Chapter Fourteen

Abigail:

You know that really bad gut feeling you get when you're nervous? And you’re scared about something, and it feels like you could throw up any second? I looked up at the clock on the ceiling of the classroom. I was in detention and I had five minutes left of safety. I felt Scott’s gaze on my face two tables behind me. I turned my head to see him give me a confused look. I was slightly shaking, that’s why. My dad is not going to be happy with me.

I turned back around before the teacher could notice and started chewing down on my nails. When I got down to each nub, I started chewing at the end of strain of hair. They were bad habits of mine when I was nervous. Finally the little hand touched the four and the big hand was on the twelve. 4 o'clock and my time is up. I let out a hard sigh before the teacher got up and said we could go. The few other people in here quickly packed and got out of here. But I took my time putting my homework back into my backpack.

Scott came up to my desk when I was pulling the zipper up and I looked up at him from my desk. He looked concerned.

“Abby, what’s wrong? You look scared.” Putting my mask on, I shook my head and got up. I gave him a small smile. I then walked around the desk next to him and put my hand in his. When we walked out of the classroom, Scott went on to something about tomorrow, but I was barley listening.

Knowing my dad well enough, he’s probably waiting outside. He got off fifteen minutes ago and I’m sure he is. When we got to the entrance of the school, I pulled Scott back away from the doors and looked out in the school parking lots to see my dad black car. I turned back to Scott and pointed at it. He raised an eyebrow. “Is that your dad?” he asked and I nodded.

“Okay, I’d like to meet him as your friend—” I cut him off by grabbing his biceps with both hands and stopped him. I quickly shook my head and straightened my hand out, moving it across my throat.

“He’ll kill me if he finds you with me?” he asked and I nodded. He chuckled, “Okay, I get your dad’s over protective of you, but I’m just coming to him as a friend. Relax.”

I pulled him back when he tried to turn again and shook my head violently. I gave him a stern look and he looked at me, confused again.

“Abby, what’s going on?” he asked, giving me pleading eyes to tell him. My mouth opened slightly and I licked my dried lips. I just looked at the floor and shook my head.

He put his hands on both sides of my face and lifted my head to look at him.

“Hey, come on, its okay. What are you so scared of?” he asked. I swallowed, making a loud gulping sound. Just trying to get his questioning away, I leaned up on my tip toes and pressed my lips against his softly. I leaned back down then and wrapped my arms around his waist, just wanting him to hold me for a few seconds. He put his arms around me and I felt so warm. I laid my head on his chest as he rocked us back and forth slowly.

After a minute, he leaned back and kissed my forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Maybe, I thought. He kissed me again, but roughly. Then we were interrupted when the school doors opened and I jumped, walking aside Scott so no teachers would catch us.

A low, sharp intake of breath left my lips when I realized it wasn’t any teachers, but my dad. The gut feeling worsened in my stomach to the point that I had to place my hands over my belly. My dad looked shocked, but then it was replaced by his glare.

Scott cleared his throat and smiled. “You must be Abby’s dad. I’m her friend, Scott,” he said, holding his hand out towards my dad and I bit my lower lip, pulling his arm away from dad. He gave me a confused look before turning back to my dad.

My dad stepped forth and I slightly jerked, which he noticed. He held his out towards Scott. “Will Crow.”

“Nice to meet you, sir. Abby is a great girl, she’s already made lots of friends,” he said and I just wanted to slap myself and then him. He had to say that! He's making everything worse!

“Did she now?” my dad said, looking at me. He had his surprise happy mask on, but I know he’s pissed underneath it and I shook my head. I gave him pleading eyes not to believe him. He let go of Scott’s hand and put his arm around me. “Well, if you’ll excuse us, Scott, we have to get home. It’s Abigail’s birthday and I plan on taking my family out to dinner.” I don’t think we’re going out to dinner tonight; I thought and looked down at the title floor, my left hand cupping my right elbow.

“You’re right, sir. Happy birthday again, Abby,” Scott said, but I didn’t look up at him to see him frowning. My dad hauled me out of the building and his hand tightened on my shoulder where his arm was and I winced slightly. My dad opened my door for me and I got in, looking down at the dashboard and chewed on the little nails I had when he walked over to the driver’s side and got in. He started the car, backing up and he quickly pulled away from the curb.

