Not My Cup of Tea

by Hotpotatogirl

After consistently moving back and forth from different countries, Antonia (Argent) is starting the new school year in public school. Her usual experience in a lavish style comes to a halt as her parents pull her out of Catholic private school. Antonia navigates reality with some already known friends and meets some unusual classmates. (COPYRIGHT DC COMICS)(char. list is last chap)

15. 4

"Ouch!" Nicole slammed her elbow against her nightstand. She has snuck out to Joesph's after her father came back from work angry.

Nicole was working on homework in the dining room minding her business and her father opened the door. He had bloodshot eyes and was filthy. "What are you doing? Don't you know you're supposed to make me dinner already?" Nicole was used to her father yelling at her so this wasn't anything new. She looked at the time and noticed he came a little earlier than usual. "Wait it's only 5:28 right now. You're usually home by 6:15. Why didn't you call me?" Her father threw his arms up in the air and threw his work boots by the rack. "If you don't get your ass up and cook, I'm going to through that laptop in the trashcan." He looked at her in rage and she immediately got up. He went to the dining table and pushed all her things to the side and sat where she was. He slumped and took out his phone. For the next 30 minutes, she made him dinner setting the plate in front of him. "See? It doesn't take that long to do something right. "He silently ate the food without saying anything. She grabbed her own plate and sat down in front of him. He grabbed her plate, "You don't get to eat today." "Are you kidding me?" Nicole tried to grab the plate back and he slapped her wrist. "NO!" He looked at her and then started laughing. She looked at him confused and he shoved the plate in front of her. "You're such a fucking baby. Go to your room. Take all your shit."

It was about four in the morning, and she came back to her house. She wasn't paying attention and bumped into her nightstand. She thought that it was closer to her bed but didn't question it. She took the towel from her windowsill and closed it. Joseph's mother packed her lunch and breakfast to take back home. She went to her bed noticing a lump and gasped. Her father went to her room while she was gone to Joseph's. She began to question how long he was there. Was he waiting for her as soon as she left? Was she going to apologize to her? Did he try to give her dinner after his outburst?Her heart began pounding not knowing what to do as he slowly woke up. "Nicole?" His voice was raspy, "Where the FUCK were you?" She began to cry and lied about where she was to avoid him getting angrier. "I was with Antonia. I went to her house after you told me to go to my room." He turned the lights on and cornered her. "YOU HAVE TO SNEAK OUT OF YOUR WINDOW TO GO TO YOUR FRIEND'S HOUSE? WHERE WERE YOU NICOLE?" She began to sob when he ripped the duffle bag out of her hands. He saw snacks, clothes, shampoo,tampons, and many other items. He flipped the bag over, items falling to the ground and making a mess. He grabbed the ramen noodles and granola bars, threw the duffle bag at the wall, and walked out of her room. She stood there for a moment crying, upset, choking on her spit, exhausted and scared. She then began to clean up her clothes from the floor and got ready for school.