I felt a hand laid on my shoulder, and I shyly looked up. "Hey...its ok. I know what its like. Youre aint the only one who hears this" I looked into Kenny's eyes and I saw hurt. I could tell that those eyes have seen some terrible things.
I wonder if his family is just as bad as mine. I looked down at his sister and started to panic. Was their dad like mine?
I hope not. No one should have to go through what I go through. "I uh I should take her in and try to find something for us to eat. Ill see you soon?" I hope this is going the way I hope its going. Kenny smiled that smile that makes his nose wrinkle up and his eyes squint. I find it so cute. "Of course. Its the weekend so maybe we can hang out. Get to know each other better" Yes! Maybe I'll have a friend after all. "I would like that" We said our goodbyes and made plans for the fallowing day. At 12:30 we were to meet at Stark's Pond.
I turned and look at the dreaded door. I slowly opened it just to have a beer bottle thrown at my head. "WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN?" I groaned and looked at the man I call father. "I was at school remember?" I hope I don't get out of line tonight.
I don't want Kenny to see me bloodied. "I told you, I needed you home today. I could'nt find you. Now go put that cry baby into her room and come out here." Shit this wasn't going to be good. I quickly walked down the hall towards Erin's room. I don't want anything to happen to her tonight, I couldn't save her the other night from being hit on. I can't stand it when she comes crying into my room with a red mark on her face and bruises on her arm. All she wanted was food. I sat her down on the mattrice and looked her into those big brown eyes. "No matter what you hear, do not leave this room until I come get you, do you understand me?" I hated being so hard on her when these situations come up. I just didn't want her to get into the crossfire. Erin shook her head nervously with tears rimming her eyes. "Please be careful" God I love her innocence. I kissed her forehead and started walking to the living room. "Bitch what took you so long?" I calmly looked at him and did my best to sound respectful. Maybe it won't happen tonight. "Sir, I was just putting Erin to bed.
She's so tired from school, that I had to make sure she was ok" He seemed to accept this answer. "You're so worthless, your mom should have aborted you like I wanted. Then maybe I would'nt be stuck with your worthless mother and that ugly brat" I clenched my fists together, making my knuckles turn white. Father saw this and stood up from the beaten down couch. "Oh, did I make you mad? Did I say something to upset you" I tried taking calming breaths. I will not fight with him tonight, I will not fight with him tonight, I will not- While my eyes were closed and reapeating the same thing over and over again, I felt a hard fist come into contact with my jaw. I was sent flying to the ground and felt blood trickle down my chin. Before I would even get up all the way, a hard kick colided with my stomach, knocking the air out of me. "YOU ARE MINE ELLA" He never gets my name right. I knew what was coming next, so I braced myself. Father grabbed my long red hair and started dragging me to my room. I started kicking and screaming, knowing it would'nt help me any. "Shut up!" When we got to my room he threw me on the bed and locked my door. Why did this had to happen tonight? HE walked over, taking his penis out of his boxers. I closed my eyes tight and braced myself once again. This is for Erin, This is for Erin, this is for Erin. Next thing I knew, he was on top of me again.
An hour or so later I was laying on my bed, in the fetal position, naked and crying. Why did'nt my mother stop this? I knew that she knew this happen. If Kenny knew this happened, he would never want to be my friend. He would think this is discusting. I take deep breaths and put on my big sister face. I went over to my closet and put on clean clothes. I could'nt dare to put on the clothes I had on earlier. I had already showered and scrubbed the memories away. I got into my secret capartment in the floor boards. I got out the cookies, apple, and juice box I stolen earlier for Erin. I peaked my head out from my door to only hear my father snoring loudly. I quickly made my way over to Erin's room and opened the door. She was on her bed atempting to do her homework for herself. I soaked in this scene, because it just warmed my heart. "Hey baby. I brought you something." I held out the few things I've had kept hidden all day. Her face lit up and ran over to me. she wraped her small arms around me and kept thanking me over and over again. I smiled my soft smile. "You're welcome. You got your homework done?" I always made sure she did good in school, even if I did'nt do well most of the time.
Im not stupid or anything, just more important things are on my mind. "Yes I did!" she was so proud of herself when she didnt need help. "Well ok, just eat your food and then head to bed. You get to go to a friends house tomorrow" Happily, she ate her food and got into bed to fall asleep. I turned on her night light and shut off the rest of the lights and head into my own room. I laid on my bed staring up at the ceiling. I waasn't tired so I pulled out my phone.
