I sat on the steps and watched as my father walked back and forth. He yelled for a long time about how I ruined his life, about how I was the one to blame for everything that went wrong. My mother simply laughed as she popped open another beer.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"Yea, you better be." My father screamed getting in my face. His eyes were blood shot and I could smell the alcohol on his breath. He raised his fist high over his head and swung it so right so it hit my chin. I whimpered as the blow sent me smacking into the wall.

He spat on my face and I knew better than to wipe my face clean or to even move. He yelled at me some more before my mother called him to the living room. His favorite show was on. I still did not make any movements. I had not been excused. Finally my mother looked at me.

"Go to your room," she spat. I nodded my head and quickly got up. I tiptoed to my room and quietly shut the door. I did not lock it though. My father hated when I locked my door.

It was dark outside now which meant I had been downstairs for hours. I picked up my cell phone can called my grandma. She was the only one who could make things better for me. My parents were not willing to give her custody of me and she had some major health problems so she could not take me from them. When she did not pick up I set the phone down and sat on my window seal.

It was a beautiful night out and the stars shown with hope and care. I closed my eyes and made a wish for someone, anyone to get me out of this house. Suddenly, my phone rang. The number was new to me and not of any area code I knew but I answered it anyways.

I stared at the star I wished on as I greeted the person on the phone.

"Is this Abby Jones?" The voice asked. I nodded but then remembered that he could not hear a nod.

"Yea."

"Finally," the guy laughed. "I've been calling everyone I know trying to get in touch with you."

"Really? Why?"

"Why not? Listen. I'm in town for a few days and I was wondering if you wanted to come have some coffee with me. You know, catch up and all."

"It's a school night," I added. "Who is this?"

"Oh," the voice laughed. "My bad. I was so excited to finally get a hold of you that I forgot to tell you who I was. I'm Travis Garland. Your neighbor from a few years back."

"Oh right," I said.

"How about I pick you up from school tomorrow? You're a junior right?" I nodded again and mentally slapped myself.

"Yea. I'm a junior."

"Cool. So tomorrow after school?"

"Sure." I said quietly.

We talked for a while longer before hanging up the phone. He never really answered why he wanted to hang out with me. He was Travis Garland, the most popular guy of his class, and I was just Abby Jones, the quit girl no one knew existed.

I glanced at the star before changing into my nightgown and laying down. Surprisingly, I went straight to sleep.