The High School Mates

2- DAD'S GUESTS

When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.

~Japanese Proverb.

~JESSIE'S POV~

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I closed the alarm and sit up straight in my bed. Today is my first day of school in this new town and so, I woke up early than usual.

Usually, I wake up at 6 but from today I will wake up at 4. I know, you will ask that isn't it too early when the school starts at 8. Trust me, I know. But you are unaware of my living conditions. Yet. But soon, you will get familiar with it but I request you to not give me that pity looks. Please. I hate it.

After taking a shower and finishing all my morning business, I descended the stairs at 5. I quickly made my way to the kitchen and started preparing breakfast, not for me, but for my so called dad.

So called? Yes, because he is not my real dad, he and his wife adopted me. Everything was fine before two months, but then, my mom died. The adopted one. I don't know my real parents. I never did.

So when she died, everything changed. Dad started treating me like a slave. Why? I don't know. Maybe because he thinks that I am the cause of her death.

Ten years ago when they adopted me from an orphanage- I am eighteen now, by the way- mom got blood cancer and then, she suffered with it for ten years then finally it swallowed her two months before.

Dad thinks that I am the bad luck for them. He told mom to leave me when she first learned that she has cancer but she refused saying that she already claimed me as her daughter and that's final.

So here I am, working like a slave and preparing breakfast for him. And I have to do this cause this is my need. Why? You may ask. Because I want to study and he said that he will make me continue it if only I work like this for him.

But the working part is okay. The worst part is, he, sometimes, beat me up when he is in a bad mood and drunk. Every second I am home and dad's outside, I just hope he didn't come back drunk. And trust me when I say that, it's a horrible feeling.

As I put his breakfast on the table and everything else that he needs, I made my way back to my room. I get ready for the first day of my school and I am really nervous for it. I mean, since the day dad hit me first, I hate strangers. Specially boys. I hate being touched by them. An innocent touch from a stranger and a person I don't trust, make me flinch.

It's 7: 30 now and I thought to go school early today so that I can get to class at time after getting my schedule and everything. So, I descended the stairs slowly.

Dad is no where in sight so I am assuming he is in his room. The plates at the table are empty that means he had his break fast. "I am off to school." I said slowly opening the front door when his voice made cringe.

"Stop right there." he said coming in the hall and I stopped on the exact stop. "If I enrolled you in a school, it's because you have done your work nicely at home. But it doesn't mean that you will go there everyday." he said and my eyes widened.

What? But I want to go there every day. I mean, it's better than my dad's presence, right? "Today, some of my old friends from this town are coming so I want you to prepare the lunch and take care of everything else. I don't want any mistakes or I'll show you no mercy. Do you understand?" he asked in a cold voice and I nodded.

"Words!" he said and I flinched. "Y-Yes." I said and he left before saying "good" under his breath. I sighed and made my way back to my room. I changed back in my comfy clothes and decided to arrange my room a little.

We shifted here this weekend only and I presume my dad lived here before as he mentioned some old friends. The thing what is holding me together from these two months are the words my mom uttered to me while taking her last breath.

"Every night falls and then the sun comes up again." she said. I believe these words with all my heart. I trust her. And I guess she was the only one who ever loved me. I don't know what happened to my real parents but I like to believe that they'd have treated me with as much love as my mom did.

Time came rushing and I prepared the lunch. Dad's friends came 15 minutes ago and I have to go out only when called. Yes, like a perfect maid.

"Bring the lunch!" shouted dad as he made his way with his two friends to the dining table. I quickly grabbed the lunch and made my way outside.

"You have a nice maid. She is smoking." said one of his friends with blonde hair dreamily and another one with black hair hummed as he agreed.

"I know." my dad said and they all chuckled. I looked down the whole time when I was serving. As I serve some mashed potatoes to the blonde one, he placed his hand on my upper thigh and I flinched. The serving spoon slipped from my hand and to my dismay, hit the floor and not his head.

"What the hell! Are you out of your mind!" dad shouted as he stood up, looking at me with rage. "It's okay. Mistakes happen." the blonde guy said smiling as he patted my head and my dad returned as he acted to be calmed. But I know that he isn't and I am getting punishment for this later.

I bend down to clean the stuff and made my way back to the kitchen.

***

Thank god! At five in the evening, they finally left. And as much I am thank full for their leave, I am freaking out at the thought of the punishment.

I finished the rest of the work in the kitchen and made my way back to my room before my dad returns from wherever he went to leave his friends.

After half an hour later, my dad stormed inside my room with anger clearly written on his face. He came closer to me as I moved back with his every step. Once my back hit the wall and there is no way to escape, he smirked. I looked up nervously when I felt a tingly sensation on my cheek as he slapped me hard.

I fell on the floor with a hand on my cheek which he hit. "You b***h! Don't you know how to behave in front of guests. You embarrassed me today. Let me tell you how to do this properly." he said as he undid his belt.

Oh no. He is drunk. God! Please save me. At least not let him kill me.

"Aaaahhhh!" I shouted as the cold leather belt made contact with my arm's skin. "You are a disgrace." he shouted with another hit on my back. "You are the bad luck. I told Lexi to throw you away but she never listened." he said with several more hits.

Lexi is my mother's name and I wish she is here.

After beating me with the belt for a solid thirty minutes, he left the room. Thick tears flowing non-stop from my icy blue eyes as I crawled in a ball on the floor below the window of my room.

As the night falls, I slowly made my way to the bed and the darkness consumed me. Tomorrow I have to go to school and I don't know what is in the store for me.