I'll Never Tell

Chapter 2

I awoke with a panic. I looked around the room, remembering where I was. I closed my eyes and layed back down on my pillow. My humming filled the room until my throat started hurting. I turned to look at the clock, the numbers read 8:05.

My aunt was sitting at the counter drinking coffee. She turned when I entered the kitchen. "Morning."

"Morning." I replied sitting next to her.

"Sleep well?" She asked. I swallowed thinking of all the nightmares. I finally nodded. "You can take my car today. If you want. Go to the beach make new friends ." I nodded again. "Go get dressed, they will be on the counter."

Her car was nice. Nicer than any car I have ever been in. Not like I have been in many. Only 4 in my whole life. My mothers, my fathers, the cab drivers, and my best friend from my old hometown. It had that new car smell. I rubbed my hand across the leather and took it all in. I drove to the beach. I slipped off my shoes and let my feet sink into the sand. It was a beautiful sunny day. I closed my eyes and inhaled, the salty sea air hit my face. I hummed my song. The tide came up and come around my ankles. It was chilly. I know I should feel happy. Happy that I was having a new life, that I had a chance to move on, but to be honest I didn't feel much of anything. I was basically numb. I just wanted to break down and cry, but I won't, I know I won't. Ladies knew how to hold their emotions. My eyes were still closed and I was still humming when there was a tap on my shoulder. I quickly turned ready to tell the creep to get the fuck away when I saw a boy who looked very familiar.

"Ah," He said. "So this is my peeping Tom." The corner of his eyes crinkled when he smiled. So this was him. The mysterious pool guy who waved to me. Wow he had some nerve to come up to me all cocky and full of himself.

"I don't know what your talking about." I said turning back to the water.

"C'mon I know it's you. Your Liz's niece, you were watching me swim."

"Oh, yeah." I said simply.

"So, where are you from." He asked.

"Look," I said turning to face him. "I'm flattered that you came over and tried to make conversation with me, but I really just want to be alone." I turned back to the ocean once more.

"Oh. " You could tell he wasnt used to being shot down by girls. But I wasnt most girls.

As I got a good look of him in the sun, I noticed he was actually very attractive. Pretty green eyes. Dark brown hair that flopped in his eyes. He was popular. You could sense it about him. "Can I at least know your name?"

"Veronica."

"Veronica." He repeated. "Pretty."

I rolled my eyes. No way am I going to let some guy sweet talk me. "Aren't you going to tell me yours?" I raised an eye brow at him.

"Noah." Even though I turned back to the ocean showing no curiosity in him, he stood there by me. I turned to him. "Well.. Noah, I guess I'll see you around." I said starting to walk to the parking lot.

"Yeah you will." He called back to me.

~

"I'm home." I called as I walked into the doorway. I put my aunts keys back in the counter. I was still a little annoyed about the encounter I had with Noah at the beach.

"How was the beach?" My aunt asked walking into the kitchen.

"Fine." she nodded awkwardly looking around the room.

"Meet any friends?" She asked. I shook my head.

"I'm going to go and finish unpacking." I said trying to break the awkwardness.

I sighed sitting on my bed. This was going to be a long summer. I hummed and organized my room until I drifted off.

"Stop." I whispered. Deep laughter and hot breathe hit my face. I swallowed waiting for it to be over. Suspense was my worst enemy. Waiting was my killer.

"Baby, I love you." He whispered.

"No you don't." My voice shaking.

"Yes, I do." His harsh voice echoed off the walls on the small apartment. He grabbed my wrists. "Are you calling me a liar?" He spat.

He squeezed my wrists harder. "Look at me when I'm speaking to you." He grabbed my face forcing me to look at him. "A lady looks at you when you're speaking to her." A lady does a lot of things. There's so many things a lady does. A lady makes eye contact. A lady doesn't yell. A lady is sweet. A lady does what she's told. A lady this a lady that.. Blah blah blah, that's exactly what it sounds like after a while. My clear blue eyes met his. The exact same blue.

"You need to be punished." He grabbed me to my feet.

"No, no please no." I begged him. "I'm sorry, I'll be good." I felt helpless.

"Bend over"

"No." I begged. He yanked my hair back. "Bad girls need to be punished so they can become good girls."

"No, plea-"

My head flew up off of my messy bed. Sweat glistened on my skin. My heart thumping loudly against my chest. I struggled to breathe; coming out in shallow huffs. I got up and opened a window. I tried to breathe in the cool evening air. I closed my eyes trying to get the images out of my head. I grabbed a chunk of my hair and put my head in between my legs. I was having an anxiety attack. I got those often. Too often. After 3 minutes I began to breathe easily again.

"Honey, we are having visitors around 7 so I need you to get rea-" My aunt stopped short when she saw me sitting on the floor, black bags under my eyes, and my hair sticking to my body. She came over and sat down by me.

"Are you okay?" She asked. You could see she wasnt used to dealing with upset teenagers.

"Yes, I'm fine." I got up straightening my clothes.

"What were you saying about visitors?" I quickly changed the subject.

"Um," She was very hesitant. "The neighbors are coming at 7 for dinner. So you need to be ready." She kept looking at me, making sure I was okay. I nodded "I was just about to shower." I lied. I was actually going to stay in that position all night if she hadn't come into my room.

"Okay, if you need anything, and I mean anything, come to me." I nodded and she walked out of the room closing the door behind her. I closed my eyes and hummed my song. I thought about saying I was sick to get out of the dinner. But I knew that I owed my aunt something. I showered and got dressed and tried to make myself look at least a little decent. She called my name and I took a deep breathe. It's only an hour with the neighbors for dinner, you can do this I said to myself. Only an hour.