Surviving the Harrison Boys (Re-write)

prologue

My bedroom door slammed shut, making me jump. I could hear my father stumbling around, probably trying to find his way to the staircase. I waited until he was in the living room, or at least a good distance away that he wouldn't be able to hear me.

I slowly got up and put my sweats and t-shirt back on. I pulled a hoodie over my head and slipped on my converse. I swung my school backpack over my shoulder because I knew I wouldn't be back in time to get ready here. After making sure I had everything, I opened the window, swung my legs over the ledge, and carefully climbed down the ladder leaning against our house to the ground. I hopped down from the last rung and sighed, looking back at the house. I put my hood up, stuffed my hands in my pocket, and ran down the street.

I turned the corner at the end of the street, and walked up to the little blue house with the bright orange door. I pulled my hood down and rang the bell, shifting my weight from foot to foot.

The door opened, but a chain stopped it halfway. My favourite pair of green eyes stared back at me. Joel gave me a small smile. "Need a place to stay?"

I returned it and nodded. "Yes, please."

He closed the door, unhooked the chain, and fully opened it. Joel wrapped me in a tight hug and sighed, rubbing my back as I began to cry. "What happened, Hunt?"

"He did it again," I whispered as I pulled away. Joel's eyes widened.

"Hunter..."

I shrugged and wiped my eyes. "But what can I do?"

He frowned. "Hunter, you have to let me call someone. This can't keep going on forever. They're going to kill you one day!"

I started crying again. Joel pulled me inside, closing the door behind us. His mother walked out from the kitchen, her robe wrapped around her tightly. "Hi, Hunter."

"Hi, Marie." I waved. She frowned and walked over to me, examining my face.

"What happened, sweetheart?" She asked.

"The same thing that happened last time." I chuckled bitterly and she sighed, shaking her head.

Tatum, Joel's father, stumbled down the stairs. He looked exhausted. He took one look at me, Marie, and Joel, and simply shook his head. "Hunter, please," he begged, "let us help you."

"Nothing's going to change!" I sobbed.

"You don't know that." Joel put a hand on my shoulder.

"Nothing changed last time." I hissed. "So why should things change this time?"

"Maybe God thinks it's about time bad shit stopped happening to you and you got a second chance." Marie sighed. "I don't know what else to tell you, but I refuse to have you crying and unhappy all the time. You deserve happiness, my dear."

"Let us help, bean." Joel poked my stomach and I couldn't help but laugh a bit. He sighed. "Please."

I ran my hands over my face. "All right, fine, but do it when I leave tomorrow morning."

Tatum nodded. "Deal. Now, who wants to order some pizza?"

***

Marie and Tatum had fallen asleep after we had finished watching Ride Along. I looked at Joel, who was reading the credits as they rolled by. I leaned my head on his shoulder. "Joel?"

"Bean?"

I rolled my eyes at the nickname. "Are things ever going to be okay?"

He nodded and kissed the top of my head. "They will, Hunter. Things will be okay. I feel it."