Andie's POV:
I walked away from Chase and Monster, trying to not look like I was running. I went to Blake's class, and sat in an isolated spot where I hoped that I would remain unseen, invisible. The rest of the class came in, separately and together. They were laughing and having fun, something that I found impossible to do. Blake came in, put down his bag, and looked around at us. It seemed like his gaze settled on me for a moment, but then he looked away. I breathed a sigh of relief, and went back to waiting. Waiting for Blake to choose someone to do improvisation first, and praying that it wouldn't be me.
"Andie! Andie!" I heard a voice calling my name. It was Blake's, and he was calling me up to dance. I gingerly got up, wincing slightly at the pain. I walked over to where Blake was, and he put on Concrete Angel by Martina McBride. I thought about how ironic that was, and then started to dance. I didn't do my street dancing, I danced along with the music, feeling the song flowing through me and guiding my body. Halfway through the song, the pain became too much and I fell to the floor.
"Andie, are you alright?" Blake inquired. I nodded my head, not trusting myself to speak.
"See me after class, Andie." Blake said, and then called the next person to dance. I sat through the rest of the class, not really paying attention to the other people dancing. Class ended soon, and I waited until everyone had left before going up to Blake.
"You wanted to talk to me?" I whispered.
"Yes, I did. I've never seen you dance like that before." Blake said.
"I don't think I've ever danced like that before." I replied.
"Is anything wrong, Andie?" Blake inquired, putting his hand on my upper arm. He touched one of my bruises, and I whimpered in pain.
"What's wrong?" Blake asked, looking scared.
"Nothing, nothing's wrong, I'm just sore." I whispered.
"Let me see your arm, Andie." Blake quietly ordered.
"Director Collins, it's nothing, I'm just sore from all the practicing I've been doing." I protested.
"Andie." Blake said, his voice stern. I grudgingly rolled my sleeve up, knowing that there was no way to get out of this. Blake gasped in surprise as he saw the bruises littering my upper arm.
"Who did this to you?" Blake angrily inquired. I flinched back from his anger, and the look on his face softened to one of sorrow.
"I ran into the wall last night. I bruise easily. No one did this to me." I lied.
"Who do you live with, Andie?" Blake asked.
"My Dad." I answered.
"Are you eighteen yet?" Blake said.
"No, I'm not eighteen yet. I'm not being abused, Director Collins." I said.
"Alright, Andie." Blake said. I left the room quickly so Blake couldn't ask anymore annoying questions. This was my problem to deal with, no one else's. I never meant for Cable, Moose or Monster to find out. Especially not Monster, I really did not want him to know. I wanted to be able to act normally around them, and they let me, usually. Before they see my new bruises, that is. I wander towards the double doors, getting ready to leave. I walk steadily towards my house, knowing that if I'm not there soon enough, tonight will be worse. A car horn honks next to me, and I turn my head to the right. Chase is there, grinning.
"Want a ride?" Chase inquires, a smart-ass grin on his face.
"Sure." I answer, and climb gingerly into the front seat.
"Which way?" Chase asked.
"Keep going straight, then turn right at the second street." I reply. Chase drives until I tell him to stop, a couple of houses down from mine. I don't want to risk my Dad seeing me being dropped off by a boy.
"You'll be okay?" Chase inquired.
"Yeah, I'll be fine, Chase." I reply.
"Here, let me give you my number." Chase said, holding his hand out for my phone. I hand it over, and Chase types in his number and saves it.
"Thanks, Chase." I dully reply.
"Text me or call me if you need help." Chase whispers.
"I will." I respond.
"Promise?" Chase says.
"I promise." I whisper. Chase drives off, leaving me standing in front of an empty house. I trudge reluctantly towards my house, dreading what will occur. I unlock the door, and walk towards my room, dropping my bag next to my bed. I pull out an empty suitcase, and carefully fill it with clothes, just in case. I slip my mother's picture between the layers of clothing, ensuring it doesn't break. The front door slams, and I push the suitcase into the closet, hiding it from view.
"Andie! Where are you!" My Dad yells. I walk into the kitchen, where he's standing, pulling a beer out of the refrigerator.
"There you are, you idiot. Answer me when I call you." Dad said, smacking me across the face. I'm careful not to reach up and touch my face, careful to not show that it hurt.
"How was your day, Father?" I ask robotically.
"It was shit, of course. Start making dinner." He angrily answered. I started to cook while he sat in the living room drinking. I finished cooking, and then brought his food into the living room.
"Here's dinner, Father." I said, hoping he wouldn't be angry. Placing the plate on the table in front of him. He took a bite of it, and then spat it back onto the plate.
"What is this shit?" He snarled.
"Dinner." I whispered. He knocked the plate off the table and smashed it against the wall.
"You call that food?" Father yelled. I stood silently, waiting for the blows I knew were going to come. He backhanded me, his knuckles colliding with my cheekbone. I fell to the ground, and his foot connected with my ribs. He kicked me for a while, and then got bored of that and hauled me up by the wrist and smacked me across the face. My head turned to the side and hit the wall. I fell down and stayed down, pretending to be unconscious. I could feel the blood on my face from where I had hit the wall. I heard him grunt in satisfaction, and then leave the house, slamming the door behind him. I waited until he had been gone for a while, and then pulled out my phone. I called Chase and he picked up quickly.
"Andie?" Chase whispered.
"Chase, can you come get me?" I quietly said.
"Yes. Give me your address and I'll be there really soon." Chase answered. I gave him my address, hung up, and then went upstairs and shoved all of my scant belongings into a duffel bag, and then went outside. A dark SUV pulled up in front of the house, and I quickly climbed in, knowing it was Chase.
"Are you okay, Andie?" Chase asked.
"I'm fine." I responded. Chase started driving and we sat in the car in silence. After a while Chase pulled into a driveway, and we got out of the car.
"Blake's asleep." Chase whispered as he unlocked the door. We went upstairs, and Chase turned on the light in his room.
"I can sleep on the couch…" I whispered.
"Andie." Chase murmured, staring at my face. I touched my fingers to my face and they came away red.
"Oh." I said.
"Come with me, Andie." Chase quietly said. I followed him to the bathroom, and he gestured for me to sit on the edge of the tub. I did, and Chase ran a washcloth under water and gently wiped the blood off my face. I winced slightly, and Chase muttered a quiet sorry.
"Thank you for coming to get me, Chase." I said.
"I'd come get you anytime, Andie. But I'd appreciate it if you didn't go back to that house. Okay?" Chase asked.
"Okay, Chase." I replied. Chase led me back to his room where he picked up my bags and we walked down the hall to a spare room. Chase opened the door and flicked the light switch.
"Here you go, Andie." Chase said, placing my bags on the bed.
"Thank you, Chase." I responded.
"Andie…I think you should take it easy for a while. The mark on your face is probably going to bruise, and I'm sure people will have questions, especially Blake." Chase said.
"So…miss school? Blake's already suspicious." I answered.
"Don't miss school, then. Andie…I'm glad you called me. Goodnight." Chase whispered.
"Thank you, Chase. Goodnight." I responded.