No Way (#Wattys2015)

Chapter 3

Ella

My fists pound against the punching bag and with every punch, a new memory and hurt submerges.

One punch.

My mom slapping me.

A jab.

The kids making fun of me because of my bruise.

A cross then a jab. Two memories.

My dad not coming home for a week.

A glass breaking as it hits me.

Two-one combo.

Falling and hitting my head on the counter and landing on the glass.

The flashing lights and sirens.

Justice holding my hand in the ambulance.

The cold, harsh, white hospital.

My dad coming home.

The memories all come in flashes and each one causes hurt and fuels my anger even more. I punch the bag harder and harder, throwing in kicks for the hell of it. I can barely hear Coach as he yells over to me that I'm done for the day. I land on my knees, practically dry heaving. "You need to stop pushing yourself, January." Coach says to me as he hands me water.

"I know. It's just too tempting to get all the anger out." I gasp, guzzling down the water.

"Ella, there's so much anger in you, I don't think you're ever going to be able to get all of it out. Now get out of here and do something fun." Coach says, shoving my head.

"What! This is fun!" I call after him, grinning. I roll my shoulders as I stand and unwrap my hands. I throw them into my bag and head for the locker room. I drop my bag near my locker and pull my hair out of its ponytail. I jump into the showers and wash off quickly then throw on some clothes. Andrew is waiting for me outside as I walk out. I slide into his passenger seat and look at him. "Why'd you come? I can walk or take the bus, you know."

"Justice wanted me to. She said to take you to mine or Ivy's house." Andrew replies as he pulls out of the parking lot. My blood freezes ice cold as I realize why Justice is having him pick me up.

"No!" I shout. "You have to take me to my house, Andrew! Understand?" I giving him the most threatening glare I can conjure up. He looks over at me then looks away instantly. He gives me a small bop of the head telling me he will take me to my house. I relax some, though I keep my fists curled up.

As soon as we get to my house, I jump out of the car and tell Andrew to wait out here. I run inside and hear screaming drifting down the hall from Justice's room. The anger and hurt that I felt while boxing boil in my blood again as I storm into my sister's room. My mom is hovering over my defenseless looking sister. 

"Hey, mom, you got the wrong sister!" I hiss through my gritted teeth.

My abusive, druggy mother whirls around, her bloodshot blue eyes registering surprise. I don't give her time to think as I start throwing punches. I never hit her too much. I just do it enough that she won't follow me or Justice. It usually only takes two punches: one to the nose and one to the stomach. Today is no different. She falls to the ground and I run to Justice.

"Ella, why are you here? I told Andrew to take you away." Justice whispers. She's clutching her side and it makes me wonder if she has a cracked rib. I shake my head telling her I'll explain later. I slip one of her arms around my shoulders and pull her up. We leave the house with no problem. Andrew is still waiting as I told him to. I usher Justice into the backseat then climb into the passenger seat. "Andrew, you suck."