Promise

chapter 98

Avery

Dad had decided that he would participate in career day at school. I had mixed feelings because  I knew he would be protective but at the same time I didn't mind at all.

Careers day was an annual thing apparently and the school would reach out too employees to get them to come and talk to us. I suppose it made sense with dad bring sort of friends with the head teacher.
"Ok so just be normal okay, no over protective insults to people I talk to" I tell him and he laughs "I promise to try be on my best behaviour" he replies. "So I forgot to ask, are you going to careers day as a criminal or a businessman" I ask and he started coughing on the coffee he was drinking. "Avery" he said in a unfamiliar tone, it sounded more strict than usual. "Yes Elijah" I say in a sweet tone. He gives me a odd look "you know I don't mind you calling me Elijah but dont do it mockingly please. As I was going to say, I am going as a businessman. It's best we don't talk about my other job" he said and I felt guilty. He didn't deserve me calling him Elijah but I was still curious. I still don't know what he actually does. "Sweetheart we are going to be late, let's go" he continued. I decided to drop the topic for now. "Fine but Xander is acting different maybe you could have a talk with him today" I ask and he nods "if he comes to me I will but really I'm sure it's nothing"

Dad was wrong.

So very wrong.

I met with Xander at the beggining of the day near the lockers but as soon as I said good morning he looked over then walked off. Had I done something?
I decided to follow him and once I finally caught up to him I saw the bruise on his eye "Xander what happened" I asked.
"Nothing, I was training at the gym last night and my aponenent played dirty" he said. I wanted to believe him, I really did but I couldn't.
"Xander you can tell me the truth" I say and he glares. "Just leave it ok, it's none of your business"  he snapped and walked off.

I decided to give him space and went about my day with Beth, Nathan , Alec, Martha and Matt. Mostly Beth and Nathan but the others were about quite a bit. The lecture hall had been transformed, there was dozens of employees sat at desks.  I walked around with Beth as Nathan had gone off to talk about sports.
I saw Xander walking around too, he picked up a few leaflets at some stalls, like I did but he wasn't one to talk.

"Hi I'm Erin Smith and this is Derick London"  a woman introduced. Beth had led us too another table and I just tagged along behind. I wasn't really doing much talking. "Social work is one of the most rewarding jobs, as a social worker it's our job to make sure the child is happy, healthy and safe" Erin spoke and I couldn't help roll my eyes "yes because putting a child in abusive homes is happy, healthy and safe" I mumble but she hears "sadly they are a few families like that but the majority are great"  she counters. "The majority are rapists" I retort. I knew I was being a little bitchy but I couldn't help it. All the homes I'd been in, a social worker had approved of, even Garrows.
"That's not true"  Derick said.
"It is" I say

"What's going on here"
I turn and see dad stood behind me, his hand was gently rested on my shoulder "sir, I don't think it's appropriate for you to touch the child like that" Derick said, his nerves getting the best of him. "Oh no, how terrible of me, I suppose a hug is out of the question" he mocked and before I could hug him, he hugs me. "That's highly inappropriate" Erin said. "I  guess telling you that this man carried me into his apartment whilst I was unconscious is highly inappropriate too" I said trying not to laugh. Erin and Derick looked at us with eyes widened. Dad snickered "yeah I was getting some weird looks from people. At least it wasn't as bad as the time I followed you home, and then proceeded to go into your home without a invite to talk to you"  he continued and by this point I couldn't stop laughing. Erin had called the police over who were sat a few tables away. "Officer, Avery here is my daughter.  We were just having a little joke" Dad explained and after  5 minutes the problem was sorted.

He led me back to his table, a smirk rested on his face. "Why did you come over" I ask. "Well it looked like you were about to start an argument with them" he shrugged. "well it was their fault, claiming the majority of homes are perfect. None of them were for me. The worst thing, all those homes got approved by social workers" I tell him and his smirk disapears and is replaced by a concerned look.
"Avery, all that is over now. I know you will probably never be able to forget but I want you to come to me if you need someone to talk to or if you're having a flashback. Im not ever going to hurt you like they did. If you're unhappy, I'm unhappy, if you want to argue with social workers, I will be right next to you"

His words brought tears to my eyes and it wasn't long before I was crying into his chest. After a few minutes I remembered I was at school. Everyone probably thought I was weird.

"Well I guess you truly are a whore, sleeping with him makes you one"

I turn and see Aubrey.

Fuck.

She was stood with the headteacher and I gulped. What was happening.
"Excuse me Mr Matthews, what are you doing with this girl" dad said before Mr Matthews could tell Aubrey not to speak like that.
"Oh this is new student, I'm just showing her around. Aubrey we don't talk like that here, I will give you a warning as you didn't know but this school has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to bullying"   Mr Matthews said.

"Let's talk" dad said and Mr Matthews nodded. The three of them left the hall. I suddenly felt insecure.  A few people were watching. Suddenly Beth and Nathan approached "who was that girl" Beth asked. "A bully from my old school" I say not wanting to relive the memories.
"Did she hurt you physically" I turn and see Xander looking at me with so much seriousness. "Yes" I whisper and surprisingly he pulls me into a hug. "You're too inoccent to know the horrors of this world....but you do. I'm sorry for earlier" he whispered and I gave him a smile. "You're forgiven" I tell him, what I didn't tell him was that I wasn't going to drop this.

Elijah

How dare that brat show her face here. As soon as the office door closed I spoke. "She isn't attending this school. This bitch  hurt my daughter for years, she was emotionally and physically abusive. And finally she stood and watched as another student tried to rape Avery" I was fuming.  Mr Matthews eyes widened in horror "I had no idea" he whispered. Aubrey stood there looking shocked and scared. "What happened to the student who tried to..." He trailed off. "He's in prison, young offenders but when he's old enough I'm gonna make sure he stays in prison"  I tell him and he nods "good, he doesn't deserve to see outside a cell again. As for you Aubrey, you will not be attending this school. In fact we have two police officers in the hall, I'm sure they would love to speak with you"

The school day ended at lunch time as no lessons were planned, so Avery and I went and got lunch from a small diner.
Unfortunately she had invited Alexander to our home in a few hours.

It had been an eventful morning and I couldn't help but worry about Avery. She had gone through so much but it was finally starting to get better. I just hoped it would stay like that.

No abusive fosters
No abusive girlfriends
No bullies
No Eliza, who I had arrested shortly after our visit.
No abuse!

"What happened to Aubrey" she asks and I smile at her trying to reassure her.

"Arrested"

The only reason why she wasn't arrested before was due to th fact there was no evidence of any crime. I did however get her expelled and sent to a special home for troubled kids.

"They are gone Avery, no more abuse" I tell her and she smiles widely.
"Thank you dad"

Ok so I know the Aubrey bit seemed random and I wasn't going to add her but I figured since the book is ending I would add her as it lets you know what happened to her bullies. Although not mentioned, Kyle is also in a special home for troubled kids.I think it wraps up all the abuse and what happened to the abusers. Hopefully I'm not forgetting anyone...let me know if I have.

Finally the last few chapters will be focusing on Xander, I did mention in a comment that there is two secrets he has.

Elijah knows one of them and that's why he's so dismissive of Avery's concerns, he thinks Xander is just struggling to hide the secret he knows about.

He doesn't know the second secret.