Watch Me

Chapter Twelve

Hello, lovelies! I hope this chapter is at least somewhat good. This chapter is dedicated to my little sister, Sarah! I love you, and I hope you actually get to reading this book.

Enjoy, everybody!

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Chapter Twelve

Haley's POV

He stares into my eyes for what feels like hours until he sighs and rubs his face with frustration. "Why am I not supposed to feel this way?" he asks, coming off angry.

I frown and cross my arms. "Because, Ethan, look at me. My dad beats me, and I hurt you. I can't forgive myself for that. I never will," I snap.

"But I do. I forgive you. Can't you see that I do? I just wish you would understand."

I groan. "But that doesn't help anything. I'm fighting with myself about what happened."

"Never mind. I guess you can just forget anything I told you. It doesn't even matter anymore," he says, then turns the key in the ignition.

I feel a pang of guilt building up inside me, but what am I supposed to do? I can't drag him down with me. I can't let it lead to that. "Just promise me that you'll do one thing for me," he says, interrupting my thoughts.

My head snaps in his direction. His expression is cold, and looks nonchalant, which I know he can't feel that way toward me. "What?" I ask.

"Just promise me that you'll take one night away from him and come to the school dance on Saturday."

"But I--"

"No excuses. You need it. You need to get away from him, even if it's just a couple extra hours."

I feel tears, but I nod and force them to vanish. "I promise."

*~*~*~*

"Thank you for dropping her off, Ethan," my dad says, digging his nails into my arm as he lies.

"No problem, Mr. Jacobs," Ethan smiles, then turns on his heel.

My dad slams the door and digs into my arm deeper as he turns around to look at me. "I told you to wait for me, Haley!" he screams, his face is turning red with anger.

"Dad, I'm so sorry. Ethan wouldn't take no for an answe--"

"Go to your room! And don't come out!" he yells, cutting me off.

And when he says don't come out, that means I don't have another meal until tomorrow.

*~*~*~*

I stare at the ceiling and wait for the sun to go down, and the night to pass. It's only six o'clock, and I'm beginning to sweat. The sunlight appearing in my bedroom window is shining right on me.

I continue to stare at the ceiling as I feel hot tears drip from my eyes to my neck.

His voice echoes in my mind and screams at me for what happened three years ago. He screams that I'm a cheating bitch.

I finally close my eyes and fall into a sleep that will last until tomorrow morning.

Ethan's POV

I rub my face to wake myself up as I feel Mara shaking me by my legs. I prop myself up on my elbows and smile down at the little girl. "What are you doing in here, beautiful?" I ask, picking her up and setting her on my lap.

"Sammy told me to wake you up," she smiles so big that her baby teeth are showing. The teeth she lost in the front are just starting to peak through.