So Many Signs

Chapter 1

The blood dripped from her arm.
Her heart thudded in her chest.
Her hands shook.
Her feet tingled.
Her vision disfigured.
Breathing was hard.
She cried harder, her chest growing tight.
She was having a panic attack.

It's fine Claire just breath, just breath. Everything is going to be okay, if you just calm down and get yourself together, it will be okay. I'm freaking out right now, my dad got home early today. I thought i had like a hour till he got home so I could go to Asher's house, but he came earlier than expected. He was angry, like full of rage. The minute he came home he went to the kitchen, and when he didn't see dinner he got angrier. I normally eat dinner at Asher's and than bring like a plate for my parents, but today my dad came home early. He rushed upstairs to my room, I couldn't even escape from the window because he pulled me back and punched my face.

Claire: "Dad, I'm sorry I was running late a-"
He shut me up with another punch.
Dad: "When I tell you to make dinner every night, you need to make dinner. do you understand?"
I didn't respond, I was so scared and just wanted go be with Asher. He was the only one who could make me happy. He doesn't know what my parents do to me every night. I can't tell him, he would tell his parents and than I would be taken away. I don't want to leave Asher of any of my friends. I-
Another punch....
Dad:" I SAID DO YOU UNDERSTAND!"
Claire:"Yes dad, I'm sorry it won't happen again."
I just want to go home... My own house is not even my real home, when I'm at Asher's I feel at home. His parents are so sweet and caring, sometimes I think that they know what happens at my house, but how would they know. My parents are never home. they only come at night and everyone is sleeping than. Well everyone except me. I wait for my parents every night. That is one of the many rules I need to obey. My dad left like five minutes ago. I just got up and cleaned my cuts on my arm and my wounds on my face and but numbing cream on my bruises. After I took care of myself I clean up my room and change into a hoodie and black pants and I go to Asher's. They live next to us so I can just walk to them whenever I want to. I just knock on their door and his mom opens the door. She looks at me worried, Shit I forgot the cover up my bruised face.

Amy:" Claire what happend to your face, did you cry your eyes are swollen and red?"
Claire:"C-can I come in, please?"
She let me in, I took my shoes off and walk into the living room. Asher and his dad were watching tv, when I walk in they turn there head and Asher jumps up.
Asher:" holy- what happend Claire?"
I ignored his question and just hugged him, he whispers sweet things in my ear and I just broke down. I was sobbing en fell to the ground. He sits next to me on the ground and just hugs me tighter.
Claire:" I-I'm sorry"
Asher:" ssh you did nothing wrong its okay, you wanna tell me what happend.
Claire:" not now, maybe later?"
He just gives me a forehead kiss and picks me up. He tells his parents that he is going to his room. We went upstairs and he drops me on his bed. I play with his cat, Leo. After a while I fell asleep.

Asher
Claire just fell asleep, I went downstairs and asked my mom what happend. She didn't know, Claire just broke down in my arms. She always is the happy friend, I think that I never even seen her cry until now. She didn't even cry when her boyfriend broke up with her. I need some air, I take my keys and get into my car and drive to target. I get all Claire her favorite snacks, like m&m's and some sour candy. I than saw a cute teddybear, and picked it up and went to check-out. I than drove home and put everything in a basket without the teddybear. I went upstairs and saw Claire awake playing with Leo.
Asher:" Hey Claire-bear"
Claire:" Claire-bear?"
She smiled at me, I think she likes her new nickname.
Asher:" I got you you're favorite snacks and than a saw this teddybear, and I thought it was perfect.
I gave her the cute teddybear and she hugged the teddybear and smiled. She smiled again, I made her smile.
Asher:" do you like it????"
she nodded and got up and tackled me in a hug. We fell on my bed and burst out laughing. She should smile all the time, she has a beautiful smile. What am I even thinking?
Claire:" do you still wanna know what happend?"
of course I want to know what happend so I could beat the person that hurt her up. Nobody hurts my best friend. But of course I don't tell her that. I just nod my head.
Claire:" uhm I never told anyone this but..."
She tears up
Asher:" Breath, its okay."
Claire:" My uhm parents me... and-"
I just look at her with a shocked face. Her parents abuse her?
" and today I forgot to make dinner for them and my dad got home early.. He uhm got really mad a-and punched me in my face like two or three times and than left. But before he left he screamed in my face that I need to listen to him and stuf.. yea-"
I didn't expect that, her parents are really sweet or is it all an act? How did I never see the signs? She always flinched when someone tried to hug her or when someone raised their hand up to ask a question. Why did I never connect the pieces, I could've protected her. My parents could have done something. This is all my fault, I-
Claire:" please say something Ash, I'm freaking out- Are you angry, upset or uh disa-"
Asher:" Are you okay?"

Claire
Asher:" Are you okay?"
Oh, uhm that's the first time someone asked me that in a while. Don't cry Claire not now, you can cry when you get home.
Asher saw me tearing up and just hugged me, we stay like that for a while. We both turn our head to the door. We see his parents looking at us. They join our hug. Asher than blurts out that my parents abuse me and that my dad punched me and that's why I was freaking out when I knocked on the door. I just look at him with a really? face.. He kisses my cheek. His parents just ask me questions like why did he punch you, was he mad at you, did you do something that got him mad and stuff like that. When we were done comforting me we went downstairs to watch a movie in the living room and eating dinner together on the couch. I feel like im part of this family, but I'm not. But that's okay because they treat me like their own daughter and I love that. I cuddle with Asher, It's like our thing, cuddling when were watching a movie. I could stay like this forever, and I think Asher would too. I fell asleep before the movie ended, but that's okay. Asher always explains to me what happend when I asleep. Asher took me to his bed and changes into his pjs, I opened my eyes and saw him changing, I closed my eyes really fast and felt that he sat next to me. Before he fell asleep he whispered i love you in my ear. I smiled and than fell asleep. The next morning I woke up to an empty bed. No Asher? I got up and changed into my clothes that I left here like a while ago. Just some blue flare jeans and a white crop-top with hearts all over it. I brushed my teeth with the extra toothbrush he keeps here for when I stay over. When I'm done getting ready I sit on his bed cuddling my new teddybear.
Asher:" Claire-bear are you awake? Oh hi, breakfast is ready are you coming?"
Claire:" Yes Ash I'm coming, Let's gooo..."
We went downstairs and ate dinner together. I told Ash that I'm getting my stuff for school. He told me that he is coming with me.
Claire:" My parents are at work, so it's fine.
Asher:" No it's not fine, I'm coming with you I don't care!"
I just shook my head and tied my shoes, Ash did the same and we both went to my house. I went to my room, Asher following me. I picked up my schoolbag and put my toilet-bag in my schoolbag.
When I was done packing my bag we both left so we could be on time.

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This is my first story so I'm sorry if its bad. English isn't my first language so I'm sorry if there are mistakes.

Thank you for reading, new chapter tomorrow