We Are Made From Broken Parts {On Hold}

Dead Bite

"I am leaving." I say again, more firmly. I can tell by the way my father is slowly inching himself towards me that he is about to grab at something, and possibly try to pull me to the floor. Just as he lunges, I sidestep and he crashes into the floor. Arms wrap around my middle, pulling my arms tight to my body. I had completely forgotten about my mother. "Where are you going, whore?" I start struggling, and my body starts shaking. I really didn't want to deal with this and Jorel is waiting for me. If he heard something, he would come in here to check it out. "Mom, let me go!" I half shout. One of my arms slip free and I scramble to find something I can use as a weapon. My hand closes around a frying pan handle and I yank, the momentum carrying it towards my father who has just gotten up off of the floor. It hits him in the arm and a loud *crack* resonates through the whole room. Everything freezes as my father mutters, "That bitch broke my arm." Before he turns and punches me square in the jaw. My mother lets go as I fall and since I didn't expect it, I fall onto the corner of the counter and my cheek scrapes against the metal plating.

My father and mother immediately start kicking me. My shoulders slump and I throw my already bruised arms in front of my face. "No!" I scream out as my mother kicks my gut fiercely. I really didn't want to bring Jorel into this but he is my only hope. "Jorel!" I scream as loud as I possibly can.

~Jorel~

I hear a thud and a few seconds later April screams my name. It is shrill and high pitched. I immediately rush to open the door. April is laying on the floor, curled up in a ball, protecting her face against the ongoing blows from her parents feet. "Hey!" I yell as loud as I can. They look up momentarily stunned. "Who are you?" Aprils mother asks surprised. "Get out of here!" Her father says at the same time. April looks up at me with blood streaked cheeks. "J," She mutters weakly. "I told you she was a whore," Her mother mutters just loud enough for me to hear. "She isn't a whore," I say firmly and walk over to her. "What do you think you are doing?" Her mother asks sternly. "Taking April," I say as I go to pick her up. "Get out of my house!" Her mother screams as her father tackles me. I grunt from his weight and roll with him. April whimpers as her mother starts kicking her again. My heart literally shatters as Aprils face twists in pain. My view is cut off as her father jumps onto me and starts punching my face repetitively. I groan in pain and my fist connects with his gut. I punch him in the jaw and make sure he is out before I slowly stand up and realize that April is still with her mother.

~April~

I can still see J getting his ass handed to him by my father. I can barely see though. The pain is constant and my mother relentlessly kicks me in different spots. She has been doing this for years but for some reason it hurts more with Jorel here. He shouldn't have even been involved. This is my fault, I tell myself. This is why I cut myself. My thoughts are cut off as my mothers kicking stops and I hear a faint thud. After a second, my eyes open and I blink furiously, trying to clear them. Everything is blurry and my head is pounding faster then my heart. I can see the faint outline of Jorel and then everything turns black.

My bed bounces and wakes me. I sleepily look around and realize that I am not in my room. I go to sit up and my muscles instantly protest. I groan and collapse as images from last night flood into my mind. My arms throb at the memory and my heart twists as I remember what my father did to J. Speaking of the which... "Jorel?" I call out, my voice slightly raspy from the lack of water. I clear my throat and try again. "Jorel?" "Yeah baby?" Comes J's voice. "Where are you?" I ask as I try to sit up. "April, don't do that." He says as he rushes over and gently pushes me back so that I am laying again. "Where- are you okay?" I ask him as I see his face. He has cuts all over and his eye is swollen shut. "I am fine. Now, does anything hurt?" I shake my head slightly, and then wince as my head starts aching. "Do you want some ibuprofen?" He asks gently, obviously seeing through my lie.

"Maybe in a minute." I breathe out slowly. Being near Jorel was like being born again. He makes me feel alive and I never want this feeling to go away. "Baby, what's wrong?" He asks, his voice full of pain. "It- it killed me to watch my father do what he did to you," I say as tears start to fall. "I was really scared." "April, Baby, don't cry. Please. It doesn't change anything. I still love you, okay?" I nod slowly, my head still cramping. Crying probably doesn't help either. "April, my whole heart shattered the moment that I saw you lying on that floor. I really felt like I would kill someone. I should have gone inside with you... but, why didn't you just tell me?" Jorel says with a pained expression. "Jorel, you're the only person that has ever shown me any type of kindness. I didn't want that to be ruined just because of my parents." I say ruefully. "I wanted to tell you so many times, it just never felt...right. Like the last time you called, I was going to tell the truth but I felt the sudden urge to just not worry about it anymore. I told myself that you would never believe me." I tear up again. "J, I am so sorry. I am sorry for a lot of things..." I trail off as I think of my scars. Did he know? 

"April, I am sorry as well. I always suspected there was something that you weren't telling me. I should have- I don't know. I promise that you will never have to see them again. Okay?" I nod slowly and he very carefully pulls me into an awkward hug. "Do you want some ibuprofen now?" He asks. I nod slowly and fall back onto the bed. He walks back into the bathroom? and walks back out."Here you go." He says as he hands me 2 pills and an open water bottle. I gratefully accept them both and turn towards him. "So, I'm gonna let you sleep now, okay?" J says as he backs away quietly. "No! J, please stay with me?" I ask. I really didn't want him to go and I don't think he wanted to go either. "Are you sure?" He asks. I carefully nod and roll over near the edge, leaving the other half for him. He delicately slides under the covers and moves closer to me, pulling me into his strong arms. "Goodnight J." I mumble sleepily. "Night April. I love you." He responds. My eyes snap shut before I can say anything back.