Teachers Pet

21: A New Fear

        With vegetables boiling on the stove and chicken in the oven, I started on making mashed potatoes. All I had my mother do was season and stir. I wanted her to move as little as possible. I could see her wincing every time her wrist moved a certain way. When Marcus came in, I panicked for my mother. He didn't like seeing her showing that she was hurting. It only meant she would act that way in public which of course he couldn't have.

       "I think we need more carrots and broccoli, mom. Why don't you run to the grocery store and pick some up." She looked to me confused. When she heard Marcus sigh, she understood why I lied.

       "Who forgot the fucking groceries this time?"

      "I did," my mom told him. She said it so fast, making sure I couldn't take the blame. She would never let me take the blame. Not even when I had accidentally spilled water on Marcus's phone. I still remember her screams as he beat her in the bedroom.

       "Then why the hell are you still standing here? Go get them!" She nodded, giving me a look before touching my arm and walking away.

       "Sunglasses, mom," I called out to her. I heard the door close, hoping she heard me. For her sake, I hope she did. When I was alone with Marcus, I started to feel anxious. He made his way to the stove. looking over at everything. When he saw me making the mashed potatoes, I heard him suck at his teeth. I waited for the yelling.

       "I thought I told you once before that I only liked baked potatoes." I swore under my breath as the memory came back to me.

       "I'm sorry. I can do them now." I took the pot off of the stove and heard him sigh behind me. My heart pounded, waiting for something to happen.

       "When are you two going to learn to respect me?" I dropped the pot into the sink when he yanked my arm to him. Marcus shoved me into the fridge, making things fall inside. "You're just like your mother." He tightened his grip my arm as he threw me to the floor. I didn't dare fight back. I couldn't. Marcus was too strong. Whatever happened would just happen.

        "It won't happen again," I told him quietly. My voice was lost in my silent crying. I moved away from him, pressing into the wall behind me. I'd never been afraid of him before, not like this. He'd never once laid a single hand on me. Me being older, him thinking I didn't have to live here, he must think he can do this to me now too. That thought sent chills down my spine. He hadn't hit me yet, so when would it come?

       "I know it won't," he snapped at me. When he moved, I closed my eyes, waiting for the blow. Instead, I heard him walk out of the kitchen and turn the TV on. I peeked out of one eye, making sure he was gone. When it was safe, I picked myself up and rushed to make his dinner. If my mother had been here, I know he wouldn't have hesitated to beat her. I gasped when my phone vibrated in my back pocket. I sighed, taking it out to see if it was anyone important. Someone probably calling for my mom. It was a number I didn't recognize, so I answered.

       "Hello?" I whispered.

        "Surprise." I blinked down at the fresh potatoes I was preparing for dinner.

       "Nolan?"

       "Yeah. Cassie gave me your number." When did I give Cassie my number? As I thought about it, I remembered a project in class last year where we needed to work with partners. Cassie lived too far from me so I gave her my number so we could finish our project on time. I'm pretty sure we still failed.

       "Why?" I was upset that he even had my number. I didn't want him calling or texting me. Not when I sometimes shared my phone with my mom. I only really trusted Jake.