Sneaker

Chapter 7

He stands next to me, his hand resting gently on the bruise. The stupid, ugly scar of my fathers abuse. Never have I hated him more.

"wha-what happened to you I you don't mind me asking?" Zayn asks.

"I'm sorry, I'd rather not talk about it," I respond. Not now. Not when everything is going great. Maybe I could use this as an excuse to talk to them later,

"I could tell you about ti late, it's kinda a long story," I explain.

They nod just as Paul tells them it's time to load up and go back to the hotel.

"Hey, well it was nice meeting you, lets chat again sometime," and he gives me his cell phone number on a slip of paper that he passes around to the rest of the boys to write theirs too. All their numbers! Wow. My mind instantly goes to Charlie. You see, Charlie lives by himself, he was my brother and my best friend, both of ours. It's hard to believe, but it's true. He's like my replacement brother now. I'm 17 and Charlies 19, his girlfriend is 22. I'm going to college this Autumn and I'll turn 18 in July. Maybe, just maybe, I could move in with Charlie when I turn 18, then I'd have all the freedom I want. My birthday is only a week away, and then I'll be an adult, freedom at last. I could stay in touch with theboys, go on trips with them, that kind of stuff. But they've probably already forgotten about me by now, I think as I wave and watch the bus drive away.