Broken

Chapter: One

-2267 words {listen to the song; it goes with the chapter.}

I paced the halls of E & J High school, and glanced down at my watch palling visibly. I was thirty-two minutes and twenty-three seconds late home exactly.

All I could think about was my dad, and what to expect once I step foot through our door.

A hit. . .A kick maybe.

All I knew was that hell would freeze over when I got home, and dad would be there waiting for me. If not with a belt, then with his fists.

"Ryder!" My body whips around and I run smack dab into Macy. "Where the hell have you been?" I ask and rush over to the passenger side of her little yellow Bug.

Her dream car, that she'd begged her parents for, for as long as I could remember.

"Sorry, Mrs. Lax had me sign a few papers for BETA club." She says and slides into the impossibly small car. I couldn't believe that Macy even made it into BETA, don't get me wrong.

Macy's super smart, but when it came to studying and shopping; she'd pick the shopping any day.

"So wanna stop for a latte before I drop you? My aunt Mary has been waiting on you to drop by her shop." She mumbles speeding out of the schools parking lot.

"Can't, dad is probably waiting for me, and I'm probably in enough trouble as it is." Her face drops and she chances a glance at me.

"Ryder–"

I wave away her concerns before she can even voice them. Macy's the type of person who thinks that she can help any and everyone. That one characteristic would either be her downfall or her savior.

",but what kind of friend am I, if I don't help you? Just come and spend the night— please? Or at least tell someone Ryder, I don't want you to get hurt or worst." I stare out of the window in guilt.

"I-you trying is good enough, but dad's too smart. He knows where to hit me so that it won't show, and besides he won't let me stay at your house since you're a girl. Macy just please stay out of this, I don't want anything happening to you."

I plead and shift my body around to face in her direction. My dad is a smart man like I said, it's no telling what he'd do just to keep me with him.

Macy hesitates, and turns down my street. "You're letting him guilt trip you Ryder. . .you shouldn't have to go through this. You lost your brother and mom just like he did, but that doesn't give him the right to abuse you."

She's right, I know this already but there's nothing I can do.

I can't leave him alone. . .he's all I have left. She pulls into the drive way of my two story house meant for four.

"You're right, but I can't leave him Macy. You know that I can't. . .he won't let me. I'm all he has left." I whisper and quickly jump out of the car.

"I'll see you later. . .I'm late." I slam the door close and head up to the gate.

"Ryder!"

She yells and I turn around quickly, to stare into her baby blue eyes. "Yeah?" Macy scrunches up her nose and nibbles her lip. "Be careful, okay?" I try to smile but it feels like a grimace and throw up a two finger salute. "Of course, bye."

She speeds away and I'm left standing on my brown wrap around porch.

"You're late."

I turn sideways to see my dad walking around from the back of the house. "I'm sorry, I missed the bus and Macy volunteered to drive me home."