CHAPTER 3
The next morning came and I got up out of bed. I walked into the bathroom and looked into the mirror. My lip was split and there was a bruise around my neck. There was no way that I was going to be able to cover up this time. I walked over and layed down in bed.
"You're going to be late!" I heard my dad yell as he pounded on the door.
"I'm not going," I said as I layed in bed.
"Good, but I better not catch you with that Jack again," my dad said before he walked away from my door.
I layed in bed and waited for my dad to leave. I just wanted to leave right then and there. My dad walked out to his car and got in. He pulled out of the driveway and left. The phone started to ring and I walked over to it.
"Hello," I said as I answered it.
"Hey. Good morning," I heard Jack say.
"Hi," I said as I sat down on my bed.
"You alright?"
I felt tears coming on and I sat there trying to hold them back.
"Lacy?"
"I'm fine," I said as I let a sob out.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Jack, I'm not coming to school today. You better go before you're late," I said before I hung up the phone.
"Wait," Jack said as he tried to keep me on the line.
He heard the dial tone and hung up the phone.
"Everything okay?" Evelyn asked as she looked over at Jack.
"Remember that girl that I was telling you about?" Jack asked as he got up and got his coat on.
"Lacy? Yeah, I remember her. Why? Something happen?" Evelyn asked as she got a worried look on her face.
"I think something is going on with her and her dad. Ma, can I go there? She's not going to school and I'm worried that something happened," Jack said as he looked at his mother.
"Okay, Jackie, but just this one time," Evelyn said as she smiled at Jack.
"Thanks, Ma. Bobby, I need your car," Jack said as he looked at his brother.
"Yeah, yeah," Bobby said as he continued to watch the hockey game.
Jack got the keys and walked out to Bobby's car. He drove to my house and got out of the car. He walked to the front door and rang the door bell. I walked to the door and opened it. I saw Jack standing there and I backed more behind the door.
"Hi, Jack," I said as I tried to hide myself.
"Can I come in?" Jack asked as he looked at me.
"Yeah," I said as I moved aside. "Aren't you supposed to be at school?" I asked as Jack walked in.
"Yeah, but I wanted to check-," Jack stopped in mid-sentence as he saw the cut on my lip and the bruises around my neck. "Wh-what happened?"
"That's what I get for hanging out with a friend," I said as I looked at Jack.
"Look, you need to get out of here. You need to get help-,"
"Jack, I tried that before. My dad lied to the cops and told them that nothing happened. He said that I was clumsy and that I fell or I ran into something. They never believe me," I said as I walked away from Jack.
"Listen, my Ma might be able to help you. Just give her a chance," Jack said as he followed me. "She helped me when I was in trouble."
I stopped walking and turned around. I looked at Jack.
"I went through a tough past. I was getting abused by different families. I went from foster home to foster home until finally, I landed in Evelyn's house. She took me in as one of her own and raised me. She will take you in and help you," Jack said as he got closer to me. "Please let me help," Jack said with pleading eyes.
"Look, my dad won't be home until this afternoon. I have to be back by then," I said as I looked at Jack.
"Okay. Good enough."
I got changed into jeans, a t-shirt, and a hoodie. I threw my hair up in a ponytail and left the house with Jack. We got to the house and Jack walked me up the steps. He opened the front door.
"Ma! I'm back!" Jack yelled as he hung up his coat.
I saw an older lady walk into the living room and over towards me and Jack.
"Ma, this is Lacy. Lacy, this is Evelyn," Jack said as he introduced us.
"Hi. It's so nice to meet you. Jackie's been talking so much about you," Evelyn said as she shook my hand.
"It's nice to meet you too," I said with a smile as I shook Evelyn's hand.
I heard footsteps coming down the steps and saw another man that was built.
"Bobby, this is Lacy. Lacy, this is my brother, Bobby," Jack said as he looked at Bobby.
"Hi. So, you're the girl that Fairy's been talking about," Bobby said as he wrapped his arm around Jack's shoulder.
