Safety
- Locked due to inactivity on Aug 4, '16 4:30pm
Thread Topic: Safety
-
Safety
A/N: Before you read this, I have some s--- to say. This is fiction. Yes Jamie was real, and yeah sometimes my dad is a little harsh, but this specific scenario didn't actually happen. Also, I know you guys are all f---ing amazing writers, and this is total crap compared to what you write, but I had absolutely no idea what to write about. One of my friends suggested "Why don't you write about the worst thing that's ever happened to you? Or the best?" So I did both. And here it is~ Again, I know it's nothing compared to what you guys can do, but I tried.
I can tell the moment I walk through the door it's going to be a bad day. The tense air and the all-too-familiar smell of alcohol makes it painfully obvious as my older brother and I exchange worried looks. I close the door behind us as quietly as possible and glance around. The house seems mostly quiet, Mom is working late again and my little brother won't be home from school for another hour. The two of us quickly tiptoe upstairs. I toss my school stuff into a corner of my room and give a nervous little sigh. He usually calls for me about now. "Shannon." As if on cue, he gruffly shouts my name, his tone serious but sounding slightly slurred. "C-Coming!" I quickly pipe back, mentally wincing at the sound of my shaky voice. My chest thumps quickly as my heart rate accelerates. I hesitate in the doorway of his room and can't help but wrinkle up my nose as the smell of beer grows increasingly stronger. He looks poised to strike, sitting in his old chair, holding a can of the drink in a tight grip. I spot two others on the nightstand. His steel-colored eyes are cold as he gestured me in. I take a reluctant step towards him as he thrusts a paper in my face. "Explain." He growls. I take the paper and study it, my eyes flitting over the text as I try to grasp the reason he's upset. A wave of dread comes crashing down over me as I realize it's my grades. More specifically my math grades, and even more specifically the barely passing grade I received on our most recent exam. "Well?" His glare never wavers as he watches me squirm uncomfortably under his gaze. "I-It was really hard, I g-guess I didn't study enough, I'm s-sorry-" I stammer out, but I'm quickly cut off.
"Sorry?!" He roars, unmasked ferocity in his eyes. I instinctively flinch back. "Sorry doesn't pass the class. Sorry doesn't fix this! I don't want an apology, I want better grades." I nod hurriedly, hoping that if I comply he'll calm down, but luck isn't with me today. "You know you spend a lot of time on that phone." He mutters, narrowing his eyes. "Time that could be spent studying." My own eyes widen and my hand flies protectively to my pocket where the device lays. Call me an addict if you will, but that phone is my only way on to GTQ. "I'll study more! I-I promise!" I tell him desperately, although I know the promise means nothing. We haven't trusted each other for some time now, my word means nothing to him. He stands up and momentarily abandons his beer, holding his hand out. "Give me the phone." My father had a bad habit of taking things as punishment and then forgetting about them, so I knew if I gave my phone up now I might not see it again for a long time, and the thought of not being able to talk to Rave anymore was unbearable. My hesitation only seemed to anger him more and he stepped towards me. Without warning he shoved me roughly. Clumsy as I was, I stumbled and fell backwards. Before I could react I felt a sharp pain in my ribs. I let out an involuntary yelp and winced. He'd kicked me in the same spot only yesterday and it still ached. Normally I wasn't one to be pushed around, but I knew now from experience not to cross my father. "Get out." He snarled. I stood and ran out of the room, tears stinging my eyes. He wasn't nearly as harsh as he was at other times, and I got away with my phone, but still...My ribs throbbed and my hands shook, an obnoxious action that happened whenever I got really nervous or scared. My older brother peered out from behind his own door, his gaze sympathetic. "I'm taking a walk." I muttered. I had to get away from him, away from it all. He nodded silently and closed the door. I half-ran out the door, shoving my hands in my pockets and looking down. It was cold out, but there was no way I was going back for a jacket. I wished I could spend the night somewhere else, but I knew that was unrealistic. I kept walking until I came to the old playground that sat right outside out development. I sunk down into one of the creaky swings and sighed, watching my breath swirl in the frigid air for a second before disappearing. It seemed like there was no one else around, so I let myself cry. I sat like that for a while, I don't remember exactly how long. I was undisturbed aside from the occasional call of a bird who hadn't yet flown south, until I heard footsteps. I sniffed and frantically tried to wipe the tears from my face, praying that my father hadn't come looking for me. My eyes widened in surprise as a familiar face came into view. Apparently I hadn't done a sufficient job concealing my crying, because when Jamie plopped down into the swing beside me his dark brown eyes were filled with concern. "Shan?" I cast my gaze downwards, knowing they were probably swollen from crying. "What's wrong?" He reached out and brushed my arm. "Nothing." I replied too quickly. He sighed and pulled my arm out, gesturing to the small spray of purple-ish bruises that covered it. "What happened?" "...I must've fallen or something. I dunno." I answered bluntly. He smiled that little smile where only one corner of his lips lifted the slightest bit. "You're a terrible liar." I looked up at my friend and sighed. "I know." He raised an eyebrow and studied my face. I did my best not to give anything away with my expression. "So you're really not gonna tell me?" I shook my head, some of my enduring stubbornness showing. There was a pause before we both sighed simultaneously. "Why don't you come back to my place?" I frowned. As much I wanted to, I knew I couldn't leave my brother alone with my dad. "Can't." He looked thoughtful for a moment and tilted his head, making his black curls bounce. "Too bad." I blinked and straightened up a little. "...Excuse me?" He grinned, his chocolate eyes practically glowing with that mischievous glint I'd seen countless times. "You heard me." Before I could react he grabbed my hand, pulling me out of the swing. He jogged along, with me- embarrassingly unathletic as I was- running to keep up. We stopped in front of his house and I have him a doubtful look. "Jay, I gotta go home..." He shook his head and pulled me inside, still grinning. Before I knew it we were squeezed together on the couch, and Jamie was clicking on the tv. I rolled my eyes at his choice: baseball, of course. After a few seconds I found a comfortable position on the couch. If it had been anyone else it would've been completely awkward. He was laying on his head, with his head propped up on one fist. I was laying on my back, basically pressed against his chest. It was then that I realized just how tired I was. School had been a total b----, as usual, and dealing with my dad took a lot of energy. I yawned, the monotonous voice of the sports commentator only adding to my exhaustion. Normally I was pretty cautious about falling asleep anywhere but home- getting bruised up regularly by the man who's supposed to love and protect you tends to screw up your trust- but this was Jamie. I'd known him forever. With another yawn I closed my eyes, feeling his form shaking slightly. I peeled one eye open. "Are you laughing at me?" I asked, a hint of accusation in my voice. As I closed my eye again he answered. "Yeah, Shan, I am." I sighed. Normally I'd have some sarcastic retort, but I could practically feel my consciousness slipping away. For the first time in as long as I could remember, I fell asleep feeling completely safe. -
One of the best things in the world is falling asleep next to someone who loves you.
This thread is locked, therefore no new posts can be made.
