The Cliche Story Of The Girl Next Door

twelve

"Almost five years ago my dad came to pick me up from school. I was about ten, I think. I remember sitting on the sidewalk waiting for him because he was late. I saw his car come racing down the road, he was swerving all around the road. I remember thinking something was wrong. That something wasn't right. I knew. And I was still stupid enough to get in the car." I said the last part more to myself. I shook my head at how stupid I was then. I shook it off and contined.

"When I got in the car, I smelled beer. I was only ten but I still knew what it smelled like because he had come home drunk before so many times that I lost count. But still, I remember thinking that something was really off. He started driving and he was really mad. Any time I would try to talk to him he'd yell at me to shut up. He started going into the other lanes, almost hitting people, other cars. I remember being so scared. I was screaming at him to stop but that just made it worse. I asked him to pull over and let me out. I told him I was scared because he wasn't supposed to be driving after drinking. He told me he wasn't drunk and tried to "prove" to me he could drive." I sucked in a shaking breath and wiped a few tears that fell. I glanced at Kyle who had an emotion on his face I couldn't make out. I looked down.

"He went into the other lane and next i knew we were wrapped around a tree. I remember him being halfway conscious and me stuck inside the seat belt. I screamed and screamed for help but it was about an hour before I got out. And the wierd thing was..." I paused because i knew what was coming next. I closed my eyes.

"All I could pay attention to, over all the sirens, all the people talking, over everything, all i could hear was a man's crying. A man screaming out for his little girl that was now dead because of my dad. Because of me!" I screamed. I was full out sobbing now. I couldn't help it after thinking about that little girl. About that innocent little girl that was dead because of me.

"Ryan, that is not your fault." Kyle said softly. He pulled me onto his lap and wrapped his arms around me. I shook my head.

"It is. If I would've just kept quiet, maybe he would've just kept driving normal. But I had to be so stupid and open my mouth." I said tugging on the end of my hair. I hated myself so much right now. For tell him, for breaking down in front of him. I hated myself because two innocent people were dead because of me. Yes, two.

"After I got out of the coma I was in" I ignored Kyle's gasp after that. His grip tightened.

"I did research on that family. Turned out it was just the man and hus daughter. And i took away his little girl. About two days after I got out of my coma, it was on the news that that man had..." I trailed off. I couldn't say the next part. It hit so close to home. Well, was the reason it did. I got so emotionally talking about stuff like that.

"Killed himself." I finished after a minute. I let out another silent sob.

"Sunshine listen to me." Kyle said. He moved so that I was facing him. He searched my face for a minute before speaking.

"That was not your fault. Nothing that happened that had to do with that is your fault. Okay? And don't ever say it is." He said. I nodded.

It is your fault though. And you know it.

I shook the thought away. I hugged Kyle. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer.

The last thing I remember is hearing a phone ring.

-

I stepped out of my house and locked the door behind me. I started walking down the sidewalk towards school. I hummed a song that had been stuck in my head.

A hand wrapped around my waist and another went over my mouth. My first instinct was to scream but obviously that wouldn't do any good.

"Miss me." A voice whispered in my ear. My eyes widened as I realized whose voice it was.

Immediately start squirming and kicking him. It was no use.
I felt him pick me up and drag me into a van. He threw me in, making me hit my head in the process.

I felt tears in my eyes when my gaze finally met his.

"I told you, you would get was you deserved."

"Ryan!" I hear a faint voice.

"Shortcake! Wake up!" I hear. I shot up and met two dark blue eyes that I haven't seen in a while.

I look around and see I am in my room. I let our a breath and lay back down with my hand over my eyes.

It was just a dream.

"What are you doing here?" I ask him while sitting back up.
"I heard you screaming from my room. So I came over here to see if you were okay. You were screaming in your sleep." Jc explained. He was sitting on the edge of my bed.

I nodded awkwardly not knowing what to say. I mean we haven't talked in like a month. What was I supposed to say?

"Thank?" I say. It came out as more of a question. He gave me a confused look before standing up.

"Are you okay?" He asked. To my surprise he actually sounded concerned.

"Why do you care?" I asked without thinking. I surprised myself when I reliazd I actually sounded confused when I said that.

Jc chuckled but his face visibly softened. He sat back down beside me.

"Just because we fought, Shortcake, doesn't mean I don't care." He said. I averted my eyes to him shoked. He actually cares? After the fight I figured he would just forget about me conplety.

"Listen, I'm really sorr-" If put a finger over my lips making me shut up.

"It's fine" he said softly. I looked at him confused. I pushed his finger away and shook my head.

No it's not. I've been going through a lot but I still shouldn't-" I groan when he puts his finger back on my lips. He chuckles.

"I said it fine Shortcake. Let's just forget about it and move on. Okay?" He says.

I nod and didn't even try to hide the grin that took over my face.