Pretty Is

Chapter 5

When I woke up again,I was back home in the attic. I sat up in my cot and felt over my bandages. My stomach,chest,and arms were wrapped. Along with my thighs and right eye. I looked to my left and saw a boy about my age sitting in a chair. His face made that funny movement they call a smile. It made me wonder why he did it. He introduced himself as Devin then left the room to get someone. I didn't want him to come back,he acted too weird. I was standing by the attic window when he returned.

"What are you doing?",he asked,"My mom said you should be in bed"

"You shouldn't be here Devin,my dad won't like it."
He came and stood beside me looking over my shoulder. Footsteps pounded on the attic stairs making dust fly up and disturbing the creepy crawlers. Dad came in the room and I paled instantly seeing his face. I knew once Devin left,that I was in for it. Behind dad was the chocolate lady from before. She made the same face as Devin and walked over to us.

She lifted me up and carried me downstairs with Devin and my dad following. We reached Renelle's room and I was tucked under the covers of her extra bed. It was a waste of time,once they left I'd be in the attic again. Renelle looked from her tv with a surprised face. The chocolate lady and my dad went into the hallway to talk. Renelle made a face and looked at the boy.
"Aren't you in my English class? Devon,right? I'm Renelle." She flipped her hair to the side and looked at him with a strange look in her eyes.

He seemed angry with her.
"My name's Devin and no we aren't in the same class. I don't associate myself with hoes like you."
She gasped and her face turned red. She stomped out the room and down the stairs. I could hear two sets of raised voices and knew one belonged to my dad and the other Renelle. He kept shouting at this Shirley and telling her what she did wrong. Devin kept trying to talk to me but I kept it short. The room door busted open and the chocolate lady came back in.
"Devin tell Rochelle goodbye,we're leaving." He sucked his teeth and told me bye,hugging me. The chocolate lady hugged me too and gave me a card before they left out. It read Shirley Maddox,with some strange writing on it. I guess Shirley was her name.

Renelle came back in the room followed by mom and dad. Her face gave me chills. Mom had a pan and dad a metal spiked leather belt. They kicked me into the garage and tied me to a table. Mom went first hitting every spot she could reach. My bandages ripped and I started bleeding again. She went on and on until it was dad's turn. They brought out the camera before turning me on my back. I couldn't move the only way to tell I wasn't dead,was the way my body jerked with each hit. I passed out hearing nothing but laughter.

Beep Beep Beep. My face scrunched up before my eyes opened. I couldn't see out of one and barely could see out the other. I looked around the room noticing the white walls and different machines,this must be the hospital. There was a figure in all black sitting by my chair and another laying on the couch. I couldn't remember how I got here. I tried to get out of bed and fell onto the floor. The noise made the figures jump up and the one from couch ran out. The one in the chair just stared at me,making me uncomfortable.

The nurse came in along with a familiar face. They both smiled at me as the nurse started asking questions.
"Do you know where you are sweetie?" I nodded my head. "Can you state your name for me?"
"Rochelle." She seemed to be waiting for a last name but I didn't know mines. She asked more questions and I answered to the best of my ability. She left to get the doctor leaving me with who I now realized was Shirley and Devin. They told me all about the things I missed while "sleep". Apparently I had passed out and the doctors put me in a medical coma to heal my body. I was to start my body rehabilitation this evening.

The rest of my stay in the hospital Devin and his family visited me,until one day he stopped coming. I was sad and it was borderline depression,when my family came to visit weeks later. Mom signed me out and drove straight to the mall. I knew I would have to stay in the car. I was surprised when she told me to get out. My left leg was still weak so I had to use my crutches. We walked into the mall and headed straight to the spa. Mom paid for us all to get pampered. Being in a coma for two years really made my hair grow,among other things. After our sessions,we went to Victoria's Secrets. I was sized then mom and Renelle picked out what I would be wearing. It all looked uncomfortable and I couldn't figure out why I would need it. They finished off the trip buying me anything short and revealing.

The whole ride home,I felt something. I couldn't identify the feeling,I was only use to sadness and anger. Renelle helped me into the house and Dad was in the dining room waiting. He had cake and some floating things all set up. He made a face different from any other when he saw me. It was like the one he gave my other brother and sister's. "Welcome home Rochelle!" He clapped his hands together and put his arms around me. Everyone else came in closer.
"Now that you're home,you have a job to do. Think of it as a way to payback your hospital expenses and everything else you've done wrong."Dad said. I only understood half of what he was saying but everyone else was almost jumping.
"Since you're officially 16,we can get started." Everything after that was a blur. I just remember him saying people were coming to see me.