Full Count

ten

AJ pulls into his driveway and doesn't hesitate to jump out of the car. I follow as fast as I can. He turns around and looks at me one he reaches the door.

"Remember the little hallway we all walked out of while you were here?"

I shake my head yes.

"Bedrooms are there. Annabelles room is the second door on the left. Go in there and do something with her so she doesn't walk out."

"Okay."

AJ looks at me and gives me a tight smile before he quickly leans over and kisses my forehead. "Jesus." He turns around and opens the door and quickly walks to where we can hear his dad.

I on the other hand listen to what he told me and make my way to Annabelles room. Once I make it to her bedroom door, I slowly open it and pop my head in. "Hey Annabelle." I say softly.

Her head pops up from the book she has in her hands. "Katie!"

"Can I come hangout for a little?"

She nods her head yes in response.

I open her door the rest of the way and walk in. I close her door slowly. And then walk over to her bed where she's sitting and sit next to her.

"How have you been?"

"I'm okay."

"Why just okay?"

"Daddy's been a little off. He's been drinking a lot more lately."

I nod my head. I have no idea how it feels to be in AJ and Annabelles situation, but I have no idea how I would handle it. I can't really wrap my head around the fact that someone's parents can do such things to their children that they're supposed to love, but you can't wire people to be what you want them to be.

Annabelles room is silent so if anyone was yelling you could hear it, but I haven't heard anything which is worrying me. Not that I want them to be yelling, but them being quiet seems to not sit right with me. I look at the little girl sitting on the bed. Her brown hair lays naturally around her slightly oval shaped face, her normally sparkling brown eyes that always so full of light are dark, and the more I really look at her the more she looks like she's been crying.

I hear something break from outside her room and hear a voice yell. My body jumps and starts to tense up. I grab my phone and earbuds from my hoodie pocket and look at Annabelle.

"You like youtube, don't you?" I ask her quickly.

"Yeah." She says smiling slightly. "Why?"

I open my phone and open the YouTube app. I plug the earbuds in and hand them both to her. "Go ahead and watch some videos. I'm gonna go help AJ."

She nods and grabs my phone. "Isn't the prince supposed to save the princess?" She asks before I can make it to the door.

I turn around and laugh a little. "Sometimes before the prince can really save the princess, the princess has to save the prince. We're like team."

"I think you guys make a good team."

"Me too."

"Is Daddy the bad guy in this story?"

"Sadly."

"Go save the prince Katie! What are you waiting for." She says before giggling.