Sitting at the airport watching Ashley's plane fly away was maybe one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. My mom came too, and she was crying even harder than me.
"C'mon Mom. We need to go".
She made a measly attempt at composing herself and followed me back to the car.
"You okay Sam?"
"I think the real question is are you okay," I said with a laugh.
She shook her head at me and laughed. I didn't have to tell her I wasn't okay, she already knew. I'll just have to hold it tigether as best I can, focus on school, and hope these three months fly by.
I started up the car and drove home, but there were two cars in our driveway that definitely didn't belong there. I glanced at my mom and she looked just as confused as I was. We walked up to the house only to find Eli's parents sitting on our couch.
My mom smiled and gave both of them a hug, but they seemed much less cheerful than usual.
"What can we do for you, Kathy?" My mom said to Eli's mother.
"Well, Eli's gone. We haven't heard from him in over 48 hours and we were wondering if you or Sam knew where he might be."
"I'll find him," I practically scowled at his parents. They looked a bit offended at my tone but I couldn't care less. I was fyrious that Eli would pull this stunt when he already knew what I was going through this week.
Eli told me about two weeks ago that he planned to run away, but I never dreamed he'd choose this week to do it. He hated his parents and the way they treated him behind closed doors and planned to do something about it. He saud he'd be going to the little hotel just outside of our town. Sure enough, when i pulled up to the hotel his car was parked near the front. I jumped out of my car and stormed into the hotel and up to the desk.
"Do you have an Eli stayibg here?" I asked.
"What's it to ya?", the clerk asked, shooting me a wide, yellow toothed grin.
"Look buddy, I'm really not in the mood for your sarcastic shit today, so you can either tell me what room he's in or I can beat down every damn door in this place. Understand?"
He mumbled the room number to me, refusing to make eye contact.
I ran up the stairs until I was on Eli's floor, found his room and kicked the door until my foot hurt. He answered it, looking startled.
"Sam hey what're you doi-"
"Listen here, your parents are looking for you and they're at my house and you're coming with me. Now."
"I'll be home soon, okay? I promi-"
"Eli, who's that at the door?"
I froze. It was a girls voice. I pushed the door open and shoved my way past Eli into the hotel room. There was a girl on the floor with one of his shirts on watching television.
"Can I help you?" She asked.
"Oh no, but your boyfriend might need some help after I kick his ass."
He looked up at me, anger in his eyes. Anger that I'd never seen before. He jumped up and punched me right in my jaw. I hit the floor and looked up at him, the anger still flaring in his face.
The girl behind me was dead silent, then rushed past us and left the room.
"Satisfied now, Eli? You fucked her and got to punch me," I practically spit the words at him.
"If you don't watch yourself I'll give you a broken nose to go with that jaw," he said.
I laughed and said,"I dare you."
He lunged and, sure enough, a moment later my nose was gushing blood and most likely broken.
"Don't fuck with me Sam, I'll hurt you much worse than that. And if the police happen to hear about this, watch your back."
I walked over to him inches from his face, and said,"Try me."
I flashed him a smile and walked out of the room. I walked out to my car and drove home, lost in my thoughts. I knew exactly what I'd do. Eli always complained about things going on behibd closed doors, so I'll make sure I open some for him.
At school the next day I found the principal in the hallway and asked if there was any way we could call an assembly today.
"In regards to what, Sam?"
"It's a bit of a surprise, but its a topic that definitely needs to be addressed."
She looked at me for a minute, then said,"I'm trusting you Sam. Don't let me down. It'll be today at 2, okay? You have one hour."
I nodded my head and went off to my next class. It was 12:50 now, so after this block, it would showtime.
I walked out of class and headed straight to the auditorium. My nose and jaw were all to obvious to everyone around me,since I did nothing to cover them up. Everyone was already seated, so I walked on the stage and there was silence.
"Alright, first i expect a round of appluase for getting everyone out of class."
There was loud appluase and a few whistles.
I laughed and continued," In all seriousness, there is a reason I wanted to have this assembly. I'm going to ask everyone a few questions and I want you to raise your hand if it applies to you, okay? Alright, so how many of y'all are in relationships?"
Majority of the hands in the auditorium were raised.
"And how many of y'all have been cheated on?"
Almost all hands were raised.
"How many of you, guys or girls, have been abused, whether it be mentally, physically, or verbally, by someone in your family, a friend, or your boyfriend or girlfriend?"
No hands raised, except for my own.
"No one? So you're telling me that not one person in this whole school has ever had that happen to them? Well thats amazing. But lets try this again, shall we? Everyone close your eyes, and I'll ask the question, and then you raise your hand. So, how many of you have been abused, physically, mentally, or verbally?"
Almost three fourths out of all the hands raised.
"Now open your eyes and keep your hands raised."
Everyone looked around, baffled by how many people there were. I looked around, and Eli locked eyes with me from a seat in the very back. He shook his head and mouthed the words "you're done".
I smirked and said," You guys all know Eli, right? He's Mr. Popular, of course you do. Come on up here Eli, I need your help with something."
He stood up and walked onstage, putting his arm around my shoulders.
"Eli, have you heard that expression about what goes on behind closed doors?"
"Uhm, yeah I think so," he said, looking terrified.
"Did you raise your hand when I asked about abuse?"
"No, no I didn't."
"I'm going to ask everyone one more question, okay? Close your eyes again. Now, how many of you have yelled at, hit, or talked down to, or threatened a family member, friend, or girlfriend or boyfriend?"
About half the hands in the auditorium raised, except for one that I knew should have.
"Open your eyes. Wow, you guys are honest. I'm glad too, because I've yelled at people, probably threatened them too. We're all guilty of it. Many of us do it behind closed doors, and wear our masks very well. But everyone has a breaking point, wouldn't you say, Eli?"
A second later I was on the ground, lip busted and gushing blood. Everyone gasped and sat in shock.
"And everyone's mask breaks too," I said.
