Ballet Shoes

Escaped

I arrive my house quickly. Cautiously, I open the screen door. My 'Father' is draped along the coach with beer bottles surrounding him.

"Where were you this morning?! You were suppose to make me breakfast! You retard!" He screams in my ear. I swear everyone I know is trying to make me deaf.

He pushes me to the ground and starts kicking me. This is the 2 time today. He undoes his belt and starts whipping my back.

I cry out in pain but the louder I get the harder the whips. I but my lip to deal silence.

After 20 more whips we picks me up by the collar and throws me onto the sidewalk.

"Constipated ugly bitch, go get pizza. Don't come back until you have it." He slams the door. I weakly stand up and grab my skateboard.

The pizzeria is only a few minutes away so it isn't long for me to get the pizza and come back.

He sends me to my room. I never eat dinner. He doesn't allow it. I move to the bathroom door that is connected to my room.

My eyes widen at the look of me.
I touch my face. I have a cut lip, black eye, bruises everywhere.

I take off my shirt and wrap my torso in gauze. I put on another shirt and walk into my bedroom.

I decide to do my homework. Math was easy. Only a page. I finish the song due in music. I study history. All I need is How To Kill A Mocking Jay.

I'm half-way threw until I get interrupted by my phone ringing. I put the bookmark in the book and pick up my phone.

"Hello?"

"SKYLAR WHAT THE HELL?! WHY DID YOU RUN OFF? OMG GIVE ME YOUR ADDRESS IM COMING OVER!!" Jenna screams at me.

"I'm sorry I'll explain it to you later. DON'T come to my house.. We can meet up somewhere!" I answer frantically.

"How about The Bakers Dinner? Oh by the way the group is coming with me." Jenna suggests.

"Ok." I hang up the phone and grab my skateboard. Not wanting to go downstairs, I throw my skateboard out the window and use the windowsills as ladders.

•0•

I get lost multiple times before finding my way to The Bakers Diner. I open the door and look around quickly. Someone comes and hugs me from behind and I jump.

Jenna. I'm so surprised.

She takes me arm and drags me to a booth with the group.

"Hi." The group smiles back as we take a seat. Im sitting next to Ethan and Ethan is sitting next to Xavier. Jenna is sitting across from Xavier and James is sitting next to Jenna.

Instead of talking about what happened we talk about random stuff. I think about what happened.

Sure every once in a while parents hit their kids, but with a belt? I don't think so.

"I'll be right back." I tell the group and slip out of the booth.

I walk outside and call Social Services. They ask what happened if I have proof and my address.

"Hey Jenna I need to run back home sorry guys." They all wave me goodbye as I bolt out the door.

I'm home just in time to see Social Services pulling up.

They ask me a few questions and I pull up my shirt to reveal my back.

The write some things down and knock on the door.