In The Falling Sun

Chapter 4

"Oh no, you are not wearing that to go to the club." Beth looked at my hoodie and jeans. "Go change now please. This is my first time going, I need us to look good."

I squinted at her, "fight me." She shook her head and pointed to her closet. I sighed, knowing I had to find something revealing wasn't the problem. It's what the clothes would be revealing that scared me.

"I just have to tell you one thing. I fell in the shower the other day, have some pretty bad bruising on my back. " I spoke from the closet. She was silent. Like what I said had no effect on her.

"Well I won't know how bad they are until you show me." Her voice sounded concerned. I stepped out, showing her my bruised abdomen, turning around to show my bruised back as well. I felt defeated.

"If it'll make you feel more comfortable, I have a nice dress that doesn't show anything but arms, legs, and a little bit of cleavage." She turned me around giving me a reassuring smile. I smiled back and nodded, she ran into the closet, bringing back a little black dress.

"Thank you."

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"We are on our way." I text Jack letting him know we were leaving. I climbed into the passanger seat. Feeling my phone vibrate. Hoping it was Jack, just to be disappointed.

"Hey dad."

"Don't come home tonight." Yeah that's all he said before he hung up. I couldn't let Beth know he hung up on me.

"Oh I'm just hanging out with a friend, I'll be home in a couple hours."

I put my phone back on my lap. Looking out of the window. Where am I going to go tonight? What am I going to do?

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"You look good." Jack yelled over the music. Admiring and appreciating how I looked tonight, in this moment. I couldn't truly enjoy myself, I was stuck on where I was going to go. I couldn't stay with Beth, she'd question why I couldn't go home. That's an answer I couldn't give her, because I don't even know why I can't go home.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He obviously took notice of the worry I had written all over my face. Snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Can we go outside? I need a smoke." I  stood on my toes to speak into his ear. He nodded, grabbed my hand and led me out of the club. "I can't go home tonight." I looked him in the eyes before looking down at the ground.

"Okay, we are going to go inside. We are going to drink and dance. Act like everything is fine. Beth is going to drop you off at home, and once she leaves I'll be there to take you back to my place. My parents are out of town for the weekend." He grabbed my free and giving it a light kiss. "When we get back to my house we'll figure something out."

"Or....I could just go home with you once we leave here. And Beth and Johnson can go together, they seem to really be hitting it off." I started to laugh when I remembered how provocative they were dancing on each other just moments ago.

"You have a point." Jack joined in on my laughter.

"You know what I have to ask. Whats the deal with you and Brittany?" I inhaled a puff of smoke.

He shook his head, "Sophomore year, we dated, I saw how truly ugly she was and broke up with her. She stills tries to get in my pants though. It's sad."

"Just a little." I threw my cigarette down and stepped on it, turning to walk back into the club. I could feel the jealousy sneaking its way up my throat. I had to push it down, and what better way to do that than to get some drinks.