Blake and Aimee

Chapter 44: Blake

I hop out of the car and kiss Aimee on the cheek. She looks flustered, her cheeks a bright red. It makes me smile. I walk in the door and my good mood fades.

"Why are you late? What were you doing?" God, I swear he is bipolar or something.

"Dad, I told you I'd be back late the dance went for-" Dad turns around with a narky grin.

"Oh yes son but you weren't at the dance, were you?" I look at Ma, but she seemed as shocked as I do.

"What the hell are you on dad? You been drinking again?" He steps towards me.

"You left the dance two hours ago. I had contacts with someone there and he texted me saying you left at 7.30 with some blond girl. Care to explain that to me?" Ok he's lost it. Someone take this man to the nuthouse for Christ's sake.

"Oh, now you are fucking spying on me? Who do you think you are? You have no business of my private life, you creep!" I turn to walk away but he grabs my shirt.

"I AM NOT DONE WITH YOU!" He pulls me back and walks around to face me. "What were you doing for two hours after the dance huh?" Ma steps in.

"Michael that is enough! Leave our son alone!" But he pushes her aside.

"What did you do aye son? Were you kissing her? Doing dirty things in the back of her car or something?" He is trying to taunt me, I force myself not to make eye contact.

"What do you want me to say to you?" Dad coughs, his breath reeks of rum and beer. "That I slept with her is that it? Will that somehow prove some sort of sick point to you?" I feel my head spinning. Dad just stands there sniggering. "Yes Dad, I did have sex with her. There I said it! NOW FUCK OFF!" He lunges at me.

"YOU BASTARD!" He throws me against the wall and puts his face right up against mine, so I can see every bead of sweat across his greasy forehead.

"What are you going to do Dad? Huh? Disown me because your little boy isn't a virgin anymore? I love her Dad, and nothing you do or say will change that, I've said it once and I'll say it again and again." He drops me.

"Hear that Aileen, I think the cancer has spread to his petty brain!" That's it. Enough. I swing my fist into his chin, he staggers back drunk.

"You little shit." He shoves me to the ground and kicks me in the ribs. I can't breathe, agonising pain crushes my chest. He swings his fist at my head. I wait for him to swing again when I see Ma pick up a bottle of rum and smack him over the head with it. He's out cold. Like the bully at school, I guess some bullies never grow up. Ma rushes over to me, she's crying everywhere.

"Ma. Ma." I can barely speak, tears spill out of my eyes.

"I know darling, I'm so sorry your father is-"

"Can't. Breathe." I grasp at my chest and start coughing. The world around me spins, I feel whole body tremble as the pressure in my chest becomes unbearable. My own screams are deafening. "MA. HELP!" I pound the floor with my fist in a panic. Then slowly I feel my whole body collapsing, everything looks fuzzy and unfocused. Then black.