"Bobby, manners," Evelyn said as she looked over at Bobby. "Lacy, I was just making some breakfast. Could I interest you in some?"
"Sure," I said as I looked at Evelyn.
"Alright," Evelyn said as she walked back into the kitchen.
I followed Jack and we sat down at the kitchen table. Evelyn placed a plate in front of me that had eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast. I started to eat, glancing over at Jack every once in awhile.
"Jack, could you give me and Lacy a minute?" Evelyn asked as she looked over at Jack.
"Yeah," Jack said as he got up and looked at me before he left the kitchen.
"So, Jack tells me that you've been having some trouble at home," Evelyn said as she sat down beside me at the table.
I nodded my head and then looked over at Evelyn.
"Want to talk about it?" Evelyn asked as she held her coffee cup.
I thought for a second and then nodded my head.
"Is it your dad?" Evelyn asked as she looked at me.
"Yeah. He gets mad easily and takes it out on me," I said as I looked down at my plate.
"Well, a pretty young woman like you shouldn't have to go through that. I've helped hundreds of kids out and if you would like to, I could help you out, too," Evelyn said as she moved her hand over to mine. "You don't deserve to go through what you are going through," Evelyn whispered as I looked into her eyes.
I nodded my head as tears rolled down my cheeks. Evelyn got up and came over to me. She pulled me close to her and held me as I sobbed. Jack stood in the doorway as Evelyn looked over at him. She pulled back once I had calmed down and looked at me. She handed me a Kleenex and I wiped tears away.
"You're going to be okay. Just hang in there until I talk to the caseworkers down at the office," Evelyn said as she looked at me with a smile.
Evelyn stood up and Jack came over and sat down with me. I looked over at Jack.
"I'm going to go to the office now. You guys need anything, just call," Evelyn said as she walked out of the kitchen.
"You gonna be okay?" Jack asked as he handed me another Kleenex.
"Yeah. Thanks for bringing me here," I said as I wiped more tears off my cheeks.
"You're welcome. I told you, she raised me. She can help anyone," Jack said as we sat there.
We hung out a little more until it was time for me to go back to my house. Jack drove me to the house and thank God, my dad wasn't home.
"Thanks again," I said before I got out of the car. "I owe you."
"Nah," Jack said as he walked me to the door. "Need anything, just call," Jack said as he made the phone gesture with his hand.
"I will, I said as I looked at Jack. "Thanks again," I said as I opened the door.
I walked into the house and closed the door behind me. I waved at Jack before he backed out of the driveway. He left and I smiled as I walked to the kitchen to get something to drink. A couple minutes had passed and I heard my dad come into the house. He walked to where I was and took the glass out of my hands.
"You think that I'm fucking stupid!" my dad yelled as he threw the glass against the wall. "You think that I'm that fucking stupid!"
"What? I didn't do anything," I said as I backed up into the stove.
"You were fucking with that boy again. I came home and you weren't here. So, I left. I was out to find you and I saw that same car at the boy's house. You think that I'm that fucking stupid!" my dad yelled as he grabbed me and pushed me up against the stove.
"Dad, stop!" I yelled as I tried to get him off of me.
"You fucking lied and I'm sick of you going behind my back! I told you not to make friends and you didn't listen to me!" my dad yelled as he pushed me up against the stove harder.
"Dad, that hurts," I said as I winced.
He lifted his hand up and punched me in the face. I placed my hand over my cheek and he pushed me down to the floor. I tried to protect myself the best that I could. He grabbed a rolling pin and started to beat me with it.
"Stop!" I yelled as I tried to protect my body from getting hurt worse.
My dad continued to beat me and then his cell phone started to ring.
"You're fucking lucky," he said as he took his cell phone and answered it.
I got up off the floor and ran to my room. My whole body hurt and I was bleeding from my mouth. I sat down in the corner and rested my head on my knees as I tucked them up to my chest.
