"Cody, why did you go to the nurse?!"

I could hear his voice loud and clear, even through the booming thunder and pouring rain.

"Sorry, sir. I didn't-"

"I could've gotten into some serious trouble!"

"I know, sir. I-"

"And if I go down, I'm taking you with me!"

"Yes, sir. I know, sir."

He gripped the wheel tightly, furious, then pulled the car over. "Get out."

I looked at him. "What?"

"You heard me. Get out."

"But the house is, like, thirty minutes away. And that's if you're in a car. It'd take a lot longer for me to walk. And, on my ankle, I-"

"Get out!"

"Sir, I'm sorry! I wasn't trying to-"

"Get out of the f***ing car, Cody!"

Hesitantly, I pulled the handle, opening the door. I stepped into the rain. "Sir, I'm really sorry. It won't happen again. I promise, sir." I was already shivering from the cold, soaked from head to toe. "I'm sorry. I-"

"Shut the door, Cody."

I sighed. "Yes, sir." I did as I was told, then watched as the car headed down the street and out of sight.

"Jackson?!"

I looked next to me. "Mel?"

"Why are you walking in the rain?"

"Uh…I just felt like it."

"Do you want a ride?"

I was shivering. My shirt was plastered to my skin. My hair was dripping, stuck to the side of my face. My shoes squeaked with every step I took.

"Sure, Mel." I got into the car, soaking the velvet seat. I looked at it, then started to get back out. "I'm sorry, Mel. I don't wanna get everything wet."

"No, no. It's fine, Jackson."

"I'll just walk from here."

"Your house it over twenty minutes away."

"It's not that far."

"Yes, it is. Jackson, it's okay. Really. It'll dry."

I took my hand off the door handle, sighing. "Thanks."

"Thanks for the ride, Mel."

"No problem."

"I'll see you later."

"Bye, Jackson."

I stepped onto the porch.

There wasn't a roof on the porch. But there was a railing going all the way around it.

I walked into the house, soaked and shivering. I closed the door behind me.

My father got up off the couch and came to me. He suddenly punched my stomach.

I fell to the floor, the wind knocked out of me.

He kicked a few times.

I tried to take in a breath of air, but couldn't, my father never allowing me the time to do so.

I was almost out of oxygen when there was a knock at the door.

My father stopped. "Get rid of them."

I quickly took a breath. "Yes, sir." I slowly tried to push myself up.

There was another knock.

Impatient, my father grabbed the back of my shirt and threw me toward the door.

I hit it, then put my hand on the knob and pulled the door open, trying to act natural.

I looked out. "Mel?"

"Hey, Jackson. What was that noise? It sounded like something hit the door."

"Oh, uh…nothing."

"Well, anyways, I was wondering if, since I'm already here, we could finish up our history project."

"Um, I don't think-"

"Who's at the door, Cody?" My father came up beside me. "Oh, hey, Melissa. How are you today?"

"I'm great. Thanks," she said from the roofless porch.

"Why didn't you invite her inside, Cody? It's raining out there."

"Silly me."

My father patted my back twice, hard.

I could barely keep myself from stumbling forward. Through clenched teeth, I said, "Come on in, Mel."

She looked at me strangely before stepping inside.

"Bye, Mel."

"See ya, Jackson. Bye, Mr. Jackson," she called over her shoulder.

"Bye, Melissa."

I closed the door behind her.

"Cody, clean up that mess you made when you came in, dripping wet."

"Yes, sir." I grabbed a mop from the corner, where the kitchen meets the laundry room, then started cleaning the mess.

When I was finished, I put the mop up.

"Go get the mail."

"Yes, sir."

I stepped outside and walked across the small yard in the pouring rain. I pulled the bills from the mailbox, then headed onto the porch. I turned the knob, pushing the door.

It didn't open.

I tried again, but nothing happened. I knocked on the door. "Sir? Please let me in."

There was no answer.

"Please, sir."

He didn't open the door.

I sighed, taking a seat on the porch steps, sitting in the rain.