Before I forget

Chapter Four

Cara quietly opened her front door and peeked her head inside. She looked over to see her mom cooking in the kitchen. She then quickly, but quietly, stepped inside and closed the door. She was almost at the staircase when her mom screamed, " Cara Anne Floid!! " Cara cringed. She was so close

Cara slowly went into the kitchen to see her mom standing with her hands on her hips. " The school called and told me that you skipped most of your classes. Care to explain? " Cara stood there and thought for a minute. She suddenly looked at her mother and said, " I'm good. I'd rather not talk about it. "

She started to leave when she slammed a rolled up piece of paper on the counter. " How dare you skip classes!! I thought I taught you better!! This just isn't like you! "

Cara frowned. When has she ever cared about her? She never really paid attention to her kids. All she really seemed to care about is her money and boyfriend, even though he has been obviously cheating on her. She kept saying that they are deeply in love and that Cara wouldn't know love even if slapped her in the face. That explained a lot to Cara. That explained why her mother always slapped her, because it was nothing even close to love.

Cara's dad died when she was just seven years old. He died of cancer, and her mother didn't take it very well. She started drinking, doing drugs, and she slept with random guys she met at a club. They were always drunk though. The worse part was that her mothers bedroom was across from hers.

" Why do you even care!! It's not like you even care about me or my grades, so just leave me alone. "

" Excuse me? I am your mother - "

" You are not my mother!! " and with that, Cara ran up to her room, locked the door, and plopped onto her bed.

Cara kept telling herself that when she turned eighteen, she's going to take her little brother, Tommy, and move far far away.

Tommy and Cara were really close. He is the only family she had, all that loved her of course. Tommy and Cara are six years apart. She still treats him like a baby most of the time though.

Without even realizing it, tears started rolling down her cheeks. She didn't even know why she was crying. She quickly wiped them away and got up. She unlocked her door and opened it. She walked over to her brothers door and opened it. He was lying on his stomach on his bed reading a book.

He looked up and smiled at her when she closed the door and sat on his bed next to him.  " Hey, care bear! " he said giving her a cheeky smile.  She ruffled his hair.  " Hey, Tommo!! " He laughed while he tried to fix his hair so it looked the way it did before.

He quickly stopped laughing when he looked back up at her face.  " Have you been crying!? " Cara rubbed her eyes.  " Just a little. "

He put his book down and sat up.  He put his hand on her leg.  " What's wrong? "

" Nothing, I'm fine. "

" Your obviously not!! "

" It's just...... I'm fine.  It doesn't matter. "

" Well it must matter if your crying. "

" Why are you so sassy? "

" Tell me!! " he folded his arms across his chest.  Cara finally gave in and sighed.  " I just don't get why mom is in my business all the time.  She obviously doesn't love me, so why should she even care? " Tommy's eyebrows furrowed.  " She obviously cares at least a little if she wants you to be ok. " This took Cara by surprise.  " Are you kidding?  She hates me!!  She wouldn't even care if I went and died in a ditch or something.  I bet she would actually love it if I did, so maybe I should do that and make everyone happy. " Tommy looked hurt.  " I would care! "

His eyes filled with tears.  Cara felt really bad and hugged him.  It wasn't fair that she was taking her anger out on him.  It's not his fault she has anger issues. 

She broke the hug and wiped away his tears.  " I'm sorry, Tommo.  I'm just really upset right now.  Let me make it up to you.  Maybe we could go out for ice cream one day. "he wiped his runny nose on his shirt and smiled.  " I would actually like that, care bear!! " Cara pulled him into another quick tight hug before getting up and exiting the bedroom.

She walked back into her room and sighed.  She was in deep thought when her phone buzzed.  She picked it up to see that Amy texted her.

Amy
Do you think that I could come over for a little bit?

Cara smiled and replied your not sick of me yet?

Right away Amy texted back.

Amy
I really need to talk to someone.

She needs to talk to someone?  Amy never liked to talk to people about her problems, unless something really bad happened.  Cara quickly sent of course you can come over.  Just come up to my room when you get here.

*************

Cara heard a small knock on her door.  That was strange.  Amy usually just walked right in, even when she wanted to talk about serious stuff. 

Cara walked to the door and slowly opened it.  She gasped when she saw Amy.

Her face was all scratched up.  She had a bloody lip and nose, a bruised eye, and a big bruise forming on her cheek and neck.  Cara looked down to see scratches on her arms and ankle. 

Cara looked up wide eyed.  " What happened? " tears were rolling down Amy's bruised cheeks.  " I broke up with my boyfriend! "Amy then passed out and fell to the floor.  Cara scooped her up, put her on the bed, and called 911.

Cara knew Amy's boyfriend was a jerk, but she never thought he would do something like this.

************

When the police and ambulance got there, Amy was still passed out on Cara's bed.  It didn't take long for them to get there though.  They told Cara that she could go inside the ambulance with Amy, because she was the last one she saw before passing out, so when she saw her she wouldn't freak out.

They were almost to the hospital when Amy opened her eyes.  She tilted her head to look at Cara who was on her right.  She put out her hand and Cara took it through blurry eyes. 

Cara felt like crying, but she wanted to stay strong for Amy.

Out of nowhere Amy finally spoke.  " I have to tell you something. " Cara grinned.  " You can tell me anything. "

Amy got a little closer to Cara and said, " I think I was raped. "