Leaving This Behind

The Secret Is Out

Author's note: I uploaded early because I'll be on vacation Saturday-Thursday. When I write on paper, this chapter is about 6 pages, but Its only a page or two on here. It makes me angry.  Anyway, that isn't important. Here is chapter two. Enjoy! :)  ~Madison

P.S. Picture to the right is Kaidyn:)

Leighton's POV:

     I walked into my room and plopped onto my bed. I let out a shaky breath. I threw my  hair into a messy bun and changed out of my jeans and Saints hoodie into shorts and a tank top. I walked down stairs into the kitchen. I was home early so my mom and step dad were at work. I plopped down on the couch and rested my head in my hands

*Flashack* (8th grade)

It was 5 o'clock in the morning. The door slammed and I flinched. My mother worked nights at the time, and Austin, my brother, was at his friends house. My dad had left around nine to go God knows where. Probably a bar. He was back.

"LEIGHTON!" He roared.

I barreled down the stairs, afraid that he'd get angrier. He started drinking heavily when I was in fifth grade and when I was in seventh grade, he got violent.

"Where the hell is your mother?!"

"Work." I whispered.

"Where is your brother?"

"He told me he was going to Jake's..."

He nodded and stumbled into the kitchen. He froze. His face showed rage, and mine; confusion.

"Why are there dishes in the sink?!"

"I'm sorry. I had homework and I fell asleep..." I knew what happens next.

He spun around and hit my face with the back of his rough hand. I fell to the ground and hit my head on the table. I whimpered. He backed me into a corner. He grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled me to my feet. He brought his knee up to my stomach and I doubled over in pain.

"Do the damn dishes." He stumbled away.

*End Of Flashback*

     My fingers found the two inch scar on the base of my neck. He had grabbed me and a knife when my mom threatened to leave him. I was in ninth grade. The next night he was killed drinking and driving. My mother remarried last year. He's nice and I consider him my father.

       My brother walked through the door. I jumped up from the couch and squeeled.

"AUSTIN!"

"LEIGHTON!" He laughed.

We were really close, but he left for college two years ago. He's twenty now.

"Wait. Why aren't you are school?" He asked suspiciously.

"Uh.. Sick?"

"Sure you are."

I smiled sheepishly.

"My little sister's a bad ass!" He laughed and motioned for me to give him a high five.

I did. The smile left his face.

"What?" I asked. And then I remembered the scars and cuts on my wrist. He had never seen them. I always wore hoodies when he came home. He grabbed my left wrist. He looked at me with tears in his eyes.

"Why?" He whispered and traced them.

Tears escaped my eyes.

"I don't want to talk about it..."

"Leighton, please talk to me. Why do you do this?"

I took a deep breath and told him. I knew Austin well enough to know he was pissed. He jumped up from the couch and ran out of the door. I knew exactly where he was going. Kaidyn's. I guess  Kaidyn had already been outside because they were standing in the middle of his yard. Austin was in Kaidyn's face screaming.

"You sorry son of a bitch!" He brought his fist up and hit Kaidyn in his face. Kaidyn fell to the ground and Austin hit him over and over again. Kaidyn just took it, not fighting back.

"AUSTIN! STOP!" I screamed.

His head shot up and he looked at me. He looked back down at Kaidyn.

"You stay away from her. And of you lay a hand on her again, I WILL kill you." He got up and walked in my direction.

I saw Kaidyn's face and gasped. His face was covered in blood. Austin shook his right hand and grimaced.

"Come on. Lets go home and talk some more. "

I just nodded and followed him. We sat down on the coouch again.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because I knew you would do that." I pointed towards Kaidyn's house.

"You have to tell Mom, Lei. You can't keep going to that school."

"I have no other choice. We can't move. Mom and James have jobs here."

"I don't know but you have to tell them.

I nodded. "I will."

Just then, the front door opened and my parents walked in.

"Um. I need to talk to you two." I whispered.

They looked at each other and walked to the couch. After they sat down, I looked at Austin and let out a shaky breath. I held my wrist out to them. I heard my mom gasp. And then I told them everything starting in seventh grade. By the time I finished with my story, my mother had tears in her eyes.

"Wait here." I told them.

I ran upstairsto get my laptop. When I got downstairs, I pulled up my facebook page. There were wall post saying things along the lines of  "whore", "Slut", "Emo freak", "loser", "go kill yourself", and those were the nice ones. I handed the computer to my mom. She read some of it.

"Oh my God. Leighton, I am so sorry."

"It isn't your fault, Mom."

"And Kaidyn started all of this?"

"I took care of him!" Austin piped up.

My mom sent him a look that told him they'd talk about that later.

"Leighton, James and I cant move right now, but you won't stay at this school. Let me see what I can do." She stood up and so did James. They walked into the office and closed the  door. I looked at Austin.

"Thank you."