Fallen

13. Home

TW: Abuse + Panic Attacks

That day seemed to be going crappy for everyone. Harper because she got suspended from school, Rosie because she got a punch in the face (as deserved), and Ivy because she got a low grade on her French exam.

Ivy always got high grades, because she knew the consequences otherwise. She thought about attempting to try to write on the paper and make it look like she scored higher than she did. But her dad would find out.. He always found out.

Ivy walked into her house, head hung low as she tried to dash to her room before her father caught her, but it didn't work today.

"Hello, Ivy.." Ben mumbled from the couch.

"Hi, dad.." Ivy replied.

"How was school?"

"Fine."

"Did you get any exams back?" Ben asked.

Ivy slowly got her French exam from her bag.

"Dad, I promised I tried- i-i tried really hard and I'll do better next time.." Ivy said. The only time Ivy would ever beg or say anything like this was when her dad was directly involved.

Ben yanked the paper and stared at it.

71%

"Ivy Hope! 71? Really?!" Ben shouted.

Ivy gulped and took a breath, trying to seem tough.

"Dad, I tried my best-"

"Well your best is not enough, is it?" Ben snapped, standing up and towering over his daughter.

Ivy looked down.

"Look at me when I'm fucking talking to you." Ben said, restraining himself from forcing Ivy himself.

Ivy looked up, hoping her eyes wouldn't give away the fact she was on the verge of tears.

"You're gonna fucking study for hours. Every single day. If you don't have at least an 'A' or 90% on your next test you're going to need some fucking tutor or something." Ben said, to which Ivy nodded.

"Use your fucking words! Do you understand?!" Ben shouted.

"Yes, dad!" Ivy said, trying to walk away to go to her room.

"Did I say I was fucking done?!" Ben grabbed Ivy's arm, smacked her face harshly, then shoved her away.

"Go to your fucking room and study your French, you piece of shit.." Ben groaned.

Ivy ran to her room, not wasting a second.

"Stupid, fucking.." Ivy said to herself, shaking her hands as if trying to dry water off them. Ivy locked her door and went to the bathroom. She already noticed a nasty bruise forming from her father's hit. She took a cold washcloth and patted her cheek.

Ivy mumbled a string of curses to and at herself while she cleaned her wound.

"Calm the fuck down.. Please." She begged herself.

"No panic attacks today." She continued.
"Stop.. Please-" She begged, taking fast breaths, her hands shaking as she dabbed her face dry.

Ivy sat down against the door and cried silently. Ivy was truthfully a tough kid, but if one thing made her cry it was her dad and his abuse. It just hurt so bad, both physically and mentally. Her mum didn't care much either. Ivy's mum, Edith, didn't hit her like Ben did, but just watched and let it happen.

Ivy grabbed her exam paper and looked over it, some parts getting stained with tears.

"I fucking knew that, I'm so stupid.." Ivy said as she looked at a question she got wrong, but only barely.

Ivy put the test down, her hands still shaking as she yanked and pulled at her hair and clothes, making pathetic cries and whimpers.

Ivy pushed her hands against the walls, as if trying to increase the room's space. After that didn't help, she stood up and paced around, gripping the countertop every now and then.

A while later, maybe 20 minutes or so, Ivy had calmed down. Well, calmed down enough to crawl into bed and scroll on Instagram.