CHAPTER TWO
When Lisa came, half an hour later, Wendy was dressed in a knee length jean skirt, a light pink t-shirt, and a darker pink zip up sweater. She straightened her hair and left it down, to cover what was visible of the bruise. She had gotten it a bit covered with foundation, but it was still pretty noticeable.
"Ready to party girlfriend?" Lisa screamed up the stairs.
Wendy turned off her light and grabbed her wallet off the bedside table. She stopped at the top of the stairs and shuddered. Remembering her dad, she touched the side of her head. It still hurt a lot.
"Look at you. Wow girl, you straightened you hair, I've never seen you like this, you're hot."
"Uhh, thanks..."
"Now come down here so I can get a better look at you."
Wendy slowly walked down the stairs to her best friend and hugged her.
"So, where exactly are we going Lisa?"
"Well, we're going to the bushes behind the park."
"Oh, ok, who's going?"
"Some people and someone that is interested in you."
Wendy looked at Lisa and thought about what she said. She shook her head, "Let's go."
As they were walking down the street, Wendy stopped Lisa, "Lisa, you're not trying to set me up are you?"
"Maybe, maybe not."
"Lisa."
"Ok, yes. It would do some good for you."
"I- I can't Lisa. You know I'm still not over Jake. You know I never will be."
"Wendy it's been a year, you can't go living your life like he's going to come back. He's gone, even if he is alive, do you think he will come back?"
"Actually I do if that's a problem. And plus, you don't know that he's not alive, you don't know. He might come back, he might phone me, you never know."
"I'm just worried about you girl. I never see you eat anymore, I am wondering if you even do. You're losing energy, shall I go on?"
"Ok, fine, I'm a little depressed, but I don't want to talk about it."
"That's the problem, you never do."
"Because it seems that there is nobody who has good advice. No offense to you or anything, but this is just the way I am."
"Tell your parents. They would be glad to listen."
Completely forgetting about the bruise on the side of her head, Wendy put her hair behind her ears, sighing.
"Whoa, Wendy, what's that?"
"What?"
"That bruise on the side of your head."
"O-oh, it's nothing, I just-just fell down the stairs."
"Wendy? What happened, you can tell me."
Wendy paced along the sidewalk. They had stopped. She tried not to cry again, but couldn't stop herself. She hated her friends seeing her like this.
"Wendy, why are you crying? I've never seen you like this."
"I'm not crying, there's something in my eye. Nothing wrong."
"Wendy, we're not moving until you say something."
"Nobody knows though."
"Well, I am your best friend. I swear I won't tell anyone."
"I hate talking about my problems."
"I know you do, and I wouldn't be asking if I wasn't really worried."
"Fine."
"Who gave you that bruise?"
"My....my dad."
Lisa's mouth widened, "Oh my god."
"They haven't been nice to me in six years Lisa. They yell at me for things I don't even do. They hate me because they think it's my fault that grandma died because she always 'wasted' her energy on me. They yell at me every night, and I don't eat because I never have an appetite."
"I had no idea, you always tell us how cool your parents are, I never would have guessed. Is there anything I can do?"
"Not unless you can bring back Jake or my grandma, no. I have hated my life for longer than I can remember. Jake was my only source of a little bit of happiness."
"Why don't you tell somebody? Like a social worker?"
"Because even though they don't love me, I still love them."
A tear ran down Lisa's face, followed by lots more.
"Lisa, don't cry, I am used to this pain, I just, it just still hurts a lot. I don't think I can go to the party tonight, do you want to come with me back to my place, my parents are out, they shouldn't be back for a while."
"OK, I'll just call Ash and tell him we won't be there."
"K."
Lisa took out her cell and dialed a series of numbers, then put the cell to her phone, "Hey, Ash- Yah I know we're late- No- Ash, listen, Wendy's kind of upset so we're not going to make it- Yah I know you like her- Ash I'm breaking up, can't hear you, sorry."
Lisa hung up the phone and they went back up to the house. They had been just half a block away, so it took only a little while to get there. When they were across the street, Wendy looked at the big house.
"Oh crap, my parents are home. Lisa, you should go to the party, ok, I'll be fine, they came home early I guess. I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yah. Positive. Bye, and Lisa?"
"What?"
"Thanks."
"No problem. Love you ok?"
"Ok, bye."
They hugged and went their separate ways. Wendy opened the big door and there was no sign of her parents, so she walked up the stairs with her head looking at the silly patterns on the rug. When she was at the top of the stairs, she saw two big black shoes. Her dad.
"So, Wendy, you told your mom."
"What are you talking about?"
"She talked to me in the car."
"W-where is mom?"
"She's at the club, I told her I forgot something."
Her dad looked very scary, she never realized it before. He had big bushy eyebrows and dark eyes. The dim light in the house made it look even scarier. His tall, muscular figure towered over her as he moved closer. Now she was looking straight up into those black eyes.
