Her Protector

Her We Go Again

Two weeks later....

I'm starting school a little late because we had to get everything set up, visit the school, choose my curriculum and areas of focus but now we're headed to the dorms to get me all settled in. I'm only starting a week later than everybody else so I won't have too much catching up to do. Johnathan and Joseph are both driving me up to Crystal River School for Girls in Colorado. It's only about a ten hour drive from home but still a long way to go.

Mother came home a day after Joseph. Things were tense as they went off to have a private conversation, I'm guessing about me and this school. Mother glared at me as she passed by and whispered for only me to hear "I'll deal with you later" I could hear her voice raising and didn't want to be around for another one of her meltdowns so I went for a jog, good thing I hadn't changed out of my work out clothes yet. I jogged all the way to the local park which was only about fifteen minutes away on foot. Our city had recently installed little machines that you could get food out of for the ducks with a few quarters which I brought along knowing I'd end up here. They used the revenue to help pay for groundskeeping and what not for the park. It was one of my favorite spots in our little town. There was a man made lake in the middle that had an island for the ducks only. When they built the park they left a space of trees between the houses on each side so it seemed kind of like you were in the middle of the forest. There was a paved path that went around the entire lake for joggers and bike riders. A play ground for kids, a splash pad, an area that was for outdoor games like disc golf and horseshoes. It's one of the most beautiful, peaceful spots here. I could get lost in my thoughts spending hours here, which is exactly what I did. I returned home just before dinner time and rushed up to my room for a quick shower only to find mother sitting on my bed.

"What have you been doing while I was away?" she venomously spits at me. "Worm your way into his bed?"

"No of course not mother"

"He's my husband you little brat! MINE!"

"I haven't done anything"

"Fine, don't admit to your whoring ways, I know what you did"

"I need to take a shower mother, please excuse me"

At that she bolts across the room grabbing my arm and shoving me into my connected bathroom. "Strip" she says and I do as told, I learned my lesson a long time ago, it's better if I don't fight back. As I'm removing my clothes she turns the water on to scolding hot, the bathroom fills with steam in seconds. I already know I won't be joining the family for dinner. She shoves me through the shower door squeezing my arm hard, that's gonna be a new bruise. Telling me to turn around she grabs the bath brush and begins scrubbing my skin practically raw. Between the harshness of her scrubbing and the hot water I quickly turn red but I don't cry out, I know better. She pushes and pulls at me telling me I've been a little piggy and obviously put on a lot of weight in her absence. This last about twenty minutes before she's satisfied. "Finish cleaning up and go to bed" mother says as she saunters away. I finally take my chance to turn the cold water on and let my self fall to the shower floor, my tears finally free to shed under the cascading water. When it doesn't feel like I'm on fire anymore I slowly remove myself from the shower, apply some healing creams and take note of all the new bruises I'll have to hide. Mother was gone the next morning. Good riddance.

Now here we are pulling up in front of the large gated school, the outer brick wall is lined with rose bushes of all colors. The guard in the gatehouse checks our id's before allowing entrance. We make our way down the four mile long driveway that leads to the front of the castle like school. This is my home at least for the school year. Joseph said we would see how I feel about everything over the summer break. The dean is out front with a few students to greet us. Mrs. Renshaw isn't your typical cane weilding tight bunned matron that you read about in stories. She's actually quite beautiful with her chestnut shoulder length hair that falls in curls around her heart shaped face. She has a button nose, plump lips, and chocolate brown eyes. You can see that she's a kind person in her smile and mannerisms.

"You must be Adaline Rose" she says extending her hand as I exit the car. "Welcome to Crystal River" her smile reaches her eyes. "Yes mam" I reply unsure what else to say. Luckily Joseph saves me from having to make conversation "Hello Mrs. Renshaw" he reaches to shake her extended hand "Our Adaline here is a little shy, but she has been very excited about starting classes"

"Wonderful! Well Adaline let me introduce you to your roommates Macy Anderson and Amber Carmichael"

"Hi" I say smiling, trying not to seem overly excited. I hope we'll be good friends. They both smile back and offer to help me with my bags.

"Well Mr. Rivera while the girls get Adaline settled in the room why don't we go to my office to finish signing some of the papers" Mrs. Renshaw says "When you are done bring Adaline straight to my office please girls" and with that we go our separate ways with Joseph and Johnathan following Mrs. Renshaw. I watch them walking away thinking how much I'm going to miss them.

I'm pulled back to reality by my new roommates who are excitedly chattering as they lead me through the corridor to our room. They seem nice enough, most of their questions are along the lines of do I have a boyfriend at home, have I ever kissed a boy, what do I do for fun, and telling me all the best clubs to join.

Since we wear uniforms most of the day I only brought a few liesure clothes with me and my pajamas of course. Joseph bought me a new bedspread that's a soft pink with cherry blossoms, my favorite flower, all over it. We each have our own cork board above our beds that we're alowed to decorate so the girls help me hang up the few pictures I brought. There's a polaroid Joseph & Johnathan took with me before we left to come here, a picture with my Nana on the beach, and a couple of my drawings. I keep the portrait I drew of Johnathan in my diary that I place in my nightstand.

Five months later.....

School is going great, Macy and Amber have both become my closest friends. Veronica has come up to visit on the weekends a couple times staying at a hotel close by. The girls would come with me and we'd all have shopping days and movie nights. Veronica found a dance club we could get into which made Macy and Amber absolutely thrilled. Johnathan and Joseph also came a couple times and we went hiking in the mountains and skiing once winter hit. There is a therapist on campus that's been working with me on my issues. I wear a rubber band around my wrist that I snap when I feel the need to cut. We're also working on my eating habits. She has me keeping a diary of what I eat and how I exercise, she uses it to point out what I do that's not healthy and how I can fix it. I also do equine therapy. I really love taking care of Starla, one of our therapy horses. My classes consist of the basics math, reading, science, social studies and then my chosen curricular which focuses on dance and art. We're on break now and I'm headed home for Christmas.

I'm actually coming home a few days earlier than planned. Joseph was going to drive up and bring me home this weekend but I had the opportunity to leave earlier and really missed home so I thought I'd surprise. Our house looks quiet as Veronica pulls up, she's the only one that knew I was coming since I asked her to pick me up from the airport, I wonder if anybody is home. "I can't stay girl, I got a client coming I gotta prepare for, but welcome home, call me later" Veronica hugs me, she's become a very good friend which is surprising to me since she's like twenty two. She told me once I feel like a little sister to her, I always wanted a sibling.

As I make my way in I hear giggling from somewhere. It's only three so of course Joseph is probably still at work and there's no telling where mother is. Sighing to myself I make my way upstairs and hear the giggling again. It sounds like it's coming from my parents room. Maybe they're home after all. Not wanting to disturb them I quietly move forward only to be halted in my tracks by the sight before my eyes. I quickly cover my mouth to hide a gasp as I look up to see their door is open and mother is on her knees pleasuring someone who is not Joseph. He looks right into my eyes with a devilish grin but says nothing. I bolt as quietly and quickly as I can to get to my room. Mother didn't see me, I hope she didn't hear me, maybe he won't tell, whoever he was. Here we go again.