Chapter 21
"Good morning beautiful." Joe said to me one morning.
I lightly kissed his lips.
"Good morning."
"Are you nervous for your first day of work?"
"No. I'm ready for it. Plus I'm only an assistant."
"For now." I smiled and got out of bed.
I got a job as an assistant to a teen therapy center. Ever since I was raped, I've wanted to help other teenagers who have had crazy boyfriends, or girlfriends that have hurt them both emotionally and physically.
I quickly got ready and walked out the door. I showed up at the center and saw how many teens that were there. I found my boss and she assigned me to a teenage girl named Lisa.
"Hi." I said walking up to her.
Lisa looked up at me and said nothing.
"I'm Miley."
She still said nothing.
So I sat down next to her. I noticed she had a large black bruise on her arm.
"Who did that to you?" I asked.
"Was it your boyfriend?"
Lisa nodded.
I rolled up my sleeve and showed her the scar I got from that night with Jake.
Lisa's eyes widened.
"I got this from my ex also. When we were together he never beat me, and he treated me well. But just a few years ago he attacked me and rapped me. This is my reminder of it."
Lisa was silent again.
"My boyfriend never hit me either. But when I broke up with him he got angry and started hitting me."
"And you never told?"
She shook her head.
"Did you?" she asked.
"I was staying at a friend's when he attacked me. So he found me lying on the floor."
"My best friend walked in my ex hurting me and then I got sent here."
"This will help. I wish I had a place like this to come too when it happened to me. He kidnapped my friends and when I found them he was about to rape me again but something snapped and I beat him."
"My ex never went that far. But why didn't you get help after?"
"I didn't want to tell anymore about it. Still to this day only those three people know. Well I guess four people know now since I told you."
Lisa and I ended up talking endlessly for hours. I could tell she was starting to feel better.
"How about we continue tomorrow? Don't want to run out of things to talk about now do we?" I said with a smile.
She quickly wrapped her arms around me and smiled.
"Thank you." she said.
"See you tomorrow." I said smiling back.
"Hey, new girl."
Someone called behind me.
I turned and faced my boss Mr. Cook.
He was the manager of the center. He wasn't to more than two years older than me. He had gotten the place from his dad who recently passed away.
"You did a good job today." he said.
"Thanks boss." I said before walking away again.
The first day was a success.
After work I decided to go see my family.
"Miley! What a wonderful surprise." My mother said when she opened the door.
"Hi mom." I said hugging her and going in.
"What brings you by? Did you come to your senses and break up with Joe?"
My mom never approved of my relationship with Joe. Part of the reason she doesn't like him is because she loved Nick, and is probably still mad about the wedding.
"No. I just thought I'd stop by on my home from work."
"Oh yeah. Your first day was today. How was it?"
"It went well."
"Good, good."
"How are the boys?"
"Oh you know, trouble as always. Raising three teenage boys isn't easy."
"I'm sure it isn't. But raising a teenage girl wasn't easy either."
"No it wasn't."
My mom and I never had the greatest relationship as well, and since she doesn't approve of Joe, I don't bring him over to visit. But my brother's and I have a great relationship. They know how much trouble mom and I had, so whenever they have a problem with her or something their afraid to tell her they come to me and I help them.
"Miley!" Allen, one of my brothers exclaimed walking into the kitchen.
"Hey Allen!"
Soon after my other two brothers, Ryan and Riley came in after.
"How are you guys?"
"You know, same old, same old." Ryan said.
Ryan and I fought a lot growing up, but that was only because we are so much alike. Things are better now though. Allen and I have always had a great relationship. We used to do a lot together. But as for Riley and I, well we had our good and bad moments.
"Staying out of trouble I hope." I said messing up Ryan's hair.
"Oh, Miley your dad and I are going on vacation next week. Do you think you could watch the boys while we're gone?"
"Sure, of course."
"Wonderful."
"How long will you and dad be gone?"
"Two weeks."
"That shouldn't be a problem."
"Excellent."
"Yay!" Allen said.
"Better than some random relative or babysitter." Riley said.
"Yeah. We're too old for that." Ryan added.
"So you boys are okay with this? I know you guys are almost adults and can handle your selves but I would be more comfortable having someone here with you. "
"Yeah. Totally. Miley's cool." Allen said.
"Great. Now go do your homework boys." Our mom said.
"Fine." They all said at once.
It was amazing to me that they were already juniors in high school.
It was settled. I was going to watch my brothers for two weeks.
"Hey. How was your first day?" Joe asked when I got home.
"It was a success." I said with a large smile.
"That's great!" he said hugging me.
"I went to see my family after."
"Oh. Really? How is everybody?"
"Their well. My parents are going on vacation next week."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, and my mom asked me to stay with my brothers."
He knows how hard its going to be keeping the Jake secret. I didn't want them to know.
"Are you sure you don't want to just tell your family about what happened?"
