Him and I

Chapter 5

Tyrene Pov

I woke up this morning not in the mood. I wave bye to Dad and go in the building. Xavier and Grace were sitting in there normal spot waiting for me. I slid down the wall and looked at Grace. "I don't want to be here." Xavier jumper in. "Me either. I was thinking maybe we could get some to eat at lunch. Go out the back doors walk to that place. We'll be back before they notice we're gone." Grace agreed. So I felt like I had to. "I'm down." Xavier smiles. "Bet. Meet y'all here at lunch."

Classes creeped by painfully slow. I had bitch teacher the period before lunch. That was even worse. She nagged and nagged all period. When the bell rung, I was on the first to leave. Xavier was already there. We just needed Grace. She came a little later. "Where were you?" She rolled her eyes. "Dealing with these damn teachers. They held my class. Bitches." We shrugged. We all been through it. As we walk out the door Grace speaks. "I don't mind walking, but we could maybe take my car." I totally forgot she drove. I looked at Xavier. "Yea I'm down." So that was that. We walked over to the sophomore parking lot. Sadly it was the furthest from the building. "I hope we don't get caught. My dad would kill me. And then take my keys." I agree with Grace. I'm actually sorta scared. I've never had a dad, but I know he does not play these games. Whatever I just hope we don't get caught.

We got in the car, Grace driving, me in the passenger seat, and Xavier in the back. The drive is super short and we're there in no time. We walk in, the line is way longer than anticipated, but that's okay. We still have 20 minutes. I honestly couldn't wait to eat. We ordered our food and just talked while we waited. My phone Dinged and I checked it. For spilt second I thought I was caught. I held my breath. It was only some Instagram. Breath released. But then I saw the time. We've been in here for 30 minutes. Lunch ended 10 minutes ago. Our name was then called to get our food. I ran to the counter, practically snatching the food out her hand. "Y'all we have got to go. Lunch ended 10 minutes ago." Grace looked terrified. I knew if her dad found out, she was don't for. We rushed back to school. I don't think I've ever been in the car with Grace driving this fast. When she stopped we through the food in our bags and ran our separate ways. I had electives right now. He's a pretty cool teache, so I think I'm okay. I slid in the room and took a seat. Mr. Snife waved at me and I waved back. I was clear. I did my assignment and ate. All was well until I heard my name on the intercom. "Will the following students come to the Deans office. Grace Luke, Xavier Jones, and Tyrene Johnson. Thank you." Damnit. I pack my shit and leave.

Grace and Xavier were already in there. I sat down and sulked. Then the dean walked in. "Anybody like to explain why you all left campus?" Neither of us responded. "Why did y'all think it was okay to leave today?" Still no one said anything. We have this thing where if we get in trouble together, we go down together. No regrets. No snitches. And no looking back. "That question wasn't optional." We were still quiet. "Okay well maybe you'd like to tell your parents why you left." All three of us stiffened. Usually I wouldn't care, but now my parent was literally upstairs, 5 minutes away. They got on the phone and started dialing. For the first time ever I considered folding. Not that it would change anything. The dean left. I looked at Grace. She was crying. Her dad was gonna kill her. Xavier looked nervously nonchalant. I was terrified.

