the cheerleader and the outcast >> dan howell

Chapter 8

"And I know these scars will bleed, but both of our hearts believe. All of these stars will guide us home."

-Ed Sheeran

~

"Dan I can't talk any louder, my mom might here me." I speak quietly into the phone. I pace back in forth in my room Saturday morning, I barely got any sleep last night. I decided to call Dan, just to tell him everything. I needed someone to talk to.

"I just can't believe she would even lay a hand on you." He says. I can tell he is angry, because when he is angry, his voice is low and dark. I bite my nails and continue pacing around my room.

"Dan, I'm okay. Honestly." My voice cracks at the word 'okay', so it was obvious that I was lying.

"Don't lie to me, Rachel. I know you're hurt." He whispers into the phone. I stop pacing, and sit on my bed. Tears spring into my eyes, making my vision blurry.

"I just...I don't know what to do." I whisper, and blink my eyes, causing tears to spill out. "She's never hit me before..."

"She was probably drunk." Dan sighs.

"She was. I don't think I have told you this, but my mom is an alcohol addict." I speak to him quietly, making sure I don't wake up my mother.

"Oh." Dan says. We sit in quiet for a while, and I fidget with my bed sheets, trying to not make things so awkward. It is though.

"You can come over." Dan speaks, breaking the silence.

"No. I'm grounded." I say looking around my room.

"Sneak out. I can help-"

"No Dan!" I yell, and then immediately cover my mouth, knowing I should not have yelled so loud. I hear footsteps in my house and my eyes widen in fear.

"Rachel?" My mom groans from  the hall.

"Dan, I have to go." I whisper in the phone. Before Dan has time to respond, I quickly hang up the phone and set it down on my dresser. I hop into bed and cover myself with the blanket, pretending to be asleep. I hear my door open all of a sudden, and I try to steady my breathing. The footsteps get closer, and I feel my mom press her lips onto my forehead. Get the hell off of me. I think to myself. My mom finally walks away and out the door, closing it.

I spring up from bed, once I'm sure she is gone and get up. I have to get out of this house. I have to. I tiptoe quietly to my closet and get dressed in a white flowy skirt and a coral tunic. I'm sneaking out. I am not sure if this is a good idea, but it's better than being stuck here all day. I lock my bedroom door, and slip on a pair of nude colored flats. I grab my phone and stuff it into a purse, slinging the purse across my body. Pulling my hair up into a pony tail, I walk over to the window. Since I am on the first floor, I can easily jump out. I open the window and hop out, feeling the cool breeze blow on my legs. I shut the window quickly and take my phone out of my purse.

"I'll be there in a few." I text Dan.  quickly run over to my car, and grab my keys from my purse, which I always keep my keys in, unlock the car, and hop in. I quickly drive, hoping my mom doesn't notice, and in little time I am at Dan's house. I check the time and notice it is 11:30 am.

I walk over to the door and knock on it. The door opens and Dan is standing there in a red and blue patterned sweater and denim jeans, the most colorful outfit I've ever seen him in. Weird. He gives me a funny look, and realize he probably didn't get my text.

"What are you-" He starts, but I quickly push him aside and walk in. I notice some woman sitting on the couch that I haven't seen before.

"Uh..." I blurt out, and the woman gives me a funny look.