Leave Mary Jane Alone

Chapter 15.

Just when this couldn't get any worse, the front door opened widely and Danny rushed inside. I began to sob even harder with embarrassment. Have you ever seen a kid get schooled in front of everyone and then begin to cry? Or have you ever seen a woman get broken up with in public? Those tears are a mixture of anger, utter embarrassment, and maybe a hint of regret for previous actions that caused the horrendous moment.

He barely got out a, "What the fu-" before my attacker rose like an animal. Her eyes were fury as she stood over me. I saw her fist ball up. I was happy that Danny Donovan interrupted that because I felt like I could have passed out and then who would keep her from harming herself?

Danny Donovan, being the man that he is, helped me. He pulled my mommy off of me with a struggle and put her in a figure four. Honestly I couldn't complain because she didn't look to be in any type of pain. I could have kissed him right then, but then again I couldn't really because that would have been awkward and my mom would have broken free. Danny's eyes were confused as he held in mom cautiously. As if he couldn't believe this was happening, but it was. This disaster was happening and there was nothing I could do about it. No matter how much I wished for time to be reversed; this was happening.

Suddenly my mom passed out again. The time said five thirty so she could have been waiting to strike or maybe she was switching into her other emotions. Danny righteously sat my mom on the couch instead of dropping her ass on the ground like he could have. I pulled Danny upstairs to my blank room. Sure, I was out of breath but I knew she'd be safe down there since I'd removed many harmful objects. Dejavu hit me hard as I began scribbling down the words, 'You can't tell her. Promise me that you won't tell her.'

Danny shook his head. His face said he had a hard time understanding this. Why would she not know that she was abusing me? Surely it seemed absurd for me to try to hide her angry attacks from herself, but I knew how this would go. And there was no changing this.

"Mary Jane this is serious. How could I not tell her? I mean- Okay! I won't. I won't, but please. Tell me what's going on?" He pleaded a little but I pretended not to notice. A big part of me was happy to see that he cared. The rest of me was aching to push him away. Too many people were becoming involved in something that wasn't their business and I hated it. People thought I wouldn't talk, but nobody knew that I physically couldn't. I wanted to keep it that way. But what if Danny told someone by mistake? Or Oliver. Or his sister. This was hell for me.

'If you tell her and she tries to kill herself. I'm going to go as well. Is that what you want? Because it almost happened once. I don't want this blood on your hands.' My eyes met his hazel ones with a pressure. An urgency for him to understand my situation.

"Alright Mary Jane. I said I wouldn't, and I'm no liar. Just tell me what is happening." His patience dwindled considerably and he pulled me down to sit beside him. His hands gripped my shoulders almost painfully. Even as I looked in his eyes I couldn't get myself together.

My hands scribbled wobbling words onto a spare sheet of paper in my notebook. I was tired of telling this story and reliving it. No one was meant to know about this and now I might as well had shouted this to the whole world. My head spun in a movement of destruction to my own self. This was all my fault. All of this. His eyes scanned quickly and I could hardly write a full sentence before he would be ready for the next one. His hand covered his grim, straight lips as he read on. Suddenly, before I went too far, I dropped the pencil I was writing with and didn't pick it up. After he read the last sentence the paper ripped to little pieces at my hands.

"How did you even manage? Mary Jane you are so strong. So strong." His voice was uneven and teetered between thick and high but the words came out. Having him tell me that felt great. It gave me a little push into rising. Danny smelled like roses and trees. Odd, yes it was, but I knew he smelled like roses and trees because he hugged me tightly. My face pushed almost painfully into his shoulder. And my arms wrapped around him as well I'm what I thought was a bone crushing hug because I wanted him yo know that I understood. He was there for me. So if he ever needed me, I would be there.

My mother came down from her craze shortly after and I went downstairs to clean. She knocked all of the food from the refrigerator. Also she took out the plastic plates and now they littered on the floor. Maybe she was trying to break them. That's just what she did, so I'm not surprised. Danny Donovan came downstairs shortly and began to help me with no words being said. When Danny Donovan left the whole house was clean and my mom appeared out of nowhere. She looked around the room quietly before coming over to me with a smile.

"That was probably the worst nap I've ever taken. Anyway, I'm late but what would you like to eat?" I shook my head. Then I texted her saying that I had a friend bringing me to the carnival. I'd eat there. As a matter of fact I didn't even get ready. So I hoped what I was wearing was fine. Mom didn't even notice that these weren't my clothes but I guess that didn't really matter.

"You didn't tell me you had a date." She stated in what could have been described as accusatory if I didn't know her. She was hurt. I shrugged apologetically because I hadn't thought she would want to know. She was more of my rude friend than my mother sometimes.

"Well you look cute. I can't believe my baby is going on her first date!" She clapped her hands while her eyes began to water. She ran to me and engulfed me in a hug with her skinny arms. My hands pat her back uselessly but I was embarrassed. I didn't even bother correcting her with the fact that this wasn't a date for me.

Jackson showed up at six fifteen and I fought to keep my mom from coming out. She huffed from the couch as I ran to the door before she could get there.  I snickered at her pouting behavior. Before he could even talk, we were at his car and away from my mother.

"Hi Mary Jane. Thank you for giving me a chance to go on a date with you." He said with doe eyes whereas I rolled my own and pushed lightly on his shoulder

'Let's start as friends on this date. By the way it's not a big deal. I'm happy to be on a friends date with you Jackson.' His face fell and maybe I should have felt bad but I didn't. I needed to learn to be up front with what's going on and this was a good as time to start as any. Did that mean I was bad because I didn't think I should've been in a romantic relationship with him? Leading him on would have been worse. This way, if I want to be with him then I can do so.

Suddenly his eyes smiled although it wasn't as happy as before, "That's okay Mary Jane. Soon enough I hope we can be more. Sure I laughed and smiled politely but I didn't appreciate him pushing me even it was undertones. Maybe I wasn't looking for a relationship. Still, I didn't let that bother me.

The carnival was breathtaking which made up for the awkward car ride. Since he knew I was wordless, he didn't try to make conversation. Not like Oliver or Danny would have. I chastised myself because I thought it was rude to think of other guys while on a date but my brain couldn't help it. When I glanced at Jack, he looked annoyed. Frustrated maybe? Whatever he felt was washed away as soon as we made contact. I let his swinging hand grab mine without too much thought. That brought a smile to his face.

My other hand worked at sending a text. Asking Jackson why he was so quiet. He could text me.

This date was starting oddly and I could only hope something happened to make it better. And it happened. Yep! Oliver waltzed in right behind us with the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen draped on him like a second skin. He was saying he would do dirty things to her. My night wouldn't be ruined because of the game he wanted to play. As long as I figured out how to play it better.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Guys! I'm sorry I've been off. My chapters are short. My sentences are dull. I apologize to anyone who's reading. School has started and I've landed a job. I DO have a plan for this story so please keep reading and voting and maybe even sharing.