Just Hang In There

Chapter 12

(Jacob)
It was around four forty-five in the afternoon when I decided to go home.
"Text me if anything happens. I promise I will be over as soon as possible," Mark said as he walked me outside. The few hours I was there, we talked a little more. Mark told me about his day at the school and how Sullivan, Nate, and Ian shouldn't be bothering me anymore. That was good news. We also talked about some other random things. Before we left, we exchanged phone numbers. Mark wanted to make sure that I could text him if anything happened.
"Thanks. I'll talk to you soon," I said causally. I put my hood up and started back to my house. I felt good to have a friend like Mark. It felt really good.
Walking up to my house, I saw my dad's car parked in the driveway. I felt a chill up my spine walking to the front door. Carefully, I opened the door. Sure enough, there he was on the couch. Luckily, he looked like he was asleep. I crept quietly down the hall and into my room.
I closed the door, locked it from the inside, and pulled out my phone. I scrolled through until I found Mark's contact. I stared at it debating if I should text him. I had nothing else to do so I sent him a message.

Hey Mark, it's Jacob.

As I waited for him to respond, I decided to read a little. I opened up this book called Last Nights Little Game. I started reading it a few days ago. I forgot how good it was.
I barley flipped to my page when my phone buzzed.

Hey Jacob! Everything good?

All good. Dad's out doing who know what

I lied just so Mark wouldn't have to worry. My dad wouldn't even know I'm home.

Awesome. Do you mind if I talk in a little bit then? Princess Bianca has thrown me in jail.

Thrown in jail?

Don't ask. Anyway, I have to go. The princess will be mad.

Lol. Ttyl ;-)

I laughed to myself. Every time I heard the word princess, I kept picturing Mark in the tiara and the wings.

I guess my dad woke up. His heavy footsteps filled the quiet air. I stopped reading and ever so slowly set my book on the bed. I held my breathe and didn't move a muscle. I didn't want to alert my dad that I was in my room. I was too scared.
My dad's footsteps kept echoing through the house. If I had to guess, he was probably pacing. That was something he always did before and after he starting his drinking addiction.
I soon heard him talking to himself. I couldn't make out what he was saying. It was all muffled through the walls. This continued for a little while until I heard a loud crash. My dad started cursing.
Now I was really starting to worry. Breaking things wasn't something he normally did. But I did wonder what it was. Probably just a glass cup, I thought. I wanted to know, but decided to stay in my room and continued to read.
Around nine at night, my mom finally came home. I heard the front door open and the sound of car keys hitting a table. Now that my mom was home, I felt safer. After all, she was the one who saved me.
I dragged myself out of bed and carefully made my way out with my jacket zipped up as high as it goes. The house was oddly quiet. The only sounds were whispers coming from the living room couch. Creeping out, I saw my mom sitting on the couch with my dad. They were having a peaceful conversation. Then it started to get heated and they started yelling. I backed up, but my dad saw me.
"You," he snarled.
"George, stop. He has nothing to do with this," said my mother.
"You don't know what he has been doing," snapped my father, "he is gone all day and shows up late at night!" That was true. My mom was silent. "And now, he is going to get us all in serious trouble!" I had no idea what was going on.
"What do you mean?" I asked
"You already know you dirty little-"
"Stop it!" My mom yelled. My dad ignored her and got up. He stomped angrily in my direction. I put my hand up to block any throws but I was too late. His meaty hand slapped me hard across he cheek and nose. His wedding ring caught the side of my face. I stumbled back dizzily clutching my cheek. I felt warm blood trickle down.
"I said stop," my mother said angrily. She marched over to us. My dad ignored her again. He was about to hit me once more, but my mom punched him smack on the night switch. He crumbled to the floor. My mother stood behind his body with a balled fist. I wave a nausea crashed over me. I leaned against the wall for support.
"Jacob, I'm so sorry," my mother said crying, "One day, we will move back to Germany, just the two of us. We will forget everything here and start a new and happy life."

(Mark)
"Can I get out?" I complained. Bianca had "thrown me in jail." That basically means she made me crawl under her bed and stuffed pillows on the entrance. She could tell if I moved them to escape and would yell at me. She was one tough princess.
"No," she said in a high pitched voice, "Not until you serve your time."
"Fine," I mumbled. I laid under her bed feeling claustrophobic.
To pass time, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and decided to call Ian. I wanted to know how he altered the video. I dialed in his number and waited.
"Hello?" he said.
"Hey Ian."
"Hey Mark what's up?"
"I need to talk to you," I said.
"Okay, let me get to a better spot. Give me a sec." I heard him loud music and people talking in the background.
"Hey, you're not supposed to be on your phone!"exclaimed Bianca.
"This is important," I said.
"But you're in jail!"
"I'll leave right now or I can make this call," I threatened. She was quiet after that.
"Sorry about that," Ian said.
"Where are you?" I asked
"My younger brother's friend's birthday party. My parents couldn't take him so had to. It sucks," he said with a bored tone.
"That must suck," I said sympathetically.
"It does. So, what do you need to talk about?"
"I was just wondering how you altered the video on my phone." There was a long pause on the other side of the line. "Hello?"
"Yeah, sorry I'm here. Uh, what happened, you see is uh-"
"Just say it," I spat.
"Okay. Sullivan threatened me to help him break into the school to hack into your phone to change the video. There was nothing I could do to stop it. I don't want to get into details if you don't mind," he said. I was shocked.
"Wow," was all I could say. We didn't speak for a minute.
"Anyway," said Ian, "I have to go. Sorry about everything Mark. Let me know if I can do anything to help make it up."
"Alright. Talk to you later Ian."
"Bye Mark." Then the call ended. I dropped my phone onto my stomach and started at the metal frame of my sister's bed.

(Jacob)
I stared at my mother. Move back to Germany? No, I couldn't do that.
"No," I said sternly. My nose started to throb. I touched it and blood started to pour out. I pulled my jacket up to it to stop the bleeding. It was broken. "We can't move back."
My mother stared at me then ran into the kitchen. When she returned, she had some gauze and a box of tissues. She wrapped the gauze around my cut on my cheek and handed me lots tissues for my bleeding nose.
"We need to get you to the hospital," she said softly, "we will discuss this when you're better." I wanted to protest, but I couldn't find the words to speak. My mom helped me walk straight to the car.
"What about dad?" I asked. I spit blood on the driveway.
"He will be fine. He probably won't remember what happened when he wakes up," my mom said. She opened the car door and helped me inside. Then she floored it to the hospital.
"Hang in there Jacob, I promise you we'll be okay. Just hang in there a little longer."