Another update, yay! Sorry i only got round to review replies today, y'know how life can be. But i wanted to say thank you so much to those of you who did review, because your reviews were wonderful and truly touching. So a huge thanks to MJ2387, Belle-irina, J.L (a huge thank you, as i can't reply properly - your review was lovely) AngryLittlePrincess, MentalGal, MedusaCascade164, Purple Carnation, BrokenDaisy, OutCold and HannahbananaJane. You are all wonderful, thank you! And thanks to people that followed me on tumblr :D (your blogs are all great)

Get up (get up)
Come on (come on)
Why're you scared? (I'm not scared)
You'll never change
What's been and gone

Stop Crying Your Heart Out - Oasis

Chapter 11

She could've died the next morning, when her alarm went off at six. From the shame, the hurt, the bone deep exhaustion from everything she had to deal with, and the four hours sleep she'd managed to grab last night.

She dragged herself out of bed, and quickly checked under her mattress that the envelope she'd hastily stuffed under it last night was still there. She was still for a second, listening for signs that anyone else in the house was up. She didn't hear any, so, sat on the floor with her back to the door, she opened it, the notes slipped between her fingers as she counted, three hundred and ninety five dollars. In one night. She understood what Kel had meant when she said the money was too good to leave the job. If she could just manage to do that in her nights, confine it to that and forget about it when she woke up in the morning. This much money… they could eat, she could even put a little away, try and save for later one when they might need it.

Then last night came flooding back to her, the large pulsing music, the dancing, the leering looks. She could smell the lust mixed with alcohol in the air, a disgusting stench, she could still feel his hands on her, and the panic that had built in her. The tears.

His words rang in her head like a siren, loud and blaring "You can't dress up like a whore and not expect men to want you," she shuddered, and drew her arms around herself, the money fluttered to the ground.

She tried to shake herself out of it. You have to do this, she told herself.

You have to.

You don't have a choice.

She heard someone else's words ringing her head then, "You always have a choice," he'd said. She'd thought he was wrong then, too.

She gathered up the money, telling herself to get it together, she shoved it back in the envelope and returned it to its hiding place, and went about her daily routine.

It was only when she was getting dressed did she notice the bruises around her wrists, both of them, in a circle. From where he'd tried to restrain her last night. She shivered and quickly grabbed a plain black cardigan and shoved it on, hiding the bruises from herself and from others prying eyes. She made a mental note not to take it off today.

The boys weren't quite up yet when she realized with a great deal of dread, that her dad had surfaced, and apparently he hadn't slept it off long enough, and was still drunk.

"Teri," he slurred, coming up from behind her as she finished the boys lunches for the day.

"Hi Dad," she said, in a small voice, trying to duck around him and go upstairs, to wake the boys.

"You're not getting away that easy," he said, still slurring the words slightly as he stepped to block her exit.

"I'm just going to wake the boys," she said, begging for this not to happen now, "Or they'll be late."

"Don't lie," he said, and she saw the anger building and knew that it didn't matter what she said now, he'd find a way to get around it, a way to be angry at her.

"I'm not," she said, "It's school we need to wake them up."

"You're just trying to get away… from me."

"I'm not talking to you when you're like this," she said, "You're drunk, dad."

"And why weren't you in when I got home last night? Where were you at 1am you dirty little slut? How could you leave your brothers like that?"

"I was working, I have a job, and don't you dare ask me that, you're supposed to be our father you shouldn't be leaving them," she said, months of built up anger simmering just below the surface, ready to boil over.

"Don't you talk to me that way, I'm your father," he yelled at her.

"Well maybe you should start acting like one," she yelled back.

"You can't talk to me that way, you've always been a mouthy little bitch, your mother-"

That was it, she was gone. "Don't you dare bring up mom," she screamed, "Don't you dare," tears were leaking out of her eyes now.

"I have every ri-"

"You have no right," she said, her tone unsteady, "If mom could see you now she'd be sick, she would hate you," she said bitterly, lashing out with words as more tears fell.

She saw it coming when his fist collided with her face. She could feel his blind rage as he hit her to the ground, as he kicked her again and again. The tiles were cold on her hands, but the blood was warm as it trickled down her chin.

The pain came with each blow, but she could barely feel it anymore, she was there, but she wasn't. Not really. Sometimes she just wished that it would all end.

"Teri," she heard a scream as Tommy rushed down the stairs and launched himself at their dad. It brought her back to here and now as he flicked him off easily, and in anger turned and rounded on him.

"No!" She cried, "Leave him alone," she begged, "Please, just, Tommy, Tommy get upstairs NOW."

"Teri."

"Go!" she said, and her father turned on her again, and she briefly wondered how long this round would last. When his fist collided with her again, she realized it would be best to stop caring.

