Before Dawn

Chapter Two

When I woke up the next morning to my alarm blaring the first thing I smelt was his scent. My chest tightened and my hands shook as I sat up. Eyes widening in size as I walked out of my bedroom.

Slowly and quietly walking down the steps. He was sitting in an armchair, beer in hand. "Morning kiddo!" He grinned from ear to ear.

"Wha—What." My stutter preventing me from speaking. It had been a huge problem as a kid and as I grew up it only effected me in stressful or emotional situations. "I'll tell ya, I did not miss that." He chuckled.

My father was supposed to be in prison. It had only been months he had a year sentence. Just then my mother walked into the living room. A bright smile on her face.

"Go get ready for school sweetheart. First day aren't you excited!" She couldn't be serious. He had beaten her on multiple occasions. Abused me multiple times verbally and physically and she just welcomed him home? "Y—yo...you.." She placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

This was the old her. The mother who actually cared. But that wasn't my mother anymore. "It's alright, remember imagine the word your trying to say in your mind." She encouraged as my father leaned back watching. I couldn't do it.

Instead I ran back up the steps. Mind rushing, palms sweating, throat closing in. When had he gotten here? I got home at twelve. Woken up at seven. So when did he get back?

I thought maybe I was imagining things. My therapist told me that my PTSD could cause visions like this. But I heard his laugh from downstairs loud and clear. I decided to ignore it.

Locking my door I got dressed and packed my bag for school. Hannah was picking me up to drive me to school. My phone lit up as she sent me a message. She had just left and was on her way.

I had seven minutes to be out the door. Brushing my black hair out I stared at myself in the mirror. It isn't real. That's all I could do for now.

I guess I had been standing in the mirror for too long because my phone lit up again. She was here and waiting. I slipped on my gym shoes and rushed down the steps to avoid even looking at them.

My bag hanging off my shoulder and phone in my jeans back pocket. "Have a good day at school kiddo!" He hollered to me as I walked faster. Hannah's smile faded as she saw my expression.

When I got in her car she began to drive to school. Then the questions began. "What's wrong?" She wondered, moving her vision to me and then back at the road.

"My dad—my dad..." She stepped on the breaks and turned towards me. Her hand on my shoulder. "It's okay. Just breath, think of the word, sound it out." Hannah's been my bestfriend stance middle school.

She knew everything about me, including my stuttering issues. So she knew that it was serious if I was struggling to get it out. "He's back right?" Her hazel eyes were full of concern. I only nodded my head. "Fuck." She cursed lifting her foot off the breaks.

"We can talk about it when you've calmed down." She reassured. I don't know if I'd ever be able to talk about it. Not today at least. We arrived at school with ten minutes to spare before class.

"Do you want me to walk with you to class?" That's Hannah for you. Comforting and sometimes overbearing. "No I'm fine." That was the first sentence I spoke today. And I sure as hell wasn't fine. We stepped out of the car and walked across the parking lot.

She pulled me into a rib crushing hug and then left in search of her locker. I already knew where mine was. Lucky enough it was right in front of my first period class.

Honors English with Mrs. Walsh. Grabbing a notebook and pen I shoved my bag into the small blue locker. Before I could shut it myself, someone slammed it shut.

It made me jump, I was already on edge from seeing him. "Sutton." It was Riley. His parade of assholes right behind him, watching me.

"Blanch—Blanchard." I cringed as I heard myself speak. Erica Costwell roaring with laughter behind Riley. His eyebrows knit together in confusion as he looked at me.

"What's with the..." He trailed on, his finger pointing to his mouth. Taking a deep breath I prepared myself to speak. "It's nothing." I clarified, but it angered me. Erica was still smirking at me.

I met her eye contact with an arched eyebrow. "N-n-nice o-o-outfit." She mocked as Riley's friends chuckled. But Riley only looked at me. Then he went back to normal. Laughing along with his friends like he just flicked a switch.

Not having the patience for their highschool bully antics I walked into first period. My chin rested in my palm as I looked forward. Minutes passed and the class was full.

With just my luck Riley's friends from the football team were in my class. Ignoring them I payed attention to Mrs.Walsh.

That was until I heard the first notification.

Then the second and third. Followed by the fourth, fifth, and so on. The news had spread and I knew it wasn't just my imagination. As they checked their phones all eyes landed on me.

Looking down at my own phone, I saw it. The local news has written a story just on my father being released. My phone blew up with texts. My heart raced as the whispers got louder.

Mrs. Walsh was yelling to try and get the conversations to stop but it was no use. I felt my stomach twist and turn and my head turned foggy. "Miss Sutton?" The teacher called out from the front of the class.

I was dizzy and now I was nauseous. "Can I use the restroom?" I questioned as quick as possible. She nodded and I bolted from the classroom. When I burst into the restroom I got odd looks from the girls already in there. Going to the first unoccupied stall I fell to my knees and threw up everything in my stomach.

This was worse than getting your nudes shared. This was worse than being called anorexic in the comments of social media posts.

This was way worse.

Everyone knew what he did and now everyone knew he was back. This was real, and oh how I hated the real world. I spent the rest of first period throwing up last nights dinner. What was I going to do?