You Only Live Once, Better Think Twice

Chapter Four

"Why can't you do this simple thing right!? Your mother would be so disappointed! You never wanted her happy!"

"SHUT UP!" I choked through my tears. The pressure hit me. He slapped me hard, across the face. I fell onto the floor, scraping my arm on the kitchen counter. It didn't help my legs were already bruised and scratched too.

"YOU NEVER TELL ME WHAT TO DO! I AM YOUR FATHER!"

"YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER! YOU NEVER WILL BE!" I crawled backwards carefully, but he stepped on my foot. "If you tell anyone, there will be consequences far worse than this."

I whimpered and ran up to my room, locking the door behind me.

I shot up from the bed, sweating and breathing heavily. I looked at the hotel clock.

6:47

I looked to my right. Liam was looking back at me, sitting up with a look of fear on his face.

It was still dark, with slight light from under the door and from the streetlights outside. Enough to light up my tear brimmed eyes and Liam's face.

I buried my face in my knees, looking away from Liam.

"A-Ari?" He stuttered. "Go back to bed, Liam."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

I heard shuffling and after a while, slight snoring.

I sighed and laid back in my bed. I shoved the blankets off me, even though now I wasn't sweating. But I wasn't cold, so I decided no blankets.

I haven't had a dream like that for a while

I rubbed my right arm, where the scar is stuck on my skin. Like ever lasting superglue. I've had this scar plastered on my skin since I was 13. Not a fun year.

My mother died the year before, and Merrian got into the habit of drinking. The dream was from a night he got caught cheating on his girlfriend.

His girlfriend broke up with him, and he went to the bar to sulk. He came home to find me talking to his ex. Thing is, I had no idea.

It was around 10 pm, and me and Dana were talking. She had brought me my ukelele I had left at her house, along with some cookies.

We talked, and she seemed a little sad, but I didn't think too much of it. I ate some cookies while she talked. She rubbed my hair, smiling. I knew she wouldn't last long though. None of Merrian's girlfriend's did, so I didn't get attached.

When the door swung open, I was at no surprise to find the same drunken wobbly man known as my father in the doorframe.

Dana was though. "Merrian, are you....drunk?"

"Yeah," I said flatly, unamused. Merrian glared at me. "Wouldn't be the first," I mumbled.

"You shouldn't get drunk with a child around." First time I'd ever heard that. "Get out, slut," he slurred.

"Excuse me?" Here he goes again.

"GET OUT!" Dana, a little scared, left. Merrian, angry, threw the bottle in his hand at me. It was an easy dodge, and after I tried to go upstairs.

He grabbed my purple hood. "Did you finish your homework?"

"Yes."

"What about your chores?"

"Yes." I never had chores, but if I would have told him so, he would get mad.

"What about the floors!? They don't look done!"

"I-"

And then my dream. I didn't realize until now that I was crying.

I sighed and wiped my tears. It was a little over 7, now, so I got up and started getting ready.

I threw on a simple navy blue and white striped T-shirt and some black leggings. I also put on some bracelets. I did some light make up, and when I came out of the bathroom, I saw Liam tiredly sitting in bed.

"Hey Liam." I sat at the edge of my bed facing him. "Hey Ari." He smiled. Of course, I couldn't help but smile back.

"I'm going to get breakfast, wanna join?"

"Sure, let me just comb my hair."

I nodded, and he walked into the bathroom. I got on my phone, seeing more texts from Merrian.

The cops are looking.

I can't believe you. What is wrong with you!?

I'm burning your shit. Everything.

I sighed and put my phone down. Liam came out, his hair combed back. We left to get breakfast in the lobby.

I grabbed as much fruit and granola bars as I could. Liam did the same, and we ate our breakfast.

We walked back and put the fruit and granola in our bags. "Lunch is covered!" I smiled, "Yep."

Before leaving the hotel, we grabbed some coffee. Note: Liam doesn't like black coffee.

We were driving again, and at the 3 hour point, we pulled over in a grocery store parking lot to eat. It wasn't much, but enough.

It was nice. Liam and I talked. He read. Every once in a while he would drive. We were New Mexico by now. The hot, desert climate sucked, and we both hated it.

Liam fell asleep around 9, and I kept driving. I gave quick glances at him, peaceful, and quiet.

When he did wake up, it was 10. Kinda scared me too. There was complete silence. It was dark out, and there was nothing to be seen. No animals other than the once in a while roadkill.

I heard a tired scratchy voice from beside me. "You should stop."

I swear, if I hadn't been checking on him so often, I probably would have crashed, forgetting he was there.

"Stop?"

"Driving. It's getting late. You're obviously tired."

"I can go a bit longer."

"Ari, let's just stop at the nearest hotel. Or parking lot even! I don't mind sleeping in the car to save money."

I hesitated. He had a point, and I wasn't much to argue. Not at this hour anyway.

"Are you sure you want to slee in the car?" I asked, not wanting him to be uncomfortable. He nodded, "It's really not a deal."

I shugged. "Fine, but 30 more minutes."

"10!"

"20."

"15, final." I sighed and gave in. I drove for 15 more minutes before pulling into an empty lot. Of course, Liam was already asleep.

1038 words.
Thanks For Reading!
Edited by
Wren ❤️