Trusting You

Bethany

Skylar's POV

"All you do is point fingers!", My dad snapped at my mum. "I'm not pointing fingers, I'm letting you know that it's because of your reckless behaviour, drugs, hooking up with other women even in your marital home, that's why we can't pay the bills Mark!", My mum equally clapped back in anger. Ryan and I watched from the staircase as they argued relentlessly, suddenly my dad grabbed my mum's neck and started choking her. "Are you trying to say I can't take care of my family? Is that what you're trying to say", he shouted as he kept choking her. My mum was unable to speak because of the grip on her neck. She tried pulling his hands away but he was too strong. He flung her across the room and her head hit the centre table. Blood started pouring out of her head and I gasped. Ryan quickly pulled me upstairs before I started sobbing uncontrollably.

The memory of that day was still engraved in my head even though I was just 5 years old. My father lied to the hospital that she mistakenly fell off the stairs and hit her head. They believed him. After that day, he spent less time at home. He was always out and when he came back he was either drunk or high on drugs. He would spark about the littlest things and he would beat Ryan and I. Ryan always took most of the blame so I wouldn't get beaten but sometimes Father still hit me. This went on for 3 years, my brother and I couldn't say anything because we were scared that he would hit us.

It was until one day while we were out in public. Father got angry that I was walking really slow because of the injury he had given me the day before. He started slapping me and a lady ran up to us. She questioned my father for hitting me like that. My father got defensive and started trying to pull us away but Ryan refused. He went up to the woman and told her how our father used to maltreat us and hit us for no reason. The lady immediately called the police and my father was arrested.

Ryan and I were adopted by the lady. She had only one daughter, Bethany. Bethany was around my age and she was very nice so I liked her alot but Ryan wasn't very fond of them. One Saturday, we had guests over,

"Bethany dear, the O'Neil's would be hear soon, go change and tell the boys as well", I heard Joyce yell. "Jess is coming?", Beth squealed excitedly. Joyce laughed, "Yes now go change". Beth quickly ran upstairs and slammed my door open, "Skylar! My friend is coming. Go change! You'll love her", she yelled again and ran out. 20 minutes later, we were all standing downstairs as David, Beth's dad, opened the door. A man and woman walked in with a girl behind them. The parents exchanged pleasantries as Beth ran to hug the girl, then she pulled her towards me. "Jess, this is Skylar and Skylar meet Jess. We were friends from like tiny tiny but then I had to move", she put on a sad face before replacing it with a happy one, "But now, they've moved too!". I smiled as Jess laughed and waved at me.

The lunch was very peaceful. Beth's dad was telling Jess's dad the best routes to avoid traffic here and Beth's mum was telling Jess's mum that the nail parlor here is much better from their previous home. The family seemed like they have been very close that it almost felt like I was intruding. Ryan had gone back upstairs after the welcoming, saying he wasn't hungry but I think he felt equally uncomfortable. I stood up to go upstairs and as I passed the kitchen, I heard Jess and Beth's voices. I stopped to listen to what they were saying. "I'm telling you Beth! He's very cute. He and his brother came to my house with cupcakes to welcome us. It was very sweet, then he said he would be my bestfriend!", Jess squealed excitedly. Beth squealed as well before adding, "I wish I had a sweet neighbour too!". Then I heard Jess giggle and say, "but you have a cute one living with you". I heard Beth's giggle before I blushed and walked away.

I never saw Jess again after that day but I overhear Beth speaking to her on the phone from time to time. We stayed with Joyce and her family for 6 years, even Ryan started to feel comfortable with them. Bethany and I were inseparable. We did practically everything together but one day everything went downhill. David lost his job and he and Joyce couldn't afford to take care of all 3 of us anymore. David decided that they move to his parents house and have a fresh start but of course we couldn't go with them. Ryan was 18 so he could decide to take custody of me. Bethany and I were so heartbroken, Ryan was very angry thinking they had abandoned us. David promised to send us money every month but Ryan still didn't budge. I understood them and I had no hard feelings. The night before their move, Bethany and I sat on floor under the staircase. That was our hideout, we thought we were invisible even though practically everyone knew we were there.

"Will you forget me", Bethany stared at me with teary eyes. "I could never. You're the only friend I've ever had", I said also with teary eyes. She smiled sadly, "I'm going to tell grandpa all about you", she hugged me tightly. I smiled sadly, "We won't get to go to prom together". She smiled mischievously, "You never know Skylar. I like you so much, I just might surprise you". I knew she was bluffing but every word she said got through. I turned to us sharply and pulled her lips to mine. She didn't fight back, she kissed me back almost immediately. And that was one of the best memories among the unforgettable ones I had made in that house.

David let us have the house and he still sends money every now and then. I didn't want to go to school anymore but Ryan forced me, saying "You don't get to be our father. If anyone gets to be him, it's me! Don't worry about anything just fucking go to school, get a degree and be somebody better than Dad and I". I started going to school because I knew it would make Ryan happy. Ryan wasn't able to get a decent job so he started doing some illegal stuff that I don't know about because he won't tell me. He tried and tried so we could have food to eat. He always encouraged me saying, "I'm counting on you bud. When you finally get s degree and a good job, then I can finally rest". I know that Ryan did everything he did just for me and I couldn't love him enough.

Although he was sometimes hot tempered and very cautious because of the things he was into. He didn't let just anyone enter the house because he was always scared and I didn't blame him.

I switched schools and then I met Jess again. I was sitting in a corner of the cafeteria when she walked up to me and slammed the table excitedly. "Sky?", She gasped with wide eyes. I nodded shyly, we had only met once and she had grown alot since then. "Omg! Bethany moved and I thought I'd never see you again. How have you been?", She smiled sweetly. Being reminded of Bethany still hurts but I was moving on. Jess immediately looked sad, "You miss her don't you?". I nodded again then she held my hands, "I miss her too, everyday". We talked for a while before she grabbed my hand, "Let's go sit with my friends". I politely refused but she kept pushing, "Come on, they'll love you!". I finally agreed and she dragged me to another table. There were 2 guys and a girl who introduced themselves as Jace, Jeff and Sam.

Fast forward to 3 years later, and here we are.

I still miss Bethany everyday and for some reason, Rue reminds me alot of her.

I watched as Rue picked her purse and left. She's going to have a hell of a cold tomorrow.

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And that is Sky's story