I looked out the window in time to see Scott looking at me confused before we pulled away, the look asking for help. A large gulp formed my throat and I couldn’t talk. It was quiet the whole way to the house. My dad was pretty quick about getting home and it scared me more that he was speeding in the middle of winter where we could slip on ice and he could kill us. Or just end up in the hospital. Both are possible.

When my dad pulled up to the house, he didn’t speak or do anything but get out. I hesitated, taking as much time as I could, enjoying the temporary peace. I knew what was coming, and really, I just wanted to get it over with. Taking a deep breath, I opened the car door, grabbed my backpack, and got out. I walked up the stairs and into the house. My dad was in the dining room taking off his jacket. I put my backpack down and quickly made my way past him and into the kitchen.

I rolled the sleeves to my hoodie up and started to do the little amount of dishes in the water. Suddenly, I felt a hand go behind my neck and my dad’s body pressed against my back, he bent me over the sink a little, his hand around the back of my throat, his fingers pressing against my front threateningly.

“Do you think I’m fool, Abby?” he asked, using Scott’s nickname for me. I whimpered and shook my head quickly. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out? What did I tell you? No boyfriends and no friends!” he yelled, his voice making me cringe.

“He isn’t my boyfriend, I promise you, daddy!” I said my eyes tearing up. “He’s just some boy that’s obsessed with me.”

“And why is he obsessed with you, hmm? What did you do to him to make him want you?” he questioned and personally, I’m questioning that myself. I don’t know why Scott’s interested in me. But that wouldn’t work for my dad; he would want me to say I whored around with him.

I shook my head. “N-nothing,” I tried anyways.

“I don’t believe you. And what is this about you having friends?” he questioned. “I told you, you have no time for making friends. You have much more important things to do here. And what about if one of them came over? I don’t want annoying ass teens in my house and they’ll start questioning you about how I run my family. Do you want Tyler and you to be separated? Because you know that’s what’ll happen if child services take ya’ll away from me.”

Tears slid down my face and I shook my head. “No, daddy, I don’t want that to happen. I want Tyler and I to be here with you.”

“Well thanks to your stupid ass, we’ll have to end up moving again. Leave this town, those friends of yours, and that boy,” he said. The thought of leaving Scott broke my chest and scared me. I didn’t want to leave Vermont; I liked it here to my surprise. I don’t want to leave Scott and Colleen, they’re the closest I’ve ever had to people that actually care about me. And we’ve only been here not even a month; we never had to move on that quickly.

“Daddy, please, that’s not necessary,” I said. “You have a good job here. Don’t let my mistakes ruin that.” His fingers tighten down on my throat and I winced, my breathing becoming harder. My stomach turned and my fear grew.

“Boys are trouble, Abigail. I’m the only man in your life you should care about, other than Tyler. You’re my daughter. I’m supposed to protect you from getting hurt and that’s what I’m doing. He’ll only use you in the long run.”

“Daddy, please, you’re hurting me,” I cried when his fingers were pressed down against my throat, completely blocking air. My eyes widened and I tried to swallow air down, but it was becoming harder and harder. “Daddy…stop…”

Suddenly he let me go and I doubled over the sink, gasping for air and coughing a few times. When I felt like I had enough air running through my veins, I turned around panting and I felt the back of my dad’s hand go across my face. My left cheek stung in pain and I cried when my face turned to the side. He grabbed both sides of my arms, his fingers pressing tightly on my skin. “Abigail, why can’t you just do as I say!” he yelled.

“I do everything for you and this is how you repay me! I feed, cloth, and put a roof over your head and you go around sleeping with stupid teenage boys? I saw you with him, kissing him. What did you do with him when you left school Friday? Answer me!” he yelled, slapping me again.

I whimpered and hesitated. “The Park.”

He snorted, “You cheap slut.”

“I didn’t sleep with him!” I yelled, getting pissed he was accusing me of lowering myself so much that I’d have sex with Scott in public. I quickly regretted yelling at him and went into apologizing. “Daddy, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell! Please, stop—”He punched me in the stomach and a sharp intake of breath left my mouth painfully.

“Will, stop!” I heard my mom front the kitchen entrance. “What did she do?”

“Mother like daughter, I guess,” my dad said, looking at me in shame.“Both pathetic whores.”

