Seventeen (Zach Dempsey/ Montgomery De La Cruz

Chapter 7

When Tyler and I got home, our parents were tip toeing around us that's how I knew that they knew what happened today. Chloe was a snitch so I didn't expect anything less, but I think I gave her a decent black eye. I figured out their plan when dad asked to play video games with Tyler after dinner divide and conquer. I just asked mom when we started the dishes

"What's going on?" I asked she sighed

"The school called."

"So?"

"You're fighting now?"

"It was hardly a fight, I punched her, and she fell."

"Perri why would you hit her? You and Chloe used to be friends."

"Ok first we were never friends. We were just on the same cheerleading team, and she was yelling at Tyler calling him a pervert for taking yearbook pictures."

"Honey I'm glad you two are sticking together but fighting is never the answer." She said and I rolled my eyes

"You know I've been doing some reading, and it's common for survivors to go through anger stages."

"Oh my God, why does everything have to go back to that?"

"Because it's a horrible thing that has happened to you. You have come a long way but you're still recovering from it. You still won't tell us who did it, though you won't admit it I know he goes to your school."

"So, what's the solution mom?"

"Your dad and I have been talking about you two switching schools."

"No."

"Perri it would be good for the both of you, a fresh start."

"I don't need a frest start right before senior year."

"Well on the road you're going do you think you're even mentally stable to make it to senior year?"

"I'm not going to fucking slit my wrists in the bathtub if that's what your asking."

"Language Perri! You think I can't see that you're suffering every day? You act like you're ok but you're not, and there's still things you aren't telling us. Like those pictures in you classroom."

"I thought we talked about that already."

"We wanted to talk, you brushed it off, and we let you because we want you to come to us in your own time but you're not and that's scaring us."

"I think I do enough sharing in therapy three times a week."

"Speaking of therapy, we want to you a least try the support group."

"No! I'm not doing that. I've told you that."

"I think I would be good for you to talk to other survivors."

"Stop calling me that!"

"Perri!' Dad said as he entered the kitchen

"Calm down," He said

"I'm not going to support group. I won't get in anymore fights, but I'm not doing that I can't." I said then walked out I went into my room and shut the door and locked it. I grabbed the pill bottle off my nightstand and looked at it, I sighed as my phone began to ring

"Hello."

"I didn't think you would answer." Zach voice came through the phone

"If I looked before I answered I wouldn't have."

"How are you?"

"I'm ok, my hands hurt a little."

"I bet you should see Chloe's eye." He said and I laughed

"She had it coming."

"I agree." He said then we fell into an awkward silence I never thought this would be us.

"Perri?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

"Um I have to go Zach." I said then hung up before he could say anything, and I tried to stop the tears but everything was just too much. Just as I heard the knock at me window, I looked up to see Monty. I got up and let him in

"Are you crying?" He pulled me in for a hug

"What's wrong pretty girl?" He asked I looked up at him and kissed him, he froze then kissed me back, I pulled back and pushed him back onto the bed and I straddled him and kissed him again

"Whoa, whoa, Perri slow down."

"Shh my parents are out there."

"Wait, we can't." He said pushing me back I pulled back looking at him in shock

"Are you being serious right now?"

"Yeah your parents are out there,"

"So what?"

"Come on I respect them or whatever."

"Oh my God."

"And you're upset about something, you were just crying."

"I'm just stressed, just help me get my mind off of this." I said

"No." He said pushing me off, of him

"Whatever," I said rolling my eyes

"Did you just come from Bryce's house?" I asked and he looked at me and I knew the answer

"Tell me how do you walk around, hanging with a rapist?"

"Perri you know I care about you."

"Do you? Or are just reporting back to Bryce letting him know how horrible I'm doing."

"Perri no! you know my situation shit is not that easy for me."

"How don't any of you realized Bryce is playing you? When he's done using all he can from you he's going to dump you like he did Justin." I said I really didn't understand why I was attacking him but it kept flowing out of my mouth

"I don't have a family! You have a family, Bryce has a family. My mom stopped taking my calls a month ago. You, Bryce, and the team is all I have the only place I can go to."

"Monty I'm sorry." I reached for him but he pulled away

"Don't I'll sleep in my car." He said and went back out the window.