I scrolled down my contacts and saw Kenny's number. The sneaky bastard must have put his number in when I was fighting. I inhaled a deep breath and started texting him. "Hey Kenny. You up?" A few moments went by and I got a text. Excited, I open up the message. "Hey Ellie. Yea I'm up, what are you doing up?"
"Bad night"
"Parents?"
"Yea. It got bad but I don't really want to talk about it"
"Yea I understand. Things were a little crazy over here to"
"Wanna talk about it?" If he talked about his problems maybe I'll be able to open up to him. I just met him today but it feels like I've known him for a while. I got a text just moments later. This is the big truth.
"Yea sure. But I would rather talk about it in person. I know we are going to hang out tomorrow but could you meet me?"
I thought about this before texting back. I've snuck out before, and the air would feel nice after what what happend earlier..I usually go for a walk afterwards anyways. "Yea sure. Wanna meet at the end of the block?"
"Yea. 5 minutes?"
"Sounds good. See you then"
"Ok beautiful ;)" That last text made me blush. I have never been called beautiful, ever. Could he be flirting? No, who would want to be with me? He got to be just messing with me.
After getting my hoodie, shoes, and hopping out of my window, I was on my way. As I near the corner, I saw someone standing at the end with an orange parka on. I smiled to myself, he was already there. I knew something happend because he had the hood covering his whole face. "Kenny!" He turned torwards me and I could tell me was smiling, his eyes was scrunched up. As I near him, I could tell there was horror in his eyes. Shit I should have looked in a mirror before I left.
I know I must have at least a cut, if not a bruise on my face. He pulled off his hoodie, and I saw the cut on his forhead, swollen lip, and black eye. We look at each other in the eyes and said at the same time, "What happen" Then, I knew, we both go through the same problems. Except I know that his father don't rape him on most nights.
I did'nt know what to say, but all the emotions of home, having someone out there that goes through what I do, and kept everything bottled up, started to show. I started to cry hystarically. I had my face buried into my hands, not remembering Kenny was there. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close so I could cry into his chest.
I wrapped my arms around him and clung onto his shirt. Kenny started to pet my head, whispering sweet things into my ear. "Shhhh its ok. Let it out. It's going to be alright"
After a few moments of this, I lift my head off of his chest and rub the tears out of my eyes. I was so embaressed. I could'nt believe that I just cried in front of him.
"I'm sorry. I did'nt mean to cry like that, I don't know what came over me" Kenny looked at me and smiled. "Hey, it's ok. You just needed to let it out. And honestly I was kinda worried"
That last part caught me by surprise. I looked up to him and saw that he had his hand on the back of his neck, rubbing it like he was just as embaressed as I was. His face was red and looking off to the side. "Are you ok?" I wanted to know, his wounds look worse then mine. Mine are more emotional, and scars that you can't see unless I was undressed. "Yea I'll be fine. But what about you?" As he said this, he brought his hand up to my face and gently ran his thumb over my lip, where it had a small cut. I winced a little, not being used to being touched unless a man wants something from me. But the gentlness was nice, different. Before even thinking, I spoke my mind. "Yea I'll be fine. My wounds are more emotional, and you can't see the scars unless I was undressed" He looked confused at this. Maybe I could give hints on what really happens at home without saying it outright. I felt the urge of telling someone, finally exposing my secret. "What do you mean" I knew I had to say something. I thought about what to say, still in Kenny's arms. "Well..our abuse may be the same in some things, but they are also different. I am a girl and you are a boy. Im sure your father hits you, and so do mine, but he also do other things" I said all this while looking down, because if I don't I might chicken out. After I was finished I looked up and saw Kenny's eyes wide open and his mouth open in an O shape. I think he gets what I'm saying. He starts stuttering, so I'm sure he knew what I ment. "y-you mean...
your father..goes into your room at night?" My face starts to get red and tears start to stain my cheeks once again. I did'nt mean to tell him yet, and I'm still not sure why I told him. I slowly nodded my head up and down. I was waiting for him to push me away and run back to his house, because the only man to have ever touched me was my own father. The thought even made me sick. "You're the only one who knows, please don't tell anyone" I whispered. He pulled me to his chest once again, and I started crying hard for a second time. Maybe he won't go anywhere.