The Long Journey {COMPLETED}

Chapter 2: The Amerly's

I was just about to turn the corner of main street when I heard someone running behind me.

"Hey Ann, slow down," Jeremy yelled, "god, why were you running?" I was about to tell him to mind his on business when I remembered how nice he was even though I was a grouch.
"Are you sure I was running or are you just a slow walker?" I asked jokingly.
"I might be a slow walker, but at least I'm not the human Grinch."
"And who is, me."
"No, it's more of a brat who shares my birthday with me and my last name." I laughed, he really did try like Kate. We walked a little father and one question was killing me.
"Are you planning on walking me
home or something?"I imeadiatly knew that I shouldn't have asked but you can't take back something you already did. Life wasn't a sketch that you could erase things from.
"Actually, I wanted to ask you if you wanted to hang out at my house, don't worry Kate's with Luke." I felt like I was dreaming the cutest boy in my grade had just asked me to his house, "But if you have to get home I understand." Think Ann think, I almost yelled at myself.
"Well, my dad doesn't get out of work until 9 so... Sure." He suddenly got a huge smile. I had one more question though,"why are you so nice to me?" I finally asked.
"Um... what do you mean. I've always tried to be nice to you, I mean you are an amazing person." whoa he just called me amazing.
"Well... you you seem amazing too. But I'm not easy to be friends with. I don't want you to get hurt because of me."
"You're worth it Ann." he smiled. I wondered if he would be smiling if he knew about the marks all over my body, would I be worth it if he knew. For the rest of the walk there he and I talked. At some point he slid his hand in my hand and I held his hand back. As we walked up the driveway to his house I gawked.
"You live here" I asked in amazement it looked lime a hotel I could never afford.
"Yeah." he replied.
"I am so jealous" I said as we got to the front door. As soon as he opened the door a tiny lady offered to take my coat and gave Jeremy a suspicious look, we were still hand in hand.
"This is Ann, she's my friend Missy." The fact that he called me his friend made me so happy. Still I wondered what he would say if he knew about the bruises and cuts and scars. The woman who must have been Missy motioned again for my coat but I had a short sleeve on the long sleeved coat was my savior, so I had to keep my coat on.
"I will go get dinner started, and please don't make a mess, I just cleaned the upstairs living room." Missy told us.
"Okay Missy." Jeremy said and still holding my hand he bolted upstairs. As soon as we got upstairs he collapsed on the couch laughing and dragging me down.
"What the heck is so funny?" I asked him.
"You, you were like a deer in headlights and the way you yanked back when she tried to take your coat."
"Well, I was cold and didn't want a stranger taking my coat."
"I can turn the heat on if you want." But in a momentary lapse of thought I took my coat off without thinking and realized what I had done. But it was too late he had seen my arms already, so I would have to tell him about everything my dad did."Ann, wha- what happened to your hands and arms?"
Shit! I had to tell him something, but would I tell him the truth or the prerhearsed line that my dad gave me. I looked at his worried face and knew I would have to tell him the truth so I said,"It's punishment, from ... my- my dad." At least he couldn't see how skinny I was from only eating at school, that would have made it so much worse.
"Is that why you call yourself a beast, and why you always wear your coat. All I could do was nod. He knew my secret now. I broke down crying and somehow he was able to comfort me. "Oh god Ann I'm sorry you should always be safe, I really need to tell someone." Finally I felt like I wanted this to happen, for my dad to get in trouble for what he's done to me.
"He...he also smacks my hands and back with a ruler until I bled."
"Shhh... you're safe here. Um... my dad's home... I'm gonna go tell him... ok?" I nodded my approval. Well he was downstairs I managed to calm down, find the bathroom and clean my face. I also thought through what I had done, did I do the right thing by telling Jeremy when I barely knew him. What would I do if he told other people. Then I heard footsteps and made sure I was presentable to Jeremy's father.
"Hello Ann, I am Mr. Amerly, Jeremy and Kate's father. I am also chief of the police department. My son told me that your father has abused you and continues to do so. Can you tell me what he has done?" I swallowed hard and nodded.
********************************      Thank you for even reading my book this far. Comment on what you think will happen as the story progresses and your ideas may be incorporated into the story and I will tag you. I'm sorry for stopping at such a mean spot but you'll have to keep reading. :) Thank you leab_lax and singinggirl0308 for pushing me to post this and no this hasn't happened to me and any similar names are strictly a coincidence. Love y'all :)