Diamond Eyes

Chapter 4

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Chapter 4 - Great News

Over the next couple of days, I tried to avoid Dan as much as I could by hanging out with Cas. She didn't come back the day after we talked on the porch, but she knocked on the door monday morning, when Sara was heading to the daycare on Treasure Island she worked at. She and Cas introduced themselves before Dan honked the horn for Sara to hurry up, because they carpool.

When Cas came over, I noticed she had a fresh scar on her cheek. I asked her if she fell or something, and she told me her dad had given it to her the night she stayed out with me on the porch.

She told me that the black eye was also caused by her dad, then she changed the subject, and we talked all afternoon about my previous foster families.

As that week went on, Cas would show up every morning for about two days, then be gone for one. I found that strange.

Miss Kimball Came Thursday night and I didn't tell her about Dan and Luke. I could deal with the threats and harassment as long as it meant I could stay with Cas. She is the best thing that has happened to me since everything went wrong.

Throughout that whole month Cas and I talked on my porch in the mornings after Dan and Sara left for work, and we took walks around the neighborhood in the evenings. It seemed like every time she showed up, there was a new scar, or bruise from her dad the night before. I was starting to get worried and asked the Powells about it one night.

"You know the girl that lives a couple houses down from here?" I said while we were sitting down to eat dinner.

"Oh! The Roberts girl you have been playing with recently right?" Sara said while setting food on the table.

"Yes." I said. "Do you know her dad?"

Sara glanced worriedly at Dan who sighed and set his magazine down.

"Jack Smith..." He started to say. "Is the realtor in this part of town. His wife left him a few years back for who knows what. If you are wanting to know what's up with the scars and bruises on the girl, we all know he beats her."

A look of shock and horror grew on my face.

"You know? Why don't you do anything about it!?" I said defiantly.

"Kid, some things are nobody's business... This is one of them. Best we stay out of it and carry on with our lives." He picked his magazine back up. "Besides, she's alive isn't she? Jack wouldn't kill her."

"You can't just sit here and let him do that to her! It's not right!" I stood up from the table and Dan glared at me.

"He just doesn't want his girlfriend to be hurt!" Luke spoke up from the side of the table, as he made kissy faces. Dan eyed him then returned his gaze at me.

"She's not my girlfriend!" I gritted my teeth and Sara came over and sat me back down while resting her hands on my shoulders.

"Luke! He's just worried for his friend, How would you feel if one of your friends was being harmed at home?" She asked.

"I'm the only one that doesn't get beat!" Luke laughed.

"We can change that." Dan threatened.

"Dan!" Sara joked.

I leaned back in my chair and Sara sat back down in hers.

"Well, it's a tragedy... But I know what will cheer everyone up!" She started excitedly. "Dan, Don't we have an announcement to make?"

Dan sighed and set his magazine down once more, then looked at Her.

"Yes, well..." She cleared her throat. "When school starts back up... so this fall... We are all going on a camping trip to Alaska!" She smiled and looked around waiting for us all to be as excited as she was.