"Oh. Can I get by please."
"If you told your mom, you can tell other people too. Who have you told Wendy?"
"Nobody except mom, I swear."
"Are you lying?"
"Well, I- I told Lisa, but she won't tell anyone."
"Oh, so you were lying."
"Sorry. Dad, you're scaring me."
"Yah. I guess so, huh. No, let's make sure you don't tell anyone else."
Before Wendy could do anything, she felt two great big hands shove her down the stairs. She fell in a lump at the bottom of the stairs, and couldn't feel anything. When she thought nothing could get worse she saw the two big feet arrive after her.
"Now you're scared aren't you?"
"Daddy, please, I'm sorry."
"Wendy, Wendy, Wendy. Sorry just isn't enough. Now, before I go to meet your mother, I must make you realize how important it is not to tell anyone."
"Dad...no."
Wendy screamed as she felt her dad's boot in the side. Tears streamed down her face.
When she heard her dad's evil laughter go through the front door, she stayed lying down.
Wendy couldn't move. Her body ached way too much. So she just lied there, crying her eyes out.
"Help!" she tried to scream, but the ache in her side was too much for anyone to hear.
Just as she thought nothing could get worse, the door opened.
Please don't be dad, please. But it wasn't her father. It was Lisa.
"Hey Wendy, I saw your dad leave so I decided to bring the party to y- "
Lisa stopped when she saw her best friend suffering. She fell to Lisa's side and Started crying at the sight of her.
"Oh my god, Wendy, was this your father?"
Wendy tried to reply but gagged. When she saw a few other people come in and gasp, Lisa stood up.
"She fell down the stairs. Just like Wendy to do, eh."
Everyone laughed shortly and Wendy felt grateful for Lisa covering up for her.
Ash walked over and smiled, "Hey Wendy, hey Lisa, need help getting her up?"
"Yah Ash, you know me, I'm weak."
Everything in Wendy's vision started to get darker and darker, until finally she felt her eyes close.
Wendy awoke and sat up, screaming from the pain. Everything came back to her.
Two people she recognized to be Lisa and her mom came running in. "Oh, Wendy honey, Lisa brought you over, I'm glad you're up. Now, what happened?"
"My- I fell down the stairs."
"Oh, nasty fall wasn't it?" Mrs. Patoka said.
Lisa stared at Wendy with a sad look on her face, "Mom, can I talk to Wendy alone?"
"Sure, dear."
After the door shut, Lisa turned to Wendy with tears brimming her eyes.
"I'm fine."
"You're lying."
"Ok, so I don't feel so hot, but I will be fine. How long have I been out?"
"All night Wendy. Mind telling me what actually happened?"
"I fell down the stairs, I told you."
"Come on Wendy, tell me the truth, it's not like I don't know anyways."
"I- I can't," Wendy mumbled, remembering her dad's threats.
"Yes you can, you told me once, please Wendy, I haven't slept all night because I was wondering if you are okay."
"Only dad was home, I walked up to my room. He was at the top f the stairs. He found out I told mom. He started to threaten me....then he told me he has to make sure I wouldn't tell anyone else, then he pushed me and came down. He told me he had to make sure I know how important it was not to tell anyone, and then he kicked me in the stomach."
Lisa's eyes filled up with tears, and they all began rolling down her cheeks, "Wendy, I- I told my mom about him hitting you. I know I promised not to tell anyone, but I felt I had to. She said you could come live with us for a while. Please consider it."
Wendy started to cry, somebody actually cared about her.
"Oh yah, Wendy, do you know how your grandma died?"
"No. They didn't let me go to the funeral. Why?"
"We got a phone call last night. From her."
"How is that possible?"
"They lied to you. They put her in an old folks home so she wouldn't fill your head up with what they called useless junk. She's in the living room."
Wendy stopped crying. How could this be? Her grandma n this house.
"Lisa, how'd she know I was here?"
"She didn't say anything when I asked her. Should I tell her to come in, or do you want to go see her?"
"I can't move, so she should come in here. Do I look okay."
"Not really." Lisa held a compact mirror up to Wendy's face.
"Oh my god." Wendy had a black eye and a cut on her lip, which made it swell up. She just remembered when her dad kicked her. She lifted up part of her shirt and gasped. On the side of her stomach was a blue and purple bruise the size of the top of her dad's boot.
"Holy crap Wendy. I'll get you some pain killers."
"I want to see my grandma."
A few minutes later, a small woman with white hair walked in, "Wendy, is that you?"
"Grandma?"
"Yes child, it's me." The woman began to cry with tears of joy and sadness, "your friend told me what happened, I am so sorry."
"It's ok now that you're here."
Wendy hugged her grandma. Finally she knew the truth.
