"Cassara," he slurs out. "Why are you out here with this, player boy, instead of bein' home cookin' where you belong?"

"I came to talk with Eliot Dad. He wanted to talk to me and you've said that I can't have people over at the house so I met him here," I reply solemnly.

"Well get your ass up out that chair and start walkin' home, sassy. I expect to be served a nice dinner when we get there." His hand clamps around my arm and he drags me out of the booth. I grab my purse in just enough time so it isn't left in the booth. I look at Eliot and say, "I've gotta be goin'. I'll talk to you later?"

"Oh no you won't missy. There'll be no more talkin' to this boy or any others. Now come on, move it." He pushes me forward and I walk obediently. He staggers around behind me and almost topples tables and chairs over from bumping into them and leaning on them to steady himself. I walk out of the restaurant and start walking home.

"Hey, Mr. Holmes," Eliot shouts from behind us.

My father rears around and watches Eliot approach us. "If you know what's good fer ya boy you'll just leave her alone."

"Eliot I'll be fine, just go," I say quickly, the fear only partially gone from my tone.

"Yeah listen to the witch. She knows what's good fer ya even if ya don't," My father retorts. Eliot walks up to him and hits him in the jaw. He grabs my arm and says, "Go, I'll catch up."

"Eliot you're just making him more mad!" I shout.

"Damn it boy, ya shoulda jus' gone an' done what she said," My dad straightens up and starts to move to punch Eliot. I get in the way, taking the blow to my shoulder. I fall to the ground and my dad pushes Eliot and says, "Go on boy, get outta here. Jus' leave well enough alone. Go on get."

I get up and push my dad away from Eliot and I hear the ring of the blade he used all the time. He drags the blade from my right hip up to my left shoulder, turns me around quick and cuts me from my right shoulder down my back to my left hip. I fall back to the ground and Eliot rushes to help me.

My dad forcefully grabs my hair and yanks it until I stand up. He looks at Eliot and says, "If you come any closer, I'll cut her throat and you'll have to blame yourself for her death."

My face was one of pure terror I could see from Eliot's expression. I mouth, 'Stay there. Please stay there.' And so he stayed planted where he was, clenching his fists in anger. My father laughs and grabs the hem of my shirt and yanks it so the rips in the shirt tore it apart. The fabric falls to the ground and my sleeves fall off my shoulders. I stand there, blood dripping down my stomach, my scars visible to anyone within viewing range. The one person I cared about could see my best kept secret and could now judge me. "See this? She's not pretty and she never will be. I've made sure of it. I've made sure she can't do to someone what her mother did. What do you think boy? Now run along boy, and don't say a word to anyone."

I watch Eliot's face turn from one of shock, to one of anger. I catch his eyes and mouth, "Please do as he says." He doesn't move and my dad puts the knife to my throat. Eliot steps forward a touch and says plainly, "I never thought she was pretty. I don't know where you got the conception that anyone would ever think she's pretty. But I just think she's a charity case. Go on; take her do what you want."

Tears well in my eyes as the words Eliot just said run through my mind. Every single shred of faith I put in him splintered and disintegrated. I hang my head and my dad drags me home.

oOo

After a few days of healing, I walk to the park, making sure my bandages won't come off. I bring a bag with a blanket, book, and an apple with me so I can have a nice relaxing day. I get to the park and lay my blanket out in a nice spot by some trees. I sit down and start to read Pride and Prejudice in peace. About three chapters in I hear some yelling and some cheering. I look up and see the football team playing in the field with some cheerleaders watching and cheering. One of them over throws the ball and the person supposed to be catching it misses. The ball lands near me and one of the boys, named Bryce, comes over to get it.

"Hey Scar girl, you wanna get the ball for me? Or do I need to cut you to get you to do what I want?" He yells at me. "Come on, where's my meal Frankenstein? Didn't you bring anything for me? Get up and show me your scars. Want me to pull you by your hair, you like that don't you?"

He laughs at me and I stand up with my face set like stone. I close my book, marking the place and walk to him. I lift my book and slam it against his face sending him reeling from shock. "You can insult me all you want jarhead but honestly, I envy you. You live this blessed life where everything goes your way and you can smoke and drink all your memories away while me, I'll never be rid of the memories because they'll stay on my body. I'll always be reminded of my hell on earth. So be grateful that you'll never know what exactly I go through. And leave me the hell alone!"

"I'll teach you to mouth off to me you skank," he yells annoyed that I had responded so venomously. Bryce hits me across the face and I spin around a few times before falling to the ground a few feet away from where I had been standing. I close my eyes from the pain and try to get the world to stop spinning and making so many nauseatingly colorful designs in my head.

I open my eyes after a while to see blue circles above me. My eyes focus and I recognize them to be Eliot's eyes. He grabs my shoulder to help me up and I slap his hand.

"What's that for?" he says quickly.

"I don't need your help getting up. You've done enough helping already. And now I'm gonna get it bad. He told you not to tell anyone Eliot and what do you do, you tell the entire team! Eliot, I'm gonna be dead when I get home. God I wish I hadn't met you that night then all of this would have been avoided. Damn me and my willingness to try and forgive people. That's it. I'm not trusting you ever again Eliot Spencer. I don't even want to see you again," I say tears of anger and hurt sliding down my face. Jake comes over and quickly says, "Eliot didn't tell us. We didn't see him until yesterday. Aimee told us the day after it happened. She said 'Guess what Eliot saw last night?' and then told us the whole thing. I'm so sorry that this happened to you Cassie."

The thought that automatically comes into my mind is that Eliot went and told Aimee and then she just couldn't keep it all bottled up inside so she told everyone. I stand up, wavering slightly and look at Jake. I walk to him and hug him saying, "Thanks Jake. Will you help me home?"

He smiles at me and quickly packs up my stuff. I turn and look at Eliot and say, "I told you that you'd have to earn my trust back. You've crushed it even more. You told Aimee what happened to me and considering what you said to me that night, I don't know what to think anymore. Eliot just step away from me. Walk away, I don't want to see your face again. Goodbye and Good Riddance." I start walking towards the exit to the park leaving Eliot standing there like a statue. Jake hands me my book and tears stream down my face. I love that boy no matter what happens and that would be my undoing.