Cinnamon Spice- OMG! I can't believe you just now saw it. You poor deprived child. At least you've seen it now:)
elleestJenn- Yes. You will definitely find out the history with the boys who attacked Liz and the others. So keep an eye out for that. I am sorry about the missing other part of their routines. I was in a non descriptive mood that day and didn't think to add it. I apologize for that.
Chapter 3: Return of the Boy
DREAM
"Liz! Get in the closet! Hide. Now!" my brother yelled as he pushed me into the closet in his room. He'd cleaned out a special little spot in the back of it for me to hide in. I was always safe when I was with him. He made sure of that.
The heavy footsteps we were so accustomed to hearing came stomping into the room, slamming the door open and sending it crashing into the dresser next to it.
"You dropped out of college! What's the matter with you! I didn't sweat and break my back so you could drop out of school!" our father yelled as he flashed the notice letter in my brother's face.
"You didn't even pay for it!" my brother yelled back in anger at the fact that our father was trying to take credit for what he'd actually sweated and broken his back for. "And what sweating did you do! Your back is in perfect condition! You had other people do your dirty work. Don't take their credit!"
My father hit my brother hard in the side of his eye. "That's not the point!" my father yelled back. "This is going to reflect badly on me!"
After making sure his eyewas ok, my brother screamed, "You already look bad! You think people don't see the bruises on Liz's arms and face? You think they don't see when she's been crying and when she's been hurting! I can't just leave her alone with you! You'll kill her! So just get the Hell out of my room and leave me alone!"
"Don't you take that tone with me boy. Or I'll throw you and that little whore of a sister you've got out!"
My brother stopped instantly. He knew that if I was thrown out then I'd have to grow up in poverty; in the streets. So he stayed quiet.
"Ah ha! I knew I'd hit a sensitive spot. You do need me. I knew it. So you just hold your tongue from now on boy or I'll punish the both of you severely. Your stupid little sister will suffer for your stupidity. Is that what you want?" My father was now very close to my brother. I could see my brother clenching his fists.
"No."
My father hit him hard in the side of his stomach, causing my brother to fall to his knees. "No what? Respect me boy!"
"Sir." My brother said through clenched teeth as he struggled to breathe. I could tell by the utter look of repulsiveness alone that our father was drunk. My brother made a face like he was going to be sick, which meant my father's breath smelled strongly of alcohol.
"That's what I thought!" He kicked him in the side in the same spot and then stopped suddenly, a wicked look coming across his sweaty face. "Where's your sister?" my father said.
"She's in town today." he muttered.
"She better be. I don't feel like seeing her wretched little face today. She gets in my way." And with that our father was gone. My brother walked over to the door and closed it. Then he just leaned up against the wall and slid down it, sitting on the ground.
END DREAM
"Liz. Liz wake up. Wake up." I heard a comforting voice say. My eyes slowly opened. The tears burned my eyes and my vision was blury. I couldn't make out the person who was trying topull me out of my horrid dream. They wiped the tears from my eyes to reveal Jack's concerned face. He was still holding me from when we'd fallen asleep together in each other's arms. I had been crying and the tears had stained my face making it sticky and hot.
"Michael! Where's Michael?" I asked in a panicked voice. I began to sit up to look for him only to be stopped by a sharp pain in my side; my ribs.
"It's ok babe. It was just a dream. You were just dreaming. Calm down. Michael who?" he said, trying desparately to stop me from hurting myself.
I realized where I was and slowly sank back down into his protecting arms. It was still dark out. I must've woken up in the middle of the night. "I'm sorry Jack. I didn't mean to wake you." I whispered. But he had already fallen asleep.
He was the cutest sleeping boy I'd ever seen. "Goodnight Jack." I whispered before lightly kissing his cheek and sinking completely and comfortably back down into my place in his arms and falling asleep.
I was awakened by a body sliding out from underneath me. My bandaged body was picked up slightly and moved. My eyes fluttered open to reveal Jack sliding out of bed. "Um mm." I said in disagreement as I wrapped my arms around his ribcage. He was stuck.
"Come on babe. Lemme up. I gotta go get ready. Or else I won't be able ta stay heah 'cuz I can't pay."Jack pleaded with me.
I simply held tighter.
"Come on! You know I wanta stay. But I can't. Please lemme up. I promise I'll come back right when I get done sellin' ok?"