When Lisa came, half an hour later, Wendy was dressed in a knee length jean skirt, a light pink t-shirt, and a darker pink zip up sweater. She straightened her hair and left it down, to cover what was visible of the bruise. She had gotten it a bit covered with foundation, but it was still pretty noticeable.
"Ready to party girlfriend?" Lisa screamed up the stairs.
Wendy turned off her light and grabbed her wallet off the bedside table. She stopped at the top of the stairs and shuddered. Remembering her dad, she touched the side of her head. It still hurt a lot.
"Look at you. Wow girl, you straightened you hair, I've never seen you like this, you're hot."
"Uhh, thanks..."
"Now come down here so I can get a better look at you."
Wendy slowly walked down the stairs to her best friend and hugged her.
"So, where exactly are we going Lisa?"
"Well, we're going to the bushes behind the park."
"Oh, ok, who's going?"
"Some people and someone that is interested in you."
Wendy looked at Lisa and thought about what she said. She shook her head, "Let's go."
As they were walking down the street, Wendy stopped Lisa, "Lisa, you're not trying to set me up are you?"
"Maybe, maybe not."
"Lisa."
"Ok, yes. It would do some good for you."
"I- I can't Lisa. You know I'm still not over Jake. You know I never will be."
"Wendy it's been a year, you can't go living your life like he's going to come back. He's gone, even if he is alive, do you think he will come back?"
"Actually I do if that's a problem. And plus, you don't know that he's not alive, you don't know. He might come back, he might phone me, you never know."
"I'm just worried about you girl. I never see you eat anymore, I am wondering if you even do. You're losing energy, shall I go on?"
"Ok, fine, I'm a little depressed, but I don't want to talk about it."
"That's the problem, you never do."
"Because it seems that there is nobody who has good advice. No offense to you or anything, but this is just the way I am."
"Tell your parents. They would be glad to listen."
Completely forgetting about the bruise on the side of her head, Wendy put her hair behind her ears, sighing.
"Whoa, Wendy, what's that?"
"What?"
"That bruise on the side of your head."
"O-oh, it's nothing, I just-just fell down the stairs."
"Wendy? What happened, you can tell me."
Wendy paced along the sidewalk. They had stopped. She tried not to cry again, but couldn't stop herself. She hated her friends seeing her like this.
"Wendy, why are you crying? I've never seen you like this."
"I'm not crying, there's something in my eye. Nothing wrong."
"Wendy, we're not moving until you say something."
"Nobody knows though."
"Well, I am your best friend. I swear I won't tell anyone."
"I hate talking about my problems."
"I know you do, and I wouldn't be asking if I wasn't really worried."
"Fine."
"Who gave you that bruise?"
"My....my dad."
Lisa's mouth widened, "Oh my god."
"They haven't been nice to me in six years Lisa. They yell at me for things I don't even do. They hate me because they think it's my fault that grandma died because she always 'wasted' her energy on me. They yell at me every night, and I don't eat because I never have an appetite."
"I had no idea, you always tell us how cool your parents are, I never would have guessed. Is there anything I can do?"
"Not unless you can bring back Jake or my grandma, no. I have hated my life for longer than I can remember. Jake was my only source of a little bit of happiness."
"Why don't you tell somebody? Like a social worker?"
"Because even though they don't love me, I still love them."
A tear ran down Lisa's face, followed by lots more.
"Lisa, don't cry, I am used to this pain, I just, it just still hurts a lot. I don't think I can go to the party tonight, do you want to come with me back to my place, my parents are out, they shouldn't be back for a while."
"OK, I'll just call Ash and tell him we won't be there."
"K."
Lisa took out her cell and dialed a series of numbers, then put the cell to her phone, "Hey, Ash- Yah I know we're late- No- Ash, listen, Wendy's kind of upset so we're not going to make it- Yah I know you like her- Ash I'm breaking up, can't hear you, sorry."
Lisa hung up the phone and they went back up to the house. They had been just half a block away, so it took only a little while to get there. When they were across the street, Wendy looked at the big house.
"Oh crap, my parents are home. Lisa, you should go to the party, ok, I'll be fine, they came home early I guess. I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yah. Positive. Bye, and Lisa?"
"What?"
"Thanks."
"No problem. Love you ok?"
"Ok, bye."
They hugged and went their separate ways. Wendy opened the big door and there was no sign of her parents, so she walked up the stairs with her head looking at the silly patterns on the rug. When she was at the top of the stairs, she saw two big black shoes. Her dad.
"So, Wendy, you told your mom."
"What are you talking about?"
"She talked to me in the car."
"W-where is mom?"
"She's at the club, I told her I forgot something."
Her dad looked very scary, she never realized it before. He had big bushy eyebrows and dark eyes. The dim light in the house made it look even scarier. His tall, muscular figure towered over her as he moved closer. Now she was looking straight up into those black eyes.
