AUTUMN'S POV-
I stayed quiet, closing my eyes trying to stop my mind from racing. I didn't understand why they were so interested in my life, they weren't the ones who had to worry about what happens to them.
"Autumn, please" Carmen whispered
"It's nothing I can't handle myself ,I promise. You don't have to keep worrying about me" I sighed
"No, Autumn don't say that. We are going to worry. Something's wrong and we are trying to help, but you are making it hard to do that. You're our friend and we want you to be safe" May argued. I felt my eyes water and I shook my head.
"We just want to help you" Matt pleaded and I sighed again. I looked up at the ceiling and really thought about the things that I was about to admit to them.
"At home" my voice cracked "my parents, they didn't want a kid but when my mom got pregnant they just went with it. Everything was fine, at least that's what I assumed but I guess my parents just didn't love me like normal parents love their kids. When I turned nine that's when it started, they just yelled at me all the time I didn't think anything of it just parents being parents, when I turned thirteen that's when the hitting started, just every once in a while when they were drunk or something. They started drinking more because they just couldn't stand to be around me. As they drank more they started to hit me more and more. I can't remember a day I didn't get hit. It just got worse. They take out all their anger on me for everything. The other day my dad just came in and beat me while I was doing my homework. I just didn't bother to tell anyone because I didn't want anyone to worry about it. No one should have to worry about me. Everything they say to me is true, I'm worthless, a fuck up, pathetic. I'm nothing in this world but that's okay, I'm alive and I guess that's what matters" I was sobbing by the end. Their faces said they knew they just needed for me to say it but they were still shocked.
"You're none of those things" May took my hand and squeezed it as she sobbed "you're our best friend, you matter to us. You so amazing, you deserve everything this world has to offer! Don't listen to them!"
"Thanks babes" I smiled sweetly at her
"That night we found you?" Tyler asked
"My dad must of had a bad day, went to the bar probably got kicked out too" I explained
"Have they done anything else" Ryan asked and I looked away
"They've tried... well it's" I started trying to think of a way to explain it as they stared at me "they've tried to sell me, I guess you could say"
"Wait, like to give you away" Matt questioned and I shook my head
"Like, as in bed without my say. I came home one day, was told someone was coming and then they told the man he could do whatever he pleased for an hour in the back room. Not sure how much but I sure as hell wasn't going with it. I'm not even sure how I got the guy off me" I chuckled to myself "they tried again a couple of other times"
"What the fuck" Ryan whispered angrily. His face was a burning red and he lips were in a tight line after I spoke. His hands were in fist on his lap but he didn't say anything else
"Autumn..." Carmen spoke softly "why didn't you ever ask for help or try to leave"
"I'm scared. They terrify me. I wasn't sure what would happen if I just didn't come home or if I tried to ask for help" I frowned
"We won't let anything happen to you" May whispered and tried to hug me as best as she could without hurting me
"You aren't going home ever again, you're gonna stay here from now on" Adam declared
"No, no you don't have to do that" I tried to argue
"Autumn, shut the fuck up and accept our help" Matt insists
"I don't know, I don't want you guys caught up in this. If anything bad happens I just wouldn't be able to handle that. I don't want anything to happen to any of you" I reasoned
"We will worry about that but we have to make sure you're safe. You've already been through so much" Tyler reassured me
"Please Autumn, do this for us we want to help we're offering this don't worry about anything" Carmen pleaded
"Alright" I sighed
