Dysfunctional

11

Michael's P.O.V

We laid downstairs on the couch with Netflix and pizza. After a few movies we heard fumbling upstairs. Cassie groaned.

"You've got to go," she mumbled picking up everything.

"What, why?" I asked.

"My parents, they don't know your here. Now go!" She pulled me off the couch and shoved me towards the door.

The door to her parents room opened, foot steps coming down the stairs. After a few steps her father appeared.

He looked at me his dark brown eyes boring into me. I knew he wasn't happy.

"Who the fuck are you?!" He asked.

He was obviously drunk. He smelled like alcohol. He was a little wobbly as he stood on the stair case.

"I'm Michael Clifford sir," I shoved my hand out in front of me.

He smacked it out of the way.

"Get the hell out of my house!" He yelled.

I looked at Cassie she nodded so I left. I stood outside the door listening. I heard Cassie explaining and her father was yelling.

I heard silence and then the sound of skin to skin contact. Cassie had begun crying. I opened the door again. Cassie was sitting on the floor holding her cheek and silently crying.

I rushed over to her. Her father was storming out the door. I grabbed Cassie and brought her out of the house and into the car. She was still crying as I pulled out of her driveway, I was rubbing her back as I drove.

Once she finally calmed down, she was really quite. She wouldn't answer any of my questions about what happened and if it had happened before.

"Cassie, would you like to stay with me?" I asked.

She nodded her head slightly. She had makeup all down her face and her fathers hand print was still there on her cheek.

"I'll protect you," I said.

She nodded again. This time looking over at me. "Thank you Michael," she cried.

I smiled at her. "I'm not letting him hurt you again,"

"Michael, he'll find me." she whimpered.

"No he won't, I'm not letting him lay another hand on you."

"That won't change anything." she mumbled.

"How long has this been going on?" I asked her pulling into my driveway.

"Few years, it happened when my parents kept having miscarriages. They began getting drunk a lot and when my mom got drunk she would lay around all day, but my father, he was different. He would have such anger and hatred toward me over something I couldn't control. It started with a few slaps and then it turned into beatings."

"Cassie," I sighed.

She shook her head. "Its alright, no one would believe me anyway."

"I do, and I'm sorry I couldn't have done anything about this sooner."

"Michael, it's not our fault."

"But it isn't yours either."

"Thank you," she whispered again.

"What do you want me to tell my parents?" I asked.

"Tell them my parents are out of town," she breathed.

I nodded. I didn't want to lie to my parents but it's what I had to do. To protect Cassie.

When we got inside my parents smiled at us. "Mom, Dad, is it alright if Cassie stays here for 2 weeks?"

"Why?" My dad asked.

"Her parents are going away for a a few weeks," I said.

"That's fine, she can sleep in the guest bedroom." my mother smiled.

"Thank you Mr. And Mrs. Clifford," Cassie smiled.

That night we had gone back to her house and Cassie quickly grabbed her things before her parents came home that night.

Once we got back to my house, it was late so I brought her into the guest room.

"Alright so here's the room," I said placing her bags down.

"I really can't thank you enough," she smiled.

"It's no problem. Now go get ready for bed okay? My room is right next door."

She nodded before going into the bathroom. I walked into my room quickly changing.

She cane into my room after she was done. "Goodnight Clifford," she smiled.

I walked over to her placing my hands on her hips and kissing her softly.

"Goodnight Hewitt," I smirked.

She walked into her bedroom and I went back into my bed. I fell asleep a little while later.

I was woke up by whimpering. It was Cassie. I quickly ran into the guest room. She was laying in the bed and crying in her sleep. She must have been having a nightmare.

I sat down on the bed next to her and gently shook her. She woke up with a gasp. She was crying and was breathing heavily.

"It's alright, it's just a dream baby." I cooed holding her tightly as she cried into my chest.

"He hurt my mother," she mumbled as she continued crying.

"It's not real," I whispered.

She nodded not moving from my chest. I rocked her back and forth slowly until I thought she was asleep. I laid her back on the bed and pulled the covers up against her. I kissed her head softly.

"I love you," I whispered I knew she wouldn't have heard but it was nice saying it.