What's Left Behind

Chapter 2

Jay's mother, June, cleaned up the mess Jay made in the bathroom and didn't ask what happened in the bathroom. I assumed she heard the whole thing, as she was standing outside the door

In between the indecent and dinner, Jay's father, Matthew, came home. He had a fuzzy chin and a black pair of glasses. He had polished black hair and deep, rich brown eyes.

We sat at the table with three, large, red pieces of steak with a creamy bowl of mac n' cheese on the side. Jay and I split a steak, but Matthew and June both had separate ones.

"So how did you two meet?" Matthew asked halfway through dinner, trying to start a conversation.

Jay and I looked at each other awkwardly and thought awhile. Truth or lie?

"She is my school buddy. She is assigned to take me for a tour around the school." Jay said. I began to doubt that story though, because last year when I was a freshman I didn't have a "buddy".

I nodded along with his story. I continued to eat my food cautiously.

"How did you get that mark on your head, sweetheart?" I coughed. I don't know what surprised me more, that he asked so casually or he called me sweetheart.

"Some kids at school..." I choked out my lie.

"I see... And your name is Satana right?" His voice faded away as he continued to talk.

"Yes." I nodded slightly. The awkwardness made it's way back to the table.

"Hey mom!" Jay's excited voice broke the silence. "Why doesn't Satana stay the night? Our house is closer to school than hers is and it seemed like her parents weren't home."

Shock overcame what I was currently thinking as I looked at him with wide eyes. What the hell was he thinking?

"I don't see why that's a bad idea. Matt?" She looked at her husband who wasn't paying attention.

"What?" He looked at his wife, completely clueless. June scoffed and laughed.

"You can stay the night if you want, honey. You can borrow Jaylen's clothes if needed for tomorrow."

"Thank you." I said and continued eating.

I laid wide awake on the floor of Jay's room. I stared at the ceiling as I clutched the soft blanket tightly.

"Satana? Are you awake?" I heard Jay's innocent voice call out. I heard the gentle rustling of his tiny body in his bed.

"Yeah. Can't fall asleep." I admitted, my jaw clenching slightly.

"Same." Silence crept into the room. "Listen... " Jay began, but stopped to double check what he was saying.

"I don't want you to go back to your house..." He said quietly, so quietly I almost didn't hear him. The room became silent again.

"I don't want you to go back there." He said his sentence slowly, almost as if he wasn't even talking.

I took a deep breath. "Jay." I sat up to see him on the edge on his bed with blood dripping down his arm. "What are you doing?" Something came over me suddenly. Fear, concern, worry?

"It's my fault. It's my fault you got hurt today isn't it? You wouldn't have protected me. You wouldn't have done that." More tears streamed down his face making contact with the blood.

I got up and walked over to him slowly. I didn't notice right away, but I remembered he was wearing a long sleeve shirt today. I knelt down in front of him and take the back of his forearm in my palm and slowly rolled up his sleeve.