Winters' Storm// Ryden

Chapter Two: Damned Smiles

    I stayed home the rest of the week, actually I stayed at Pete's. In my surprise my dad didn't even bother to try to find me. He's probably hoping I'm dead and my body will turn up in some random ditch. Would anyone even care if I showed up dead?

   I thought about this a lot, me showing up dead, no one giving a shit. The only person at my funeral would be the lunch lady who feels bad that I never have lunch money to pay for a damn sandwich. Ha, who am I kidding. It's probably just an act.

    I sat up and made my way to Pete's bathroom. He was still at school and he told me I had to be ready by four, tonight was the party. I wasn't exactly excited but I'd much rather be with friends than by myself, that's just depressing.

    As I looked into the mirror I sighed. I still had an enormous bruise covering my left cheek and eye. Fucking Bob, I swear karma is gonna come back so damn hard on his ass one day.

    I lifted up my shirt, there wasn't a single patch of normal skin. I was all purple, blue and yellow. There was definitely no way I could cover up any of my bruises. I was mostly concerned about the one on my face considering I know everyone is going to ask.

    Maybe I can find some makeup in here, cover up the bruise and pretend it didn't happen. I dig through Pete's bathroom, and to my luck, nothing. Fuck, this isn't going to be any fun tonight.

    "Just fuck it, tell them it's none of their concern" i told myself as I looked into the mirror. God I'm so disgusted by what I see. No wonder so many people hate me.

    I turned around and started the shower. This was my routine. Tell myself I'm a fucking disgrace, get into the shower, then cry because I hate myself. It's fun, really, but I don't suggest it.

    Pulling off my shirt and jeans I stepped into the shower. Pete's water was much warmer than the water at my house. My dad never paid for most of the bills so our house was pretty much... dead I guess you could say.

   The first time I came home to nothing in the house working I was fifteen. All the lights were out, the heat was out so it was freezing cold. There was no power, no nothing. I was scared to say the least. I was always so used to everything working, the only time I had power out was when there was a major thunderstorm, that's it.

    Now this was only a few months after my mom had passed away. I had yet to understand that my dad was slowly turning into a monster, one that would most likely scar me for life. At this time my dad still hadn't hit me, hadn't called me obscured names.

    I couldn't understand why my dad was turning into someone he promised he'd never be. I remember walking into his room to see him passed out on the floor. It terrified me, I thought he was dead. But of course, he wasn't, he was only passed out from drinking all day while I was at school. I can still remember the look on his face when I asked him why the power was out. A face that I'll never forget. He sat up and grabbed me by my shoulders, with so much strength, it scared me. I should've been scared because it was the first of many times my father would hit me.

    "Ryan, get the hell out of there, it's 4:15 and you're still in the damn shower!" It was Pete banging on the door. I didn't even realize I've been just standing here under the water, thinking about everything and anything.

    "Yea I uhm- I'm sorry Pete I got lost in thought I'll be out soon..." I quickly got washed up and out of the shower. Pulling on some clothes, that Pete so nicely let me borrow. I ruffled my hair around, pissed at myself that I wouldn't have time to let it dry.

    I swung the door open and threw my dirty clothes into the spare room that I was sleeping in. I pulled my shoes on, Pete was standing by the door, tapping his foot as if to say "you're gonna make us late."