The Secret I Keep

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

When I wake up, I'm sore all over. My ribs ache with pain. I look around and in lying on the floor, where I was last night. I try to get up, gripping my desk for balance, and I manage to stand. I grab my phone and text her:" come pick me up, please, 10 minutes?" and hit send. She replies instantly. "Okay, bring everything you need." and I replied, "Okay I'll bring all my belongings, I'm moving in with you for a little while, okay??" It takes her a couple of minutes to reply, but she finally says, "Okay, I'll be over soon." without asking any questions, which I'm grateful for. I bring out my mothers old suitcases, and pack all my stuff, which isn't much, into it. I sneak downstairs, and am about to go out the back door, when I hear my dads voice:" Where do you think you're going??" I spin around, and see him standing there, a bottle of alcohol in his hand. He takes a gulp of it, and walks towards me. He punches me in the stomach, and I fall to the ground, screaming. He kicks me, mutters "bitch" under his breath, and walks away. Spots dance in front of me, but I manage to blink them away, and stand up. I open the door, and almost fall flat on my face, but I catch myself on the railing.I run to Kayla's car, and put my suitcases in her trunk, then climb into the passenger seat. "Drive!" I tell her, my vision blurring. I feel the car start, and I reach for the blackness once again.

Kayla's P.O.V

I glance over at Danielle and see her passed out. I worry over yesterday, and then this morning. She looked scared yesterday when her dad got home, and today she sounded urgent. I've never met her father, even though I've known her for years, I don't know why, I've been over her house, but just never when her dads home. I park the car in the driveway and get out. Walking over to the passenger side, I open the door. I then notice something I didn't before. She has a bruise starting to form on her right cheek, and her nose looks a bit crooked. Did she fall? Did someone hit her? I don't know, but I plan to ask her when she wakes up. As if on cue, her eyes flutter and then open. "Hey, are we here?" she says, blinking and looking around. "Yeah, we're here." I reply, still looking at her face."What, do I have something on my face?" she asks, amused. "Oh, no I was just waiting for you to wake up." I stuttered, and she laughed. " You don't have to stare at me, I'm awake now."she giggles, then winces, as if in pain. She gets out of my car, and walks over to the trunk. She pulls the handle, but it doesn't open. She pulls it again, frustrated this time. And again. "Urghhhhh!!" she groans. When she pulls for the fourth time, i hit the 'unlock' button, and she goes flying backwards and lands on her butt. The trunk opens, and I burst out laughing. I look over at Danielle wondering if she's laughing, to see tears streaming down her face. "Dani, I'm sorry, I was only joking, I didn't mean to hurt you. You know that." I walk over to her, worrying again. I notice her shirt came up a bit, and there are bruises blossoming all over her stomach. "Danielle what happened?!" I ask, panicking. At my question, she cries even harder. I manage to pick her up, almost falling down, and tripping a couple of times, but I manage to get us into the house, and her onto the couch without falling. As soon as I place her onto the couch, I dial the number she gave me yesterday, Harry Styles number. As its dialing, I pace, I know I should call 911 first, but he needs to know about this, they are picking her up tomorrow, and of she isn't there, they will be worried. I hear a deep voice answer. "Hello?""Harry? This is Kayla, Danielle's best friend. There's something you need to know."