I winced hearing my mother and fathers girlfriend screaming at each other downstairs

I tried to get back into my book but my focus was broken, i opened my door as quietly as i could and took a few steps down the stairs

"W-we can talk this through" i heard my mother say shakily, i ran down the stairs getting to the bottom seeing the 2 women

The shot sounded off and i stared starting to scream, the blood had hit the wall, my mothers screams hurt me, i heard the car pull up in the driveway "Dad!" I screamed, bending to my mothers side

"Daddy m-mommy shes-" i struggled to get the words out as my father got in the door

"Mary..." my father stared at his girlfriend shaking his head eyes wide "g-go pack your bags" he stuttered

I craddled my moms head clutching it to my chest a few sobs coming out uncontrollably "What about mom?" I looked up at him

He walked over courching down infront of me and grabbing my cheeks with his thumb and pointer finger "go pack your bag" i winced as he gripped my face tighter "dont ask questions and stop crying, you understand me kid?" He snapped

I stared at him in horror feeling puke rise in my throat "Yes sir" i choked out trying to stop shaking, i looked down at my mother her blue eyes were bloodshot

---

I woke up in a cold sweat i sat up crossing my arms over my body, stop faking this you dont need any more attention, i snapped at myself, i heard the footsteps coming up the hall, my father, i swallowed hard 3, 2, 1...

"Goodmorning darlin" my father opened my bedroom door popping his head in

"Sir" i stared straight ahead trying to relax my shoulders, just his presence made me nervous, i hated the feeling of being unsafe, then again i clutch onto the last little bit of the safe feeling ive ever known

"Come downstairs for breakfast your mother and i are waiting" he let the door open

"Yes sir" my father had remarried about 4 years ago, she was just as psychotic as him im almost 100% sure she killed her ex husband, the rumors got to much so we moved here, she has a gambling addiction but also a rather large inheritance, one of the very few reasons my father quote on quote 'loves her', its a match made in hell really

I got out of bed after a couple of seconds buttoning up the front of my dress going down the steps as quietly as i could

Anna jumped as i came into the kitchen "Morning kid were gonna have to put a bell around your neck if you keep sneaking up on us like that" she scoffed and watching me come into the dining room "are you excited to go to this new school?" She asked

"Yes ma'am" i slid my chair out trying not to make to much noise

"You know you havent said more then 2 word sentences to me since i met you" she took my fathers hand in hers

"More then i get aint that right darlin?" He asked smiling trying to make a joke, he sighed knowing i wasnt going to respond "lets pray" he put his hand palm up across the table

I bowed my head out of respect but i refused to take his hand, he may act all high and mighty but those hands will always be tinted in my eyes

"Lord thank you for grace favor and mercy, i receive your truth by faith and rise up by walking into my calling because i know your going to protect me and only allow me to say and do as you would, lord please watch out for my daughter today as it is her first day at school, we dont need no boys harassing her" he paused "amen"

"Amen" anna said raising her head back up

I took a few bites of toast the silence was normal for breakfast, silence was definitely my strong suit

"Want me to drive you to that school today darlin'?" My father asked reading the news paper

"No sir" i swallowed my toast

"You sure you'll get there okay?" He asked

I stood up stacking, annas, my fathers, and my plates on top of one another "yes sir"

"Have a good day then darlin'" my father came up beside me putting a hand on the back of my neck lowering his voice pressing his lips against my forehead "you know damn well we pray in this house kid, when you get home i expect you to do so"

I swallowed hard nodding, punishments for not praying were worse then praying itself, being locked in a cold dark shed for god knows how long, id pick being on my knees for an hour praying to a god i didnt believe in over that any day, i pulled away quickly "yes sir"

"Dont come home smelling like smoke kid, you know my lungs cant handle it" anna said shuffling her cards

"Yes ma'am" i grabbed my jacket from the coat hanger and my shoes from beside the door slipping them on hurrying out the door

---

"Hi" i heard a guy said leaning against he locker beside mine "im gene"

I closed the door turning the opposite direction of him, I'd managed to get through most of my classes without being spoken too, i knew his type even though i didnt wanna talk to anyone i knew the his type in particular...