"Oh. Can I get by please."
"If you told your mom, you can tell other people too. Who have you told Wendy?"
"Nobody except mom, I swear."
"Are you lying?"
"Well, I- I told Lisa, but she won't tell anyone."
"Oh, so you were lying."
"Sorry. Dad, you're scaring me."
"Yah. I guess so, huh. No, let's make sure you don't tell anyone else."
Before Wendy could do anything, she felt two great big hands shove her down the stairs. She fell in a lump at the bottom of the stairs, and couldn't feel anything. When she thought nothing could get worse she saw the two big feet arrive after her.
"Now you're scared aren't you?"
"Daddy, please, I'm sorry."
"Wendy, Wendy, Wendy. Sorry just isn't enough. Now, before I go to meet your mother, I must make you realize how important it is not to tell anyone."
"Dad...no."
Wendy screamed as she felt her dad's boot in the side. Tears streamed down her face.
When she heard her dad's evil laughter go through the front door, she stayed lying down.
Wendy couldn't move. Her body ached way too much. So she just lied there, crying her eyes out.
"Help!" she tried to scream, but the ache in her side was too much for anyone to hear.
Just as she thought nothing could get worse, the door opened.
Please don't be dad, please. But it wasn't her father. It was Lisa.
"Hey Wendy, I saw your dad leave so I decided to bring the party to y- "
Lisa stopped when she saw her best friend suffering. She fell to Lisa's side and Started crying at the sight of her.
"Oh my god, Wendy, was this your father?"
Wendy tried to reply but gagged. When she saw a few other people come in and gasp, Lisa stood up.
"She fell down the stairs. Just like Wendy to do, eh."
Everyone laughed shortly and Wendy felt grateful for Lisa covering up for her.
Ash walked over and smiled, "Hey Wendy, hey Lisa, need help getting her up?"
"Yah Ash, you know me, I'm weak."
Everything in Wendy's vision started to get darker and darker, until finally she felt her eyes close.
Wendy awoke and sat up, screaming from the pain. Everything came back to her.
Two people she recognized to be Lisa and her mom came running in. "Oh, Wendy honey, Lisa brought you over, I'm glad you're up. Now, what happened?"
"My- I fell down the stairs."
"Oh, nasty fall wasn't it?" Mrs. Patoka said.
Lisa stared at Wendy with a sad look on her face, "Mom, can I talk to Wendy alone?"
"Sure, dear."
After the door shut, Lisa turned to Wendy with tears brimming her eyes.
"I'm fine."
"You're lying."
"Ok, so I don't feel so hot, but I will be fine. How long have I been out?"
"All night Wendy. Mind telling me what actually happened?"
"I fell down the stairs, I told you."
"Come on Wendy, tell me the truth, it's not like I don't know anyways."
"I- I can't," Wendy mumbled, remembering her dad's threats.
"Yes you can, you told me once, please Wendy, I haven't slept all night because I was wondering if you are okay."
"Only dad was home, I walked up to my room. He was at the top f the stairs. He found out I told mom. He started to threaten me....then he told me he has to make sure I wouldn't tell anyone else, then he pushed me and came down. He told me he had to make sure I know how important it was not to tell anyone, and then he kicked me in the stomach."
Lisa's eyes filled up with tears, and they all began rolling down her cheeks, "Wendy, I- I told my mom about him hitting you. I know I promised not to tell anyone, but I felt I had to. She said you could come live with us for a while. Please consider it."
Wendy started to cry, somebody actually cared about her.
"Oh yah, Wendy, do you know how your grandma died?"
"No. They didn't let me go to the funeral. Why?"
"We got a phone call last night. From her."
"How is that possible?"
"They lied to you. They put her in an old folks home so she wouldn't fill your head up with what they called useless junk. She's in the living room."
Wendy stopped crying. How could this be? Her grandma n this house.
"Lisa, how'd she know I was here?"
"She didn't say anything when I asked her. Should I tell her to come in, or do you want to go see her?"
"I can't move, so she should come in here. Do I look okay."
"Not really." Lisa held a compact mirror up to Wendy's face.
"Oh my god." Wendy had a black eye and a cut on her lip, which made it swell up. She just remembered when her dad kicked her. She lifted up part of her shirt and gasped. On the side of her stomach was a blue and purple bruise the size of the top of her dad's boot.
"Holy crap Wendy. I'll get you some pain killers."
"I want to see my grandma."
A few minutes later, a small woman with white hair walked in, "Wendy, is that you?"
"Grandma?"
"Yes child, it's me." The woman began to cry with tears of joy and sadness, "your friend told me what happened, I am so sorry."
"It's ok now that you're here."
Wendy hugged her grandma. Finally she knew the truth.
