Wake Up Call

CHAPTER 5

Avery

TWELVE YEARS OLD...

I CAN SMELL THE BOOZE on his foul breath as he leans over me and pounds his fist into the wall just inches above my head. I flinch, both tired and scared shitless. "Get your ass out of bed and go to school." He grinds his teeth and his eyes twitch as he stares down at me, looking as if he's about to fall over on top of me and pass out.

I cringe and grip the fleece blanket tightly, trying to find some comfort... any comfort. I'm so confused. It's the middle of the night. Why is he telling me to go to school? I know he's wrong... I can't go, but if I argue with him then there's be a chance that my world could end tonight. "But –"

He wraps his burly fingers through my thin hair and yanks my head to the left. I want to scream from the pain, but I don't. I bite my lip and hold it in. "Don't you even think about talking back to me," he spits. "Get your ass up now." He yanks my hair even harder causing me to fall out of bed and land on the cruddy floor. My hands land in a pile of dirty clothing, soiled with spilt booze. It's most likely, Jack Daniels. It's my father's choice of poison.

"Henry," My mother says, through hiccups. "It's only midnight." She leans back against the wall and starts laughing, clearly just as drunk or high as my father is. Her laugh sounds oddly diabolic and it sends shivers through my body. Why isn't she trying to help me? It's as if she isn't even here. No one is ever here but me. I'm all alone and I'm scared that I'll always be...

PRESENT DAY...

I WAKE UP GRIPPING THE sheet on the bed so tightly that it almost rips. I hate waking up this way. The sweat drips down my face and leaves a salty taste on my swollen lips, reminding me that it's just a nightmare... a memory that happened almost nine years ago.

The nightmares have gotten so bad that I sometimes wake up with my whole face puffy and swollen. I can run, but I guess I can never hide. Time has been a bitch at proving its point.

Forcing my legs to work, I hop out of bed and quietly make my way down the hall and into the bathroom. I have no idea what time it is or if Jace is even awake. I tiredly switch on the light and stare into the brightly lit mirror, my clear reflection showing every bit of the lost girl that I've become. It still hurts like hell.

I turn on the cold water, hands shaking, as I splash a handful of water on my face. The frigidness of the water gives me the chills that run all the way through my whole body, waking me up completely. "Forget it, Avery. It's in the past. It's all in the past..."

Afterwards, I make my way through the house in search of Jace, not sure, if I really even want to find him anyways. I still feel a bit awkward from our night out.

"Hello." I poke my head into the living room, down the hall, and then into the kitchen. The house is empty. My guess is that Jace has left for work.

I end up back inside the kitchen, quickly noticing a blue sticky note stuck to the fridge. I yank it off, reading it with curious eyes.

I didn't want to wake you. I left twenty dollars on the counter for a cab. Meet me at the diner by ten. I'm sure you'll love your new job.

– Jace

The note falls out of my hand landing on my bare foot. The words leave me speechless. This man doesn't owe me anything, yet he's willing to provide me with a place to stay and a job. It's more than anyone else has ever done for me, yet I've done nothing to earn it. A part of me feels as if I shouldn't accept it, yet I have a feeling that Jace wouldn't have it any other way.