Just Friends (NO LONGER WORKING ON THIS BOOK)

Chapter 5

"Lux."

I don't respond. I can't respond. What if I say the wrong thing? What if I make him more mad? I don't even know what to say! He already seems upset, and I don't want to make it worse. Why is Charlie up there? Oh my god, did she tell my dad that I like girls. No, she wouldn't do that. But what if she did? What if she's mad at me? Why didn't she chase me? And why is she next to Jaicey?

Kit nudges me slightly, and I'm brought back to reality.

"Hi, dad." I say in a voice that is almost a whisper.

He looks at me with a grimace, and then looks at Charlie, Kit, and then Justice.

"You guys should go home." He says, ignoring me.

I immediately grab Kit's hand. No. They are not leaving. I'm not going to be left alone with him and Jaicey. Even if Alessia wasn't at a sleepover, I wouldn't let them leave. Because, if I'm being honest, my dad scares me.

I think Kit can tell I don't want to be left alone with him. He squeezes my hand in response.

"No. I don't think we're leaving any time soon."

"Yes, you will be. This is my house. I will call the police on you."

Silence.

No one dares to say anything for almost a minute.

"We could call the police on you, as well." Justice speaks up.

My dad looks almost hysterical.

"Oh, yeah? What are you going to tell them? That I'm neglecting my child?"

"You are."

What?

"What? No I'm not. You guys are the one's trespassing on my property. Leave. Now."

"Like I said before, no. We will not leave. Not until Lux is safe." Kit responds, a bit more aggresive.

"She is safe. Aren't you, Lux?" He acknowledges me for the first time since he said my name earlier.

I don't know what to say. Sure, my dad isn't the best parent or person, but he's not.. Dangerous. At least, I think so... He's never hurt me physically. Sure, sometimes he'll slap me when I argue with him or disobey or don't do my chores, but that's not abuse.

But, if it's not abuse, then why am I so scared of him? Why am I scared that he'll hurt me if I say the wrong thing?

Because I shouldn't be saying something wrong in the first place. It's only right if I get punished for doing something wrong. If he's doing the same things he did to me when I was 7, it's not really abuse. Is it?

No, of course it isn't. He wouldn't hurt a child.

But, he never disciplined Alessia like he did to me. She would just get yelled at. Eh, it's probably just because she's the favorite. She never got punished like I did. What am I thinking? The punishments aren't even that bad. I'm sure that Kit, Charlie, and Justice had the same things done to them.

"Uh, Dave, I'm gonna go home now.." Jaicey gives dad the side eye before walking through the door.

He watches her until she drives away, and then his eyes are focused on me once again.

"Are you going to answer me?"

Only then, I realize that I'm shaking. It's not even cold. Is it anxiety? Why would I be anxious, though? Kit glares at him, then looks down at me.

"Lux, go get your stuff."

"What?"

"Go get your stuff."