Hello everyone! Sorry about the last chapter being so sad. This one might be too. Enjoy!

Chapter 10 Difficulties

SODA'S POV

I wake up and look at the small clock. It's five o'clock in the morning. That means thirty more minutes to just lay here on this damn mattress and look at the bare, dark ceiling. I wish the sun was out to greet me and tell me that everything's okay, but it's not.

I feel like I got ran over by a kid. My face hurts, especially around my eyes from the punches I got. My gut and legs are probably bruised. They sure do feel like it anyway.

The events at Two-Bit's come to mind. Darry's eyes piercing through me about made me explode and tell everyone what's going on, but I stood my ground and protected myself. Darry just knows something's wrong. I know because of the way he looked. Body language is pretty readable.

The movie last night made me think a lot. I mean, I had a dream that I had a great family and everything turned right. I'm definitely sticking to my plan.

Do I have bruises on my face? It sure does feel like it. How will I cover up my eyes if I do? There's no make up that'll cover it up really good.

Before I know it, it's 5:20. I might as well get up. I head to the bathroom with my clothes. I get in the bathroom and look at my face. Yup, I have two shiners. They're both half closed now. No wonder my eyes weren't all the way open. I thought I was just tired still.

I take off my shirt and find a huge bruise on my stomach. I turn around and find a small bruise on my back. I finally put my t-shirt on and put my jean jacket over it to cover my still bruised arms.

I change my underwear and pants. I put on my jeans and see the bruises on my legs. I just roll my eyes at them.

I make my way downstairs and make myself some cereal to eat real quick. I'm not really allowed to have eggs and that stuff. If I did, I'd wake them up. They have noses of a dog I swear.

I finish my breakfast and put my bowl away in the sink to clean later. I do the dishes when I get home from school after dinner. Well, when they're finished. I eat when they're done. I'm supposed to feed them first. Robert says that I don't belong to the family which means I can't sit at the table with the family. That just hurts me when he says that. I'm just his punching bag and slave. That's all I am around here, a nobody. I hate school, but I love it. At least there's people there who treat me right. I only hate school when David and Derek show up.

I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth and do my hair. I grab my secret grease and rub it in. I comb my hair behind my ears, but do nothing with the bangs since they kind of cover the shiners.

I run back downstairs to start the Friday morning eggs and sausage. I get everything out and put the stove on. I crack the eggs into a bowl and stir the yolk. When the stove gets warm, I put them in the pan. When the other burner gets warm, I put the sausage links on. Great, I hear footsteps.

"Hey stupid, don't make the eggs flat," Derek laughs.

"He never makes them flat, stupid. He might burn himself," David laughs along with Derek. "You're so worthless and ugly."

"Yeah, worthless and ugly," Derek says going along with him even though he probably thinks the same way.

"Good luck at the game tonight David," I tell him.

He plays football for our school. He made Varsity this year as a sophomore. He's pretty strong, but not as strong as Darry and Steve. He's all brawn and no brain. Sure, he's smart, but he gets As and Bs.

"Yeah, you won't be there tonight. You've got a lot of laundry to do, asshole," he says to me.

"I know it," I mutter separating the eggs to make them scrambled and feel a hard fist to the face. I turn around and see David next to me grinning like a maniac.

"Nice bruise," he says to me pointing to my cheek where he punched me.

Shit, I have a new bruise on my face and my hair's greased backed.

"Nice one, David," Robert says coming into view. See, I'm a punching bag.

"Thanks, dad," he says.

"Is breakfast ready, boy?" Robert asks.

"Just about, sir," I answer him receiving yet another punch, but this time it was from Robert. It was once again hard, and yet another bruise more than likely.

I set the table and put the eggs and sausage on separate platters. I head to the table and put them in the middle.

"Chocolate milk," they command.

I get it out of the ice box and put it on the table.

"Make the beds," Robert orders me while getting some eggs on his fork.

"Yes sir," I say heading to their rooms.

I make the beds and iron their clothes. When he says to make the beds, it also means iron the clothes for some odd reason. I never did understand why, but I just go with it. I hate this so much.

I'm finished, so I make my way to the bathroom to check out the new bruise. Robert punched me in the same spot as David did. It takes up most of my left cheek. Now people will be worried.

I hope nobody asks me what happens because it'll be difficult to lie about both eyes being bruised. I know Steve will. I guess I'll have to think up something quickly.

I come out of the bathroom and look at the clock. It's 7:20. I should head next door. Steve and I walk to school everyday. I feel so safe around him and my friends. I know that when I'm with them, David and Derek won't bully me around. They know that they'd get in trouble if anyone of my friends saw them being mean to me.

I walk over and Steve's waiting at the end of his driveway. I approach him and we start walking to our destination, school. I know he sees my bruises, but his face looks so disgusted. I know it's bad since it's black, blue, and purple, but what am I supposed to say.

"How's your day starting out?" I ask him.

"Pretty good, your's?" he asks me.

"Okay I guess. I'm just really tired," I lie. I'm not tired and I think Steve realizes it.

This is going to be a long, difficult day.

There you go, another chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Softball try-outs tomorrow and really nervous. Who knows when I'll have time to write. Have a great week. Remember to review.