"I can't."
"But why? I'm sure they know something is up."
"I just don't want to worry them."
"Fine. I won't push it anymore."
The rest of the week went great at work, now it was time to take care of my brothers. Joe wasn't staying with me, but he would come over every night. When my brothers got home the day our parents left, I was already there.
"Hey guys. How was school?"
"Riley broke up with yet another girl."
"This is what we were all afraid of from the start." I said.
"Hey! Its not my fault this time!"
"Uh huh." I said turning on the oven.
"I broke up with her because she wanted to get together with Allen."
We all turned to Allen.
"Not my fault! At least I didn't do anything with her."
"And that's why you still have a face." Riley said.
"Boys are too violent."
"Yes, yes we are." Ryan said. I laughed.
"So what's for dinner?" Riley asked.
"Spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread." I told him.
"Yum!"
"Is Joe coming over later?" Allen asked.
"Yes. Now go get started on your homework." I told them turning to the stove.
It wasn't long after that Joe showed up.
"Hey." He said before kissing my cheek.
"Hi." I said closing the door.
"How's everything going so far?"
"Pretty well."
"Good."
He helped me finish dinner and my brothers came out as if they knew it was time to eat.
"I smell food." Riley said.
"You guys are just in time. Dinner is served."
Joe and I took our plates and walked over to the table, and sat down. Riley, Ryan, and Allen, all followed. This was probably the first time we all sat together as a family just because we could. Growing up we never sat together as a family unless we had our grandma over for dinner, at someone else's house, or when were at a restaurant.
After a few minutes of eating, I noticed Allen staring at Joe. Not in a good way. Sort of like he was examining him.
"So Joe, are you treating our sister right?" he asked after a couple more minutes.
"Yeah. I am."
Allen looked suspicious.
"Why do you ask?" I asked him.
"Because you have scars on you that you didn't used to have."
"Well Joe hasn't done anything to me."
"Then how did you get the scars?"
"I don't know. You know I scar easy."
Which is true.
"Cut the crap Miley." Allen said.
"You have no right speaking to me like that."
"And you shouldn't lie to my face."
"I'm not lying! Joe hasn't touched me!"
"Well your still lying about how you got them!"
"It's nothing!"
"If its nothing then why won't you tell the truth about what happened?"
I got up from the table and walked out of the room.
"Allen what the hell?" Riley asked.
"What? She's not telling us something and it obviously isn't good. So sorry for wanting to know what hurt our sister."
They all looked at Joe.
"Do you know what happened?" Ryan asked.
"She should be the one to tell you not me, and you shouldn't have called her out like that."
He was angry, then he got up and went to find me.
My brothers just sat there in silence.
"Now she's upset. Good job Allen." Ryan said irritated.
"Again sorry for wanting to know what happened to our sister and make sure she's okay." "Maybe she wasn't ready to tell us yet. You pushing and questioning her like that doesn't help." Ryan yelled.
Allen stayed silent.
He knew that was probably true.
"Are you okay?" Joe asked when he found me.
I whipped away the last of my tears and turned to him.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
"I know that's not how that should have happened, but maybe you should tell them." Joe said wrapping his arms around my waist.
"I just don't want them to feel sorry for me. I don't need pity."
"Their your family. I understand why you don't want to tell your parents but you could tell your brothers. They wouldn't treat you differently. I didn't did I? "
"No. I guess you didn't."
He kissed me and led me back out to my brothers.
"Okay. I'll talk." I said sitting down.
"No. If your not ready, or don't want to you don't have to." Riley said.
"No I should."
They waited.
"I got these scars from being raped."
"What?" Allen exclaimed.
"Who?" Riley asked. "
When?" Ryan asked.
"A couple years ago, Trevor and I reconnected and he attacked me, so I went to stay with Joe. But then I found out it wasn't Trevor who was after me. It was Jake. He found me at Joe's and raped me there. He also kidnapped Demi and Sterling. It was horrible."
"That's horrible. Your okay now though right?" Allen asked.
"Yeah. I'm better now."
"Jake was the guy you dated before Joe freshman year right?" Riley asked.
"Yeah."
"That's so random though. Why him? Why then?"
"I don't know. He had some issues back in high school too. I don't know why he decided to get me then though. It was a random attack."
"I'm so sorry Miley. I shouldn't have treated you that way and trying to get you to tell before you wanted too." Allen said coming over to me and hugging me.
"It's okay. Joe's been trying to get me to tell you guys for a while now. I just didn't want you to treat me differently."
Ryan and Riley came and hugged me as well.
"You know you can tell us anything, and we won't judge or think of you any differently." Ryan said.
"I know. Thank you."
The rest of the night went smoothly, and at 10 p.m., my brothers went to bed. Joe and I were sitting on the couch watching TV when I heard a noise.
"What was that?" I asked sitting up.
"I didn't hear anything." Joe said.
