Liar, Liar, Liar | 18+

chapter two

+ S C A R L E T T   D ' A N G E L O +

The ceiling knew all of my secrets. All of my flaws, boy troubles, promises. It knew my dirty thoughts and the faces of all the boys I've snuck through my window.

It knew that no matter what, I'd always be a 'good girl'. 

But I'm not sure what that meant anymore. 

It was the middle of the night and I had hardly slept. 

Dad had found out about the hickey on my neck and called a slut. Then he beat me until my vision was nothing but darkness. 

My Mom did nothing to stop him, but that's because she can't. She tries to do anything and she'll get threatened. 

I'd rather die than let anything happen to my Mom. She's my saviour. 

I peeled up my shirt to reveal the harsh purple and blue bruises that littered my skin. The previous scars healing into dark pink spots. 

I cringed at the way my skin looked, at the cigarette burns and the way you could see my bones when I breathed. I hate the way I look.

But for some reason, I couldn't stop thinking about today. About the boy. Kai. Kai Morello. My Dad's sworn enemy and for some reason everybodies enemy.

I don't know why. He's just a boy. A boy who's lost his father and now has to take over everything. 

But I liked the way he looked at me. 

He called me beautiful, and stroked my skin like it was a feather. He kissed me like I was the last breath of fresh air he'd ever get. It made my stomach turn.

I rolled over, a tear rolling down my cheek. 

I'd never felt that before, and I doubt I ever would again.

No one will ever love a slut. Especially covered in ugly scars. 

My father's words repeated in my head, consistently. Vibrating my brain and reminding me that I will never be good enough for anyone.

You did this to me, you branded me like cattle.

I remember sobbing into my pillow, my mother comforting me quietly whilst my father cheated on her with one of the maids. 

Because you deserve it. No daughter of mine will be sleeping around like a whore. And you know better than to disobey me. Maybe if you hadn't talked back, you wouldn't be bleeding right now.

The first time he ever lay a hand on me, I was 7. Seven years old. And now at twenty, it's still happening.

Nobody but I know what happens behind the four white walls of our home. And I doubt anyone would care. Nobody cares about the daughters and the wives of a gang leader. 

Never have, never will.

+ + + l̶͍̮̖͍̄̈́o̸̖͚̤̘̘̤̘̫̐v̸͕̿͋̚͝͝͠e̴̛̥͈͚̤̎̍͂̄̉̒͝͝ͅ + + +

When I woke up the next morning, there was a letter waiting for me on the kitchen table.

Accompany me to the Swingers Ball on Friday night, please. 
I need to see you again.

- Kai

My heart swung with lust. I have replayed the events of yesterday in my mind over a thousand times. 

There was an RSVP number at the bottom, and without hesitation I dialled the number and called it. 

My stomach dropped when the dial-tone clicked and someone picked up, "Kai Morello speaking."