TW // some swearing, violence, shouting, not much but I don't want anyone to get triggered ☺️ ily all

Dad is drunk again.

I hear his yelling seeping through the thin walls.

"Whore! Fucking cheater! I know you're cheating!"

Gentle pleas, quiet denials.

I find myself in the kitchen as he hits her.

"No!" but my cry falls on his deaf ears.

I fall away and can't get up.

Can't see, can't hear except the yells.

Falling, falling endlessly.

Only hearing her begging him not to hurt me.

Only hearing her pleas forever.

I jerked awake, tears on my face and a cold sweat covering my trembling body.

I got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash my face. I looked on the mirror and anguished eyes stared back at me. I doubted I'd be able to get back to sleep.

I crept into Mum's room and slipped under her covers.

She shifted and wrapped an arm around me. "what's'a matter?" she mumbled sleepily.

I cuddled closer, the warmth soothing me. "Nothing. It's fine now," I whispered.

She plants a tired kiss on my temple. "I love you."

"Love you too," I said. Please no more nightmares. Please.

•••

I woke up when Mum got out of bed. I started to sit up, but fell back when my head whirled, images from the nightmare seeming to split it in half.

Mum looked at me with concern. "Are you alright?"

"Headache," I mumbled through dry lips. "And a sore throat."

She frowned, and came over to feel my forehead. "You don't feel overly warm," she said quietly, trying not to aggravate my head further. "I think all you need is a restful day. Good thing it's the weekend, hey?"

I nodded, and slowly sat up and slung my legs over the side of the bed.

Mum kissed my forehead and brushed my hair behind my ear. "I'll bring your breakfast to the lounge room."

I nodded again. I got my phone, water bottle and doona from my room and dragged myself out to collapse on the couch. I snuggled into the doona and smile weakly as Mum brought in toast with butter and honey, and a steaming cup of tea.

I wrapped my fingers around the mug and inhaled the honey and chai steaming up. "Thanks Mum."

She patted my cheek. "That's alright. You just rest, okay? I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."

I nodded and sipped my tea, feeling the hot liquid spread through me, warming my bones.

My phone buzzed and I picked it up to see a message from Ally on the group chat.

Allyally- gmorning everyone!
Allyally- it's Saturday!

Lola❤️- good morning!

The poet- hey y'all

The sarcastic nerd- i WAS asleep

Darcy- hi!

Allyally- do u guys wanna catchup 2day?
Allyally- we could meet at our place and see where we go from there

The poet- wait
The poet- at our place?

Allyally- why not?

The poet- whatever

Lola❤️- sounds good!

The sarcastic nerd- yeah I'll be there

Darcy- I can't make it, sorry guys
Darcy- I have a headache and a sore throat
Darcy- I'm just not feeling very well

Allyally- oh then we'll come over to yours and chill

Darcy- what?

The poet- of course
The poet- I'll bring chocolate

Lola❤️- when should we get there?

Darcy- hang on

Allyally- we'll be there in ten

Jon the bomb- why'd u all wake me up so early

The sarcastic nerd- Darcy's not feeling great
The sarcastic nerd- so we're all going over to hers

Darcy- without my permission!

Allyally- can we come, Darcy?

Darcy- ...
Darcy- okay

The poet- we'll be quiet I promise
The poet- we just want to hang

Jon the bomb- I'm going back to bed

Lola❤️- I'm on my way

Allyally- see you there!

I put my phone down and smiled, a bit bemused at the sudden developments.

"Mum!" I called.

"Yes?" she stuck her head in. "Are your alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said. "Um, I know this is a bit unprecedented, but everyone is coming over in a few minutes."

Mum raised her eyebrows. "Who's everyone?"

"Uh, Tennyson and Ally, June, Lola, and I think Jonty."

She came over and felt my forehead again. "I'm okay with it, but are you sure you'll be alright?"

"I think I'll be fine," I said. "They're just gonna hang. We might watch a movie or something. If it gets too much for me I can ask them to be quieter, or they can go."

"As long as you're sure," she said. She pointed to my untouched toast. "Eat up."

I smiled. "Thanks Mum."

A few minutes later the doorbell rang, and Mum answered it.

I heard Tennyson and Ally saying hi. "She's right in here," Mum said.

Ally came straight over to me and hugged me tight. "You poor thing!" she exclaimed. "Oh wait, sorry." she zipped her lips. "I'll try not to get too excited."

Tennyson placed a box of chocolates on the table and sat down beside me. "I'm really sorry you're not feeling good," he said, looking genuinely upset that I wasn't well.

I smiled at him. "I'll be okay. It's just a headache."

He winced in sympathy. "That still sucks."

"Darcy, more people are here!" Mum called from the kitchen.

June and Lola burst in, June dragging a still half-asleep looking Jonty behind her.

Lola gave me a sympathetic smile as June dumped Jonty on the ground and dropped onto a couch.

Jonty lay groaning on the floor, and dramatically flung an arm over his eyes. "I wasn't ready to get up yet!" he moaned.

June glared at him. "Lazy toad head." She glared at Tennyson. "How come you get to sit next to the sick girl?"

Tennyson laid his arm on the back of the couch behind me. "Because I was here first. And just because you're tired and didn't want to get up, just like Jonty, doesn't mean you can be a bitch about it. We're here to cheer Darcy up, remember?"

June looked downcast. "Oh. Yeah. Sorry, Darcy," she said to me.

I smiled. "It's fine."

Lola and Ally sat on the floor, and they all chatted and laughed as I nibbled at my toast and sipped my tea. Whenever they got a bit too rowdy, Tennyson would shush them and ask me if I was still okay with them being there. But I was fine. Having them here had helped, at least with helping me forget about the night.

They were deep in a conversation about whether apricots or peaches were better when my phone started buzzing. I picked it up to see it was a facetime call from Sydney.

I got up and walked into the hallway to answer it.

Sydney's familiar shock of purple hair popped into view.

"Hey, Darcy," he said.

"Hey, Sydney," I said. "What's up?"

"You weren't answering our texts, and we wondering if you wanted to zoom today."

"Oh," I frowned. "I'm sorry for not answering. I have my-" I paused and winced as I heard a sound suspiciously like someone being hit. "My, uh, friends over."

"THAT'S COMPLETE BULL- oof!" June was interrupted by the sound of a pillow hitting a face.

Sydney grinned slowly. "I like your friends."

I laughed. "Yeah... I can probably call later, alright? I'll text you to let you know when."

"Where'd Darcy go?" I heard from the lounge.

"Oh dear," I said.

Ally and June came running into the hallway and shoved their heads beside mine.

"Ooh, this this purple hair dude?" asked June.

"Should Tennyson be jealous?" said Ally, poking my side.

I tried to shove them away. "I'll talk to you later, Sydney!" I said, and hung up. "He's a friend," I said to them.

Tennyson appeared at the entrance to the hallway. "Are they bugging you, Darcy?" he asked.

"Yes!" I said, giggling.

Tennyson stomped over and picked me up. I clung to him, giggling, as he dumped me on the couch and took up a fighting stance in front of me.

Ally pounced on him and I pulled up my legs just in time as he staggered backwards, landing beside me.

He tickled her as June and Lola cheered her on and Jonty lay on the ground, eating a piece of my toast.

And I felt content.

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Eeeeee I got another chapter out!

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