I got up from the couch and went out the front door, to the side gate and saw it was wide open. I paSterlinged and ran back into the house.
"What is it?" Joe asked seeing worry on my face.
"The gate is open." I said moving past him and down the hall to my brother's room.
Maybe it was one of the boys sneaking out. I flipped on the light, and sure enough Riley and Ryan were gone.
"Turn off the damn light!" Allen yelled putting his pillow over his head.
"Where did Ryan and Riley go?"
"Probably some party."
"Why didn't you go?"
"Because I knew you'd find out. Mom and dad don't have as good hearing as you. So why bother getting in trouble?"
"You really are the smart one." I said impressed.
"Duh."
I turned off the light and left the room.
"What's going on?" Joe asked.
"Ryan and Riley snuck out."
"What are you going to do about it?"
An evil smile spread across my face.
Joe went home around midnight.
I heard Riley and Ryan come home at around two in the morning. I waited until about four in the morning and went into my brother's room, covered up Allen and made sure he'd stay asleep. I turned on the light and woke up the other two.
"Guys wake up! You're going to be late!"
They didn't move. I went over and jumped on Ryan's bed first.
"Wake up! You're going to be late for school!"
"Five more minutes!" Ryan begged.
"No. I let you guys sleep in too late already!"
They both moaned and got up.
They looked awful. They had red puffy eyes, with bags under their bags.
"What time is it?" Riley moaned.
"7:40 a.m."
"But how is that possible? We've only been home for a few hours." Ryan said.
"What? You guys have been sleeping since 10:00 p.m." I said pretending I had no idea what they were talking about.
"No. You think we went to sleep at 10:00 p.m. when really we snuck out and went to the prison." Ryan said in a daze.
"Shh! Ryan! We can't have Miley hear you!" Riley said.
They were both clearly out of it.
"Why would you go to the prison?" I asked totally thrown off.
"To see Jake, and let me tell you it wasn't pretty." Riley said laughing.
I went into the kitchen and got a large plastic bowl, then filled it up with cold water and went back into the room and splashed it on Riley and Ryan.
That woke them up instantly.
"What was that for?" Ryan asked mad.
"Why the hell would you go to the prison? What were you thinking? Wait. I doubt you were. Do you have any idea what you've done?" I yelled.
"Look, can we talk about this after school? I don't want to be late again."
"It's four in the morning stupid. I woke you up early to teach you a lesson for sneaking out to go to some party. But now that I know where you really were we have plenty of time to talk."
"Four in the morning? Are you crazy?" Ryan asked mad.
"Will you be quiet? The good brother is trying to sleep." I yelled back.
"Well you yelling isn't helping either!" Riley yelled.
"Fine. Go back to sleep. I'm going to need you to be able to focus when we talk." I said stomping out of the room.
I couldn't believe what they had done. Why would they do that? What is it that possesses a person to do that? I was beyond angry. Why? That was the question that kept coming to mind. I was glad I didn't have work that day. I wouldn't have been able to focus on the teens.
When it really came time for my brothers to be awake, I didn't say a word to Ryan or Riley. The drive to school was also silent. Allen was the last one out of the car.
"Allen it's time to get out of the car."
"They told me what happened. Don't be to mad at them." He said before getting out of the car.
I drove off, and knew exactly where I needed to go.
I walked up to one of the guards and asked to see a prisoner. He then led me to a small room with only two chairs and a table. I sat down and waited. Then I saw him, only he had a black eye.
"Well look who it is." Jake said sitting down.
"Nice black eye. Your boyfriend beat you up?" I said bitterly.
"Ha-ha, so funny. But no, your brother actually gave me this."
I cringed.
"Oh. So you didn't know. I'm assuming you recently told them, because why else would they come now and be this angry?"
"This was part of the reason why I didn't want to tell them."
"Obviously that didn't work."
"Look, I came because I want to know what my brothers said to you."
"Oh really now?" he asked smirking.
"I think you really came here because you just want to see me."
"No. I want to know why my brothers came."
"Can't you guess? They wanted to hurt the guy that hurt their sister."
Jake was amused.
I stayed silent.
"So what's the real reason you came here?"
What was the real reason I came?
"I just wanted to know why my brothers came, and now I know."
"Something you don't know is that they were slightly intoxicated." Jake said.
"Well, then I guess we're done here." I said, standing up.
"Stop by anytime." He said winking at me and standing up as well.
I said no more and walked toward the door.
"Oh and Miley, you look good."
He gave me a creepy smile and was then taken away.
I looked down at my arms and ran my fingers across where I once had a cut and now have a scar. I knew I shouldn't have gone there, I shouldn't have seen him. But part of me just needed to. Why did I need to do this? Well, to be honest, I don't know. I just shook off what I was thinking and drove back to my parent's house.
When I got there, I found Demi sitting on the pig bench in the front yard.
"Hey. What are you doing here?" I asked walking up to her.