What Really Happens In High School (Heavy Editing)

What Really Happens In High School (Edited)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I jumped when the living room light switched on and a pungent smell filled the room. I crinkled my nose and said aloud "What is that god awful smell?"

Steve came pounding down the stairs yelling "Where the hell have you been?! I told you to be home by midnight!" He smacked me across the face, making me gasp because of my swollen jaw from earlier.

I blinked away the tears and looked at the clock "It's only 12:05, I'm only five minutes late!" He kicked me in the shin and I fell to the ground clutching in close to my body "Don't talk back to me you worthless child!"

I closed my eyes and let him hit and kick me, blocking out his voice, I thought of all the things that made me happy. Shane my amazing boyfriend, Aria and Jayden the best friends in the world, Ivan the brother that I will always love. . . wherever he is, I hope he's okay.

When the blows stopped I opened my eyes to see Steve looking down at me, he smirked when our eyes made contact and brought his foot down onto my skull, then all I could see was darkness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I woke up with my head pounding and everything was sore, I groaned out loud but stopped short. I looked around and listened carefully trying to make out if Steve was still here.

After ten minutes of silence I stood up slowly, every move I made hurt.

You can do this Brooke. You've been through worse.

I ran up the stairs and into my room, tears poured down my face because of the pain. I leaned against the wall to try and keep from fainting, my phone rang from my back pocket. "Hello?"

"Hey baby! Be ready in ten, we're going to the mall." Before I could say no Aria hung up the phone and I groaned out loud.

I made my way to the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror, there was a thin cut on my temple but no bruises which was good. I looked down and noticed my stomach was covered in purple and black marks from when Steve kicked me multiple times last night.

What hurt the most was my shin that he kicked, I touched in gingerly and gasped at the pain. Ignoring it I limped toward the shower and turned it on.

I sighed in content as the warm water ran down my aching body and I thought of ways how to hide my bruises and scratches.

No one knows about Steve abusing me and I intend to keep it that way, my birth father left when I was a baby and Ivan was 2. My mom married Steve because she needed help supporting us, it may seem unreal but Steve is freaking rich. He inherited everything after his parents died, they were executive of some food company.

Since he doesn't have to work, all he does is get drunk and even though my mom knows we'll be okay with money she still works to be safe. Steve is the whole reason why Ivan and I were invloved with the gangs, we both wanted to be able to defend ourselves against Steve.

I pushed those haunting thoughts as I stepped out of the shower and put on long pants and a t-shirt. I grabbed my phone, some money, and limped downstairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Aria, can we go home yet?" I am currently sitting down watching Aria prance around in a dress that looks perfect on her. She looked back at me with disapproval and said "You would be having fun if you were trying stuff on with me."

I shook my head and said "Not really. I'm kind of sore from yesterday." I stretched out in my chair and winced when I moved my leg the wrong way.

Aria stopped in her tracks and raced over to me "You and Shane didnt. . . ? You know." I looked up at her in confusion and said "What do you mean?"

She smiled widely "You know. How you're sore. . . . and tired. . . . and you  DID go to Shane's house after you dropped me off. . . "

Realization struck me and I burst out laughing "Aria! No no no! You got it all wrong. I did go to Shane's house but I fell asleep right when we got there, I was exhausted."

She looked at me, trying to determine if I was telling the truth or not. I smiled at her widely and said "Now enough about me. How are you doing Ar? Everything has been happening to me and we havent had enough time for you."

She smiled and I was happy that she dropped the subject "Well, there has been this guy that I've been seeing. No one knows except for you and I'm hoping you'll keep it that way."

I look at her with my mouth in the shape of an "O". It stuck to me that, I've been so caught in my life with the gangs I drifted away from my best friend. I walked up to her and hugged her tightly, I whispered in her ear lightly "I promise I'll keep it a secret."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I smiled and waved to Aria as her car pulled out of my drive way and down the street. It was good to spend time with her, I didnt realize how much I missed her.

I limped up to my house door and put my ear against it, straining to hear any movements that were made in the house. After about 3 minutes of listening I walked inside and was relieved that Steve was gone.

I know you're probably thinking of why I'm afraid of Steve or dont just fight him off since he's the reason why I joined the gangs in the first place. But just listen.

~Flashback~

I was walking home from Aria's house, it was cold and dark. I would have someone drive me the roads were icy, so I didn't bug anyone. The funny thing is that I was thinking of the gangs when Robert and his two top fighters pulled up next to me.

I looked at each of them and asked what they wanted. Robert smirked and said "You" 

~End of Flashback~

I defended myself as much as I could that night, I remember waking up in a hospital bed  the next day with Ivan clutching my hand hard. I was surprised he was there but then he explained that Robert had heard I quit the gang and knew I was defenseless, so he came after me. Ivan tried persuading to join the gangs again, so I could have protection from Robert but I refused.

Once I was released from the hospital I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't hurt anyone with the skills I possessed, even if it meant being abused by Steve and Robert. I didn't want people to be afraid of me like I was afraid of Robert. I did try contacting Ivan after that, but he faded away into oblivian, which I took as a silent sign to leave him alone.

I sighed heavily and tried ignoring the feeling I always got when I thought of my older brother. I laid down on the couch and let my eyes shut.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I smiled at Shane as we walked side by side holding hands, we were walking through an empty park.

I couldn't stop smiling and thinking everything was perfect but then Shane came to an abrupt stop and turned to me with a frown on his face. I saw his lips moving but no sound was coming out, I looked up at him in confusion and made a gesture that told him I didn't catch what he said.

Instead of looking directly at me, he looked behind me and his eyes were wide with panic. He looked at me and his mouth moved as if he was yelling for me to run but all I could do was look at him.

I tried yelling back but then all of a sudden I was wrenched from Shanes grasp and thrown to the ground. I roll over onto my back and see Robert and Ivan with both their gangs standing above me. with evil smirks on their face.

"What do you want from me?"

"We just want you." Then Robert brought his boot to my head.

I woke up with a scream lodged in my throat and the back of my neck was sticky from sweat. I let my head fall into my hands a chanted to myself "It was only a dream. Only a dream."