Page 2 (1/2)

Oh no Wouldn’t want hier when it comes to me "I’ clothes for his son, and all"

"Jaden" She doesn’t get a chance to finish speaking because the front door slams

Great He’s home I hoped I wouldn’t have to see hirabs her by the hips I think he steps hard on purpose, like it

"How’sher

"Wonderful Did you have a good day at work?" She’s actually slance as he talks to her Doesn’t say excusemine

On purpose

And she doesn’t call him on it Not that it would matter if she did And not like I wouldn’t rather him pretend I’m not here anyway

Neither of them notice or care as I walk out of the room

Chapter TwoI stand in front of my mirror It’s stupid but it still feels weird to seeit this year Without thinking about it, I take out the ring in my eyebrow I don’t knohy I do it, but I put on the one Priscilla got me for my birthday last fall It’s a silver bar with studs on each end It’s nothing special, but it’s one I et ot me a ten dollar stud that she re else

Which shouldn’t be a big deal, but it is I swear I’ve suddenly turned into a sentio

"A, aren’t you pretty wearing all that jewelry Are you sure you don’t want to wear a dress, too?" Dad’s voice is low, steady

My whole body stiffens as I try to ignore hiood to fold your own clothes?"

I can’t even say his voice is slurred because he’s been drinking or anything like that The fact is, he just hates me He always has Too bad I don’t knohy "It’s really not that big a deal It was an accident It won’t happen again"

He laughs I look behind me to see his beefy arms crossed over his chest as he leans in hten What would it be like to punch him? To physically repay him for all the words he’s jaht! You think you’re going to New York with your friends soon, right? How are you going to do that? Mooch off them? I know you don’t have anyanyh of that Pretty soon they’ll get tired of picking up your slack, kid It won’t take the to realize what I’ve always known You’re not worth it You’re not worth anything"

His words hit ho I already know They fill"They won’t have to pay et a job, and for school they’re called scholarships Maybe you’ve heard of them?" I never used to talk back to hih, I realized it didn’t ood enough regardless, so why take it silently?

"Watch your nore him It makes him madder than when I talk back

But the shitty part is, he’s right I’ into this situation the same way my friends are The beater died whichBastian used to need My parents didn’t put money away for me like Aspen and Sebastian’s Mine don’t have more money than God like Priscilla’s and if they did, they wouldn’t share it with ht to shake those thoughts fro I haven’t known forever Funny how you can fool yourself I used to think everything would work out We would all e for et, thewill it take et a job? The scholarships I applied for, I didn’t get I’m not like the rest of them I’m not even sure what I want to do yet

He steps into the room He’s never put his hands on me Sometimes I think it would be easier to deal with than his words that still rot insideafter physical wounds would heal

"You think you have all the answers, don’t you, s to wake up and realize you’re nothing You think you’re a man, but real men don’t put holes in their faces and dress like bu but the product of--"

"Mike Do you want to come watch a movie with me? I made some popcorn for you," Mom’s voice cuts him off Not ’don’t talk to et the fuck out ofout with me’

I turn away froht I can’t fucking wait to get out of here

Once in a while our foursoether, but now Pris goes with Craig and I get stuck with the love doctor and Aspen Totally not ood ti to be extra friendly toto break down and cry

And they wonder why I haven’t talked to theoes on in et it on some level, but I’m already sick of the poor-Jaden looks Add to it that I’o all Incredible Hulk and tear stuff up, and yeahso not doing the talking thing

"I hear there’s going to be a ton of people here tonight," Aspen says "Should be a good ti soht in the car to know she’s givingtotally honest I’ the past few ood anyway I turnabout et to the house about five , because it’s always easier to bail that way if the cops break up the party, and we start for the house

"Do you realize this is probably one of the last parties we’ll have here? We’re about to graduate After that, we’re going to New York We def need to go out with a bang" Bastian nudges me