I Promise

Chapter 4

Two weeks later

Carter's POV

"Dad, stop please!" I yell as my dad pulls his belt away from me, then walks away. He can't walk in a straight line. He must be drunk. I shake, looking at my very red, bleeding wrists. I slowly walk up to my room, then close the door shut. I pick up my long sleeve shirt and the gauze. I wrap my wrists tight and make sure they are covered before I head out to the bus stop to meet Maggie.

Maggie's POV

"Hey Carter!" I call out as I see him walking around the corner. He looks sad. "What's wrong? I ask him as soon as he arrives next to me.

"Nothing. I'm fine." And that was the end of the conversation. I leave him to be in silence as we wait for the bus. Once it arrives, we walk on and sit in the back seat. He puts his head against the window and closes his eyes. I can't figure out what's wrong with him.

"Seriously. What's wrong?" I ask him with a concerned and confused look. He looks up at me and his mouth opens. It looks like he's going to say something, but he doesn't. He just pulls his sleeves up to reveal bloody gauze. Oh my god.

"Carter... How long has this been happening?" I exclaim.

"Don't tell anyone. Please." I nod. "My dad... He gets drunk, and then if I piss him off..." He closes his eyes, rubbing his hands on his wrists.

"Your mom knows, right?"

"No. I can't tell her. She's already upset because her mom died. I can't ruin her marriage. He's not abusive to her."

"Police!? You have to tell them. Seriously Carter, this is a big deal."

"No! My parents would divorce, and my mom probably wouldn't get out of bed ever again. I can take it."

"Carter..." I lean in and give him a hug. He pulls his sleeves down. We get to school, and we have different subjects. We hug again, then walk away from each other.

"So I see you have a friend now, huh?" May.

"Surprising. You're such an ass I can't believe anyone would even consider it." I think that's Anna. I turn around, and sure enough it's May and Anna standing there.

"Bitch." I whisper under my breath and walk away, but May grabs my bag and shoves me into the lockers. My head hits the lock on one of the lockers. Some people turn to look, but over half of them didn't even glance in my direction. I fall, dropping some books. Anna kicks it across the hallway, where Carter all of a sudden is standing. He picks up the book. bends down to help me up, then walks towards May and Anna.

"You see, I think it's surprising that people are your friends. You're the ass." He shoves Anna and May into the lockers, then comes and puts his arm around my shoulder.

"Are you okay?" he asks me.

"Yes. Head just hurts a bit. Are you?" I pause. "Thank you."

"I'm fine. It's no problem defending you." He says, and he smiles a little. I smile back. We head off to our classes and make it without getting hurt.

---

Carter and I head to our usual table to eat lunch.

"How was first and second period?" Carter asked me as I took a bite of my sandwich.

"Meh. Boring." I complain. "We did absolutely nothing important."

"Me neither. All just pointless work. English was so boring too."

"I can't believe we have to do that essay in English! It's so much information to research! It's going to take so long!"

"Well, better get started soon otherwise we will be freaking out the week before it's due."

"Ya I guess... I hope I'll be able to focus for that long." I only focus on work for about half an hour and then I get distracted by something else.

When the lunch bell rings, Carter and I head to the second class they have together. History. I don't like history, because it just makes me dwell on the past and how many innocent people had gotten killed. Then it makes me think of her history, and the accident. and how my parents got added to that list.

---

I unlock the door to my house. I'm a little late. It's six o'clock. I went on another walk with Carter and we turned the wrong way. I look over to Carter, who's standing on the street waving, and I see the sunset behind him. I wave back, give him a small smile, and then close the door behind me. I put my bag on the floor and walk into the kitchen.

"Sorry I'm late, I went on a walk with Carter and we kind of got lost. Want me to finish dinner?" I ask my mom. She nods. I walk over to continue making the chicken parmesan, and think about Carter. How long has his Dad been doing this to him?

Carter's POV

I walk down the street away from Maggie's house and towards mine. I see my Dad's silver minivan in the driveway and get nervous. My Dad's home. That means he knows I'm late. Oh no. I pull my key out of my pocket and put it in the keyhole. I turn it as slowly and quietly as I can until it unlocks with a faint clicking noise. I slowly open the door. It creaks. Shit.

"Carter? Is that you? If it is, you are in big trouble! You should have gotten hours ago! What the hell took so long!" He yells from upstairs. I can hear him stomping down the stairs and he sees it's me. His eyes look scary. He doesn't walk in a straight line, with is an obvious sign that tells me he's drunk. He pushes me up against the door, and he slaps me three times.

A/N: Hey guys! I'm so sorry for not posting for a month, I have been sooooo busy with homework... I hope you liked this chapter! :)