Broken

Chapter 11: Broken

I wake to an empty bed, assuming Laney has gone to school already and check the time, before painfully getting out of bed. Holding my ribs I limp to the bathroom. Turning on the water I strip and get in, feeling the cold water against my skin. I decide to use my unopened lavender scented body wash; a birthday gift from Charlotte. Carefully, I shave my legs and wash my hair before stepping out and drying myself. I stare at my naked body in the mirror before me; the fresh black eye and bruising on my ribs; my busted lip is obvious and my cheek is still healing.

In my room, I set my phone on my dock and select Scars by Papa Roach an place it on repeat. I slip on a new red bra and matching underwear I bought for my birthday, earlier last week, followed by a black knee-length dress for tonight's school dance. I sit at my desk and perfect my makeup before grabbing my phone from the dock and dialling Laney.

"Hey," she says surprised.
"I love you," I reply instantly.
"I love you too,"

I hang up and dial Charlotte.

"Hey beautiful, you didn't come,"
"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry,"
"It's okay. Will you be at the dance?"
"...Yes,"
"Awesome. By the way, someone likes me,"
"Juicy," I giggle.
"It's Dom,"
"I figured,"
"Well I have class,"
"I love you,"
"I love you too."
"You're my best friend. I'll see you tonight,"
"Okay," she replies before hanging up.

~xoxoxoxo~

Hours pass and I'm still at my desk contemplating whether or not I should call Dom. I decide too.

He didn't answer the first time and I decide to try again.
"Hey, I was in the shower. I'm sorry,"
"Oh, fuck. Sorry Dom. I'll go,"
"No. What's wrong? It sounds important,"
"So you're not at school I'm guessing. I mean you just had a shower,"
"I'm not. That's correct. Why?"
"It's nothing," I lie.
"Cadey,"
"Dom,"
"Are you busy?"
"I am not,"
"Can you...can...would you...come over?"
"Now?"
"Yeah,"
"See you soon,"

With all my phone calls out of the way I sit on my bed and wait for Dom to arrive.

He's all smiles when he walks into my room. He's fucking adorable.
"What the fuck happened to you?" He asks, plotting down across from me. I feel the tears well up and turn away as the fall.
"Hey, hey," he whispers. "Look at me. It's okay. What's wrong? What happened?"
"My dad,"
"Again?"
I nod and stand unzipping my dress, letting it cascade down, leaving me in my underwear and revealing my bruising.
"Fuck! We have to take you to the hospital,"
"No Dom. Please,"
"You can't stay like that,"
"Just leave it," I demand, attempting to pick up my dress.
"I'll get it," he smiles. Delicately he takes it, and pulls it back over my shoulders, moving my hair to one side before zipping it closed around me.
"Thankyou,"
"You have such beautiful skin, Cadey,"
I shake my head. "No,"
"You do,"
"Dom, can we sit and talk,"
"Of course,"

We sit on my floor with our backs against the bed frame and our knees touching.
"So you like Charlotte," I begin.
"Kind of,"
"Kind of?"
"It's complicated,"
I audibly sigh and smile.
"Of course it is," I laugh.
"It is,"
"How,"
"It just is. Is this really what you wanted to talk about?"
"No,"
"Okay..?"
"I like someone," I mumble.
"Who is it?" He questions turning to me. I say nothing and lean forward pressing my lips nervously against his. To my ultimate surprise he kisses back.
I break apart and kiss again.

After what seems like a lifetime, we finally break apart. Dom blushes as he looks away and pretends that didn't just happen.
"I'm sorry," I utter, feeling a rush of embarrassment and foolishness.
"It's okay. I've been resisting since the party,"
"I have since you found me outside,"
"Things are complicated though," he admits. I nod, staying silent.
"I mean, Corey, your dad, Mr Sales; I didn't want to you to feel like I was using you because you were vulnerable,"
"That's sweet. But what does Mr Sales have to do with anything,"
"It's fine," he explains. "I used to have a crush on my bio teacher. She is fine," he grins.
"I don't like him. He is my teacher," I say a little too defensively. What the fuck?
"Cadey It's fine. I get it," he soothes, touching my shoulder. "Come here."
Dom puts his arm around my shoulder and pulls me close, my head leaning against his as I breathe in his sweet scent. He always smells so good.
"I think maybe you should go,"
"Oh?"
"Don't you have to get ready for the dance?"
"I do, Charlotte has invited me,"
"Thank you for being my friend, Dominic,"
"That's what I'm here for Cadence. I'm like terminal cancer, you can't get rid of me,"
I feel so safe in his tight hug and I look up to stare into his beautiful eyes, only to be greeted with another kiss before he goes.

~xoxoxoxo~

Finally I take my finished drawing and stick it to my closet door and admire it for a moment. I've never drawn something so pretty. It's an 'Out of Order' sign, surrounded by beautiful flowers in many bright colours I don't usually draw with.

Done with my admiration I sit at my open laptop and look directly into the camera, hitting the record button.
"Hey, I guess. It's me, ugly Cadence. I'm making this video because," I swallow hard and continue. "I just don't really see the reason for being here, or at this stupid dance. Everybody hates me; my mom, my father especially. I don't even understand why my friends stick around. But I do understand why everybody hates me," I cry. "It's okay. I deserve to be hated and bullied and raped. I finally understand now. I hate me too."
I stop recording and watch it upload to Facebook.

I leave my desk and step into the closer, closing the door behind me.

~xoxoxoxo~