"Ummm." I groaned and released him.
He slid out of bed and kissed my cheek before leaving to get ready. As boys went past me, I heard various sayings: "Feel bettah South." or "See ya soon South." Race came by and sat with me before he left. Jack came by once more before leaving, kissed my cheek and said, "I'm really sorry I hafta go. I wish I could stay with ya but...gotta pay for me bed. I'll be back soon. I'll sell quick taday." he whispered into my ear.
I smiled as he kissed my cheek again and then fell asleep into a warm, nice dream. I dreamed of me and Jack. I dreamed that one day we get an apartment of our own and we have late night talks and sit up and stare at each other all night; just staring; taking in every detail of each other. I dreamed of taking him back to meet Michael and Jack and Michael beating up my father. I dreamed that the three of us kick my father out and Michael goes off to finish college. I dreamed that me and Jack move into my house and make it our own.
I was suddenly jolted awake by screams outside the window. It sounded like my boys screaming at someone nearby. I slowly and cautiouslysat myself up and walked over to the window, only wearing a bandage around the top of my body. I saw Jack and another boy surrounded by about 20 other guys. Most looked like 'Hattan boys. Jack's body language told me he was infuriated.
The boy he was beating up looked familiar, but I couldn't tell clearly what he looked like. Suddenly, it hit me. It was the boy; the boy that had attacked me.
Jack was screaming at him as he hit him over and over again. "I told ya not to come 'round heah again! I told ya what would happen! How da'ah ya show ya face heah aftah what you did! You son of a..." Jack screamed as he slammed him hard into the wall.
"JACK!" I cried from the window. I had grabbed a shirt by then to cover myself.
Jack stopped suddenly and released the boy, looking up to see me standing on the fire escape. The boy slid down the wall, crumpled and battered on the ground. Jack looked down at the boy in disgust and muttered, "I mean it. Don't ya evah show ya face he'ah again. If I see ya I'll kill ya." And with that he and the others walked away and into the L.H.
As the boys walked in, I stayed at my place beside the window, watching the boy on the street. He wasn't moving. I felt two strong arms around my shoulders and I leaned my head back on his shoulder knowing who it was. I kept my eyes on the lifeless boy.
"Don't stand heah and watch 'im. He ain't woith ya time." Jack whispered.
"But Jack, he hasn't moved since ya'll came in. Shouldn't we do something?" I asked.
"He desoives whatevah comes to him. I could ca'ah less if he dies out the'ah."
"Jack, don't say that." I said, turning around and snaking my arms around his neck as I faced him, his arms now around my waist.
"Why not? It's what I think."
I looked at him, pleading with my eyes not to leave the boy out there. "Jack it's not the right thing to do." I said simply.
Jack gave in and sighed. "Fine. I'll tell Kloppman to call the cops and report that he was beaten. Someone will come and get him.
I smiled a small smile and kissed his cheek before he walked away, and then turned back to watch the boy once more. But the boy was gone. "Jack." I said loudly enough for him to hear me.
Jack returned to my side and I turned to face him, a worried look engulfingmy features.
"What is it Liz?" he said with a look of concern.
"The boy. He's gone. He was just there. But now he's gone." A panick began to spread through my body.
"Isn't that what you wanted?" Jack asked, now looking slightly confused.
"I don't know where he is. Do you think he's gone for good. What if he's just outside. What if he comes in the night and..."
"If he knows what's good for 'im he won't come in a room wheah you'ah surrounded by guys that love ya and know how to fight for ya." Jack said smirking at me.
I immitated his smirk and wrapped my arms around his neck as he pulled me close. "Thank you for what you've done for me. You don't know how much it means to me." I whispered.
He saw right through my covering smirk and whispered back in reply, "Don't worry 'bout him. He won't hoit ya anymore. I promise. No one will hoit ya as long as I'm around."
Chills ran through the tips of my fingertips as his hot breath rushed across my chilled neck. I shivered and pulled him closer as he gripped the small of my back with intensity.
"Liz, will ya come out ontada fi'ah escape with me." he whispered before pulling back and looking into my eyes.
I nodded my head as he gently took my hand in his and lead me out onto the fire escape, closing the window behind him.
Hope ya'll liked this one. I know it took forever but it's here now. I was going through some stuff and was too busy but I hope this is good enough for your cravings. lol ok R&R please!