Lady in Red [Max Mayfield]

[5]

TW: THIS CHAPTER WILL INCLUDE ABUSE AND ALCOHOL

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I cautiously take a few steps towards the living room. When I peek in, I see my dad standing in the middle of the room, holding a beer bottle. Around him I see shattered glass, from a picture frame. I scan the ground for a picture, and I see one. It's a woman, standing next to my dad, and they're holding a baby in their hands. Wait. That can't be her. That can't be my mom. Why would he keep her picture? Why?

I stare for a few more seconds before turning down the hallway. I don't want my dad to see me. Who knows what my dad will do if he sees me? I tip toe quietly down the hallway, and right before I reach my door, the floor creaks. Shit. "Who's there?" My dad yells, his words slurring together.

"Um, dad? It's just me. I just got home from school" I spit out with quick breaths. Please don't get mad. Please don't get mad.

"Come here." My dad speaks in a calm voice. His calm voice is even scarier than when he yells at me. I walk slowly back down the hallway, and into the living room. I watch as my dad puts his beer bottle down, and slowly walks over to me. My heart beats fast with fear. "How was school?" He asks in a tone that definitely isn't curiosity or happiness.

"Um, i-it was go-good" I reply. I feel as if my heart could beat out of my chest at any moment.

"Good. I want you making new friends. I hated those people that you called friends in Derry. You won't be hanging out with anymore fairies, you hear me?" My dad says, raising his voice. I nod. What am I supposed to say? "Good. Who was that girl you were talking to that lives down the street? " I gulp.

"Uh, thats M-Max" He can definitely hear the fear in my voice. "She's just a friend. I met her today."

"Don't lie to me, Alexa!" My dad yells. I flinch a bit. "I know you've always had those horrible thoughts. I'm not fucking stupid. You always thought sinful thoughts about that red head girl from Derry. Don't act like I don't know" I sit there in shock. How could he know all that? Why the fuck did he know that?

"No, I didn't. I promise. I'm not gay. I'll never be." I manage to squeak out. My dad raises his hand and slaps it across my face. Hard. I put my hand up to my burning cheek as tears roll down my face.

"Good. If I find out you're lying, your punishment will be way worse than that. Go to your room. I don't want to see your face." He says. With that, I run to my room. I don't slam the door, because I know I'll get in even more trouble.

I fall onto my bed and start to sob quietly. After only two minutes or so, I hear a noise outside my window. It sounds like something hit it. Weird. I assume it must be a bug or something so I don't sit up. Then, I hear it again. This time I sit up. When I look to my window, I see a familiar face staring at me. Max? She waves at me just slightly.

I slowly walk over to the window and slide it open just as slowly. "Max?" I say in a questioning voice "Max, what the hell are you doing here?"

"Listen. I'm sorry for just barging in here, but something fell out of your backpack when you left. I decided to bring it back" Max looks at me with a sympathetic look.

"Oh, uh thanks. Did you- did you see anything?" I question her with a worried tone.

Max eyes widen just a bit before she says "Oh no! No! Nothing." But her face told me she did. She saw everything. She probably heard everything. She knows. She thinks I'm a lesbian. God damnit. She'll think I'm disgusting.

"Oh. Okay. Well what is it you wanted to give back?" I ask. She takes one more look at me before pulling a purple pencil out of her pocket and puts it into my hand. I study it for a bit and realize I've never owned a purple pencil. "This isn't mine"