Secret Torture (Student/Teacher) - COMPLETED

Chapter Twenty Seven: Broken Things

"Allison?"

My head whipped up. From across the dinner table, my mother, Walter, and little Ben were all staring at me. 

"Allison, did you even hear what I said?" my mom asked. 

I slowly shook my head. I guess I hadn't. 

"You're lost in your own little world today," Walter chuckled. 

"You've hardly eaten anything," my mom remarked. "Are you not hungry?"

Again, I shook my head. I hadn't had much of an appetite since yesterday evening. I had barely touched my food since sitting down at the table. At best, I had succeeded in rearranging the vegetables into neat little circles. 

"Do you feel sick? You look a little pale."

"I'm fine," I said. "I'm just tired."

I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear and looked away. 

"Allison, what's that on your face?" I heard Ben ask. 

I turned to him, seeing his wide eyes watching me with concern. I quickly brushed my hair back in front of my face. 

"Nothing, Ben," I snapped. 

I had tried my best to cover it up with makeup. I guess my best wasn't enough. Even through layer upon layer of foundation, the deep bruise on my left cheek was still blatantly obvious. 

"My goodness, Allison - what happened to your cheek?" my mom asked, leaning across the table towards me. 

"Nothing," I repeated. "Just a scratch. It's nothing."

"How did you get it? Did you fall flat on your face?"

I stared down at my plate, pushing the vegetables to and fro. "Just gym class," I muttered under my breath, willing them all to stop interrogating me.

"Hey, didn't I see you with Ryan yesterday?" Walter asked.

I nodded my head.

"He's a nice boy," my mom said. "What did he want?"

"Nothing," I said, head down, eyes shut.

Make them stop, I begged. I can't do this.

The sound of my fork scratching against the ceramic plate was the only sound to be heard. I knew they were looking at me. I just couldn't bear to look at them. 

"Allison, honey, what's wrong?" I heard my mother ask. 

"Nothing," I replied, nonchalant.

"You're acting weird."

Suddenly, I was standing up, slamming my fork down and glaring at her. 

"I'm fine," I hissed, storming out of the dining room, slamming the door behind me. I heard her call my name, but ignored her. I marched down the hallway, grabbed a jacket, threw open the front door and left. 

Tears burned in my eyes as I walked. I felt so angry. I wanted to scream and kick and collapse onto the pavement below me, but couldn't. I couldn't break down, I had to keep going. 

I wandered through the park, past the playground, through the trees, down by the river. Walking. Barely thinking. Trying to find some sort of distraction. 

I hadn't processed what had happened yesterday yet. My mind was a blur. All I could remember was that look in his eyes - the kind of anger I had forgotten existed inside him.I couldn't remember what the pain felt like. All I remembered was how it felt being held in his arms, in his warm embrace… how safe and secure I felt.