I'm Into You

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

I am sitting at the dining room table with my mother, father and Luke sitting across from each other.  Luke is by my side.  Luke is twiddling his fingers underneath the table in his lap.  His leg is bobbing up and down really fast.  I guess it’s one of those nervous habits he has. 

“Well.” My father begins to say. “Explain.”

I look over to Luke and he looks up and his eyes meet mine.  He is just as nervous as me.  I can see it in his eyes.  But he has a different reason to be nervous.  He was only sleeping next to me.  I have to tell my parents about how I have a semi-abusive boyfriend. 

I look to my mother who isn’t even looking at me. “Last night I went to Jake’s house to make him a special dinner for our anniversary.  To cut the story short, he came home around two in the morning drunk.  He…” I’m trying to tell them.   I just don’t know how to say it. 

“He what Jessica?” my mother asks who now has her gaze locked on me. “Did he hurt you?”

“No.  Well, yes and no.”

“What do you mean?” my father growled.

I clear my throat and try to think of what to say.  “He…he tried to have sex with me.  But I wouldn’t let him.  He tried to force me.” I finally said it and I immediately feel a weight lifted from my shoulders.  Only to be regained with nervousness about my parents next sentences. 

“He tried to rape you?” my parents say in shock.  I nod my head slowly and my mother looks as if she is about to cry.  Her eyes become glossy and she wipes her index finger under her eyes.

“Why?” my father asks angrily.

“He has been trying to get me to…you know… for a while.  But I don’t ever let him.   Not anything at all.  I promise.” My palms become sweaty and I try to dry them by rubbing them against the fabric covering my legs.  Luke’s hand touches mine.  His leg finally stopped bouncing.  He looks at me sympathetically.  I hold his hand tight, afraid of what is going to happen next.

“Why didn’t you tell us?  Why didn’t you tell his parents?” My father questions.

“Why didn’t you just break up with him when this all started?” my mother basically yells. Why didn’t I?

“Because I like him mom.  At least I did.  Up until this morning.”

“Then what happened?”

“Then I fought him.”  I explain thinking back to earlier. I smile remembering how much I hurt him.  “I fought him good.” And he deserved it.  Especially for what he was about to make me go through. 

“Well it’s a good thing you know karate.  Or else you wouldn’t be here unraped.” My dad says.

“Unraped?  Is that even a word?” I ask with a bit of humor to try to lighten up the mood. 

“I just made it one.  But all of this doesn’t explain where you come in.” my dad says pointing to Luke causing him to turn his attention towards him.

“Well he”

“Let him speak.”

I gently squeeze Luke’s hand trying to let him know it’s okay to tell them the truth.  He squeezes back and takes a deep breath.

“Sir, she called me up right after that happened.  It was about two or three in the morning and it was raining outside.  So she called me from outside in the rain half dressed to come get her.  I immediately got into my car and picked her up and brought her home.”

My parents stay silent just watching him.  Why don’t they speak to him?   They didn’t have a problem answering me ten seconds ago. 

“Then I walked her inside and we were just…talking last night on the couch and fell asleep.  Nothing happened sir, I promise.”

That darn silence again.  What do they want from him? A ten paragraph essay?

“Mom, dad?” I say trying to get them to speak.

“Well boy I have a question first.” My father says.

“Yes sir?”

“What is your name?  I can’t keep calling you boy.” My father asks with a slight smile on his face.

“My name is Luke.” he answers with a chuckle.

“Thank you for taking my daughter home Luke.  I do really appreciate that.”

“You’re welcome sir.”

“Please stop with the sir.  I understand you want to a respectful person and I’m probably scaring the heck out of you right now, but don’t call me sir.  Sir is what they call old people.  Do I look old to you?”  My father jokes.  Luke laughs and his shoulders lose their tenseness.

“No sir. I-I mean no.  Sorry.” Luke says.

“Don’t apologize Luke.  You didn’t do anything wrong.” My mother chimes in with a gentle smile that makes the whole room seem less serious. 

“Back on topic now, has this sort of thing happened before?” my dad looks at me all joking aside. 

“No, not like this.”

“Has he ever hurt you Jessica?” my mom asks.  I gulp and my throat feel like it has swollen to ten times its size.

“Y-yes.  Jake has hurt me.” 

My mother nearly screams when I say it.  Her eyes become red and wet as soon as I give my answer.  My dad has tensed up and his face is red.

“How has he hurt you?” my father says in a loud voice that echoes around the kitchen. 

I explain to him the other day at school when he slapped me at lunch and Luke came to help me.  Then I told them how he got me into the hallway alone and hit me again. 

“You didn’t tell me that.”  Luke said turning to look at me.  Hurt is evident in his eyes.  “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?  Like…that day.  We could’ve gone to the principle.”

“Luke it’s okay really.  It wasn’t that bad.” I lie.  It was terrible.  My face still hurts when I apply even minimal pressure to it.  

“What do you mean it wasn’t that bad?  It’s absolutely bad!  It’s worse than bad!  How could you even say that?” Luke yells.  I know he is angry.  I should’ve told him, but with everything else that happened, I didn’t get a chance to even think about telling him. 

“I’m calling the police.” My father says as he stands from the table.

“No dad wait!” I stand up and rush to stand in front of him. 

“Give me one good reason not to turn this…this demon into the cops?  And make it a really good reason.”