One weekend changes your whole life.

Sick of parents.

The bus is silent, I turn to Alaia and she is staring at the wall vacantly. “You okay?” I ask, as much as she made me feel small I wanted to make an effort after all we were stuck together on this bus.

“Yeah I’m fine, sick of home that’s why I came here but like I couldn’t tell Craig because my dad and him are really close ugh god how I hate my family. My dad drinks heavily and well he was pissed at me for leaving the washing up and he chucked the dishes and me.” I was shocked by how she just told me all this I looked up at her and her pale blue eyes started to mist over with tears.

“Oh don’t worry parents are probably the worst thing ever and you will get away from them one time.” I didn’t know what to say she had told me this as if it was nothing.

“You don’t know what it’s like. Ever since my mum has left my dad has just got worse. First the changes were little and well now he is just so abusive towards me.” All I could do was sit there and wonder how she could confide in me after having a rant about how I was here.

“Hey you’re not the only one who has had a hard time...” I want to comfort her but man I don’t even know who she is.

“Well like it has always been like this I mean my mum died when I was about seven and oh I miss her so much” I sat there wondering how am I supposed to help I still had my parents. I don’t know what it is like to lose them or anyone close.

“Erm well when I was younger my dad wasn’t exactly the nicest person” I couldn’t help but think of my past and I began to tense and my fist clenched. I turned my head to face away from Alaia I couldn’t let her see me like this.

“You okay Frank?” I still couldn’t face Alaia.

“Yeah I’m fine; just I can remember what my dad would do to my mum and...” I managed to get this out before I could feel a tear roll down my cheek. I slam my eyes shut and I grit my teeth.

“Frank look at me now!” I couldn’t but give in and look at her my face was red. The shock in her eyes as she saw the streaks of tears on my face. The feeling of weakness and no hope grasped my body. I ached so much. Alaia still looked as if she couldn’t talk so I turned to Nikkie and watched her sleep.

“How bad was your dad?” Alaia had finally said something as I brushed back Nikkie’s green hair from her eyes. I didn’t know how to answer her question I think about all the bad my so called dad brought to the house and well it just hurt to try and put it into words.

“Well he would hurt my mum; the times I saw him hit and punch her she looked like a rag doll. The thing was he wouldn’t just hurt my mum he turned on my sister, he took it too far and I tried stepping in but it just made him too angry” I didn’t want to talk about this, I mean I had kept all of this inside since I told Nikkie and no one else needs to know any more I thought as I stared at Alaia to see her sit in silence once again. The longer it was silent the more awkward the atmosphere got, I was forced to think about my dad and not be able to sleep.

“I really didn’t understand at all.” She finally spoke she had finally broken the silence and she didn’t understand.

“Well I don’t see how you could understand seen as you don’t even know my second name.” I was so tired but being sat here with someone who wanted to know everything kept me awake. Her energy stopped me from sleeping.

“Well how is your sister now, and what about your dad where is he?” I couldn’t face it she was asking to many questions. I haven’t talked about my sister for years.

“I’d rather not talk about my sister!” My brain is telling me to cry but I fight back the tears. “And my dad has been gone for a long time now” I turn to Alaia; her looks of sympathy as she reaches for the lamp and switches the button. Its dark and I can forget about what just happened, but of course I can’t. The past hour or so plays back in my mind as I begin to lie down.

“Come on guys quieten down, you’ll wake them up” I hear Craig’s slurred words to the guys. “We have to go to Manchester tomorrow remember.”

“Now get to bed” I hear Max putting on a sarcastic voice trying to imitate Craig. They begin to make their way over to their bunks. I hear some female’s voices and I think ‘well someone has scored’ and I fall back onto my pillow.