Untold Truth

Chapter 8

"Jack?" I repeat.

"Jack. My name is Jack." He says. He looks a little uncomfortable as he scratches the back of his head.

"No last name?" I ask, prying a bit to much. I understand if he won't say.

"Not one that I'm proud of." He scoffs. He's even more of a mystery now.

We stand there for a few awkward moments before I remember that I need to get back to my house by 3. I want to stay and find out more but I need to get home.

"Wait what time is it?" I ask suddenly scared.

Jack looks up to the sun, (he can tell the time by the sun?), "3:15. Why?"

My heart starts pounding. I can barely breathe. "3:15? Oh my god I have to get home. My dad wants me ready by 5 and he'll be home in 15 minutes!" I say more to myself then to him. I start pacing. How will I get home one time?

"Hey Karlie clam down. We'll get you home okay? You're dad won't hurt you, it'll be fine." He says reassuringly. Calming me down only slightly. Why is he being nice?

"No it won't. You don't get it he's gonna..." I shiver at the thought.

"Beat you? Hurt you?" He cuts me off. Looking into my eyes, "Look I know more then you think." He looks at me intensely. But not like I'm a wounded puppy. He looks at me like he gets it. Like he's been in my position. It's more meaningful and I feel less embarrassed.  "So let's get going," he says in a lighter tone.

He turns and starts to walk towards my house. He keeps amazing me. How he just goes. Most people would show emotion, but it just seems like he is so used to hiding his.

"So Jack." I start as I run up to him. "How do you know all of this stuff about my dad and everything?" I ask trying to start conversation. Well, okay, maybe not trying to start conversation. I'm trying to understand all this.

"That is not your business." He snaps. I flinch a little. Damn. Then he looks at me and says more calmly, "So Karlie, I am very curious, why did you have that dress and heels on, in the middle of the night, in the woods that night we met?" This is a fair question.

I take a derp breath. What parts do I tell him? All if it?  "Well, it was Prom. My date had tried to take advantage of me, so I stabbed his hand. But he was my ride home and I knew the shortcut from the high school to my house. It was dark and stuff so I sort of, you know, lost my way. Then I stepped into your trap." I finish eyeing him accusingly, avoiding going back to my almost rape.

"He tried to take advantage of you?" He says the words like he doesn't know what they mean. Of course I have to explain this.

"He tried to.... rape me." I say quickly. I let out a breath. God that's embarrassing.

He looks at me with hurt in his eyes. "Karlie, I feel awful. I was so rude to you that night, and after what you'd just been through." He looks away, ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry." And he means it.

"It's fine. You didn't know and I'm fine so, let's just hurry up." I say, wanting to get off the topic.

"No need. We're here." He points through the trees to my back yard. Thank god.

"Time?" I ask hurriedly.

"3:50," he says slowly like he's breaking bad news. This is bad news.

I don't even look back at Jack. I just run to my backdoor. My dads car is in the driveway so he must know I'm not home. "Shit." I say. I really don't want to go inside.

I look back at Jack standing in the forest. I'm so tempted to go back and stay with him. But I can't. I just really hope he doesn't see what happens next. I open the door slowly only to be greeted with a very angry face. He doesn't even ask for an explanation, he just pushes me out the door and I fall onto the ground.

"You are in so much trouble young lady!" He bends down, grabs my wrist, and pulls me to my feet. For some stupid reason I try to jerk away and that earns me a slap to the face.

"This is for your own good." He says like he always does. Then he takes off his belt and motions for me to kneel facing away from him. I risk a glance to see Jack. He is still standing there, face masked in horror. He looks at me asking if he should help. I stare straight back meaning no.

Then my dad begins to whip me. I try not to cry out because it will only earn me more. He hits me 10 times then stops. Each hit more agonizing then the last. He hasn't whipped me in a month.

He grabs my face and forces me to look at him. "You'll thank me one day." Then he shoves me away and I collapse to the ground. He gives a grunt and kicks me in the rib. Like he is disgusted by my existence.

"Get up and get ready. You better not be acting like this tonight." With that he turns and walks into the house. I cough a few times and try to pull myself up. I fail the first attempt. I try once again to push off the ground and out of no where I feel gentle hands help me up. I am turned to face him and I look him dead in the eyes.

"I wish you didn't see that," I say to Jack. "What if he sees you right now? Why would you risk helping me?"

"Because," states Jack, "I'd do anything for a friend." I swear that on the last word his voice changed. I heard emotion. His voice wasn't straight, in was different.

"So we're friends now?" I say weakly, he must've meant it.

"Of course. But you have to promise me some things. If we become friends, we will have to lay out some rules."

"What?" I ask a little scared.

"You can never tell my secrets. And you have to always let me help you." He says. He smirks little and I actually feel like he is my friend.

"At times like this?" I ask him.

"Ya, at times like this," he repeats. He is about to turn around but I throw my arms around him and hug him. He seems shocked but then he very gently puts his arms on my back. It doesn't even hurt.

He lets go of me and backs away. He looks at me, his brow furrowed making sure I'm fine. I smile and nod. I walk into the house to get ready for this dinner. I believe Jack now. My dad is not a nice guy.