The Boys

the kids aren't alright

We let Helena stay in her bath while we dish up the dinner. The boys dished theirs, Luke plating up the food for the younger twins, at the same time Robert got home. He was really pleased to see everything ready. He goes to get Helena because no one else would do it. We wait nicely around the table for her.

Her face lights up when she gets down here and sees us.

"Oh my gosh, you didn't have to dish up." She smiled brightly and sat down.

"We've also volunteered Harry to wash up." Luke sent a smug look over to Harry. Harry's face is priceless.

"Thank you so much, Harry." Helena played along with the same look as Luke's. Unfortunately, Luke wasn't sat next to me and was only opposite me with Nathan and Ethan on either side of him. I felt lonely, though, without him next to me. Like the first day, I had Marcus and Jacob next to me.

Even though I put my own food on my plate, I still overestimated my hunger. I'm not really hungry after that lunch. I eat a few potatoes and carrots and then felt it in my belly.

Eventually, everyone finishes and Marcus and Harry collect the dishes to wash up. Meanwhile I prepare myself to call Phoebe back. I can't keep ignoring the constant Facebook messages, text messages and phone calls. I've had my phone on silent all day but I haven't not noticed my screen flashing.

I go into my bedroom and sit on my bed.

I felt like my nerves were going into over drive. I felt red, blue and black all at the same time. Red; danger, STOP. Blue; depression and despair. Black; death.

"Hello? Eve? You called me." No I didn't. I look down. Yes I did. Crap. I'm not ready. I haven't thought about what to say.

"I... " What do I say?

"Please don't hang up. You need to talk to me, Eve. Don't leave me again." She sounded broken. I've been a shit friend.

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

"For what? Ignoring me or lying to me?" Oh god. I can't do this.

"Both." I cringed.

"I went to see your dad earlier and the police were busy arresting him. Why are they arresting him, Evie? Is it to do with you?" He isn't free anymore! They arrested him! He isn't going to get me!

"I lied about you to why I'm in foster care, Phoebe. You know that now. And it's pretty hard for me to say why because what happened... It... " this isn't going well now.

"You can trust me. When have you never been able to trust me?"

"Dad has been abusing me for the past year." I say quickly and quietly. Phoebe doesn't say anything for a long while, making me scared.

"A year?" She asks.

"Almost 11 months but close enough. I wanted to tell you so badly, Phee. I wanted to..." I cry. I need to stop crying. I have cried so much lately that I feel I am as pathetic as Dad said.

"Oh my god. What... Why would he do that to you? You didn't deserve that!" She knows. I've told her and she knows.