-Lucas-

The door swung shut behind her and I stayed silent, staring at the door.

"Lucas, we need to talk. I think there's something you haven't been

telling me."

I shifted my feet. "Mom, it's nothing. Haley doesn't know what she's

talking about."

"She sure sounds like she knows what she's talking about." My mom was

quiet for a minute.

"Lucas?"

I sat back down in my desk chair and put my elbows on my knees.

I covered my eyes. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Sweetie, what's going on?"

I swallowed.

"Lucas, honey, please talk to me. Tell me what's going on."

I stood up and walked to the door. I looked out the window.

"I've just been having nightmares. They'll go away soon enough."

"You've been having them since you came back?" She asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, but they've gotten better."

"Hmm...maybe you should speak with the counselor at your school."

"Yeah, maybe." I said. "Listen, I've got to get to school. I've

already missed most of first period, I don't think I can afford to be

late for 2nd period."

She stood up. "Ok. Talk to your counselor today. Let him help you,

Luke."

I turned around and gave her a small smile.

"Ok, mom. I will." I lied.

When I walked into second period English, a lot of the students eyes

were on me.

I looked down at the ground and found my way to my seat.

"Nice of you to join us, Mr. Scott."

I awkwardly sat down and set my bag on the floor.

"Now that you've decided to join us, we can continue class." He said crossing his arms.

I stared at my desk.

He launched into his lesson plan and I guess when he had his back turned, a note landed on my desk.

"I'm sorry I had to ambush you like that. What'd your mom say?"

It was from Haley.

I balled the note up and tucked into my pocket.

After class, I tried to get outside before Haley had a chance to try to talk to me.

But she caught up and immediately fell in step beside me. "Hey. What'd your mom say?"

"She said she trusted me and I could handle it on my own." I lied.

Haley blinked. "O..k...what did you tell her? Because if you told her the truth, there's no way that she would've told you that you could handle it on your own."

I opened up my car door and shoved my backpack inside. "Well she did."

"Are you getting something out to eat?" She asked.

"Yeah," I replied, fiddling with my car keys.

"Are you leaving?" She asked.

I looked around the quad. "Maybe."

"Luke-"

"Listen, Haley, I'm still kind of ticked with you so don't push me." I snapped and got into my car.

I revved the engine, then pulled out of the parking space and left Haley standing there.

I drove around for awhile before I stopped for a burger.

And I honestly thought about ditching today. Like the whole day...

But eventually, I made my way back to school and I had only missed the first five minutes of third period, algebra.

It was just as awkward and uncomfortable as the first time I showed up late today.

I didn't really pay attention to algebra, I was already ahead in this class.

Instead, I chose to get lost in thought...which caused me to think about some things I didn't really want to think about it.

But before I could stop it, I was in a full-blown flashback.

His hands were around my neck, cutting off all my air.

"Lucas!" He screamed, slamming my head against the chair.

I was begging him to release me, but he wouldn't.

Tears streamed down my face but he wouldn't let go.

"Please!" I whispered, choking. "Please dad."

He shook me and slammed me against the chair again before he let go.

His breathing was heavy and ragged.

He whirled around and punched me in the mouth again.

I groaned and looked away from him.

I coughed a couple of times.

"How could you?" He demanded.

I had just tried to escape. This was about a week after he had kidnapped me.

I coughed again.

"How could you? After I've tried to make you as comfortable as I can." He said.

I scoffed. "Yeah, sure."

He whirled around and advanced toward me.

"No! I'm sorry, I didn't mean it." I said, shrinking away from him.

He stopped inches from me. "I had better never hear you smart off again."

I nodded and swallowed.

He got up and went behind me.

The next thing I knew I was back in class.

I let out a scream and the teacher stopped teaching.

When I realized where I was and what was going on, I started taking deep breaths, but I still felt so trapped.

After a few minutes, Haley got up and gathered up my stuff.

She grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet.

We walked up to the front desk and she told him that she needed to take me to the nurse's office.

I let her lead me out of the classroom, still shaking, on the verge of crying again.

I was safe again, why was I still having flashbacks? Why wouldn't they just leave me alone?