"Hey come on" he cut off my thoughts coming back to my side grabbing my arm...hes a stereotypical dick

"Please dont" i pulled away clutching my books to my chest

"Im just playing around gorgeous" he looked me up and down

I cringed "dont grab me" i said seriously stopping to look at him

He smirked grabbing me and pressing me against the lockers "your new here right?" He asked

I went to walk away but he put his hands on either side of me trapping me "gene seriously..." i felt my mouth go dry, my heart beating in my ears

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear cupping my cheek

I hit him in the face with my books making him fall back onto the ground "i-im sorry i-"

He clutched his nose "your fucking dead" he snapped getting up

I started running down the hall my books still clutched to my chest, door, door, please tell me theres a door, my lungs were burning, after this i am so taking up jogging

I could still hear genes footsteps, i cut a sharp corner seeing a classroom door open, please dont be in session please dont be in session, i ran in and shut the door behind me

a girl looked up, books and papers infront of her "hi?" She smiled in a friendly way

I put a hand on my chest "hi" i mumbled dropping my books on the floor putting my hands on my knees

"This is a silly question but is everything okay?" She asked standing up picking up a few of papers that fell out of my books

"Gene s-something i-is a dick" i panted swallowing hard

"Your shaking come sit" she linked arms with me helping me to a chair

"I-im okay thank you" my breath came back somewhat

"Im leonora" she smiled picking up my books putting them on the table behind me

"Slone, sony" i rubbed my face

"That no good gene dinwoodie is just a nasty human being" she shook her head angrily

"Im not sure hes human, he wasnt even breaking a sweat running that far" i said sarcastically swallowing hard

She laughed sitting back down in her seat "baby carrot?" She asked

"Thank you" i took one biting off the end "so other then you is there any decent person here?" I asked sarcastically

She put a carrot in her mouth "my brother, thats about it honestly, and you" she smiled

"I appreciate that i like you too" i said sarcastically smiling back at her

The school bell rung "whats your next class?" She asked putting her stuff away

"Math? I have no clue where the hell it is though so i may just have to ditch" i said sarcastically standing up my knees hurting

Leonora linked arms with me "im starting to think your going to be a bad influence" she said teasingly

"you havent seen anything yet" i said sarcastically squeezing her arm, well look at that i made a friend

---

I walked up to the church my father was working at, i seen leonora sitting infront of a grave a picture leaning against the stone, a guy watching her from his vehicle

I walked up to leonora "hey gorgeous" i smiled

"Hi!" She got up hugging me

"A guys watching you from his car can we walk together?" i whispered tightening my grip around her

Leonora laughed "thats my brother its okay but thank you" she smiled

I heard a car door shut and footsteps which made me tense up "arvin this is my friend slone, sony this is my brother arvin"

I turned around and held out my hand "nice to meet you arvin"

He shook my hand with a gentle but firm shake

I seen my fathers car pull into the parking space beside the church

"That must be the new preacher, grandmas making her amazing chicken livers to bring" leonora smiled at me

"SLONE!" my father called from the church steps

"I cant wait to taste them" i smiled "nice to meet you arvin" i stepped around him jogging to the church

"Inside now" my father snapped pointing at the doors

I swallowed hard opening the door and standing beside middle pew with my head down

The door shut "how do i feel about boys slone?" My father tapped on a few pews with his knuckle stalking toward me

I stayed quiet it was better then be accused of talking back

"Slone!" he snapped coming infront of me

I clenched my fists at my sides

He slapped me and i fell to the floor my knees still aching from running, i clenched my fists on the floor infront of me "sorry sir" i clenched my jaw

He scoffed shaking his head "you know exactly where your going when we get home"

My head shot up "no please" my breathing spead up "i-ill pray" he wasnt listening, i bit the inside of my cheek "please no"

He grabbed my face, thumb and pointer finger on my 2 cheeks "its pathetic to beg slone go get in the car"

I sucked in a deep breath to keep myself from crying

"Go!" He snapped pointing toward the doors

I stood up shakily walking in between the pews, arvin and leonora both looked over at me from across the cemetery, i crossed my arms across the stomach and looked down walking down the steps and opening the car door

---