The First Dance

Chapter 3

"What is wrong with you?" He growled.

"How could you say you're not like them?" I yelled.

"I didn't kill your mother."

"You helped."

"Mia," he said, grabbing my wrist, "I had no clue. Why would you think I'm a murderer?"

"Because you were part of the gang. I blamed everyone in that gang, even you."

"I wasn't even there. And, if I was, I was only fourteen."

"All it would've taken was a bullet. Even I could've done that at fourteen."

"I only helped them sell drugs so I could earn some money."

"For what? Drugs of your own." I could tell I hit a nerve. He pushed me against a wall and looked me straight in the eye.

"I'm not like them. I didn't know they killed your mother until after I finished working with them. My mother was dying in the hospital and the doctors refused to help her unless they received a payment. Sure I helped sell drugs, but only to save my mother."

"I-I didn't know," I stuttered out.

"I know you didn't."

"I'm sorry I slapped you."

"I deserved it."

"Why don't you try anymore? You are always in trouble and it's like you don't care about anything but yourself."

"My mother and youngest brother were killed in a car accident a few years ago. Now I have to work extra hard to take care of my younger brother and sister."

"I'm sorry. I never should've judged you," I said softly.

"It's fine." There was a minute of comfortable silence.

"How much makeup are you wearing?" He asked softly.

"What?"

"Think about it." How did he know? I keep it a secret to everyone.

"I don't know what you mean."

"Don't lie."

"How did you find out?" I demanded.

"When you're like me, it's not that hard to find out." I thought I hid it well. Yet, he still knows.

"It's covering my right eye."

"Give me your number," he said.

"Why?"

"If we need to meet up at a different time, I'll need to know." I nodded then typed my number in his phone. He did the same with mine.

"Let's meet again tomorrow. Same time, and here instead of the cafeteria. I need to get home," I said. It was only five but I couldn't stand being with him any longer. Not after all that.

"Bye princess." I just ignored it and walked off. I rushed to my car and jammed to the radio until I got home.

I went to my bathroom and wiped off my makeup. My black eye was starting to heal but not completely. It might heal but it'll always come back.

I ran up to my room and grabbed one of my scrapbooks. It had tons of pictures of my mom and I. I threw it off my bed and started crying. I fell into a deep, restless, sleep.

***

The dishes rattled when my dad slammed the door closed.

"Get down here," he yelled. It's two AM. Great, that means he's drunk.

I rushed downstairs and to the kitchen.

"Yes," I said softly. I'm only scared of few people. My father was one of them.

"Why are the dishes not cleaned? Why isn't the laundry folded?"

"I fell asleep."

"You worthless pig," he slapped me across the face. He then kicked my stomach as hard as he could.

"I can't deal with you right now. I'll be back in a few nights. You better have this house cleaner." With that he slammed the door and left me there to cry on the floor. I'm tired of this life. He's an abuser but I have no evidence against him.

I pulled myself off the ground and limped back upstairs. I flopped on my bed and tried to fall asleep. An hour later, I was fast asleep.

***

I woke up the next morning around ten. I grabbed my phone and saw that I had two new messages. Both from Jackson.

Where are you? Are you ok?

Are we still meeting up today?

I told him that we would. I got out of bed but then fell back down. I think my right rib is broken. I had a wrap under my bed. I pulled it out then wrapped two times around my stomach and back. I covered my eye back up with makeup.

I didn't think I could stand a day of school, so I started working on the house.

By the time I had to meet Jackson, I had cleaned most of the house. I drove to the school so I could meet him. My rib still hurts but I took pain medicine.

"Are you ok?" Jackson asked as soon as he saw me.

"I'm fine."

"Liar."

"I don't want to talk about it." He nodded then we started working on ideas together. I had a dizzy spell and I almost fell on him. I had lost my balance more than once today.

He didn't seem to notice that one but he noticed when I accidentally fell on him when we were standing up. He fell and I went with him.

"Ow," I moaned.

"Tell me the truth," he said after he picked me up.

"I think my rib is broken," I admitted.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know."

"I can't live this life anymore, but I don't have any proof that he is an abuser," I said.

"We'll worry about that later. Come on," he said. I followed him to his motorcycle.

"No," I said.

"Trust me, please." I sighed then got on behind him.

"Hold on and lean when I lean, got it?"

"Got it," I said as I put on the helmet. He started the engine and then took off. This will be the ride of my life.