Heart Burns

Chapter 12

I walk through the door, and I'm plowed down by a tiny body. "You're home!" Shawn sighs, standing by the doorway. I ruffle Jayden's hair and he shoves his face into my stomach. "I'm sorry; I had to stop at a few places." "A few places took hours to complete?" Shawn says gruffly, and I stick my tongue out at him, a childish action. "I'm hungry!" Muffle screams comes from under me. I laugh and feel his giggle in my abdomen. "Alright bud, you want some mac and cheese?" I pull him off and make my way to the kitchen. Both the boys squeal and race after me. "Who wants to be my little helper?" I call over my shoulder as I search for the last few boxes of SpongeBob shaped noodles in the cabinet. "I do! I do!" His little voice bounces off the walls. I rattle off the ingredients and I hear the whoosh as he swings open the fridge. I find the pot covered in food scars and I boil water. Shawn is leaning against the counter, a beer in his hand, a smile on his full lips as he watches me. Jayden slams the carton of skim milk on the counter and runs back into the living room. "Brea, can I watch TV?" He doesn't wait for my response. Right away, Fairy Odd Parents blares from the small TV. I watch the water, waiting for the bubbles of boiling when he speaks to me. "Brea, she wasn't too rough on you this morning, right?" I glance at him and see his head down, ashamed. "Yeah, nothing I couldn't handle." I hear him shift and his hand is on my shoulder. "Did she hurt you?" He whispers, and his fingers find the bruise on my arm. I look up at him, and he sees my yellowing bruise on my cheek. I had it well hidden this morning with a bit of makeup so Becca wouldn't ask questions. "You need to get out of here." He grits through his teeth, and I turn away from him. "I can't leave without him." I say, and a few of my tears slid onto the hot stove. It sizzles as water meets heat. I laugh and brush those stupid tears from my eyes. Shawn's hands are at my hips and he pulls me into his strong arms. My nose is greeted with spicy cologne and a hit of laundry detergent from his blue shirt, and I am immediately comforted. His arms are keeping me safe, and I wish it was that easy. The tears come hot and fast, and I bury my face into his chest. His arms tighten around me, and I lean in more, not wanting it to end. He's whispering to me, but my brain wont process anything. "Brea," his breath is soft in my ear, and I stir at my name. "I am going to get you and Jayden out of here. I promise." I raise my head and see his face, rock hard and teddy bear soft all at the same time. I pull away, and he reaches up, cups my head in his hands, and brushes at the tears streaming down my face. "It's going to be okay," he whispers, and kisses my forehead. I close my eyes and cling on to those few words. "Brea!" His cute little scream comes from the couch, and I jump away from Shawn's touch. I sniff, wipe away the wet on my cheeks, and continue on dinner.

