My dads best friend my teacher

The truth is out

"Mom! What happened?" She opens the door for me to go in. "Dad?" Dad gives me coy smile waving at me. "Hey butterfly!" He's laid in bed with a cast. "I was trying to show off to your mother and what do you know I break my leg, I will be fine." I sigh in relief thankful it wasn't anything serious. Jackson rests a hand on my lower back. "Glad you're ok Mr. Reed." Mom grabs my hand. "Honey, what happened to your eye?" I have the urge to tell but I can't, the same with the bullying and cutting if I tell them it will break their hearts. It will make them feel like they failed. Jackson pinches my lower back. "I was hit with a ball at school I guess the swelling hasn't went down yet." Mom and look at me as if searching for more information or the truth. Probably the truth. "Jackson, hun, wait outside for a bit we need to have a family discussion." He nods. "Of course." He leaves the room, both my parents nod at each and dad speaks first. "Is that boy hitting you? And don't lie to me how long has this been going on?" I quickly shake my head. "No I swear-" dad shakes his head. "No, Storm, the truth." The door opens. Shawn walks in his smile fades when he sees my face. "Perfect timing, tell us Shawn. Did you know about the abuse." He runs a hand through his hair. "For a year and a half. She's even being bullied at school, she's been getting bullied since freshman year." I glare at him and he shuts up. "Storm how come you never told us these things, we're your parents." Mom wipes my tears. "Tomorrow we are going to the principal about this. Honey if you need some days away from school then we will give you those days and Shawn can bring your school work from school. How does that sound?" I nod. "Shawn can you let Jackson he can go home?" Shawn smirks nodding. "When the doctor comes back we will have him look at you." Just in time the doctor comes in. "Here are your release forms and it looks like I have another patient on my hands. Let me take a look at that eye. May I take her to another to exam her?" My parents nod. I follow the doctor to a different room, it's not a hospital room it's a private room where they do check ups. "Alright talk to me, what happened and while you tell me what happened I need you to take your hoodie and shirt off please." I I explain to him as I take my hoodie and shirt off. His eyes widen. "No wonder you wear hoodies a lot. Let me see your arms." He views them gently touching the cuts. "Hmm...good thing is they are not infected, you take good care of the scars. Does your parents know?" I shake my head. "No one knows. Please don't tell anyone." He pulls out a clip board. "Do you have any thoughts of harming someone or yourself?" I shake my head. "You won't tell anyone right?" He push up his glasses. "Any thoughts of suicide?" Is he ignoring me? "Look Ms. Reed I have to follow protocol please understand. I will get you some ice to  help with the swelling." I sigh as he closes the door back.

"We are keeping a close eye on you as much as possible no more knives, blades, razors if you want to shave you can use nair. I blame that boy and his friends, your father knows a therapist if you need one." I shake my head. "I don't." Mom looks at my hoodie. "And no more hoodies unless it's truly cold. Storm, you're not going to school tomorrow your father, Shawn and I will talk to the principle with the cops involved for Jackson. We have enough evidence  to give to the police I can't believe that boy! If your father and I are not in the house Shawn will be here or you will be at his place, we don't want to leave you alone not right now.  Shawn will take you to school and drop you off at home." Shawn sips his beer his eyes never leaving mine, my cheeks heat up and I break the contact. "We will let the principal know you will be out of school for a few days." I nod.

The next day we sit in the principal office for almost two hours talking about the situation. Jackson's parents along with Zoe's parents sit in the office irritated. Jackson and Zoe glare at me the whole time. "Storm, how long has the bullying been going on?" I look at my bandaged wrists. "Since freshman year, the abuse been happening for a year and a half." Jackson's father slams his hand on the arm chair. "This is insane! My son would never hit a girl I taught him better than that." My dad scoffs. "Yea because you know your son so well. My daughter has a black eye because of him. She didn't do it to herself!" My parents continue to argue with the other parents. The principal clear his throat. "That's enough, all of you. Storms parents have evidence of the bruisings on her body. It shows that Zoe and Jackson been beating her numerous times. Storm would you like to press charges?" Mom looks at me nodding her head. "No." The principal nods. "I see, giving them a second chance is kind of you. They will be suspended for two weeks."dad shakes his head. "Those two should be charged for what they did, not suspended!" I grab his arm. "Dad, please, it's fine." The principal looks at me again. "Storm take all the time you need from school. I know Mr. Mendes is a family friend of yours so I will be sure he brings your school work to you." I nod. "Thank you." Then we leave.