The Player's Priority

*one*

*CORA*

I walked into the small home, greeted with nothing but silence. The dirty home smelt of smoke and beer, and I almost gagged. I could see my dead beet father passed out on the couch, beer bottles surrounding him. I rolled my eyes, and headed into the basement.

My room.

I got down and let out a breath as I breathed in the fresh, clean air. The crisp white walls were freshly painted and I had pictures of my childhood scattered around. My small bed was neatly made and a book shelf stocked with several books was beside it. I fell onto my bed, thinking back to today.

Jacob Wiley spoke to me. He spoke to me and smiled at me. I made him laugh. I stayed at his house for hours.

And his house. It's was amazing. No wonder I didn't want to leave. That, and the fact that I sat beside him for the whole time.

And Phoenix is the best! I only spoke to her for a short amount of time, but she was amazing. Everyone always thought that she would be bratty and spoiled, but she is nothing like that.

"Cora! Are you down there!" I could here my sister shout. I quickly got up, taking the steps two at a time.

She was supposed to be at a friends.

"Hey Mel. What are you doing?" I whispered, checking the living room.

  "Lauren couldn't play today." My ten year old sister frowned.  "Why is dad sleeping on the couch?"

  "He's just really tired." I told her, taking her down to my room. I pulled out the air mattress, blowing it up. "You stay down here unless I give you permission to leave. Understood?" I told her sternly. She nodded, sitting on her bed.

  "Cora!" My father yelled. I winced, fearful.

  "Yes?" I quietly asked once upstairs. He glared  at me, a beer bottle in his hand.

  "Where were you?" He shouted.

  "At school. I had a project." I whimpered.

  "Bull! You were at a boys getting fucked!" He yelled kneeing me in the stomach. I clutched me stomach, falling to the floor. He kicked my in the sides several more times, tears threatening to spill. He grabbed my shirt, yanking me up. "You little slut!!" He yelled before punching me under my eye. He threw me back to the floor, before kicking me once more. He stumbled away, as I slowly crawled back to my room.

  "Cora?" Melanie whispered. I shook my head, tears spilling onto my cheeks.

  "It's okay. That's why I don't like you leaving." I told her, showing her my stomach. It was littered with old bruises that were healing and fresh bruises were already forming. She gently ran her fingers under my eye, and I winced.

  "Why does he hurt you?" She asked.

  "He's hurting, so he hurts me." I whispered. I knew he thought I was the reason for mom. He didn't admit it until he began drinking and abusing me.
•
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I assess my outfit before grabbing my backpack and carefully slide it on.

I had chosen a large oversized hoodie that my mom used to wear, and some leggings. I put on my converse and a butt load of makeup to cover the large bruise on my face. I decided to do pull my hair into a high ponytail, and left the house. Melanie was already on the bus to school and I took my little beat up car to school.