"Can I eat on the couch?" His eyes are so big and hopeful I can't say no. He carries his green bowl carefully into the living room and plots down on the brown couch, his eyes glued on Toy Story. Shawn follows him with his own bowl, a bigger version of Jayden. I sit on the end, and only Shawn glances at me. "Where's yours?" He points his spoon at my empty hands. "I'm not hungry." False. I am starving, and my stomach has been growling since last night. I had to make sure there was left overs to last at least until tomorrow night for Jayden. He stares at me for a few seconds, then hands me his bowl. "Share with me. I took too much anyways." He places the hot bowl in my hands, and goes back to his beer. I smile at the demented figures covered in liquid cheese and take a few bites. My mouth is still watering and craving so much more when I hand him back the bowl. Lights flash in the living room window. My body goes stiff, and Shawn's fist clenches. "Okay, Jayden, go eat in your room." He stops in mid bite, ready to argue with me, when she walks in, takes in the scene. "You made dinner." She says, her voice dripping with alcohol. "Yeah, there is still more on the stove if you want any." The room is so quiet a pin could drop and break everyone's eardrums. She throws her bag onto the table next to the couch, and the buckle skims Jayden's cheek. I can hear him whimper, but he knows better than to cry out. "I told you never to eat in here." "I'm sorry. My mistake." I stand up and take Jayden's hand. We creep across the little strip of carpet and go to the kitchen. I quickly shove the leftover food into a Tupperware and place it into the fridge. "Shawn, this is where you've been hiding out at? Why with her?" My mother flirts with her boyfriend's son. I scrub at the pot with all my might and get everything clean, no trace of dinner. "Jayden, hurry up and eat." He shovels his food in his mouth and almost chokes as he tries to swallow. I hear Shawn making polite conversation, and I can only imagine her all over him. Jayden hands over his empty bowl and I stick it into the dish washer. I take his hand and try to walk as quietly as possible to his room. "Hey!" She calls out to me, and I stop in my tracks. "Get me a beer." "I have to put him to bed." She's out of Shawn's lap and across from me in two seconds. "Don't sass me. I told you to get me a beer." I glance at her and see a vodka bottle already dangling from her hand. "You already have something to drink, Mom. Please just let me take him to bed." "What did you just say to me?" I stand up straight, too much bravery in me. I stare her down, and I can see how pissed she is, veins popping in her neck. "You're already drunk. Just go pass out on the couch already." "You better watch that mouth." Her warning is clear as day, but I feel like a knight with a million lives. I open my mouth to say something, but she bets me to it. "If you talk to me one more time, I will knock you so hard on your ass that you won't be able to move for days." Jayden moves closer to me, and Shawn is frozen on the couch. He has never seen her in action. "Don't be such a gay dipshit. Come here, stop hiding." She slurs at Jayden and makes a grab at him. I shove him to the other side and get whacked in the head by her closed fist. I see stars. "Get out of my way!" Her banshee screech rings out, trying to push me away from Jayden. My body is the only thing between her and Jayden. "Move!" She screams in my ear, and slashes me with her sharp nails. My cheek gets most of the damage, and I can feel the blood dripping off of my cheek. "Carol!" Shawn has found his nerve and tries to pull her away. She twirls around and hits his in the ear. He curse loudly and grabs her shoulders. She kicks him in his jewels and he grunts, crouches down, but doesn't loosen his grip on her. I take this opportunity to grab Jayden's hand and drag him to the hallway. "You ungrateful bitch!" She screams, and I hear his warning to duck. I press up against the wall and cover Jayden with my body. A bottle crashes right above my head, and I am rained on with vodka and glass. I feel hot pain in my shoulders, but my main priority is getting Jayden to his room safely. I push him toward his door, and he runs, bringing me with him. I scream in pain as pain shoots up my arm when he pulls me. He turns, horror in his eyes, watching me as I slump against the wall. He rushes toward me, tears streaming down his pudgy cheeks, terrified that he is the cause of my injuries. I wave him away just as his fingers skim my skin, and he recoils. "You have to go Jayden." I squeeze out of my throat, but he refuses. "Come here, you little brat." Carol rushes over, more stumbling, and grabs Jayden's arm roughly. He cries out, and she hits him. "Shut up!" She spits at him, and then literally spits on me. "You are nothing. You think he cares," she nods in his direction. She leans close to me and hisses into my ear, "You will never leave here. You think your stupid legs can run you right out of this town. How are you going to run without this little snot?" She jiggles his arm at me, and I take this to grab her hair and rip. She howls, let's go of his, and punches me. I grunt, but I still pull. "Let go!" She kicks at me, and a hard blow to my stomach makes me puke all over her shoes. "Ugh!" She trips back, and flings my puke all over me. "How do you like it?" She screams at me, and Shawn grabs her arm. "Dad is here." His voice his straight and gruff, and she smiles at him. "Of course," she plants a kiss on his unready lips, and scampers to her room to get changed. I am crouched on the floor, covered in sweat, blood, and puke. Strong arms scoop me up and I cower into his chest. "Jayden," my voice is robot, just repeating his name. "I got him," his voice rumbles in his chest, and I sigh. "Don't worry. I got you." He whispers in my hair, and I can't open my eyes to look up at him. My body is exhausted, and I shut down.