A Drop In The Ocean

Chapter 3

Mike dropped them off at Skylar's house afterwards. The pair were quiet the entire drive back. As she unlocked the front door, a large figure was waiting for them.

"Where have you been?" the man rumbled. Skylar's father was tall, about six feet. He didn't look like his daughter at all. He had black hair and dark eyes that pierced her. Her dad was a mysterious person who never had much to say and had a very short temper.

"At mom's grave," Skylar muttered back. She glanced at Dean. He was looking rather uncomfortable as he looked down at his shoes.

"I never gave you permission to go there," her father said venomously.

"Do I have to get permission to visit mom?" she asked as both their voices got higher.

"You should've asked!" he said as he advanced towards her. Now their faces were inches apart.

"After everything I've been through I thought it would be okay if I visited her," Skylar said almost in a whisper.

"You worthless little brat. Your mother hated you, you know," her dad spat.

"You're lying," his daughter said quietly. Tears were streaming down her face.

"She hated you because you weren't like Maya," he cackled.

"Shut up!" Skylar screamed at him. Maya was Skylar's older sister who committed suicide two years ago. She was 16. Skylar's current age. Her grave was in Washington still, where they used to live.

"Maya was perfect. She was the daughter I loved, unlike you. Unlike you, because you're a waste of space," her father said back as he slapped her. Once, twice. Three times.

"STOP!" a voice roared. It was Dean. Her dad whirled to face her friend.

"What are you going to do about it? You're just Skylar's scrawny little boyfriend," the larger man taunted. Dean launched himself at the man and he pinned him to the ground.

"Don't touch her," Dean seethed as he got up.

"GET OUT!" the older man yelled. "GET OUT AND NEVER COME BACK, BOTH OF YOU!" Skylar and Dean ran out of the house. They raced to Dean's house which was down the street. When they entered, Dean's mom and Mike were in the kitchen chatting.

"Is that you, Dean?" his mother called out as they entered the kitchen.

"Yeah," he said softly. Dean's mom was a short lady with shoulder length black hair and the same green eyes as Dean. Her green eyes widened at the sight of Skylar's bloody face.

"Oh my, what happened?" the lady asked.

"My dad," Skylar said quietly. Their town of Hope was small and rumors got around fast, including the gossip about Skylar's father beating her.

"Sit down, dear," Mrs. Olsen said as she ushered Skylar into a chair at the dining table as her motherly instincts kicked in. Mrs. Olsen had always acted like her second mother, especially after her actual mom died. It was comforting knowing that someone cared about her.

"Sky, I think it's time someone went to Deputy Lee about this," Mike suggested.

"No, please don't," Skylar begged. Her father had always said if she breathed a word to anyone about this, he would find her and kill her. She couldn't risk that possibility.

"It's getting bad again, sweetheart," Mrs. Olsen added as she came back with a first aid kit and started cleaning up her face.

"No, I can handle it. Well, he did kick me out of the house," she said in a tiny voice.

"Why?" Mike and his mother asked at the same time.

"I kinda pinned her dad to the ground after he called me Skylar's scrawny boyfriend," Dean cut in as his mom shot him a look.

"He saved me from getting beaten too badly," Skylar said.

"You can stay for as long as you need to," Mrs. Olsen smiled as she finished cleaning up Skylar's face.

"Thank you so much," she replied as she hugged the older woman.

"Let's hang out in my room," Dean suggested as he exited the kitchen, leaving Skylar to follow.

As they entered the room, Skylar admired the yellow walls, which Dean had always hated. The walls were covered in band posters, probably in a failed attempt to cover up the ugly color. His room was tidy. There was a bed in the corner with his drum set on the opposite side. He was lucky to have his own closet and bathroom in his room. Dean plopped on his bed and Skylar joined him.

"I have a question," he said apprehensively.

"Ask away," Skylar smiled.

"Your dad called me your boyfriend. And I was wondering, what are we? Sometimes I feel like we're friends and sometimes we're more than that," Dean said. He seemed nervous as he picked at the hole in his quilt.

"What do you want to be?" she asked.

"Your boyfriend," he said

quickly which made Skylar smirk a little. "I mean, if you want to be my girlfriend, I would be honored." Skylar said nothing. She leaned in and brushed his lips with hers but Dean wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. They sat there kissing and in a way that comforted Skylar more than anything else.