Until You

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven: Daniel

I fucking hate him. He acts perfect but he isn't. He was eyeing Katelyn up and down the whole time she was over. What a fucking pervert. Even Michael isn't as bad as him. At least Michael knows what the limit is. Why can't he be out of my life already?
I went out to get a drink after I dropped off Katelyn. God I hate the smell of alcohol but it takes the pain away. A girl came up to me.
"Hey there. Mind if I join you?"
"I have a girlfriend if that's what you're trying to get at."
"No. I'm gay dude. This is the closest bar. So can I join you?"
"Go ahead."
"You look extremely young to be at a place like this. How old are you? Twenty-four?"
"No, I'm eighteen."
"Holy shit kid. You shouldn't be here. It's not a good place."
"I don't care. It's better here than at home."
"How so? Is your girlfriend annoying?"
"No it's my dad. My girlfriend's an angel. He was hitting on my girlfriend all night long when she was over. And right in front of me too."
"Tough. Well still you shouldn't be here. I've learned that the hard way."
"Look I'm just trying to get a drink before I have to get back home."
"Alright. "
I chugged my drink and left. That girl didn't even notice. I got in my car and started driving. Why the fuck did he have to be like this?
When I got home the lights were on. Fuck.
"Daniel! Where have you been?"
"Out. I'm sorry mom. I didn't mean to worry you."
"Honey, have you been drinking? How did you even get alcohol?"
"I told you I was out."
"Did Katelyn make you do this?"
"God no mom. She would never let me. You know that. She's like the daughter you never had."
"I'm sorry Daniel."
"I'm sorry too mom but I want to go to bed."
"Okay go to bed honey."
I went upstairs and changed. These clothes reek of booze. Actually I'm gonna shower.
I got out of the shower and went to bed. I laid down and my dad came into my room. He slammed the door open. What the fuck does he want now?
"What the fuck were you thinking? Your mother's worried about you."
"I know. It all got too much to see you talk to Katelyn like that."
"I was only being nice to your girlfriend."
"Yeah way too nice."
"You're a little bitch. You know that? You get mad at your daddy and you go and get drunk. What's next you run away?"
"Stop it."
"What do you want me to say? You have your mother worried, crying in there."
"I'm sorry but I needed to take the edge off."
"Take the edge off. Take the edge off my ass. You are a fucking child Daniel. You don't have anything you need to take the edge off of."
"Shut up. You don't get to say what I have or what stress I have."
"It's that little girlfriend of yours. She's making you like this. You were a nice boy until she came along."
"Do not talk about Katelyn that way. She is the best thing to happen to me."
"Am I wrong? You only started acting like this because of her."
"No I haven't, it's because you've been a total ass to mom and Michael and me."
"Grow up Daniel. Stop acting like a five-year old that didn't get his way."
"That's the thing I didn't get my way. You think I like hearing mom cry every night because you yelled at her. No. You think I wanted to play football as a freshman. No. I have wanted to do track since the beginning. So yeah I didn't get my way."
He came close to me and hit me. I fell to the ground.
"Don't ever disrespect your father. You will do as I say."
I got up and charged at him. I knocked him to the ground.
"At least football worked for something."
He got up, hit me then left. I was left in my room with a giant headache. I fucking hate this man. He's my father by blood but he hasn't been much of a father to me since I started 5th grade. I laid in my bed wondering if I should text Katelyn. I decided that I should.

Me:
Hey princess ♡ are you awake?

My princess:
Hey Daniel yeah I'm awake

Me:
It's kind of late. Can you not
fall asleep?

My princess:
Yeah just kind wish I could
cuddle you

Me:
Me too. I just want to hold you
close to me and never let go

My princess:
Yeah I want that too

Katelyn was the only thing that really made me happy these days. Yeah my mom made me happy by being so supportive but Katelyn. I loved her so much. She was my light.

I woke up and I heard glass shatter again. Really this bullshit again? I just hope she's okay. I walked out of my bedroom and saw mom on the floor with blood coming out of her head. I ran to her but every step I took made her seem farther. All of a sudden he pops up in front of me. He hits me with a bat, making me fall to the ground. I hold my stomach in pain struggling to get back up when he starts beating my mom. He takes the bat and swings at her with it. I saw mom struggle and I heard her scream. I've hated those noises since I was young. I was too weak to get up so I watched my mother get killed in front of me. I started crying hysterically. I can't believe he would do this to her. He was supposed to love her. She loved him.

I woke up in a cold sweat. I hated that dream. I've been having it for a while. I'm scared that it's going to happen for real. I got up and started cleaning the house. I didn't want mom to have so much work to do. I started vacuuming the house. I then started making breakfast. I made eggs with bacon and toast. Michael and mom ate it happily but he was another story. I didn't really care because I didn't care for him.
I finished cleaning. I went to my room to do my homework. I was doing my homework when mom came into my room.
"Hi sweetie."
"Hi mom."
"You didn't have to do house work, I could have done it."
"No mom. You already do enough. I just wanted you to have a day off."
"Thank you sweetie."
She looked around my room. Staring at my trophies for football. I could get a scholarship but I don't think I would take it. I want to be a lawyer. I also want to be with Katelyn but I know we have to go where we need to, not where the other is going.
"You're a really good runner Daniel."
"Thanks mom. I will try really hard."
"Daniel."
"Yes mom?"
"Why did you drink?"
"I was angry."
"Angry at what?"
"At myself. At him."
"Him?"
"Yeah dad. He's always treating you like shit. Not just you but Michael and me."
"Daniel! Language!"
"I'm sorry mom. But it's true."
"I know it is but you know what would happen if we left him."
"I don't care mom. We aren't safe here. Look at you. You're always wearing makeup to cover up any bruises he leaves on you. He isn't just hurting you. Me too. I have nightmares every night because of him. And god knows what he's doing to Michael."
"Honey please understand. Understand that it isn't easy to leave him. I still love him. Even if he isn't the same man that I fell in love with."
"Why? Why mom? How could you when he's hurting you and your children?"
"Honey I know it's hard to understand but we were high school sweethearts."
"Mom, I don't want to hear about that. Please. I don't want to hear you say that you still love that man out there."
"I'm sorry honey."
"Mom it hurts me to see you this way. I don't want you to be stuck with a man like that. Someone who treats you like shit."
She left my room. And then he came in. I hated him.
"Daniel. What are you doing?"
"I'm doing homework."
"Why don't you come outside and play football with your old man?"
"I don't want to. I have a project to finish. I want to finish it today so I don't have anything to do over the break."
"Oh come on. An hour is fine."
"Please. I don't want to. I just want to finish this."
"Okay and I want to play football with you. You aren't playing football at school so you could at least do this."
"I played football this season that passed. Isn't that enough? I was on varsity for crying out loud but I didn't enjoy it."
"Listen here. You are coming outside with me and we are playing football."
"No. We're not."
He punched me. Shit that fucking hurt. It'll definitely leave some sort of mark.
"Since you don't want to go with me then stay here. Oh, and tell your little girlfriend that she needs a real man instead of someone like you."
He punched me again and then he left.
I hate him. How could he say something like that to his own flesh and blood? I hate that he says that type of shit about Katelyn. I hate it. I wish he would just disappear. Or I could just disappear. He always says that weird shit about her and I don't like it one bit

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