She Rises

Chapter 25

Hello Peaches, just letting you know, this is not yet edited. I just wanted to give it to you all!

As I pull into the diner, I see Jace's bike sitting in the parking lot. I park and walk in. I look to the back far corner, and see he is already in a booth, waiting for me. I walk over to him and he has a wash of relief come over his face. I can tell he was worried. "Hey babe." He stands up and gives me a big hug, and a kiss on the cheek. As we sit down, I start to speak. "Jace, I am so sorry about last night. Like I told you, I got scared and I didn't know what else to do but run." I take his hands, hoping he will forgive me. "You really did have me scared Haseya, I had no idea where you went, if you were ok, or anything. I didn't know what to do, I was out looking for you, and finally had to quit. I'm just glad you called me this morning. I was just about to call you." He told me. "I know, I just hope you will forgive me." I put my head down, too embarrassed to look at him. "Of course, I forgive you. I love you." With those three words, my head snaps up. He really does love me, it wasn't just a heat of the moment kind of thing. "I love you too!" I say as I lean over the table to give him a kiss. "How's your home life going right now? Any problems with your dad?" I ask him. He really doesn't talk about it too much. "So far, he hasn't tried anything to hurt us. But his drinking has gotten worse so that don't mean he won't. I'm afraid for Lily. I think when I'm 18, I'm going to get custody over her and take her away from my dad. I don't know how I will do it, but I will find a way." He tells me. We sat there and talked for a few more hours. "Well, I better head off. I need to call Ashlyn and explain to her what happened." He pays, of course, and we head out. When we get to my car he hugs me like I'm leaving and never coming back. "I'll see you tomorrow at school. I love you." I pull away and give him a kiss. "See you tomorrow, love you too." With that I drive away.

As soon as I get home, I call Ashlyn. "Girl, what the hell happened last night!?" was the first thing I heard after she answered. Damn, not even a hello. "Ashlyn, I'm sorry!" I tell her. "You better be. Now tell me what happened." So, I tell her everything that happened last night, and today with Jace. "Well, I hope things get better for you. I'm sooo happy that you two finally realized you love each other. I mean it was obvious haha." We chit chat for a little bit longer then we both have to go. "Haseya, dinner is ready." I hear my aunt. "Coming." I sit down with my family and have dinner. Chit chatting about nothing in particular. After everyone is done eating, I go upstairs and get into my pajamas. I lay down, and after a little bit of debating with myself, I say the hell with it. I decide to pull out my shit, and smoke a little.

Jace P.O.V

After our talk at the diner, I decided to go straight home. I'm so happy she is ok. I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to her. As I open the door I hear Lily, "Jace! I'm so glad your home!" as she runs into my arms. "Hey baby girl. Were you good for Jodi?" I ask her, as Jodi comes down the stairs. "Yes, I was." Lily gives me a big smile. "She was a perfect angel, Jace." Jodi tells me. "Thank you so much, Jodi. I just don't trust my dad with he, and I know she is safe with you." I give her a hug. "Jace, it's really no problem. I love her like she is my own." She turns to Lily, "I will see you tomorrow sugar pie!" giving her a hug. "Bye Jodi!" Lily and I say at the same time. "Lily, how about you go upstairs and get into your pajamas, and I will come up and read you a story soon." I tell her. "Ok Jace!" with that she runs up the stairs. I can't help but laugh a little, until I hear the front door slam. Fuck. "Jace! Where the fuck are you?" I hear my dad. "I'm in the living room." No emotion in my voice. "Well, well, well, I hear you don't trust me with Lily? Is that true?" he asks, stumbling towards me bottle in hand. "Yes, it's true. I don't trust you. You used to abuse mom, and she looks so much like her, I have a feeling you would try to abuse her." I tell him. Starting to get into his face. Next thing I know, he hits me on the head with the bottle. I knew this was coming. It was just a matter of time before something made him snap. What I said, that was it. I don't care what he does to me though. He will never get to Lily. While I'm in my thoughts, I didn't see him start to go up the stairs. Oh hell no. I run up and pull him back by the collar of his shirt. "You are not going up there! I will take all you have to give, before I ever let you touch her." I tell him. Getting angrier than I ever have before. "So, you will take every beating that I feel the need to give to her? Oh, how sweet of you, such a loving brother." He says, sickly sweet. Next thing I know, I'm on the ground, blood coming from my nose. I look up, and there he is, a smug look on his face. I won't go down without a fight. I get back up and punch him in the gut, making him bend over. While he is trying to catch his breath, I punch him hard enough in the face to knock him out. Let's hope that keeps him out for the night. I go up the to the bathroom and clean myself up before I go to Lily's room. I can see my face, some of it is starting to bruise. As soon as I'm done I go into Lily's room, praying she is asleep. I open the door to hear her soft snores. I almost leave, then stop myself. I don't know when he could wake up, so I stay in her room for the night. Hoping, that I can keep her safe.

*Dream*

I come home from school. My dad is already home, but Jodi's car is still here. That's strange, honestly. As I walk into my house, it's all silence. I hear nothing. I go into the living room, and my worst nightmare has come true. I look to the couch, and there is my dad, gun shot in his head, bottle of whiskey next to him. Jodi and my sister are laying there, black and blue with gun shots in them. They're all dead. I can't breathe, my little sister, my whole world, she's gone. And the woman I hired to help, she lost her life because of my dad. The one promise, the one promise I thought I could keep, I couldn't. I fall to my knees, looking at the scene before me. Last thing I remember, I run over to Lily, holding her in my arms, crying, apologizing. Apologizing because I couldn't help her. I couldn't keep her safe.

*End of Dream*

I wake up in a cold sweat. Looking over, I see my sister, still snoring, looking so peaceful. There is only one person I can talk to, but it's late. I need to talk to her tomorrow after school.

Hello Peaches!

There is another look into what is going on with Jace at home.

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Love you all!