Broken (Edited edition)

First Flight

I wake up to the smell of eggs and bacon.  My eyes are struggling to stay open, and I slowly sit up in bed.  I rub my face, and yawn loudly.  I see I'm alone again, and find the plate of food on the nightstand.  There's eggs, bacon, and a doughnut.  I take the doughnut, and rip a piece off of it.  I eat it slowly, and take a bite of eggs.  I lay back down on the bed, and hold my pillow in my arms.  I hear the hotel front door open, and someone walking behind.   I hear them chuckle, then feel them nudging me."  Lyca, Lyca!"  I hear, and I look over at them.  It's Mark, and he smiles softly."  Hey, our flight is in a few short hours."  He says, and I look at him shocked."  Wait, we have to take a plane?"  I ask, and he nods."  How do you think we're getting to L.A.?"  He asks, and I sit up.

I've never been on a flight before, in my life.  We always drove places if we went anywhere, never by plane or train.  I feel a knot form in my stomach, feeling sick."  Hey, don't worry about it.  Planes are better then they sound."  Mark says, and I look up at him."  I've never been on one in my life."  I tell him, and he shrugs."  It sounds scary but they really aren't."  He says, and puts his hand on my shoulder."  It'll be okay, I promise."  He says, and I smile.  I grab some clothes out of my bag, and go to change in the bathroom.  I pull on tight sweat pants, gray socks, black Nikes, and a black hoodie.  Mark comes in to get his toothbrush and toothpaste while I'm tying my shoes."  Where are they from, the scars I mean?"  He asks, and I look up at him."  You're hoodie sort of fell off your back last night while I was putting you to bed.  And I hate to admit this, but I took a little bit of a peak."  He admits, and I feel panic fill my body.  I shiver, knowing that  he's seen the hellish side of me.

I get up, and leave the bathroom.  Mark follows me out, and gives me a concerned look.  I don't want to tell him, he would just look at me with disgust.  But I can't stop myself, it's as if my body has a mind of it's own.  Forcing the words from my mouth."  My brother was abusive, yes, but he wasn't the only person who beat me.  His friends would take turns beating me, and sometimes they did.....other things.  But the ones on my back are all from Todd, none of his friends.  He use to sit on me while they...."  I stop, and I can't breathe.  I sit on the edge of the bed, and hold my bag close to my chest." I'm sorry I asked."  He says, looking guilty."  Don't, I think I really should start talking about it.  To lift the weight off my shoulders.  Tell people my side of the story."  I say, and he smiles."  Yeah, that sounds great."  He says, and he helps me put the rest of my things in my bag."  You have everything?"  He asks, and I nod.  We get the keys for the hotel room, and leave the room.

Bob and Wade are waiting for us in the lobby."  You promise to watch after Mark for us Lyca?  It's a big job?"  Bob asks me, and I promise I'll do my best.  He hugs me, and so does Wade."  Watch this big idiot for us okay?"  I smile, and nod.  We get in the rental car, and we drive to the airport.  The car ride consisted of Bob asking Mark where I was going to sleep in his apartment."  I have an extra bedroom, don't worry.  I'll go buy somethings for it, and in the meantime she can sleep in my bedroom."  He says, and Wade gives me a wide-eyed look."  With you?"  He asks, and Mark blushes."  No, I'll sleep on the couch."  He says, and I shiver at the thought of sleeping alone in the room."  I'm fine with sleeping in the same bed as you."  I tell him, and he grins."  Lyca it's fine, you can use my bed just until I finish your room."  I coward a little in my seat.  Wade must have seen this, and winks at me.

We park the car where the rental place will pick it up, and walk toward  the airport."  Mark, I think Lyca's afraid of sleeping in your room alone.  I think that's what she was trying to make you understand."  Wade says, and I nod."  You don't like sleeping alone?"  He asks, and I nod."  Oh, you could've just told me that.  I'm okay sleeping in the same bed as you, I just thought you'd want your space that's all."  I shake my head."  I'm scared of sleeping in a room alone, I use to sleep on the floor in Todd's apartment."  Bob shakes his head."  That asshole was too cheap to get his little sister a bed?"