Please Don't Leave Me Behind Again (Completed)

Chapter Twenty-Five

And now to begin adding the plot layers of Ashley Waters.

Thank you for all your support and comments. You guys have some interesting thoughts and your reactions to the last chapter were great! As always comment and tell me what you think. I'm trying to keep everything straight in my head but it gets mixed up sometimes. And I know some of you are getting frustrated with the boys still not knowing the extent of the abuse but it'll happen soon! Just not this chapter (hehe).

***

**| Sang's POV |**

True to Nathan's promise, when I was able to rouse out of bed early Sunday morning, I found a small bottle of pain medication with a note reminding me to eat before taking it and to stop forgetting to turn my light off before going to bed. I don't think I would have been able to survive otherwise without their gift. Every movement sent sharp pain through my back and my ribs were still hurting. There was no relief if I moved even an inch.

I spent Sunday in my room, texting the boys to keep them from becoming suspicious. I kept movements minimum, trying to rest as much as possible for when school started.

I did the same on Monday except in the morning when I had to rush outside and get the mail so I could get my schedule. Otherwise, Diane would take my schedule and I would never see it and she'd probably call the school and change it completely.

Dad managed to do something because I got all the AP classes that I wanted despite their rule of only being allowed to take two AP classes each semester.

When Tuesday came, I was exhausted. I couldn't sleep, not with the lights off, and I couldn't stop staring at the door, waiting for my stepmother to burst through the door and attack me with a knife again. And I couldn't stop glancing at the window, expecting someone to break in.

I didn't feel safe but then again, I haven't felt safe in a very long time.

When it was time to wait for the bus, I slowly made my way through the house, careful not to move a certain way. I made it to the driveway. Maria glared at me and stepped away, keeping her distance. I stared off down the road. The bus pulled onto our street just as Nathan and Kota came out of Kota's house. They waved at me and crossed the street.

"Good morning, Sang," Kota said.

Nathan rubbed at his face. "Morning, Peanut."

"Morning," I whispered, still not looking at them. I knew Maria was watching and I stiffened. I looked back at the house but knew Diane was sleeping.

"How was the rest of your weekend?" Kota asked.

"It was fine."

The bus came. Maria got on and went to the back of the bus, sitting next to another girl about her age. The boys motioned me to get on first. I took an empty seat and Kota sat next to me with Nathan next to him. I couldn't get rid of the stiffness in my body and the hairs on my neck were standing up. Maria was definitely glaring at me at the moment.

Fear was rearing its ugly head and it took a lot of control to not ask them to keep their distance from me. I wanted space and at the same time wanted to keep them close.

Diane's words ran through my head over and over again.

I need to teach you a lesson. I need to give you a taste of what they will do to you when they get their hands on you.

No. Not true.

The moment you open your legs for them, the moment you open up to them at all, they'll use it against you and kill you.