Stop in the Name of Love (Completed)

Chapter 10

My knuckles turn white as I squeeze Jordan's hand. I don't want to go inside, God only knows how drunk my dad is or if he's angry or if he's even still alive! I've been gone two days, he's never been alone that long since before mom died. I don't know what he does when there's no one to clean up after him or make him food.

"Are you sure you're ready?" Jordan keeps his voice low.

I don't take my eyes off the front door, "No, but I don't have a choice. Maybe if I'm lucky he'll be passed out and I can just make him a sandwich for when he wakes up and I go hide in my room."

"Stay with me another night, I don't want to send you in there not knowing what to expect. I don't want to send you in there to get hurt. I'll call my mom, convince her to let you stay, my dad doesn't pay attention, he won't notice. Please."

I finally look at him, his face is red and his lips are pulled in a tight line, "Jordan, I can't just never go home. He's still my dad, he needs me and I can't just walk away from my home and all my stuff. I can't run from this, he's the only family I have," I shrug and feel a sad smile spread over my lips, "I'm all he has."

"He shouldn't treat you this way, call the police, maybe they'll get him help."

I laugh, "Yeah, say they believe me, then what? They pack me up and send me to some home? I bounce from place to place until there's nowhere left in the state? I lose all contact with my father, so if he does get better I can't see him again? I lose the ability to see you?"

He looks away and shakes his head, "You don't know if that'll happen, you can't know that they'll take you away from everything. They could help, put you somewhere safe, get him help, make things better."

"I don't think I can risk it Jordan," I feel tears well up in my eyes, "My mom died and my world fell apart. My dad started drinking, he stopped paying bills, stopped caring, he started to hurt me; the dad I knew was gone. Then my best friend left, and I don't hear much from her now. All I have left is you and my job, I don't want to lose anything else. I can't. Please, don't ask me to risk anything else."

"You could be risking your life, I don't want you getting hurt. You said yourself, you don't know what to expect in there, I can't just--"

Our attention is drawn by a loud crashing sound from inside my house, it sounds like a large piece of furniture falling over. Panic sets in.

"Dad," I whisper as I frantically climb out of the car. I hear Jordan rush out after me.

I hurry to the door, scared of what I could find. I hesitate to open the door, only for a second, but a second is long enough for Jordan to open the door and rush in for me.

"Rhea, you should get in here," I hear Jordan's voice straining.

I take a weary step in the doorway, and instantly regret it. The entire house is a mess, chairs are flipped over, books and silverware and rags cover the floor. Cardboard boxes are tipped over and slipping out everywhere, including boxes of my mom's stuff. I carefully walk over to the boxes, picking up one of my mom's old dresses. I recognize it as one she wore frequently for singing gigs in the city.

"Jordan?" I call out, clutching the dress, I look around but don't see anyone.

"In here!" His voice is coming from back in my dad's office, I quickly follow it. When I come in I see my dad propped up on his desk chair, his hand has a nasty cut on it and his bookcase is knocked over, Jordan is squatting on the ground looking at the mess on the floor, his breathing is heavy, "I found him like this, it looks like the bookcase fell and the books all landed on him. He seems ok, but he's passed out."