Flower Boy

Chapter Twelve

The bus stopped on my block and I got off, quickly wiping the tears away. Donavan, please forgive me. This is for our own good. I sighed and walked up to my house. I opened the door planned to run straight up to my room, but I was stopped as soon as I came in.

"Where have you been?" My father asked, slurring his words

"I've been at school." I answered.

"What time is it?" He asked, wobbling.

"It's 4:30, dad. Maybe you should get some sleep...?" I suggested quietly. Surprisingly he nodded.

"Right, like I'm gonna take orders from my daughter." My heart fell. His eyes sparked and I braced myself. His first blow was weak, and I thanked God that he was too drunk to do much damage. He kept hitting me and I endured it until he passed out. I dragged him to the couch and laid him down. I went to the kitchen to make myself some dinner. I put a pot of water on the stove and waited for it to boil. I stared at my father, thinking about what was going to happen to me. Would he let me go to college? Would he be okay after I left? Would I find out about Donavan? That was my biggest question. Donavan...

I sighed and Donavan invaded my mind. I saw him mouthing my name, sadly walking away from me, the hurt look in his eyes. I quickly wiped my eyes and heard something. I looked over at my father stirring. He got up slowly.

"Rosalena... What are you doing?" He asked groggily.

"I'm making dinner." I answered.

"Done your homework?" He asked.

"No. I was planning to eat first." I said. He glared at me.

"Work first, little girl. Go." He pointed to my room and hit my arm as I passed him.

Suddenly there was a booming knock at the door. I went to get it. Outside, there was a police car. Two officers stood in front of me.

"Good evening, miss. Would your name be Rosalena Mechant?" One asked me. I nodded.

"Is your father home?" Asked the other gruffly. He was obviously annoyed. I nodded again. The first officer cleared his throat.

"Could you get him for my partner here? I'd like to talk to you privately." He said, and I mentally sighed, happy to get the nicer officer. But wait... Why were they here anyways?

"Dad, someone's here to see you!" I called to the couch and went outside to talk to the officer.

"Yes?" I asked him nervously. Had I done something?

"Miss Rosalena, would you mind taking off your makeup? And perhaps putting up your hair, so I may see your face better." He asked kindly. I nodded.

"Could I go wash my face?" I asked and this time he nodded. I went inside, passing my dad arguing with the other officer.

"I haven't done anything!" My father roared angrily, his words hard to make out. The other officer just sat calmly.

"We have a witness report on your abusive actions towards your daughter." He said in an even tone. Abusive actions? Witness? Who had seen? He only ever hit me when we were inside.

I went to the bathroom, hurriedly scrubbing the makeup off and wincing as I rubbed against the bruises. I dried my face with a towel and ran outside again, trying to push my bangs behind my ear.

More police cars arrived, along with an ambulance. The officer I was originally talking to had turned his back to me and was speaking to another officer who was new. I tapped his shoulder and he turned towards me. His eyes widened and then his gaze got cold.

"This is what your father did?" He asked, and I nodded.

"This is all the evidence we need. Thank you." He walked to the house and I saw the officer talking to his partner, and pointing to my dad, yelling at him. I looked around. How did this all happen? Who found out?

A pair of hands covered my eyes.

"Wh-wha-?" I started.

"Guess who?" Someone murmured and my chest fluttered.

"D-Donavan?" I whispered in disbelief. The hands released me and I slowly turned around. I could hardly believe my eyes. It was Donavan.

"Donavan! What are you doing here?" I asked, hugging him.

"I'm protecting you." He answered, smiling and hugging back.

"Protecting me?" I asked, confused. He nodded.

"Wait... You're the one who called the police?!" I asked, gaping at him. He grinned and nodded.

"B-but how did you know?" I asked, still shocked. He blushed a little and rubbed the back of his head.

"Well... I knew something was wrong... And I couldn't just leave you... So I followed the bus to your house and I watched what happened through the window..." He said. My heart melted.

"How'd you know something was wrong?" I asked and he laughed.

"Rosalena Mechant, you are the worst actress ever. But even if you weren't, I would've know anyways." I pouted.

"How would you've know?" I asked. He pulled out my flower clip.

"You dropped this. When you didn't bother to come back for it, I thought you either were done with me, or your mind was somewhere else completely." He said, brushing my bangs back and putting the clip in for me.

"I hope you aren't done with me yet." He whispered, and I smiled through tears, shaking my head.

"Hey, why are you crying?" He asked, his face creasing with worry lines.

"W-what did I ever do to deserve you?" I asked, falling back into his arms, smiling and crying. I felt his arms surround me and I heard him whisper in my ear.

"You were just yourself, and you loved me back." I smiled and gripped him tightly, wanting to stay like this always.

The officers burst from the house, holding my dad from behind, his hands behind his back. They shoved him into a police car. The nice officer came to me.

"Miss Rosalena, I know you've already had quite the evening, but you have to come with us." He said apologetically.

"Why?" I asked, confused.

"Well, you were living alone with your father. Now you need someone to be your guardian since he's going to be tried and such. Seeing as we can't locate your mother, we have no choice but to hold you in police custody." He explained. I felt a chill go up my spine.

"U-um..." I started, but someone came behind me and began talking.

"I'll be her guardian." I turned towards the voice, and Donavan grinned.

"Hey, dad." He said and immediately I felt better.

"Sir, do you know this young lady?" The officer asked skeptically.

"She's my son's girlfriend. At the very least, I will take her for the night. As you said, she's had quite the evening. She probably wants to sleep somewhere familiar, right Rosalena?" He asked and I nodded.

"Really, officer, I do know these people." I assured him. The officer nodded and went to his car. He returned with a small stack of papers.

"Read and sign these, then you're free to go." He said, giving all but one to Donavan's father. He gave the last one to me, asking for my signature at the bottom. I signed the paper and handed it back. After about thirty minutes, all the paperwork was done and most of the cars were out of our driveway.

"Thank you, sir. I wish you well, miss Rosalena." The officer said, tipping his hat to me, getting in his car and driving away. I looked at Donavan and his dad.

"Well, that's enough action for tonight. Ready to go home, you two?" He asked, opening the door to his car. I smiled, finally relaxing. I got into the back of the car and Donavan followed. His dad started the car, and as soon as we hit the road, I felt drowsy, and my eyes closed. The last thing I knew was Donavan whispering to me

"Sweet dreams, Rosalena."