"You really don't have to do this" Cleo sighed.
"Oh, but I do" I said in an exaggerated bravado, covering up the fear I felt and trying to lighten the mood.
"You're not fooling anyone. You're scared and I want you to turn back now, I can handle this!"
"No" I spun round suddenly and I saw her shrink down a bit "You will not do this alone! I will protect you against anything!" For some reason I felt really riled up and felt an incredible fierceness I'd never felt before.
Cleo stopped talking and kept in step with me. Which seemed to take a bit out of her as I seemed to be walking quite quickly.
At this I decided to slow a little. I didn't want to tire either of us out. I mean, who knew what would be waiting for us?
In no time we were there, though whether or not that was a good thing or not would never be known. What would happen if we arrived a few minutes later?
Cleo took out her keys. I noticed her hands were shaking but she managed to open the door nonetheless.
"I expected you back ages ago" a voice boomed through the house. We both gasped and Cleo started shaking even more.
I placed myself between the momentarily empty corridor and my best friend. I felt sick and I could feel sweat trickling down my back but I would not watch my best friend be beaten. And I would not let him get away with this.
Not again.
He stumbled down the hall and stood in front of us, well me. He looked me in the eye and snarled. Yes, snarled. "Get out the way. She was meant to be home an hour ago!"
I gulped and said, "Well she's home now so it's all good?" My pathetic attempt at a reconciliation came out as a whisper and I saw him get angrier at my words. I also heard Cleo take a step back and make a slight whimpering sound in the back of her throat.
"It is most certainly not 'all good'!" he shouted, bits of spit flying in all directions. He then grabbed my hair and yanked me down to the floor, "Don't you ever speak to me like that again!" he then spun to face Cleo, "And you! I have given you love and a home and this is how you repay me!" he then struck her round the face so hard she fell to the floor.
"Please, Daddy. Don't do this!" Cleo begged in a quiet voice on the floor. He roared and kicked her in the stomach.
That's when I lost it.
"Love? Love? Is that what you call it?" he spun to face me, anger evident on his face, "The man in the coffee shop gives her more love than you do! It's abuse! You are the most wretched man I have ever met and will ever meet"
Then I broke his nose.
It was one swift, and surprisingly painful punch. He held him nose for a while, blood streaming from under his hands.
He then suddenly let go of his nose a looked me square in the eye He didn't say anything and for a second I thought I'd got to him but then he punched me in the stomach and winded me.
I fell to the floor unable to breath and fighting for even the smallest sliver of oxygen. But then Cleo did something I never expected. She stood up and threw him against the wall. "You are wretched and I'm glad mum isn't alive to see you because you are horrible. She would never be able to love you!" she hissed with tears in her eyes, "I'm going. You will die alone, drunk in a hole by. Your. Self." she spun and ran up the stairs to grab the rest of her things, leaving me alone. With him.
He looked after her for a few seconds then made a guttural noise and spun on me.
"I blame you!" he screamed in my face and pinned me to the wall pinching and punching me. Just enough to cause me small bursts of pain and anger. Then I hit him again in the nose. He howled in pain and then I dragged him to the living room and jammed the door shut. He banged on the door and I felt it give a bit.
"Hurry" I screamed up the stairs. A moment later Cleo ran down and we legged it out the door and we ran.
Everything hurt but we ran nonetheless. We ran until we were sure we were safe and then I collapsed.
