The Boy Who Cared For My Bruises And Scars

part 14b

~

I woke up to a gentle humming of the television in the living room. I could hear the newscaster rambling on about many things, I at the time, didn't care about. I looked at the clock. It was ten at night. I sighed and turned over under the sheets. The crickets outside were churping and the rest of the world was dozing off to sleep. 

When I walked out to the living room, everything was spotless. It had taken Dana less than 24 hours to turn a dump to what looked like a 5-star hotel. It now felt more like home. My scraggly hair and lumpy pajamas didn't exactly fit in this room, but I felt as if I belonged. 

"Good morning," Dana came in shining. She had showered and done her hair and put on make-up and looked beautiful. As always. We embraced for a long time before she walked off to make me some food. I slumped on the couch, without a sound, and watched the News. Just when my day couldn't get any worse, he came up on the screen. A mug shot of my dad was displayed in my face. The tears came. 

"Just when I thought I didn't have to see him anymore," I muttered under my breath. I looked for the remote but couldn't find it. 

"This man was found passed out in an alley this morning, and was arrested for illegal use and selling of several drugs..." My hands scrambled accross the couch and to the coffee table. My tears made it impossible for me to see anything clear. The reporter continued.

"He will be in court as soon as they identify his drug history... His wife was recently killed..."

Screaming, I dropped to the floor in agony. Dana ran over and searched for the remote. She reached her hand under the couch and found the damned electronic device that could've silenced it all. With a click, the television was black. She soon after wrapped her arms around me and cried with me. 

After what seemed like three minutes, that ended up being 30 minutes, she looked at my wet, sad eyes. 

"I should've listened to you when you told me to get a T.V. with a button on it. I just had to be 'in' and 'hip' and the get the nicer television," she succeeded at making me laugh through my tears. 

~

On Monday, I had insisted to Dana that I go to school. It was my senior year and I had to finish it off strong. My grades had been dropping over the past few weeks. So I decided to take more time to focus on that over everything else going on. 

Teddy drove me to school and was with me every second he could be with me. Rachel welcomed me right as I walked in the door with a warm embrace. People in every class were particularly nice, and it was too weird for me. I didn't want people's sympathy. But I could tell most of them really meant  it. My teachers were understanding with my work and tutuored me as much needed. At lunch, I sat with my friends from my AP Language class and they all brought out a smile on my face. The day went better than I expected. 

Before last lunch, I walked in to the bathroom to find a girl sobbing. I slowly, and hesitantly, pushed the slightly open stall door open with a loud CRRREEEEEK. There was a girl, who looked to be about a sophmore, with her hands barried in her face. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know if she even knew I was there. So, with little steps, I leaned forward and gave her a hug. She welcomed me and cried right into my arms. After a few minutes, she stopped. Looked up at me, and wiped the mascara off from her eyes.

"Thank you." She managed to get out. I nodded to show her I understood pain. We didn't know what to do then. We were standing in a stall. We didn't even know each other.

"My name is Sky," I said holding out my hand. She took it happily and introduced herself as well.

"Valerie." 

"Are you going to be okay?" I looked deep in her eyes, and saw the answer. No.

"It's just been a rough day. I found out this weekend that my parents are getting a divorce. I just can't believe it. And I have to pick which parent I want to live with. They're making it worse by acting like it's a competition. I love them both, so how do I pick? What do I do?" I thought it over, long and hard. 

"Tell them."

"Tell them what?!"

"What you just said." She looked to the ground, then realized it was a good choice. 

"Thank you, Sky." 

We walked out of the bathroom with smiles on our faces for we had both made a friend that day. A friend that understood we both had recieved pain from our parents. My table of friends looked up at me when I walked in. I saw Valerie didn't have anywhere to go, so I told her to sit by me. She was highly accepted by my friends and I saw her face glow. 

Yes. The day was better than I had expected.

When the day was over, I walked out in the parking lot to find Teddy waiting for me by his car. I ran to him when he saw me. 

"Hey, how was your-" I stopped him when I jumped up onto him and kissed his entire face with hundreds of kisses. He kissed me back, smiling. But he was totally clueless. 

"So your day was good?" he asked, his hand slowly stroking my back. 

"Thank you." I said, biting my lip. He gave me a puzzled look.

"For what?" he asked.

I layed my lips on his one more time before I said, "Just get in the car."