“I’m not a whore,” I said through the pain. All my anger was rising again and I was sure I was about to snap. “I can’t wait till I turn eighteen because I’m so out of here and I’m taking Tyler with me!” I yelled at him.

To my surprise, he chuckled. “Oh really? You think you’re just going to take my son? And where would you go? Your aunts, uncles, and grandparents are all in California. How will you get there with no money?” Knowing he’s right, I dropped my head and glared at our feet. I’ll find something.

“I hate you,” I whispered, thinking he wouldn’t hear, but I guess he did when he punched me. I held myself up by turning on my side and leaning against the sink. I knew I was stupid for doing this, but I lifted my head to look at him and glared. “Go ahead, take your anger out on me. Just get it over with,” I snapped.

“Abigail!” my mother yelled in warning tone. Quickly, as I blinked, he grabbed me by the throat with both hands and leaned me back against the sink. My eyes widen and the air running through my lungs quickly slowed down. The look in his dark green eyes blazed in fire and they looked like he could murder. Oh god, is he actually going to kill me?

My hands quickly went to his hands. “Da-d-ddy…stop-p…” I heard my mother in the background crying for him to stop. My eyes turned to the side to the sink strainer to see if there was anything there I could use. I quickly reached out for the small pan and before he could stop me, I grabbed it and with all the strength I had, I banged it against the back of his head. His hand loosened and before I let air run through my body, I pushed him and he tumbled back a few steps and almost fell.

I sucked in some deep breaths and I looked at my dad to see him leaning on the counter, his hand on the back of his head where I hit him. He groaned when he came to and came at me again, but before I could think—it was like an involuntary reaction, I hit him against the head with the pan again. He fell on the ground and his eyes rolled back and he passed out.

My mouth hung open and the pan dropped from my hands. “Da-d-ddy…daddy?” When I saw his chest moving, I relaxed a little, knowing I didn’t kill him. I looked up at my mom to see her hands at her mouth in shock as she stared at my dad. Her head then snapped up to me and quickly back up to my dad.

Knowing I couldn’t stay here anymore, I quickly ran past my mom and went upstairs to Tyler’s room. He was sitting in his crib, playing with some toys. I grabbed his jacket, hat and mitts, socks, and shoes. I dressed him up and after he was all dressed, I picked him up, giving him his toy, and ran back down the steps.

“Abigail, where do you think you’re going?” my mom shouted from the kitchen, her voice making me believe she was still in shock before I turned around.

“Anywhere but here,” I said before throwing the door open and quickly walking out. I pulled the hood of my hoodie up as I walked down the street. The sky was gray and it would be dark in less than an hour. After a few moments, a familiar black Jeep rode past but then it stopped a few feet behind me. I heard the door open and my name being called. I stopped walking, licking my lips. My eyes watered up, but I held them back the best I could.

Hearing Scott’s voice made the anger in me drain and I suddenly felt weak from holding Tyler. I squeezed my eyes shut as a hand went on my shoulder and a hand went under my chin, tilting my head up. I heard him curse. I probably looked horrible. I felt both of his warm hands go on my cheeks. “It’s okay, Abby,” he whispered.

“It’s me, open your eyes.” I shook my head and hesitated, but slowly opened them. A few tears slipping out. I bit my lower lip and lowered my head in shame.

“Here, hand me him,” he said, reaching out to take Tyler. I shook my head and held Tyler closer to me. No. No. No! I just wanted to tell him to leave me alone from now on. “Abby, I’m not going to hurt him,” he said, his voice calm.

“Come on,” he said, slipping his hands under Tyler’s arms and I slowly felt him slip from my grasp. He fussed a few seconds, but Tyler let him hold him. I heard another car door slam and Skyler came up next to me. He looked at me and his eyes widened.

“Hey, let me have him,” he said to Scott about Tyler. Scott looked at me and I hesitated, but nodded. He handed Tyler to Skyler and Skyler walked away back over to the Jeep. A few more tears slipped out of my eyes and Scott pulled me into him. I hugged his waist as I cried. His warm body made me feel safe; making me press myself closer to him. He held onto me tightly and I didn’t argue. Then I heard him growl next to my ear. My eyes widened. It sounded so much like a dog. I just ignored it for right now, just wanting to get out of here.

I've got a lot of explaining to do....