Another one of these nights. I swear I just wanted to die. Only people in this world that give a damn about me is my momma, my best friend Jurnee and her family. "Ahh!", I cried out in pain as my stepdad rammed his fingers inside my vagina.

"Bitch shut the fuck up!", my stepdad yelled at me as I cried. "Now open your mouth!", he demanded. I opened my mouth and he stuffed his penis inside. I choked and gagged almost throwing up.

"After all the times we've done this, you should be a pro." He said while he stroked my hair and pulled my head up and down. I cried for my momma but she didn't come. She probably was downstairs tied up unconscious.

After ten minutes of him shoving his penis in and out of my mouth, my stepdad pulled his pants up and stared at me. "Lil girl, you betta not tell nobody. Not even your friend Jurnee." I nodded my head as he walked out.

I went into my bathroom and scrubbed my tongue. I scratched my mouth with toothpaste, mouthwash and even thought about bleach. I laid on my bed and cried myself to sleep.

The next morning, I got up feeling disgusted. My mouth felt numb and my stomach was crying for some food. I haven't eaten all weekend. Thank God it's Monday. I can eat breakfast if I make it to Jurnee's house on time.

I hopped out of bed just thinking about a meal. I was in and out of the shower in 5 minutes. I put on the raggedy clothes my stepdad found in the dumpster outside. Every morning I go over Jurnee's house and change into some of her prettier clothes. I ran back and forth through the shotgun apartment looking for my shoes, backpack and jacket.

"Demyya, if you don't slow down!", my stepdad yelled at me. I ignored him and kept looking for my belongings.

"Demyya, you heard him talking to you.", my mom called out. The sound of my mama's voice was raspy. I went to see momma sitting in the living room, staring off into space.

"Goodmorning momma.", I said sliding my hand across her face.

"Demyya, I don't want you seeing me like this." she cried out quietly. I lifted Moma's head up and saw that her eyes were black and had a couple of bruises. One day he was gonna pay for beating moma and raping me.

"Come on Demyya so I can take you to school.", My step-dad demanded.

"No Michael let her walk.", my moma suggested.

"I'm taking her to school and that's final.", he stated and went to get his keys.

I kissed momma on the cheek and ran out the door. I knew he couldn't catch me but he was gonna take his anger out on my mom.

I ran the two blocks to Jurnee's house without stopping. When I got there, she was standing on the porch holding out the clothes for today and a Jimmy Dean's breakfast sandwich.

"Jurnee, I'm so glad to have you as a friend." I grabbed the sandwich and devoured it before grabbing the clothes and changing right on her porch.

"Damn Demyya, your ass getting bigger and bigger. Who knocking off your boots?" I looked back and seen Jurnee's older brother Kenny.

"Kenny, leave her alone. She's only 15. Find somebody your age," Jurnee said mugging Kenny.

I pulled on my shirt and threw the other clothes in my bag. "You act like I'm that much older than y'all. Three years is not a big difference. Sup Demyya." Kenny said defending himself.

"Hey, Kenny." I blushed. The school bus pulled up and we all walked to the corner.

"Have a nice day at school," Ms. April, Jurnee's mom yelled out to us.

Jurnee and I sat in the back of the bus. At home, I was weak and scared for my momma and I's life. But at school I was popular. Everybody looked up to me. I wasn't a bully but motherfuckers knew not to fuck with me. We made it to school and walked to our lockers.

"Alright, Demyya and Jurnee. Be outside on time or the bus will leave y'all like last time." Kenny said walking off with his best friend James.

There was a new girl in our class when we got there. She had on a black shirt, some cheetah print leggings with some black and brown cheetah print Toms. All the boys were staring at her and trying to get her attention. The bell rang and everybody took their seats.

"Hello class, we have a new student. Her name is Monique Merrisol. She is also in the 9th grade." Mr. Hobbs introduced. "Monique, take a seat anywhere you'd like." Monique chose to sit in the front.

The rest of the day went by fast. We had 5 minutes left in the last class of the day. Monique was in this class with me but Jurnee wasn't. Mr. Hill told us he had to step out of the class to take an important phone call. Everyone begins to spark up conversations while I finished my essay. I saw Monique stand up and walk over towards Lailah.

"Hi, I'm Mo..", she started to say to my enemy but Lailah tripped her.

"Yea I know. Monique Merrisol. What you want?" Lailah said.

"I was just speaking. I'm sorry." Monique stood up, started crying and walked away with her head down.

"That's what I thought bitch," Lailah said causing the class to laugh.

"Lailah! Why the fuck you do that?" I said getting in Lailah face. I know it wasn't my fight but Monique didn't deserve what was happening.

"What you gone do about it Demyya? Fight me?", Lailah said standing up. I grabbed Lailah's throat and slammed her against the wall.

"Monique come here.", I said. Monique stood next to me. "Lailah, fuck with her again and I'll beat your ass like we in 6th grade all over again.", I said as the bell started to ring. "And I said what the fuck I said!"

"Thanks for defending me. I didn't catch your name.", Monique said walking next to me down the hall. "My name is Demyya Thomas. And no problem. I gotta go catch my bus. See you tomorrow.", I said meeting up with Jurnee. "Can you tell me what bus I'm supposed to ride." Monique asked catching back up with me.

"You're on bus 3 with us. Come on before we miss it."

The bus ride from the school to our block was only 10 minutes. We got off the bus at the corner by Jurnee house. Comes to find out, Monique lived across the street from me. We walked up the street towards our houses.

The closer we got, I noticed that there were police cars and an ambulance ahead. "Are you okay?", Monique asked me as I noticed my mouth was open. I looked at her and took off running towards my house.

When I made it to my house, a tall police officer stopped me from going in. "This is my house!", I screamed. "Are you Demyya Thomas?", he asked. I nodded. "Your mom told me to take you to April Hudson's house. Do you know Ms. Hudson?" I nodded again. "Well, I'm Officer Daniels. Your mom is hospitalized and your fath.." I stopped him.

"Stepfather! And what did he do to her?" I yelled. "Well Mr. and Mrs. Merrisol, your new neighbors, they heard screaming. So they called the station. They said a lady was yelling for help. When we made it here, your moma was passed out with a busted head and mouth." Officer Daniels explained.

I started crying and the officer hugged me and assured me that everything will be okay. "Well, Ms. Demyya. I have to take you to Ms. Hudson's house." Officer Daniels said. I got in the car and rode silently to Jurnee's house. As soon as I got out, Jurnee ran and hugged me. I assumed she already knew what happened. Monique came down the street and hugged me as well. We all stood there crying together and from that moment I knew Monique would be one of my best friends.