Crazy House

Chapter 11:I know who you are

Chapter 11

“Hey, can I come in?” LIz asks sticking her head into my room.

I try to hide my tears from her before nodding my consent for her to enter. She comes in closing the door behind her, and sits down on my bed. There’s silence for a second as she fiddles with her fingers and I wipe all my tears.

“Look, we weren’t trying to be mean, or rude, and I know it seemed a bit blown out of proportion.” She says and I know she’s referring to the church thing.

It didn’t seem blown out of proportion, it was blown out of proportion.

“This is the south, and we were raised to take church seriously. Its not as strict now, with the newer generation, like your generation and younger. Roman’s dad was a preacher, we use to all sit together on the front pew.” She quiets for a second, in thought.

“The point is we have a lot of southern ways that we take serious, and we don’t mean to come off as assholes but sometimes we do, so sorry.” She says placing a hand on my shoulder in comfort with a small smile on her face. “We’re not really use to people who don’t do things like us.”

“Its okay,” I tell her, “I just, I wasn’t raised like that, I can probably count on one hand the amount of times I’ve been to church.” I tell her running a hand through my hair, “Plus, I have so much on my mind right now, and its making me emotional, so I’m sorry too, for being a bitch.” I tell her and she nods her head.

She stands up and pats my shoulder, “I’ll make it up to you, we can go out to eat tomorrow, my treat.” She tells me, and I nod and she leaves the room.

Five minutes later there’s a knock on my door, and I call for the person to come in. I wonder who it is now.

Roman steps into the room cautiously and I sit up on the bed straighter. He closes the door behind him and leans against it. I can tell he’s purposely avoiding sitting on my bed, but I don’t say anything.

“Liz told me you were crying.” He finally says breaking the silence.

I shrug my shoulders at him, “Well, I’m not anymore.”

He doesn’t say anything for a second he just studies me. Finally, he sits on the bed and it sinks with his weight.

“You said your step dad beats you.” He says keeping his voice low. My heart picks up as his words, “Tell me is that bothering you?” He asks me turning to look me in the eyes. His gaze is strong, its compelling, it makes me want to tell him everything about myself, the good and the bad.

“Yes.” I tell him not breaking eye contact.

He swings his long legs onto my bed until we’re sitting opposite of each other with our legs touching. “Tell me about it.”

Tell him about it?

He wants to know about the abuse I’ve suffered through?

I’ve never told anyone about it.

“I.. I can’t.” I tell him shaking my head and breaking eye contact.

“Ariel.” He says my name so seriously that I look up at him and see he’s looking at me with concern on his face. “You can tell me.”

I take a deep breath as I debate on telling Roman. When I take one look into those beautiful eyes though, all doubt evaporates and I begin to talk.

“I.. I’ve never met my father, him and my mom split before I was born.” I tell him, “When I was three mom married Rick. When I was four Rick started to drink a lot, at least I think that’s when it started, I’m not too sure.” I tell him running my hands over my arms.

I take another breath, “One day, when I was five.. when I was five..”

“Ariel, calm down, and tell me what happened.” Roman says placing his hand on top of mine to stop it from moving.

I try to ignore the tingles his touch gives me and begin to tell the story again. “Rick was watching me while mom was at work. I, I wanted him to play with me, I don’t have siblings, so I usually had to play with mom ot Rick. I asked him to play with me a couple of times and he kept saying no, I thought he would eventually give in as usual, but instead he pushed me to the ground and told me to ‘shut the hell up’. I was crying and upset, but he told me if I told my mom he would do worse.” By this point I’m in tears again and thinking about the last time I was at home.

“Shh.” Roman says rubbing my back and whispering in my ear, “It’s okay, he can’t hurt you anymore. It’s in the past.”

“He did it so many times, I’ve had so many scars and bruises. She still didn’t know, she never caught on when I tried to avoid photoshoots wi-” I cut my sentence off as I realize the mistake I just made.

Roman pulls back from me slightly and gives me a look. “Continue.” He says and there’s a look in his eyes that I can’t place.

I take a breath, “I tried to avoid photoshoots with little clothings, swimsuit shoots, stuff like that.” I tell him looking him in the eyes, still not telling him what I am.

“Ariel.” He says slowly with a calmness to his voice. “I know.”

My heart picks up, there’s no way he knows what I think he knows.

“Ariel Hopkins, I know who you are.”

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Q/N

Hey y’all updating here. DOn’t have time for a big Q/N so one question and I’m off.

WHO IS ARIEL?