Shy Eyes

2

I had woken up and my parents were gone. Jonny held me all night, knowing that whether or not I liked to admit it, what my dad did to me last night did a toll on me mentally and physically. He may not have hit me but the pain I felt when he did what he did to me hurt so much more. Jonny always knew what I was feeling, as if he were in my head feeling the pain with me.

I had pulled myself out of his bed and braided my hair to the side. Then I threw on a plain, baggy lavender T-shirt with gray sweatpants. I didn't care what I looked like on my first day of school, nor did I own anything nice. I wasn't given hardly anything. I dreaded going to school in the first place. I knew what was coming for me. People would take one look at me and get the vibe that I am just another pathetic, worthless teenage girl that everyone can pick on.

Jonny did not look that way. He was one of those boys who lots of other boys wish they could be and all girls wish they could date. Tall, lean, muscular, dark hair, and a killer shy smile. However, he was not one for sports, or being popular. He has only had one girlfriend in his life. Her name was Veronica. She had long wavy brown-red hair, blue eyes, she was thin, she was beautiful. From the first day I saw her, I felt instant jealousy. Jonny could get the prettiest girl in school, and I couldn't have anyone. They dated for 2 years, but she was in a fatal car crash. Jonny was devastated for a while, but he didn't stop sticking up for me. He was strong, stronger than anyone I had ever seen. He never talks about her anymore. It hurts me to see him hold in his pain like that. Sometimes I wished he would cry, instead of feeling nothing at all. It was like he always put my feelings before his, and I didn't like it.

I put on my converse, grabbed my small backpack, and put my life support items in it. My notebook that was basically a diary, my phone, my inhaler, and a small flashlight because of my fear of darkness. I walked across my room and stood in front of my mirror, and looked at myself. What a pathetic ugly girl I am.

I heard my door open and Jonny walked in, wearing sweatpants and a gray T-shirt, it was what he had slept in. He walked up behind me, appearing in my view on the mirror. His arms went around my shoulders and he played with one braid.

"You'll do great today, I just know it." He said, as if it would make me feel better. I didn't fall for it. He knew what was coming. I'd probably be tormented for half the day then have a nervous breakdown to the point where he would have to carry me out of the school.

I sighed. Taking another long glare at my own reflection, I reached up and undid my braid, letting my hair fall naturally over my face.

"Your hair looked really good before Paisley." Johnny said in a plea that made me want to downgrade my look even more.

"Stop trying to make me feel good about myself. How can I feel good when dad- when...dad..." I was going to finish my sentence, but the tears pushing at the back of my eyes prevented that. I closed my eyes and inhaled. The air smelled like my room, and Jonny. I felt his hands on my shoulders, and he turned me to face him. Opening my eyes I found that he was kissing my forehead.

"I promise I will never let him do that again." He said, obviously affected by what I said, or tried to say. I let myself embrace him back, he was always hugging me, I should have hugged back more often, because I knew that even though he did not show it, he needed it. I felt him ease into me, as if my hug was like therapy, hopefully it was.

When we got to the school, I stepped out of Jonny's pick-up truck and looked at the school. It was big, and looked too high class for me and my brother. At least there were no school uniforms. I took a step forward then walked at a slow pace toward the school, Jonny stepped in sync next to me. I wished I could spend every second of the day with him, so he could protect me from the words that would soon strike my heart and knock me to the floor. No matter how much hate I got, I could never get used to it, I was just too sensitive. I stopped in my tracks as I saw a flood of kids walk into the school. So many kids. So many mouths to make fun of me. I thought.