The Arms of an Angel

Chapter 4:

And though my heart is beatin for ya I can't stop cryin

~Ashanti, Foolish

" Come on family! The party is about to start." Chad yelled to his family.

Helga walked out holding the twins hands, " did you pack everything into the car?"

" If I pack anymore into that stupid car it would drag on the ground." he said with annoyance in his voice, " Now get in so we can go."

They piled into the car. As they drove along Helga looked at him, " Chad dear."

" What?"
" Umm I'm kind of expecting friends at the party and so…"

" Who…"

" Wait I'm not done…"

" I asked you WHO?"

" Phoebe and Her husband Gerald…"

" AND…"

" Arnold…"

" That weird headed guy from that stupid city?"

" Umm yeah."

" What the hell is he doing here?"

" I kind of invited them out here."

" WHY?"

" We were broken up then."

" That doesn't matter." He gripped the steering tightly causing his knuckles to turned white.

" Chad please." she said touching his arm gently.

Quickly he pushed her against the passenger window, " Don't touch me," he yelled pulling the car on the side of the road. Trent pulled his sister closer to him, " don't watch Jen just close your eyes," he whispered.

" When we get there don't talk to him or look at him am I clear?" he yelled banging her head against the window repeatedly.

" Yes god yes please let me go!" she screamed.

He released her and starting driving again. They reached the beach and chose a spot. Helga spread the blanket out while Chad went off to play Frisbee and the kids went to find their friends. She plopped down and took out her compact to inspect the latest damage. She didn't dare look in the car for fear of Chad hitting her again. " Hey stranger."

Helga glanced up. Shauna was standing there smiling. " I met your friends a few hours ago. They were looking for you did they find you?"

" Yeah."

" Did you tell them about the beach party?"

" Yeah they should be here after awhile."

" What happen?" she asked pointing to the forming bruises on her face.

" Oh accident." she said smiling in spite of herself.

" Uh huh. What's with the sweatshirt and pants? It's the middle of summer and it's like a million degrees out here."

" I'm just really cold today."

" Come on Helga. I may not be the smartest person on two legs but I know that you can not be cold I mean you are about to start sweating."

" It's nothing really."

" Yeah I know why you are wearing this stuff. It's because it hides this," she said rolling up the sleeve slightly revealing her wrist, which was covered in dark spots, " Your bruises. From where he's grabbed you and beat you. Helga why won't you let people help you?"

" He's getting help it's just taking a while to work."

" When has he been going to the so called anger management classes?"

" Straight after work. From 4:30 to 6:30."

" Helga people have seen him all over city between that time. He hasn't been going."

" Th…at's n..ot …true." she stuttered.

" Yes it is. I even seen him myself."

" why would he lie to me?"

" Because he wants to rule over you. He knows you're to afraid to leave him. That's what he uses against you."

" Helga!!" it was Phoebe, Gerald, and Arnold.

" Oh god." she whispered putting her head down.

" what?"

" It's Arnold. Chad told me to stay away from him."

They sat down, " Hey how are you?" Arnold said smiling slightly.

" Oh I'm good." she said chuckling nervously.

" That's good where are the kids?"

" with their friends."

" Oh."

After a few minutes Helga began to relax. Maybe Chad hadn't even noticed that Arnold was with her. Boy was she wrong. Out of nowhere he quickly yanked her up, " we're going home," he hissed in her ear, " Get up we need to take our blanket."

" don't worry about it Chad I'll bring back after the party." Shauna said, then realizing how stupid that was. If only she had let him take the blanket then she could bought her friend some time. " Fine whatever let's go." he said yanking her towards the car and nearly jerking her arm out of it's socket in the processes. Once they got home Trent and Jenna immediately rushed into their room and locked the door. " Come on Jen. Sit over here with me." he said patting a spot beside him. He was glad to be with his sister. He had always protected her. As he listened to sounds of glass breaking, his mother crying, and his father yelling he had made a vow, " I'll never be like him." he whispered watching his sister cry quietly on his chest.