He left the house, grabbing his cars keys and muttering madly to himself. She didn't care. As far as she was concerned the wrong parent had had the car accident the first time round anyway.

She tried to drag herself off the kitchen floor, but everything hurt, and she was fairly sure she wasn't a pretty picture right now.

"Teri," Tommy came rushing down the stairs, his cheeks tear ridden.

He ran to her side, putting an arm around his petite sister, trying to help her up. Together they got her to the couch, and settled her there.

"I'm sorry Teri," he said, his eyes glistening and she put her arms round him, hugging him as tight as she could without hurting herself.

"Don't be, you did exactly what I asked, thank you," she said sincerely.

"But I let him hit you," he said, his lip quivering.

"It's okay," she said with a small smile, "Better me than you."

He didn't look pleased with this answer but didn't say anything else on the matter.

"Now I don't think I'm going to make it into school today," she said, her fingers wiping the blood off her chin. She could feel her lip was split.

"Do you need a hospital?" Tommy asked fearfully.

"No," she said softly, "I'm fine Tommy, go get your brothers ready, go on."

He looked at her with sadness in his eyes, but disappeared upstairs. She never forgot that he was still only eleven. He turned twelve in a month or so, the age she'd been when their mom had died. She shook the feeling of guilt that came with knowing that out of all her siblings, she'd been the luckiest, she was the one who'd known their mother for that long, the one whose childhood had been relatively untouched by such tragedy.

It hurt to breathe and she prayed that she was just still winded, and that she really didn't have to go to hospital.

"Tessa!" Benny's cry hurt more than any of her injuries in that moment.

"Hey Benny, I'm going to be staying home today." She said, digging deep to drag out a fake smile for him.

"You're hurt!" He cried, touching a tiny hand ever so gently on her bruised cheek.

She gave him a slightly watery eyed smile and have him a hug, "I'm fine, now go have a good day."

"Maybe I shouldn't leave," Tommy said, clearly torn and unwilling to leave his sister.

"Tommy," she gestured for him to come over, "I need you to look after your brothers, take them to school." She said quietly, looking into green eyes that mirrored hers. "I'll be fine," she said.

"Okay," he said, and five minutes and several concerned looks later, they were out the door.

She sighed and laid her back onto a cushion. There was so much to think about, Cara, the boys, work, how much everyone would worry when she didn't turn up to school today. What Jane would think. How long the bruises would take to fade this time.

But she didn't think about any of that, because within about two minutes sheer exhaustion took over, and she found herself slipping, into a blissful state on unconsciousness, sleep.

She woke up about four hours later, she thought it was probably the hunger that woke her. She eased herself off the couch gently, her eyes stung with tears at the pain. Easing herself further and further, she finally got up and stretched out a little, testing her joints. Her stomach hurt and it was slightly difficult to breathe, everywhere was sore but she'd live. She always did.

She spent the rest of the day moving slowly, lying on the couch and watching tv whenever she was actually awake. When no one was back at sometime around three she decided she'd have a bath, in the hope it would soothe some of the aching. She grabbed a towel and some underwear, and ran it hot, the steam from the water misting up the mirror and window. She closed the door, slipped off her pajamas, and sank into the water, her muscles screaming in delight as the hot water enveloped her, caressing her worn body. Letting her body relax after everything she'd put it through in the last few days felt good, but she was painfully aware that if she looked down, she would see the bruises beginning to form, if they hadn't already. A constant reminder of how she was trapped, how they all were.

She didn't want to cry, she wasn't really sure she had any tears left, but something about their whole situation just made her feel empty. And alone, always alone. She could hear that the boys were back and that she should probably get out soon. She knew that they'd know where she was and would just continue on as per usual, but she wanted to check that they were okay. Especially Tommy, he worried too much.

She got out the bath, her movements still slow, but the soreness eased a little, and quickly towel dried herself, putting on her underwear and some jeans, she hadn't been able to find a top before she got in, so she shoved a bra on and then quickly towel dried her hair, before heading back to her room.

She walked along the landing listening to the boys, it always touched her how good the older ones were with Benny, especially Jack, he was so patient. She backed into her bedroom door to open it, dropping her towel carelessly on the floor as she closed the door and turned to hunt for a top.

She was more than a little shocked at what she found.

"Jane!" she screamed, scrambling for something to cover up, a huge wave of dread washing over her, "What the hell are you doing here?"

Dun dun dunnnn ;) plot development yay :)

So what does everyone think? Next chapter is interesting. I'm telling you now. :P

Please review, i appreciate it so much (even if it does take me a few weeks to reply!)

Thanks so much for reading :)

Emily xxxx