Ribs

Ribs: Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"If you want to get out alive, hold on for your life." - "Get Out Alive" by Three Days Grace

On Monday, dad wakes me up early, the smell of liquior clinging to his breath. Worry doesn't reach me fast enough because I'm so tired. But it doesn't seem to matter to dad, because he slaps me across the cheek.

My cheek stings as I stare in shock. How could I ever believe for a minute that he'd changed while I was gone with Corey?

"Get up, stupid girl." He spits. My eyes barely shift and I can see it's only three a.m.

"Daddy," I whisper in panic, my eyes probably looking like a deer in headlights. "Daddy, not now. Please, no." But he grabs my by the arm and makes me stand.

"What did I tell you?" He slurs. "Don't you remember what I told you?" His eyes are glazed.

He thinks I'm mom. "Y-yes." I stutter. Another hard slap lands right across my cheek. It burns, and my eyes tear up, but I force myself not to cry.

"You fucking liar!" Dad says angrily. He grabs my face close to his. "I told you to never leave me." He pulls me in, gives me a slobbery kiss on the cheek, and then leaves me in my room sobbing.

When I'm drained out of tears, I sit in my bed, rocking back and forth. Slowly, my eyes graze over my room, seeing a new package of razors on my nightstand. Hesitantly, I reach over and open the package, pulling out a green razor.

I stare at it for awhile, wondering if I actually have the guts to do it. I've never been that good with pain, but maybe it's what I need. But I see Corey's face in my mind, the wave of his hair, the shadows in his eyes. The way he smiles, the way he holds me.

Eventually, I end up putting the razor down. At least I'll have Corey tomorrow.

Corey isn't at school the next day. Which is hell, because I keep getting the strangest looks from people.

My stomach knots up as Seth looks at me like I'm something to eat. He smiles at me all through social studies, walks with me down the halls, keeping pace even when I try to speed away. I've finally had it when he tries to hold onto my waist.

I slap his hand. "Would you leave me alone?" I scream, not even caring that I'm attracting attention. His smile broadens. It's only then I notice his jaw is a deep purple and he has a black eye.

"It sure didn't seem like you wanted to be left alone at the party." My face heats up as Seth walks away. I think I've just made an enemy.

Corey isn't at school the next day, either. Or the next. I start to worry what's wrong with him.

- Italic - His fingers trace across my cheeks. I like his name. I've never met anyone with the name Corey.

His breath is like fire on my throat. He's beautiful. I like him. I can't believe I'm at a hotel with him this very moment. I'm not the kind of girl that sleeps with guys on first dates. And the few words we exchanged when we were swinging don't exactly count.

"Dawn," Corey whispers in my ear. I play with the barbel in his lip, the cold metal slashing the heat away from my mouth. We are so close. He just has to..

"I can't." I say suddenly, my voice breaking. I shake my head, wondering what I was thinking. I want to, but I can't. I won't end up a pregnant teenager. But...he has protection. I would be fine. "I can't." I say again, forcing myself to unattach myself from his body. I miss the traction. He stares at me for awhile, just looking into my eyes. I wonder if he likes my eyes. I like his, the color if emeralds. They're really pretty. And his cheekbones jut out at just the right places.

"Okay." He says, finally. I let out a breath of air. The nervous tension breaks. He nods to me once, and then gets up off the squeaky hotel bed.

Not here. Not in an old crappy hotel room. - Italic end -

"Dawn!" A voice calls to me. I trip over my own feet trying to speed up so Riley won't catch up to me. She does, of course. She smiles at me, breathing heavily after practically running down the hall. "So what happened with Corey?"

"I don't know what you mean." I mumble, holding my books a little tighter to my chest. Riley starts to twirl at her straight blonde hair as she smiles again.

"Come on, everyone saw you leave with him." She pauses and grins some more. "And I heard Corey totally knocked Seth out for you, and that you guys went upstairs."

I stop walking. Corey knocked Seth out for me? That is so...sweet. Weird. Feelings mingle and a watery smile appears on my face. Happiness bubbles up inside me. He saved me. He always saves me.

Except that he's not at school, and it's starting to piss me off.

"So?" Riley urges, waiting for me to answer with wide eyes. I shrug, and then smile at her, flipping my curls over my shoulder and walking right past her. What is wrong with me? A sudden burst of confidence? Where did that come from?

Who cares?