melting [pearlet]

t h i r t e e n

PEARL
*Trigger warning - Abusive Language*

   DAYS after Violet abandoned me on the rooftop I sit in my bedroom watching TV. I cant believe I fucked up that badly. I should've never lied.

   I stare blankly at the show playing. I take another bite of the peanut butter sandwich I made for myself as I watch the 14 prissy men become women.

   I check to see what the name of the show is called. Rupaul's Drag Race. I pull my phone out of my pocket, looking it up. I find something on Wikipedia.
  
   RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality competition television series produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV. The show documents RuPaul in his search for "America's next drag superstar."

   "Interesting." I think to myself.

   I hear a slam from the front door. My Dad most likely got home hammered from a bar. I'm more terrified than ever, my heart trembles. I can see my hands shaking.

   He stumbles into my room, he mutters something unintelligible. His eyes can barely stay open. His once gelled back hair is now messed up. His shirt is unbuttoned with his tie loose hanging off of his neck. He hiccups as he sways back and forth.

   I get up to shut the door on him but he pushes back. "What do you think you're doing kiddo?" His teeth clench as he fights back at the door.

   "Just leave me alone!" I can see his head poking through the door as he shoves back harder.

   "Come on big man, you're a big man." He whispers before using all his strength to push the door, knocking me off of my feet back onto my bed.

   "Don't ever tell me to leave you alone!" He points in my face, standing over me as I lay helpless on my bed. My Dad stares at me for a good ten seconds, silence fills the room. He then starts hitting me. Each slap and punch hurts harder than the last. I try kicking him but he's too powerful for me to fight back.

   "Stop!" I cry squirming, trying to turn on my back so he won't hit my face. It feels like my bones are cracking as my voice cracks from yelling for him to get off.

   He finally stops after a minute of two. He looks at me dead in the eyes before shuffling out of my bedroom, slamming it. I sit there for a while, I'm usually used to the pain. But this time it hurts more.

   I hear my Dad storm off into my Mom and Dad's bedroom. He starts yelling at her. She scolds at him for drinking and they start bickering back and forth. She tries yelling louder than the drunken fool in her bedroom. I then hear a loud crash and her stomping out of the room to mine.

   "Why did you have to do that?" She scowls looking down at me.

   "Do what?"

   "Piss your father off, smart ass." She snaps.

   "Mom, he tried attacking me what was I supposed to do?" I try defending myself, but she never listens. She hates my Dad, but always sides with him.

   She shakes her head before slamming the door. Was that really a question? Just let him hit me? This family is a toxic one. I don't know what to do.

   She has all this bitterness inside her because of my Dad. My Dad is the route of the problem.

   I swiftly but quickly head to the bathroom hoping no one hears my footsteps. I remove my shirt, brushing against the bruises up the side of my ribcage and lower stomach. I can still hear them fighting.

   "Fuck!" I groan when I accidentally push on the bruise too hard.

   My phone starts ringing, I pick it up to hear Trixie's voice.

   "Hey, I just read your text from a few days ago about Violet. Is everything ok?"

   I look in the mirror staring at my bruises. "Everything's fine." I lie.

   Trixie's unconvinced and can tell when something's wrong by the tone of my voice. "Seriously, tell me."

   "Everything's okay Trix, I promise. And what're you doing up? It's one AM."

   "Can't sleep. And what are you doing up at one AM?"

   "Can't sleep either, I'll talk to you at school? Okay Trixie?" I hang up the phone throwing it on the bathroom counter.

   I splash my face with cold water, trying to wake myself up. I look into my own eyes in the mirror. They're swelling with tears. I wipe them away before running back to my bedroom. putting pants on and a gray pull over. I then head out the door, grabbing nothing but my phone.

   I sprint through the lobby of my apartment building and the sidewalk. I push every person out of my way, a lot of people tell me to watch it or fuck off. I ignore the comments and keep my eyes on the pavement ahead of me. Most people don't usually bat an eye.

   Once I spot Violet's apartment I pick up my pace and run faster. I remember which floor, the 3rd. I climb up the fire escape to his window.

   I take a deep breath in before knocking on the window.