Chapter three

"Candi's Secret"

Candi's P.O.V.

I can't believe it. I need help. I really shouldn't do this. Alot of people are depending on me. I wanna give them a good show. But...Im afraid. Okay, just do it. It's not that hard. Alot of celebrities have done this.

I closed my eyes, and held the razor to the edge of my wrist. I was just about to slide it quickly across, when my sister, Brandi, who's four, called me to come downstairs.

Great. Another interuption. "Coming!" I hate my family.

I pulled down my sleeve, put the razor back onto the bathtub, and put the pills back into the medicine cabinet. I opened the bathroom door, and turned the light off. As fast as I could, I stomped my way down the stairs and into the livingroom, where my family was sitting, waiting patiently for me.

"Candi, have a seat." My mother gestured her hand toward the empty chair next to her. I sat down. "We are very disapointed. Holly Fontana's new single, "What's it gonna be?" is now number 54 on the charts."

I swallowed my gum, hoping they wouldn't see. I wasn't allowed to chew gum. Only Brandi was.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" My dad asked me with a snappy tone. I sighed, and my toes curled in my shoes. I knew what was about to come. I just had to live with it.

"Im sorry." 'Im sorry.' That's all I said. I was about to get beaten again, and all I said was 'Im sorry'. As my father stood up and walked toward me, and my mother covered Brandi's eyes, I shut mine as well. I didn't want to have to see it. Feeling it hurt bad enough. I counted to seven in my head, then he took one hit. I screamed. It hurt. I counted to fourteen, he slapped me twice. Once on the left cheek, once on the right. I opened my eyes to see if it was over. It wasn't. He grabbed my arms, squeezed them tight, bruising them, then he threw me against the brick wall, where the fireplace is. The firebrush landed on my lap. My hands were covered in soot. My hair was a mess by this point. My left eye was black and purple. He came up to me, and punched me. This time, harder. I was starting to cry. My mascara-tear had reached the edge of my chin, and was about to fall. I quickly wiped it away, then stood up. My arms were bruised. My eye was black and purple, my cheeks were pink, I hoped it was over. He pointed me to the stairs, and kicked me, pushing me to where my face landed hard on them. I got mascara all over the stair. I knew I'd have to clean that up, later. I was grounded. All because my dumb song was 54 on the charts. I'd hated to have seen what would have happened if it wasn't even on the charts.

I made my way back up to my room, and shut the door. I flung myself onto the bed in pain, and cried into my pillow. I rose my head up quickly and stared at the window.

I have to go to Jake's. It's the only place Im safe. God, please let Jake be home!

I grabbed my things, and tossed them out the window, they landed into the bush. I found my rope, and threw it out the window, then climbed out. I landed into the bush, as well. I found the sensation of stinging on my cheeks grow more and more painful each second. I grabbed my things and ran. I ran. I ran far away. All the way to Jake's house.

Jake's P.O.V.

"Okay, as usual there is nothing on." I was talking to myself again. My head was worried about Candi, and my heart was worried about Miley. I didn't know what to do. I was caught between two girls. Every guy's worst nightmare! Which is why Tv always helps get my mind off of Miley and Candi.

The Television

"Hi. And welcome to "This week in Hollywood". Im Bree Samuels. With me now is Jake Ryan and co-star Holly Fontana here...with me...to talk about a few upcoming episodes of Zombie High! So Jake, I..."

Jake

"Okay, nothing good on that channel." So, once again, I flicked to another one.

The Television

"For a dead girl, I've never felt so alive."

"Then why did you run away from me?"

"Dont you see? Our love could never be. We could never be together."

"Well, maybe this will change your mind..."

"Stop. The reason our love could never be is because...I love demon dog!"

Jake

"Well, then why dontcha go makeout with him!"I flicked the tv off. Nothing good on anyway. Too bad my parents weren't home. Otherwise, I'd have other things to do. Instead of babysitting my baby sister. Who wouldn't stop crying. There was a knock at the door. I walked over and answered it.

"Candi. What are you doing here? Oh my god. Don't tell me they..." I began.

"They hit me again, Jake." Candi was crying. I felt so bad for her. It breaks my heart to hear of someone abusing their child.

I threw my arms around her neck, grabbing my elbows from the other side, and she reached her arms under, and around to my shoulders. I could feel her crying into my shirt. It was so sad. I almost started crying. But, I couldn't. I had to be strong for her. I decided to let her stay at my house. Mom and dad wouldn't care. They know what was going on. I told them. But I promised Candi I wouldn't tell anyone else. That's why I couldn't tell my three other best friends, Lilly, Oliver, and Miley.

She pulled away from me. "I need to stay here for a while."

phew.

"Sure. You know you're always welcome here, okay?" I reached my arm out, and rubbed her shoulder. She looked a little uncomfortable, so I stopped. She went and layed down on my couch. I covered her up with a blanket, and turned off the light. I was passing through, and almost headed up to the stairs, when someone knocked on the door. I opened it.

"Miley."

"Hey Jake." Miley smiled at me.

She's so beautiful. But why did she choose now to come over? Now. When I have a pretty girl asleep on my couch.

"What are you doing here?"

I sound like a dumb fat oaf. Strike one.

"I just wanted to come and see you. I just finished watching our episode of Zombie High, and it reminded me of you, so I thought I'd come over." She was smiling so pretty. I really didn't want to kick her out.

"That's sweet, but you have to leave."

Strike two.

"Well, I just thought that maybe we could get back to-" She began.

Just then, a call from the living room, ruined everything.

"Hey, Jake? Can you bring me your football tshirt? I need something to sleep in other than this." Yep, it was Candi.

"Candi?" Miley asked with a puzzled face.

"Miley?" Candi asked with a puzzled face.

Strike three, and Im out!