and scramble for the door but he held me back.

"Get to your room. I don't wanna see your face till you apologise to your father." He slurred.

"I'm an adult, I can do what I want!"

"Not whilst your under my roof." He bellowed.

I was truly defeated. There was no getting past my father. I tried to look desperately at my mother but she couldn't meet my gaze. It wasn't going to work out for me.

With a look at both of them that I hoped would incite guilt, I walked up to my room. Shelly wasn't at the stairs anymore, instead standing at the door of her bedroom, biting her lip.

"Bryce?" She quivered.

"I'm sorry Shelly. Not now." And I closed my bedroom door behind me.