Clare's POV

Do I dare set foot in my house? I can almost picture what they look like right now. Pissed off as can be and standing up, waiting for me with their arms folded across their chests. Typical mother and father.

As I walked in, I saw exactly what I expected. Surprise, surprise…

Clare's mother began to speak. "What do you have to say for yourself young lady?"

She's definitely pissed off. Right as I was about to speak, I was interrupted by something.

My dad suddenly yanked me by the arm over in his direction. "Dad, you're hurting me!" I screamed.

"Clare Edwards! You NEVER had permission to leave this house! Now, I want the truth! And I mean all of it! What were you out doing tonight?"

"I just took a walk, that's all!" I cried.

It all happened so fast. My dad threw his hand back, and then struck me across the face. I was so shocked at that point that I couldn't even cry, although it hurt so much.

"DON'T YOU DARE LIE TO ME!" He just keeps on yelling louder and louder…

"Randall!" Clare's mother yelled. She looked just as shocked as I felt.

"SHUT UP! If you would have been keeping control over her like the mother you're supposed to be, this wouldn't have happened! She would have never sneaked out like this!"

My mother just stood there. She didn't have anything to say to him at this point. Well she may not, but I sure as hell do. "Sorry God, but this has gone way too far."

"What a fiery response from such a weak man. If you haven't noticed dad, YOU'RE the one who left us to go stay at a motel and run away from all of your problems. But I suppose what you do best is run away."

He stood there for a moment as if he were contemplating what I'd just said. But instead, he smacked me again and this time, that's not all he did. He pushed me backwards and I slipped over something falling towards the ground.

Before I could check to see what I had slipped on, my dad picked it up from under my leg and threw it against the wall. Whatever it was, it shattered.

My dad stormed out the door, leaving it open and then got in his car and sped off.

When I finally got up, I noticed that it was some sort of clear glass and clear liquid. I moved closer to it and it smelled horrible.

"So, he's been drinking."

My mom ran up to me and gave me a big hug. We both just started bawling. The tears had many different emotions to go along with them. Happiness, because all that chaos is done with, and then there's sadness, confusion, and anger all mixed into one.

This has to be the worst night of my life so far… First Eli, and now all of this.

My mom pulled away, looked at me and began speaking. "Clare, I am so sorry about all of this. Your father… Well… He was drunk. I know that's no excuse for letting him come in here and pull a stunt like this… I promise you that nothing like this will ever happen again as long as I'm your mother. What your father did was out of line."

I've heard that one before…

"Mom, what are you going to do?" I questioned.

"I think tomorrow, I'll go to the divorce lawyer…" She replied.

"But, mom-" I was cut off yet again.

"Sweetie, you have to understand that when something like this happens, it doesn't leave any of us in a good position. What will happen the next time he decides to go out to the bar and drink his sorrows away? I don't want to stick around to find out, Clare."

I hate to say it, but my mom is right. I'm still in shock from what happened tonight and I don't want to see my mom be the one to get hurt the next time… What he did to me is already bad enough.

"I think I'll go get in bed. I'll see you in the morning mom." I said after a few seconds.

"Okay sweetie, you try and get some sleep tonight. I love you."

"Love you too mom."

I went back into my room to change out of my clothes and into my PJs. A black tank top and pink shorts were all I could come up with.

After, I threw my PJs on, I went to the bathroom to examine the possible list of damages that my dad had done. There's some swelling starting up near the corner of my eye, where my dad struck me; twice.

My back was killing me and there's a huge mark on my arm from where he yanked me.

Something similar to that mark was on both of my shoulders since he also shoved me.

That seems to be it. If I'm going to school tomorrow, I need to cover up the soon-to-be bruise on the corner of my eye with some makeup.

I didn't even bother checking my computer to see if Eli had IM'd me. I went over to my bed, and checked the clock instead. This time it read 1:54 AM.

I need at least some sleep tonight.

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