Happy

Chapter 4

Friday came quicker than I would have liked. The only good thing was that Zach had been so busy with football that he didn't really have time to bother me. I even got to go get a manicure with Ash the other day.

I stopped at my locker and was joined by a familiar face I hadn't spoken to since Monday. Chace.

"Ali Baker." he spoke "I haven't talked to you since my first day".

"Oh really" I said as nonchalantly as possible "I hadn't noticed."

He looked offended but quickly regained his composure.

"So" he started " I hear you star quarterback boyfriend is throwing a big party after the game tonight. Everyone says he throws killer parties."

"Yeah he always does after big games. Or small games. Or on Tuesdays." I say while closing my locker. "I'd much rather be at home".

"So why don't you? Stay home I mean." Chace asks

"He's my boyfriend. What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn't support him." I said while remembering what happened the last time I didn't show up to one of Zach's parties.

*Flashback*

"Where were you" Zach stated drunkenly.

I had decided to skip this one because it was on a Wednesday and I had a huge Chem test the next morning.

"I needed to study" I said timidly backing away from Zach back towards my front door as subtly as possible. I was hoping my dad or my brother would come home and save me but I knew that was unlikely. Cam was most likely drunk out of his mind with some girl and my dad rarely came home before the morning. It was usually just to shower and say a quick greeting to us before he was back out the door.

Here I was alone with a very drunk, very angry Zach. He took a menacing step towards me and I took two back.

"Zach, please, my dad is home. He'll wake up and chew out the both of us." I lied in hopes of avoiding the beating I knew was coming.

Zach chuckled darkly.

"Oh sweet Allison. We both know that your dad is probably off somewhere trying to forget what a failure his family was."

That hurt. I know the reason my dad was never home was because we reminded him so much of my mom. She failed us. She just up and left in the middle of the night. The only goodbye we got was a note saying she couldn't take being in a marriage with someone she didn't love anymore and that she wasn't coming back. Not so much as an "I love you" or "I'm sorry" for me and Cam.

"You know it's the truth." Zach taunted.

He then proceeded to chase me into the house and "punish" me for not showing up. For some reason he was convinced that I had gone out to meet a guy and that I was hell bent on trying to make him look stupid. I got the worst beating of my life and lost my virginity that night. Zach left as soon as he was finished. I cried my eyes out. He took the one thing I thought I had complete control over. I had wanted my first time to be special. He didn't care. Forcing me on my bedroom floor was good enough for him. That was the first time it happened, but it definitely wasn't the last.

*Flashback over*

"Will you be there?" I asked Chace.

"Maybe" he answered "East River is a pretty boring town. Maybe a party will spice things up." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Sure" I said trying to end the conversation "Well I've gotta go."

"Ali?" he questioned 

"Hm?"