I open my eyes in panic, launching myself up from my bed. Screaming loud as possible, I roll and fall off my bed. My door instantly opens hitting the wall "Elizabeth!" my brother , Daren, calls my name. He grabs my arm and pulls me up. I feel tears streaming down my face slowly. Daren looks at me for a second then wraps his arms around me tightly.
"Same dream?" He asks me softly. I nod my head. My dream repeats every night. The screams from my little brother. Ty calling my name. My parents yelling at him to shut up. Me trying to open my door. Pounding on it over and over. I screamed his name and cried. Until I heard no more screams. I found myself curled up crying. He was only fourteen. Defenseless. My parents are abusive. It was me 17, Daren 16, and Sarah 4.
"Bubba? Sissy?" I hear a little voice call. I instantly snap out of it. I see little Sarah come forward and wrap around Daren's leg. I wipe my tears away and fake a smile. "Hi sissy." I say. "Are you okay?" She asks me, worried. "Of course I am." I say getting down on my knees. I open my arms out to her and she runs into them. I hold back every tear, even though I want to burst out.
I simply run my fingers through her short brown hair as I hug her. I look at Daren and notice he's still in his boxers. His messy brown hair falls over one of his eye, leaving one green eye watching us.
"I'm going to get dressed." I say. "Come on Sarah." Daren says grabbing her hand and walking out. I walk to my dresser and pull out some grey sweats and a blue tank top. I slip my clothes on and put on socks. Slowly I walk over to my mirror and stare at my messy blonde hair while grabbing my brush. I simply brush my hair then put it up in a ponytail.
"Knock knock!" I open my door to see my mom. "First day of school! What are you? A sophomore? Oh and honey cover that up." She says pointing at my bruises. Wow my own abusive mother doesn't even know how old I am. I shake my head no. "I'm a junior. Darren's the sophomore, and I'll bring a jacket." I say. "Right." She says with a smile. "Breakfast is ready whenever." She says walking away.
I close the door behind me and walk down the stairs. How can she act so innocent. Beating us kids. Killing my brother. She's evil. "Come on kids! We need to get a move on!" Calls my mother. I sat down at the table and look at what's on my plate. Eggs, waffles, bacon, and a piece of toast. I simply scarf down my food as fast I can.
"Listen Elizabeth.. I'm trying to change." Cheyenne uses a soft voice. My eyes look down, I can't even look at her. I push off from the table. "I have to grab my bag" I dismiss myself from the painful conversation. It's always the same, but she never ever changes.
Quickly, I ran up the stairs and grab my bag and run back down. "Everybody ready?" Cheyenne asks. "Wait." I call out. I walk to Sarah's face and wipe the syrup off. "Okay good." I say while smiling at Sarah. We all load up in the car and go.
Cheyenne drives us to school. I get out and Daren and I go our own ways. I walk into the big school doors. I make my way to my first hour class (band) to put my stuff up. I walk out and see Abbie wave me over. I hustle over to her. Right when I get to her I embrace my arms out to her. Right when I let go, cold hands cover my hands. "Guess who?" A voice says. "Uh. Lexi?" I say confused. "No silly!" She turns me around. "Bridgette!" I scream with excitement. "How are you? Are you alright?" The sadness overcomes me thinking about it. "Yeah" I lie with a nod, faking a tiny little smile. I wish I could tell them I'm not, but they'll just say the same things over and over, It's going to be alright. No. Don't lie to me.
After Bridgette stares at me for the longest time, she turns her head to Abbie. "Is she alright?" Bridgette asks. "Britt! She said she's fine!" Abbie yells at her. "But it's only been five months!" She exclaims. "I'm right here." I peep in. Abbie glares at Bridgette. I clear my throat. "Im going to go find Lexi." I say excusing myself.
I slowly walk away listening to their whispers. "Abbie! Did you see those bruises?" I hear Bridgette whisper worryingly. I stop and put my bag on the floor and pull out my jacket and slip it on after I heard her comment. "Yeah. We need to turn her mom in." I hear Abbie say. No they can't do that! I thought to myself. I turn around. "No!" I scream.
They both stare at me. Abbie's brown eyes stare into mine. My eyes scatter over to Bridgette's face. It's blank. Her crystal blue eyes staring back into mine as a blonde strip of hers falls in front of her face.
"You c-can't." I stutter. "Lizzy." Abbie pauses. "We have to." She says softly. A tear rolls down my face. "No you can't. Please. Don't." I beg them. Britt comes forward and places her hands on my shoulders. "We can't let her do what she did to Ty." I find myself embracing her now. "I'll get the cops. Just give me time. I'll do it." I say sobbing.
I see Abbie nod her head in agreement. Brit shakes her head. "This is crazy. If we get the cops involved now, she won't be able to hurt you." I look around and notice all the stares "Please stop." I glare at her.
The bell rings and I walk to my seat away from Brit. I could tell she was hurt by my words , but they don't understand. No one understands me.
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I walk through the halls with Lexi by my side. We walk into our history class (surprisingly nobodies here yet but a few people). We take seats right next to each other. "Damn Liz." She says. "What?" I ask in confusion. "Always wearing that God damn jacket of yours." She says. "I'm just cold okay." I say angrily. "I'm just kidding Liz." She says bumping my shoulder. More and more people start to show up including our teacher Mr. Fitz.
"Are you cold Elizabeth?" Mr. Fitz asked me. I hated Elizabeth and he knew that. I glared at him and he let off a smirk. "Yes I'm cold." I lied. I'm actually boiling up inside. I'm so hot but I refuse to take of my jacket. Everybody will see. They can't know. He walks over to the thermometer on the wall. Oh no don't you dare turn it up! "What are you doing?" I blurt out.
"Turning the heat low so you actually have a reason to wear your jacket." He says with a grin across his face." I feel relief flush over me. I hear the bell ring. "Lexus Bell." He starts taking role. "Here!" Says Lexi in a happily tone. He kept reading and kept reading "Elizabeth Webb." I stay quiet though. "Elizabeth!" He callas again. "Here.." I say. That's everybody I'm always last on the list. "And Damon White." He calls out loud. I hear footsteps enter the door. My eyes lift up to see some hottie. Black hair. Blue eyes. A beautiful smile. Tall. Looks very charming.
"Present." He says. His eyes enter lock with mine. He smirks at me as he walks this way. "Omg." I hear Lexi whisper. He slips in the seat next to me but my eyes stayed focused on the board. My breathing is staggering. Hot boy, sitting next to me. Since when.
I look out the corner of my eye and Damon's hand is up. Mr. Fitz turns around. "Yes Damon?" He clears his throat. "Can you please turn up the heat. It's a little chilly in here." He says looking at me. I find myself blushing and I can't stop. Wait. No. Don't. Turn. It. Up.
Through the whole hour heat flushes through me tell I'm sweating. I throw my jacket off. "Oh my god... What happened?" Damon says looking at my arms. "I... Uh.. I-I-I....." I stutter over my words. Looking at all the bruises and cuts that are all over my arms. The whole class turns and stares at me. "I fell." Come on! What kind of lie was that. Way to go me! "Bullshit. Let's go." Damon grabs my arm and pulls me out of the room.
