The Story Of Us

Chapter 14

Tasonna's POV

I pulled into the driveway of a freshly painted Cape Cod style house. I turned off the car and sat in it nervously.

Why am I here? I thought to myself as I cracked my knuckles and braced myself. Here goes nothing...

I unlocked the car door and climbed out.

I walked up to the front door and rang the bell twice. I waited and I heard the lock turn and the door opened revealing Dee wearing sweats and a tshirt. Jeez, why is he always doing this to me?

"Hey Sonna, come in," he said, and I walked in hesitantly looking around.

The house was very clean and looked barely lived in, I mean obviously Dee and his family lived here but it was like nothing was ever touched in the house.

"Let me show you to my room," Dee said and I followed him upstairs down the hallway to the last door on the right.

It was already opened and he walked in as I followed up behind him, curious.

"Welcome to casa del Dee, sit anywhere you like," he said smiling as he threw himself on his bed and laid down.

His room was very clean and neat and the only other place I could sit was in his lounge chair, so I chose that.

For a moment it was quiet and I could feel Dee looking at me. I smiled and looked up.

"What?" I asked.

"Wanna come over here? You seem lonely."

"I'm fine Dee, thanks for the offer though..."

He sat up and this time his face was serious.

"Sonna, I know that you might feel kind of uncomfortable right now but it's ok."

I nodded and got up and sat next to him.

"Can I ask you a question? Like you don't have to answer it if it's too personal...." I began.

"Nahh it's fine. Ask away" he said and I sighed.

"So.. How was everything after you left 8th grade year? Like..." I asked.

"Honestly, not the best years for me. I know I'm going to get upset saying this but I think it's better if I got this off my chest...." He sighed.

"Ninth grade year I witnessed my step dad sexually assault my mother. I always tried helping her but he winded up hitting me and abusing me too. By tenth grade my mother finally decided to leave him and we moved to Florida until my 11th grade year, by then my mom was getting really sick and she couldn't afford to take care of me anymore so over the summer, my real dad and his fiancé came and picked me up and here I am now," he said in a sad voice.

I held onto him tightly. "I didn't know, Dee. I'm so so so sorry that happened to you and your mom, but at least your safe now. But where's your mom at?"

He looked up at the ceiling and a single tear fell down his cheek followed by more. I grabbed him and he buried his head into my shoulder and he cried like he had kept all this pain in for years.

"It's ok, it's ok." I said softly and I held onto him tightly.

After 10 minutes or so, Dee lifted up his head and wiped his eyes. I took his hands away from his face and used my thumb to wipe his cheeks.

"I don't like seeing you mad or sad Dee, I love you too much for that..." I said as I looked at him.

He looked up at me. "Please just promise me that if anything ever happens to you, that you'll tell me rather than dealing with it on your own?"