Beaten

Chapter 28

The silence between the three of us was unbearingly awkward, and the pizza wasn't going to be done for another 15 minutes. "I have an idea," John piped up, "let's play two truths and a lie."

"That wouldn't be fair because I've known you for a much longer time than Diamond has." Nathan had a bored look on his face. I noticed he didn't call me Doll like he was doing all day.

"True." John tapped his chin. "How about Never Have I Ever then?" I just shrugged my shoulders.

"Yeah, whatever." Nathan agreed. Something seemed off with him but I didn't pry about it.

"What is the loser going to do?" I asked, trying to ease the anxiety building within me. "Do you have any alcohol Nathan?" His eyes slightly widened at my question and his shoulders stiffened.

He quickly set his face into an unreadable expression. "I really don't think alcohol is a good idea." I know he was thinking about how my father is an alcoholic, a violent one at that, but that wasn't going to stop me from having fun.

"John do you know where the alcohol is?" I kept my stare on Nathan while I asked.

"I do." Nathan averted his gaze to glare at John. "But I'm with Nate...I don't think-"

"Get it." I said with finality. Nathan was not going to stop me from having fun and doing what I want. I could see him and John having a private conversation with only looks so I turned to John and put on my best puppy dog face. "Please John. I just want to have fun tonight." My voice shook and I quivered my lip. "It's just been so hard."

"Alright!" John covered his eyes with his hands. "Just stop with the thing. I'll get it." John quickly got up. He went towards the stairs to where I was assuming was Nathan's room. Nathan heaved a sigh and I turn back to him with a smirk on my face.

"Diamond," he pinched the bridge of his nose, "I really don't think that alcohol is a good idea. I know you've had a hard time but this is not the way." I put my hand up.

"You're right Nathan. I have had a hard time, so I'm going to do what I want to feel better for even just a little bit. You don't have a say in how I run my life. You aren't my father." That last sentence struck a chord in Nathan. He was visibly shaking with his fists clenched.

"You're right Diamond. I'm not your father, because unlike him I would never dream of EVER laying a hand on you. I wouldn't cut you, or carve ugly things in your skin, and I sure as hell would never attempt to rape you." I opened my mouth but had no room to speak. "I would never, in a million years, make you have to hide somewhere. I wouldn't want to see the look on your face that I saw last night. Tied up, shaking, and weak." He stood up and turned his back towards me. "It makes me furious that that man put his hands on you. He's your father and his job is to protect you from men like him. He shouldn't..." He strode over to the wall, slamming his hand on it. I jumped, my heart skipping a beat. "He's the reason you had a nightmare. He's the reason....he's the reason that you're scared of me, when I get like this, and the reason I'm scared that something I do could push you away." Nathan's back was tense; his hand curled into a fist against the wall.

"Nathan..." I got up, "I'm not scared of you." He looked at me out of the side of his eye.

"Then why are your hands shaking?" His voice strained with emotion. I looked down at my hands that were indeed shaking. "Why did you instinctively scoot away from me when I get angry? Why do your eyes immediately go to where my hands are?"

"Because it's just a natural reaction." I approached him, extending my hand to touch his back but dropped it. "I'm not scared of you and I'm not going to be scared away. I'm not afraid of you." I said more firmly. "Is that why you suddenly start acting strange all the time? Because you think I'm afraid of you?" Nathan sighed.