It's not a Cinderella story

chapter 13

I peel the last piece of paper towel off and swallow down some pills, tears still fresh in my eyes. My phone goes off for the ninth time and I know who it is, Tyler, but I'm too tired to deal with him. I hear knocking at my door and I pull a longed sleeve t-shirt over myself and opening the door to see my best friend waiting there.

"I got your message Ree, are you okay?" Neomi asks and the moment she steps in and closes the door, I fall against her, not holding back the tears. "Coree..." She breaths and moves us near the bed so we can sit down.

After awhile my crying slows down to hiccups and small sobs. "I'm tired of this Neomi, I can't handle it! This time was worse!" Another wave of tears hits me and she puts a hand against my cheek.

"Come live with us! we can help you." I shake my head gripping onto the hand that is on my face with a death grip, scared that the only thing keeping me stable will disappear in an instant.

"I can't escape her Neo!" I start.

"Ree..." Oh, but I'm not done.

"I can't! I used to think that I didn't, up and leave, because I loved her deep down in the pit of my heart but no! I don't leave because she'll never fully be gone! She will still, some how, find me in real life or in my dreams! I don't leave because it's better then facing the dreams of her!" I stop as a sob rips through my body causing me to lean forward and cause straining on my back.

"Can I see the damage?" Neomi asks and I slow down my crying. Sniffling, I turn around and lift up the shirt and I see her eyes grow wide. "Coree... this isn't like last time." Her fingers run across the welts, bruises and some of the small cuts.

Before I can scold her of her pity on me, she pulls my shirt down and turns me around "Coree, do you want to know why Tyler was at school today?"

I frown at the topic change. "What does that have to do with the situation?" I question.

"Well if I didn't know better she hit you harder because she found you with Tyler, and about the dates." She says and I nod

"Fine, continue."

"Okay, well, when Tyler and I were leaving the party, he asked about your parents. I told him about the car accident and your dad being to depressed to care about you-."

"Neomi..." I try to talk but she silences me with her look and I shut up.

"He was at school becasue he wanted to meet with me and I him." She takes a deep breath.

"Why?" I ask

"Because when we were leaving, the second time after dropping off the clothes, he wanted to know more about your dad. Okay, so fast forward to today" she takes another breath and grabs my hands. "We found out that your mother didn't die in a car accident, she died in a shooting." At that, the colour drains out my face and I stare at my friend.

"Why are you telling me this?" I get up and start pacing, my eyes wide.

"Coree... please listen and then after you can get mad at me.."

I turn to her and glare but sit down anyhow. But not because I want to listen, but because my back is killing me.

"Alright before you were born, Angelo and your dad used to date but then he met your Mom and forgot about her so she got mad and tried to squeeze her way into their life and when she did, she was horrified to find out that they were pregnant with you. Fast forward two years after you were born, your mother went out somewhere, grocery shopping probably while your dad stayed home with little old you, but when she didn't come back, he went to find her; only to be hit with news that she was murdered. When we found out about this we also found out that Angelo was there to comfort him all the way but then, like you now, he gave you up to her. We think it was Angelo who killed her because you said she started to hurt you at eleven?"