It's a Nightmare

Chapter Twenty

Lucas

Davis-the bald, bearded bodyguard that the horrible woman at the front desk had assigned to us- led us down the long corridors. I kept quiet during the whole walk, fighting back the tears that clouded my vision. I was horrified; my father was just a few steps away.

Riley's hand was dwarfed in mine. She made me so happy! And now she was my girlfriend! At least she would be there with me whenever I needed her.

"Luke?" I liked that. I hope Riley would call me that more and more. "Your father's room is here. Would you like me to come in with you?"

I squeezed her hand a little tighter, "Please come with me. I can't do this alone."

Davis gave us a nod and a "I'll be right behind you." He opened the door for us and stepped inside with us just before the door closed. Topanga stayed outside.

The room was filled with artificial lights, which illuminated the white bed, toilet, sink, shower, rectangular table and three chairs that were placed in the room. All white. Everything white. White white white orange white. Orange?

My Father sat in the chair farthest from the door, facing us. He had lost weight. The bright orange jumpsuit he wore hung off of him. A horrible smirk graced his mouth. It was focused on me.

I forced back my panic and kept my calm face on. Riley was right beside me. She was all I needed.

"Please, sit."

Lucas and I each sat in a chair beside one another.

Not missing one detail, Father glared at me, scrutinizing me from top to bottom.

He then turned to Riley.

"Out of all the people you could've ended up with, you chose to date my poor excuse for a son? What's wrong with you? What could you possibly see in him?"

"Father... i... i..." I started weakly, feeling tears start to form. Words wouldn't come. I couldn't talk. At all.

"Oh I see... You're not dating, are you? That means you still can't get a girl to like you. You'll be alone forever. Unloved and abandoned. No one will ever love you. You're lucky I did. I took care of you. You ingrate, you ungrateful, worthless, deceitful, son of a..."

"Mr. Frier, if I may interrupt your speech of lies, I have a question that I'd like an answer to." Riley cut my fathers rant off. Not like it wasn't anything I hadn't heard before. Worthless was one of father's favourites. So was ingrate. It wasn't lies. No matter what Riley said.

Wait a minute. Lucas, Riley is your girlfriend. It's...isn't it her word above fathers? Or is it the opposite way around?

My breathing quickened. I felt another panic attack coming on. Father always beat me if I had a panic attack in front of him. He claimed they were "for the weak and childish." Those thoughts sparked a second, larger attack.

"Lucas," Rileys voice was quiet. "You need to calm down. Can you do that for me? Hold your breath."

I couldn't. I couldn't. My panic attack continued.

Suddenly, I felt a pressure against my lips. Riley had pressed her lips against mine.

The attack lessened and lessened, until it finally faded away.

"How did you know how to do that?" I asked.

Riley shrugged, "I read somewhere that holding your breath stops a panic attack. I did what I could."

"Well," my father scoffed. "Lucas, it seems like you have finally found some pathetic ***** that'll love every flawed part of your worthless self. Well done."

That was it. Picking on me, well, I was used to that. But when it came to my beautiful girlfriend...

Riley slammed her hands on the table that separated us.

"Getting back to my original question, Mr. Frier. Away from the topic of relationships. My question is; why? Why would you abuse the best person in the world? Did he do something horrible to you? Did you have a traumatic life experience that caused your inexcusable behaviour?"

Father raised his eyebrows.

"The best person in the world? You call my ******* of an offspring the best person in the world? The best person in the world was my wife. Oh wait, she left me! Because of him!"

I doubled over; the pain that pierced my heart was too much to handle in that moment. Mom left because of me? A dagger of guilt and pain pierced my heart. That explained why father treated me like he did. I completely deserved it. I chased Mom away. She was my favourite person and I had chased her away, probably with my ugly face. Oh god! At that moment, I wished i had never been born. Mom and Father would still be together. Claire, Lillian and Jax would still be alive. Everyone would be happy if I was nonexistent. Maybe I should make everyone happy.

"I don't believe that for a second. Lucas is the sweetest guy I know. And now we're leaving you, just like your wife did." Riley grabbed my wrist and stalked out of the room. The door slammed behind her.

"Mom, can we leave now?" Riley asked.

Topanga checked her watch, "if we leave now, we still have time to get you two back to school." Then she locked eyes with me. "On second thought, let's just go home."

"Thank you Mom."

I couldn't say a word.