Graceful| Grace Helbig-Sequel #Wattys2017

Chapter 1

Grace's P.O.V

After we lost Aida, that's when Chester got bad, abusive I mean. He thinks that her death was my fault. It wasn't, her umbilical chord was wrapped to tight around her neck. I explain that to him every time but he doesn't listen. He shouts and screams. And then fourteen years later he still couldn't get over the fact that it wasn't me that killed her. He still believes it was me. He punches me, continuously, in the stomach. It ended up happening every day, not only to me but to Hartley. I tried to stop him hurting her. She's only fifteen. One day it all got too bad. But it all started here.

"It's your fault. She's gone. You didn't care for her." Chester screams at me, while throwing all the framed photos we have off her around the room causing the glass to smash.

"It wasn't me. It was the chord, the chord Chester. Not me." I shout back at him but instantly regret. "I'm sorry Chester. I didn't mean to shout at you. I'm sorry."

"Come here. COME HERE."Chester screams, I walk slowly towards him and start to wince.

"It was your fault. Stop blaming it on HER!" Chester says as he grabs my hair tight and throws me across the lounge floor.

"It was you, not me. This was all you. Damn you for making me do this." Chester says as he walks up towards me slowly, then punches me in the stomach. Then he continues to punch me. He finally stops when he feels like he has had enough.

"I'm going to get Hartley from school," I say getting up and limping to get my keys.

"You tell anyone about this I will beat you and next time I will not stop," Chester says grabbing me by the hair and pulling me back.

"I won't," I reply as he pushes me while letting go of my hair.
I limp away to my car. I drive slowly and carefully. I arrive at the school just as Hartley was leaving to walk with her friends.

"Hart...come in here, I'm taking you home," I say calmly.

"Mom go away your embarrassing me." She pleads.

"JUST GET IN THE CAR HARTLEY!" I scream at her.

She then notices I'm not joking and somethings wrong.

"What's wrong mom?" She asks concerned, walking around the car and getting in.

"Don't annoy your father ok? And do not ever mention Aida again. He thinks that it was my fault. Has done for quite some time. I wouldn't mention her cuz if you do you will get beaten up like me." I say lifting up my shirt and showing her the fresh bruises he left on my sides and stomach.

"I'm telling Mamrie." She says grabbing her phone.

"No don't. I don't want to annoy your dad anymore. If you tell people you'll make him hurt me even more."I reply.

"Ok!" Hartley says coming out of the app and then turning off her phone.

We drive home in complete silence. Tears streaming down my face. I could see, out of the corner of my eye Hatty staring at me, worried. We got to the house and I parked outside. Hatty went in, while I sat in the car, thinking of ways, to hide my bruises. Then Chester came storming out the door.

"What are you doing out here?" Chester shouts, walking up to the car, opening the door and dragging me out by the hair out of the car.

"Just thinking. Ches I promise." I say tears streaming down my face.

"Get in the house. I will deal with you in a minute." He says letting go of my hair which then pushes me fast forward. I get up from the gravel and scurry into the house.

He parks the car in the garage and then slowly and menacingly walks towards me.

"Now. You come straight back in do you hear me." Chester shouts, coming back into the house and grabbing my arm.

"I'm sorry. I will I promise." I sob, trying to force my arm out of Chester's tight grip.

As Hatty comes downstairs, Chester immediately lets's go of me and acts normal.

"Hey, sweetheart how was your day at school?" Chester asks, taking Hatty's hand and bring her into the Dining room and then sitting down to help her with her homework.

I get up and walk myself to the restroom. And as I do, Chester gives me an evil look.

After I do my business, my stand in front of the mirror and lift up my shirt. I touch my bruises, carefully as I wince every time I touch it. I run the shower and get in, as the water hits my fresh bruises I wince, It gets more painful and causes my eyes to water. I quickly finish washing my hair then get out. I wrap the towel around me and go into my bedroom. I wrap another towel around my hair so the water doesn't drip while I get dressed. I find my pyjamas and slide them carefully over the top of my bruises and slide the pants on. I plug in the hairdryer and dry my hair. I finish then grab my makeup bag. I get my foundation and concealer and start to hide my bruises, as soon as I finished the doorbell goes. I rush downstairs and answer the door to see Mamrie and Hannah.

"Hey, come in."

"Hey smells, how are you?"

"I'm good. You guys?"

"We're good. Oh hi, Chester."

"Hi, Grace can I talk to you in the kitchen for a second. You girls go make yourselves at home." Chester says as he leads me into the kitchen. He closes the door behind us as I move away from him. He walks towards me and grabs my cheeks making my mouth come closer together.

"Now you tell them you aren't feeling very well, and the need to go home. Do you hear me? DO YOU HEAR ME?" Chester says raising his voice.

"Ok, I will."

"Then you need to rush to the toilet and force yourself to be sick do you hear me. It makes it more realistic and you need to lose weight anyway."

"Ok."

"Go tell them NOW!" I walk away from Chester and into the living room, to see Mamrie and Hannah talking. They both look up at me from talking.

"So then smells, what are we going to be doing?"

"I'm sorry girlies. You might have to go home because I'm not very well. Feeling like shit and I just want to get some sleep." I explain, I start to fake gag then rush to the toilet. I shove my fingers down my throat which then forces me to throw up. I hear the door slam shut as I flush the toilet. I go upstairs and get to bed before Chester could even talk to me.