A Bad Love

1.

Anastasia

My back is slammed on the locker, tears pouring down my face.

"Aww look the baby is crying," One of Ace's buddies says. I look at Ace hoping to find any light or hope in his eyes but there is nothing. Just darkness. The chuckles coming out of his mouth every time I wince are just cold.

"Is the baby scared I am going to hurt her? If not, she should be" Ace says his deep voice ruff, filled with nothing but danger.

"Please d-don't" I whisper he just laughs and pushes me onto the floor. The circle of students backs up. I never know why Ace hurts me like he does. I look at him through my blurry eyes and see him pick up the book I was reading. ripping the pages and throwing it back at me making it hit my sore ribs. I hold in my pain and watch him grab my bookbag. He dumps it on the ground, and I quickly reach to grab my journal, but he kicks my hand away.

"What was the baby reaching for huh, this?" Ace grabs my journal. I knew I should've put it in my locker faster. The last thing my mum gave me before she passed was this Jornal. She told me to write to her in it and I have for the last 3 and a half years. I take it to school to keep it hidden from my father, but I should just leave it at home to keep it hidden from Ace. "I think I want to keep this. You know payment."

"No please" I sob. That book is the most important thing to me, but all Ace does is laugh and clutch the black book kicking me one more time before walking away with all his friends., The crowd goes with him except for two people. My friends. they come running over Jaxon immediately picks up all my stuff and Sophia sets me against my locker.

"Are you okay?" they both ask.

"m-my book. The monster has my book" I sob. Jax comes over and hugs me.

"it's okay" he whispers. I nod but in reality, my whole world is gone. They help me up and help me walk to class.

At lunch time Me, Jax and soph go and sit at our table in the back of the cafeteria. Our table is about 3 away from the monsters so we always hear them laugh and have a good time. Jax and Soph have trays in front of them, but I just sit and read my new book. The librarian was understanding when I told her that a dog chewed it up on my walk to school but now, I have to pay a 20$ fine.

"Girl, you need to eat," soph says but I shake my head.

"I am not hungry" I sigh they both roll their eyes and go back to eating when they both just stop and look up. But the pale looks on their face I know who is behind me.

"You are such a fucking nerd," ace's deep voice says. I noticed how the whole cafeteria got silent. of course, it did, whenever ace speaks or even breathes people do exactly what he wants. I stay looking at the table when he grabs my book. "Romeo and Juliet, why are you reading this shit nobody is ever going to like/love you"

I don't speak because I know whatever I say will be the wrong answer. He throws the book back on the table thankfully not damaging it in any way.

"Your little diary is very poetic you know, 'Mommy I miss you', 'Mommy I love you'" Ace says mocking my tone. He read my journal. "What? Did the baby lose her voice"

"n-no" I answer my words shaking with fear. the bell rings for lunch to be over and everyone clears out, but I don't move because Ace didn't move. Ace's football buddies walk out forcing Jax and Soph with them leaving me and Ace.

"I love the fact that you write about me. the fact you tell your mommy how scared you are and all the fear you face whenever you are with me." Ace growls. I feel the heat off his body from how close he is, and I close my eyes trying to stop the panic attack from forming. "Nobody will save you from me. nobody will help you."

He pushes my head before walking away. I look at my lap and blink away tears. I finally found the strength to stand up, all my body parts hurt, and limp out of the cafeteria enduring the rest of school. When the final bell rings I get out of my seat and prepare myself for the painful 6-mile walk home. As I am walking out of the school, I see Ace and some girl making out on top of his Bike his hands roaming her body her pushing herself against him. When they separate for two seconds I see it is Vannessa the Head cheerleader. I have always wanted to be a cheerleader, but Vannessa never accepted me. Why would she?

I start my walk but halfway my vision gets fuzzy, and my body parts get heavy. I am going to pass out. I look over and see a park filled with kids and parents. They are all laughing and having a good time. I smile a bit and remember when my life was like that. When my mum was alive, and my dad loved us. I sit on a bench and let my mind clear allowing the laughter of children and their parents to enter my mind. The fall air is chilly, but I don't own a coat, so I sit there and endure it.

I don't want to go to my house. Where my father will be drunk and ready to punish me for my mum's death. Where I have to sleep on an old mattress with no pillow or blanket. Where I am not allowed to speak unless told to because apparently, the sound of my voice annoys my father making him hit and punch me.

"Darling, darling" I snap out of my thoughts and see two older Ladys with bags full of yarn. "Hi Hunny, we were wondering if we could steal your seat"

I nod and grab my hole-covered bag standing up and walking back to the sidewalk. I look at the park and see all the parents and children gone. I then look up and see the sun already started to set. Crap I am late. I ignore the pain and run home. My lungs scream for me to stop, and my heart is beating out of my chest. My body is in terrible pain and when I make it to my house, I wish I stayed at the park.

My father is on the porch sitting on one of the chairs, a beer bottle to his lips and a murderous look on his face. I put my head down because he doesn't like me looking at him and walking up the steps.

"And where the fuck have you been," he asked his words slightly slurring but still completely venomous.

"S-sorry sir, I felt like passing out so I sat on the bench at the park and lost track of time," I say truthfully knowing lying would make it worse.

"Get your fucking ass inside now" he growls, and I run inside the house stopping when I hear his command. "Because you lost track of time once, you can do it again."

I feel his hand on the back of my neck squeezing tightly. his hand moved down to my arm squeezing it pushing me against the wall and turning me around.

"Your mother would still be around if you didn't fucking run away," he says the same thing he preaches every night. I close my eyes and feel him punch me in the gut knocking my air out. Another blow landed in the same spot and my body dropped to the ground making him kick me. After hours of kicking and punching me and even throwing his empty beer bottle at me making it break on my legs, he pushes me to our basement door and pushes me down the steps. "Good night"

The door shuts and it goes completely dark.

"m-mum please help me" I sob, backing my sore body against the cold wall and laying my head on the old mattress. it smells of mildew and mold. my eyes shut and I fall asleep into a dreamless dark part of myself hoping not to awaken.

Words: 1432