Perfect Imperfections

Four

Elias Ryder Costanza

~*-*~

"Whoa!" I laughed as we went over a rough bump in the road, laughing as Jake expertly drove the truck in the dirt. I screamed in joy as he drifted the truck, stopping and looking at me.

"Fun?!"

"Hell yes!" I laughed, trying to catch my breath as I giggled.

"Off road driving, lots of fun." Jake grinned and took off again, making me laugh more. When we finally returned to town, the lower side of his truck was completely covered in mud and dirt.

"Let me wash the truck then I'll drive you home." Jake said and I nodded, going through the car wash with him. And, like the last time he drove me home, he dropped me off at the end of the road so my family didn't see him.

"Text me when you get home, I want to make sure you're okay." He said and I nodded, leaning over to hug his neck.

"Thank you, Jake. I had a lot of fun." I said then let go and hopped out of the truck, walking down the road. When I walked into the house, my smile fell as I realized how much trouble I was in when I saw my parents sitting at the table, glaring at me.

"Mom, dad-"

"Eight, AJ. You are home at eight, dinner was supposed to be served at six." Mom said and I looked at dad.

"What have you been doing for the last four hours, hmm? Because you weren't at the park like you said, Elias and Bella Rae checked." Dad said and I cleared my throat.

"I-I've been walking around town, trying to familiarize myself with it." I said and mom glared.

"Were you with that tattooed freak again?!" She snarled, but I shook my head.

"N-No! I haven't seen him since he came here!" I said and she scoffed, coming over and leaning down to me. I froze as she took a big whiff of me then she stood and glared, her hand coming up and slapping me across the face.

"It is one thing to whore around behind our backs, but to blatantly lie and abandon your duties so that you can be a slut?! I didn't raise my daughter to be like that!" She snarled and grabbed my cheeks, forcing me to look at her. I whined as she forced me onto my tip toes then she spit in my face.

"Go to your room, you'd better not leave it, or I will make you regret it!" She hissed and let me go, but I wasn't ready to be let go so I fell to the ground. I slowly pushed myself up then wiped her spit off my face, slowly walking towards my room. When I got there, I fell on my bed and started crying as my face stung. I don't know how long I cried, but I cried until my tears ran dry and my face didn't hurt as much. If you need to get away for the night, you can come to my house. I looked up at the steps to my room then stood and packed a bag, making sure to pack my phone charger and turn off my phone's location before I even left.

"She's a failure to this family!" I heard my mom yell as I snuck downstairs.

"She's just a late bloomer-"

"Don't defend her when she's going around fucking some thirty year old guy, Michael!" Mom growled, but I shook my head and went to the other side of the garage, slipping out the side door. As I took off running down the road, I prayed they hadn't heard me and let out a breath as I got to the end of the street. I opened my phone then used my maps, finding the directions to Jake's without using my location. It took me an hour and a half to walk there, he lived outside of town apparently, but I soon saw the small lakeside cabin and smiled as I locked my phone. When I got near the door, a motion sensor light lit up and I looked at the door to see Jake standing there wearing only a pair of sweatpants hanging off his hips.

"AJ?" He questioned as I went towards him, gripping my bag tightly.

"I-I needed a night." I whispered and he softly smiled, stepping back to let me into the house.

"Take as many as you-" He stopped as I turned to him then he held my shoulders, looking at the fresh mark on my face.

"She hit you?!" He asked and I nodded, more tears falling as I hugged him, his large arms wrapping around me and holding me tightly.

"Shh, she doesn't know where you are now!" He soothed me, holding me close as I cried into this stranger's chest.

"You can stay here as long as you need to, AJ." He whispered and pushed me back some, holding my cheek and looking at the bruised one.

"It doesn't look too bad." He noted and I smiled, nodding as I wiped my face.

"Sorry, I-I probably look ugly." I laughed, but he shook his head.

"Not at all. Come on, let's get you something to eat." He said and I laughed as my stomach announced itself, agreeing with his offer.

"Thanks, Jake!" I laughed and he nodded as we went to his kitchen. As I sat at the table that was also his island, I watched him work and felt... weird that I wasn't the one cooking.

"A small meal, but hopefully enough to fill you up." He said and set down a plate, sitting next to me and watching as I ate.

"Thank you." I smiled and ended up getting a second plate.

"Do you mind if I shower?" I asked, but he shook his head and even showed me how to work the shower.

"Towels are here, I'll be downstairs when you're done." I nodded then waited until he left, locking the door out of habit and stripping to get cleaned up.