Later that night, I was sitting there. It was raining outside and I wanted to get away from everything. I quietly walked out of my room and down the hall. I noticed that my dad was asleep. I walked towards the front door and opened it quietly. I ran out the door and down the sidewalk. It was down pouring and lightning, but I didn't care. I wanted to get away from that house. I walked the whole way to Evelyn's house and I walked up the steps. I was soaking wet and in pain, but I didn't care. I knew that Evelyn would help me. I lifted my arm and knocked at the door. The door opened and Bobby was standing there. I felt my knees give out from the pain and I started falling to the floor. Bobby caught me and held me up.
"Jack!" Bobby yelled as he carefully lowered me to the floor.
Jack came running down the steps and saw me standing there.
"Oh my god, Lacy!" Jack yelled as he kneeled down beside me.
Evelyn heard all the commotion and came to where we were. She saw Bobby holding me and Jack was holding onto my hand.
"Oh my god!" Evelyn yelled as she ran over to me.
She noticed the bruises and cuts all over my face.
"Jack, go upstairs and get the First-Aid Kit," Evelyn said as she looked at me. "Bobby, bring her over to the couch," Evelyn said as she walked into the living room.
Bobby lifted me up and carried me to the living room. He carefully layed me down on the couch as Jack came running down the steps with the First-Aid Kit. He handed the kit to Evelyn and she opened it up.
"Did he do this?" Jack asked as he kneeled down beside me.
"Yeah," I said as I winced in pain.
"It's gonna be okay," Jack said as he held my hand.
Evelyn cleaned my cuts up and bandaged them. I layed there with tears coming out of my eyes.
"Jack, take her upstairs and get her something to wear. We need to get her out of those wet clothes. I'm going to call the police," Evelyn said as she stood up and went into the kitchen.
Jack carefully wrapped his arm around me and helped me up off the couch. I winced as I stood up. Slowly, we walked to the steps. He helped me up them and walked me to his bedroom. I sat down on his bed.
"I'll be right back. I'm going to get some towels," Jack said as he ran into the bathroom.
He came back and layed the towels on the bed. He walked over to his closet and got a t-shirt out. He walked over to his dresser and got out a pair of black sweat pants. He walked over to me and layed them down on the bed beside me.
"I'm going to be right outside the door. Whenever you're done, just open the door, okay?" Jack asked as he looked at me.
I nodded my head and he left the room, closing the door behind him. I took the towels and dried myself off a little. I slowly stripped down and put on the dry clothes that Jack had layed out for me. I opened the door and walked back over to the bed. Jack walked into the room and leaned down in front of me.
"You okay?" Jack asked as he looked at me.
"No," I said as tears came down my cheeks.
"It's okay," Jack said as he pulled me close to him. "He's not going to hurt you, at least not in this house. You have me, Ma, Bobby. Don't worry, okay?"
Evelyn stood in the doorway.
"Jack, I want you to stay in here with her. Just leave the door open and if you need anything, just come and get me, okay?" Evelyn asked as she looked at the both of us.
"Yeah," Jack said as he looked over at Evelyn.
"I talked to the cops and I'm going to try to get this sorted out. Don't worry, okay? He's not going to hurt you anymore," Evelyn said as she looked at me. "Night, you two."
"Night," Jack and I both said in unison.
I sat there as tears rolled down my cheeks. Jack stayed kneeled down in front of me and looked at me. I couldn't believe that I actually had someone that cared about me right there in front of me. Jack grabbed one of his pillows and tossed it on the floor.
"What are you doing?" I asked as I wiped some tears away.
"I'm going to sleep down on the floor. I want you to be as comfortable as you possibly can," Jack said as he sat down on the floor.
I pulled the covers down slowly and layed down under the covers. Jack sat beside the bed and looked at me.
"I'll be right here, okay? I'm not going anywhere," Jack said as he looked at me.
"Thanks, Jack," I said as I looked over at him.
A few minutes had passed, and I started to doze off. Jack waited until I was sound asleep and then he layed down on the floor and fell asleep himself. I was finally with someone that actually cared about me, but would Jack and the rest of his family be able to save me before it's too late?
Thanks for all the reviews so far. I hope that everyone continues to read this story.