The Religious & The Damaged

26

Joseph

  I groan at the sound of the alarm.

  I reach out and tap continuously on my phone until it stops and I take the pillow from beneath my head and throw it down at Kelsey, who's sleeping at the end of the bed. I sit up and rub at my eyes, and she does the same shortly after.

  "Who the hell wakes up at the break of dawn." She complains.

  I don't reply.

  I stand and walk towards the door. I take a peak out to make sure my father is downstairs before I leave my room and head towards the bathroom. I hear Kelsey's footsteps behind me. I walk in and to the sink.

  "Towels?"

  I point wordlessly towards the cabinet by the door, and I take my toothbrush and begin brushing my teeth.

  I avoid looking in the mirror once I hear the shower.

  Kelsey stayed over last night. She called me sometime before Elias came over and asked if she could—she didn't go into much detail on why, but then again, I didn't ask. I just said yes.

  I rinse out my mouth and wash my face before I turn off the sink.

  "We should get breakfast before school." Kelsey calls out.

  I turn, my eyes directed downward. "We don't really have time."

  "You did not just say that." There's a hint of amusement in her voice, and I look up with hesitation when she pokes her head out from the curtain. "You woke my ass up at 6 fucking 10. You owe me fucking breakfast." She says with a grin.

  I look away. "Fine. I'll be in my room."

  I push myself off the sink and leave to my bedroom. I walk towards my closet but stop when I hear my phone buzz.

  I grab it from the bed, but there's no notification and I look over at Kelsey's when it buzzes again.

  And against my better judgement, I check it. It's a message from her father.

  I want you home tonight. 6:16am.

  Kelsey didn't get permission to stay over?

  And how did her father know she's not home?

  I remember Kelsey saying that he only comes around once in a while, so maybe now was one of the times.

  I don't think much of it.

  I drop her phone back down and look over when she comes into the room. I turn away and walk back over to my closet, where I take out a change of clothes, and I remove my shirt.

  "Your wounds seem to be healing nicely."

  I pull on my shirt, then my sweater. "Usually, my father would punish me so much that they don't even get the chance to start." I say.

  "You shouldn't say that." She says.

  "Say what?"