We all sat in the room for about 20 minutes before the door came open. Xavier's big brother walked in. He 10 years Xavier's senior. He was also really cute. Then In came Grace's dad. Grace didn't have a mom. She never did. Last but not least in came Mr. McAdams or dad. Yep. We were as good as dead. Grace's dad spoke first.  "Grace what the devil is wrong with you. And you were speeding." He shook his head. "Grace I expect more from you. And just know you will not be driving for a month. And say bye to your phone. You lucky we in this school or we would be having a whole different conversation." I cringed. I knew what that meant. The same conversation me and dad will be having at home. Grace burst into tears. She still will not fold. Xavier brother was a little nicer. "Zay, I'm not finna play with you. You know what it is." Xavier pulled out his phone and put it in his brothers hand. I felt Dad look at me. I refused to make eye contact with him. I looked down. Honestly I'm scared. I see his feet appear in front of me. Shit. "Tyrene look at me." I kept looking at his feet. "Tyrene." I acted like I didn't hear him. He reached down and pulled my chin up to look at him. I've never been this afraid to be in trouble. I locked eyes with him and  a tear slipped. Damnit. "Where were y'all?" I put on a brave face I was not telling them anything. Mr. Luke started to laugh. "Good luck getting her to talk. These 3 are like, I don't know. Unborn siblings. They will not tell in each other to save there own life. You could literally beat them till they're blue in the face and they still won't tell. Trust I've whooped all 3 of them and neither one snitched. She won't say a word." I remembered that day. We all laid on his bed. He called all our parents and asked for permission. And they gave it to him. Mr. McAdams smiled as if he took it as a challenge. Now I was really scared. "Tyrene. We are gonna go to my office to have a conversation." He was not serious. He would not be whooping me at school. He reached for my hand. I snatched it away. He looked a little shocked and if we're being honest I was too. "Tyrene, come here." I shook my head. I was so embarrassed. He looked appalled. "Ty get your ass over here now. I'm not asking you again." I shook my head no. His face relaxed and I thought I had won. Until I heard him reach for his belt. I had nowhere to run. Xavier was looked dead at me. Grace was still crying. I needed one of them to save me. I screamed.  "Please don't take off your belt!" He looked unmoved by my pleas. He started to pull it through the loops. "Daddy please. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He paused for a moment. Literally only a second. Then he began to advance towards me. I began to search for a out that didn't exist. This was it. I was done for. He grabbed me by my upper arm. I tried to get away but it was no use. I pulled and tugged until...WHACK. He hit me with the belt. "I wasn't going to do this here." WHACK WHACK WHACK. "But you like trying me." WHACK WHACK. " I'm sick of this disrespectful, I don't give a damn attitude." WHACK WHACK WHACK WHACK WHACK. "You gone give a damn today. Am I clear." WHACK WHACK WHACK WHACK. I almost didn't hear him. WHACK. "Yes, yes, yes, yes sir. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I could barely get a word through my tears. WHACK WHACK WHACK. My feet gave out from beneath me. I sunk down to my knees. "You got 5 seconds to stand up. 5...4...3...2..." He was really counting. I stood up as quick as I could. The assault continued. WHACK WHACK WHACK WHACK. He pulled me up from my bent over position. He looked me right in my face. "Ty you will not disrespect me anymore. Do you understand?" I nodded my head as fast as I could. "Yes sir." I was still crying. WHACK WHACK. I screamed. That shit hurt. He let go of my arm and put his belt back on. "I will do it again. Don't try me little girl." I nodded. He buckled his belt back and sat down. Grace and Xavier looked totally shocked by what just happen. I walked over to him and sat on his lap. Nothing sexual, just needing the comfort. I turned away from my friends and cried into his shoulder. He rubbed my back. "Shhhh, you're okay. You're really just embarrassed. If theses are your friends they won't care." He was right. That still didn't stop me from balling my eyes out. I hated being like this. "Now, I'm going to ask you again. Where were y'all?" I still was not going to tell him. I remained quiet. "Ty don't make me repeat myself. Where were y'all?" I refused to fold. "We were at that place up the street. We went to get lunch. We figured we'd be back before lunch ended but the line was longer than expected. We thought we'd still make it, but we didn't." Xavier. I feel like he just betrayed us. I thought Grace would tell quicker than he would. As I'm crying I turn and look at him. He had tears coming out his eyes. Why was he Crying? I'm the one that just got my ass beat. Grace looked shocked to say the least. "I'm sorry guys. I just didn't want Ty to get another whooping." He seemed sincere. "Don't worry love, that was going to happen anyway." My eyes got huge. Another whooping? For what? Anyways, we will most definatly be having a group meeting later. Xavier's brother Christian, snapped. "You mean to tell me yobleft school, drove recklessly, and missed school time for a damn burger. Im done with you." Xavier didn't change his face. Honestly Im not sure why we are going through this. Any other time we would have been good. I guess any other time I wasnt whooed in a circle. Dad brings his and to my face and wipes my tears. "Calm down. Youre okay." I tried my hardest to steady my breathing. He kept rubbing my back. I sorta just tuned out. Grace's dad was still yelling. When I finnally pulled it together, I stood up. My ass was hurting anyway. I rubbed my eyes. I knew I looked a hot mess. My dad looked at me. "Go fix yourself and come right back." I nod.

I walked out the door and paused. I didn't realize how stuffy and hot the room was.I walked in the bathroom. Thank goodness noone was in there. I just looked at myself in mirror and breath. I knew I didn't have time to play, so I went right back. Grace had stopped crying and Xavier now looked scared. Dad locked eyes with me when I walked in. I avoided him. Dad, Mr. Luke, and Chris all walked out.  I kept my head down til I knew for a fact they were all gone. I looked at the clock, we had about an hour and some change before school was over. I sat for a while longer. The. Dad walked back in. "Go get your bag. All of you. We're leaving." I didn't want to go home. "But we have school time left, maybe we could go to our last class. That way..." I looked up at him. He looked pissed. I was actually more scared this time than I was the first time. I got extremely silent. I shouldn't have argued. I dropped my head and went to get my bag. Grace and Xavier followed me. We walked up the flight of steps and stopped to look each other Xavier went first. "Y'all I'm so sorry. I couldn't stand to see Ty get beat like that. I got scared and panicked. I really don't know what came over me." He slid his hand down his face. I honestly didn't know what to say. I was mad at him for snitching, but I wasn't because he did it for me. Grace was so blotchy. She looks like she dosent even have enough air to breath. "It's okay Xavier. We understand. But never do it again. I will take a million beatings before I snitch on y'all." He hugged me. We looked at Grace and hugged her too. "Okay y'all we have to get our bags." I dawned on me that I actually had my bag downstairs. I turned around and headed towards the room Dad was already there with his bag. I walked past him and grabbed my bag. I walked back up to him and stood. He opened the door and help it open for me. I did not want to go home.

Honestly y'all I just love writing this book. Likes and comments are appreciated. And thank you to cookiegymnast22 and the other 14 people who constantly read. I do it for you guys.