The Scholarship

Abuse?

I woke up the next morning groggily and made my way to the bathroom. I didn't bother checking myself in the mirror before hopping in the shower. The hot water soothed my skin and I almost fell back asleep but snapped out of it when I heard the front door slam. I held my breath but let out a breath when I realized I locked the door. Quickly I turned the shower off and dried off as silently as possible. I turned the light off so it seemed like I wasn't in here. I heard him grumble but walk right back the door into his bedroom and slam the door shut. I blew out a breath as I quickly finished drying myself and starting working on my hair. I quickly gave up on trying to cover up the large swollen cheek and decided that I would say that I just fell off my bed and slammed my face into the night table. I silently left the house and made my way to school. I hoped no one would ask about the bruise but I had the intership to go to and Tony seemed like a very curious person judging by the questions he was asking yesterday. I managed to stear clear of Damon all day. I don't think my head really even looked up once until the end of the day when I walked over to his car. But I wasn't sure if I was supposed to so I scurried away before he saw me. I decided on walking to Stark Towers instead of being a nuissance to Damon anymore. I think I made it there in record time as I walked up to the front desk and checked in as usual. I made my way to the lab and prayed that I wouldn't get in trouble. I could hear the music before I even got out of the elevator. AC/DC blasted as I made my way into the lab and flinched at the loud noise. Tony was dancing and seemed really into what he was doing so I decided I would sit and wait for him to finish what he was doing. Minutes later he spun around doing some awkward move and caught of me. I bit my lip to hide the urge to laugh as he told Jarvis to pause the music and look at me suspicously, "How long were you there?"

"Oh only a few minutes. If I had a phone I probably would have recorded it." I said with a small smile. He smirked before clapping his hands together.

"Okay lets get started to-"

He was cut off to a fuming Damon storming into the room, "She wasn't by the car I waited and we searched for a good 30 minutes trying to find- her." He stopped and slowed down looking at me and narrowing his eyes. I looked down.

"You didn't ride with him?" Tony asked.

"Well...I...I didn't know I needed to. He didn't tell me today so I just assumed that I would walk..."

"Hm..I see, well lets get this settled now! Damon do you mind taking her everyday no questions asked?"

"Yeah sure whatever as long as she comes to the car right after school." He snapped. His eyes never left my face.

"Alright and Andy are you okay with this?"

I nodded and stayed silent ready to put this passed us.

"Okay! Now today we're gonna start with something small! Since you want to do mechanical engineering I figured we could work on my stupid robots." He motioned to the one in the small kitchen, "That one over there needs to be redone. When I had to drink Chlorophyll he would always spill my drinks. And now when I want an actual smoothie he still spills it. So how about we fix it?" I nodded and smiled a small smile, "I would suggest putting your hair up." I hesitated but obliged. I grabbed my thick hair and put it all in a high pony tail dreading the moment Tony looks up and sees my swollen face. 

"Okay so I guess I should give you a run down on what to do and than we can go-" He looked up and stopped talking, "You're face looks terrible." He stated. I looked down, "What happened?"

"Well I ran into a pole about 3 weeks ago and I got the black eye and this morning I fell off my bed and slammed my face into my night stand."

He nodded, "Well I guess you should have mentioned that you're clumsy." He said. He started going on about how we were going to go about the fixing. We worked in silence for a good half hour before he broke it, "Your dad seemed nice."

"Oh...uhm yeah."

"Wheres your mom?"

"I- I don't know. She left years ago."

"You know...your dad reaked of alcohol. Is there anything you want to tell me?" Tony asked and stopped doing what he was doing and looked at me. His eyes holding nothing but seriousness.

"N-No." I stuttered, "Why would you ask that?"

"I see the signs of something."

"Well I don't want to be rude but you're wrong sir. I mean my life may not be the greatest but I can asure you that abuse is not there."

"You realize if you're lying you'll lose the scholarship right?"

"I-" I looked down, "May we go into your office?" I whispered. I couldn't lose this scholarship. Tony nodded and put a hand on the small of my back and led me into his office and sat down across from me, "I can't lose this scholarship sir. He- he only does it when he's drunk! And it's my fault for provoking him." I explained.

"Andy I can't let you keep staying there with him."

"You don't understand. My father needs me sir."

"No, he obviously doesn't."

"Please....don't...I- He-"

"Speechless?"

"We-" Damon walked into the room. And I shut up.

"Hey dad are we ready?"

He nodded and headed out, "We'll talk about this when I drive you home." Tony said and looked at me with a serious expression. I nodded and followed behind him. We went into the kitchen, "Since you left so quickly yesterday we didn't get a chance to celebrate. So I figured we'd do it today."

"Okay." I murmured and looked down. The celebration went well. I wasn't asked about the bruised face though I knew they wanted to ask a great deal. Unfortunetly the ride back to my house came far to quick for my liking. I was dreading this conversation, I didn't know what he was going to say. I didn't know anything. I mean hell I didn't know what he was supposed to say!

"Why haven't you told anyone?"

"I knew I would be gone when I was 18 so I didn't think to bring it up."

"Why don't you come stay with me."

"You already gave me money to get through college I can't be anymore of a burden."

"But you won't be a burden."

"I'd be more of a burden than you think."

"Why do you say that?"

"I know I would. My father needs me."

"Obviously he's fine being drunk and abusive all the time."

"It's my own fault." At this point I felt no reason to lie to him. I would feel bad in doing so anyway.

"W-What?"

"It's my fault! I- I don't do what he wants, I remind him too much of my mother, I don't make any money." I looked down and hesitated as my eyes watered over, "It's mu fault."

Tony stopped the car and gently pushed my chin up to look at him, "No it isn't your fault, It's not your fault you resemble your mother, it's not your fault you don't make money you're still a child."

"He doesn't see it that way." I whispered and looked down. It felt good to tell someone something. 

"Andy...would you like to come stay with me?"

"No! I- I mean Mr. St- Tony I I can't. My father needs me." I stuttered.

He sighed, "Please don't hesitate to call me Andy." He whispered and handed me a card. I nodded and got out of the car and headed into my small apartment building. I looked over to the couch and saw my father passed out with half a bottle of whiskey in his hands. I closed my eyes before walking over to him and taking it and putting it on the table and covering him up with a small blanket. I kissed his forhead.

"I miss you daddy." I whispered and made my way into my room to go to bed.