Broken Pieces, L. S. [brene brown rising strong .txt] 📗

to walk away from the store.

He followed me right away and keeps up my pace.

"Why not? I don't mean to intrude Jill but why are you so distant with people?" he asked as we continue to walk around the establishment.

I stopped and looked around, I don't know if I should tell him, Max just moved in town a couple of years ago so he basically doesn't have any idea about the scandal that I was once involved in.

"I know that we just started to get along but you know you can trust me" he added.

I looked up to meet his gaze and I saw the concern deep within his eyes. I can see that Max is a kind person since I started to get to know him but I am still half hearted to completely give him my trust. I am also afraid that he might stay away from me once he finds out who I have been for the past five years. Besides not everyone is Nicole, they might not understand.

"I just don't feel like trusting people" I mumbled.

I saw he was disappointed but he just took a deep breath and shrugged his shoulders. I am glad he decided to let it go. Then he started to walk again.

"Max?" I called as I remained standing there.

He turned around and walked towards my direction.

"Dan. . . He is not the person you think he is. . . Be careful okay?"

I saw how confused he is from what I said. I know I sounded like I was threatening him or something.

"He's your dad right?" he asked for confirmation.

I shook my head.

"No. . . He's my mom's husband" I answered. "You know what forget it! We only have a few hours, let make it count okay?" I said.

This time it was me who grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the arcade center. I rarely get this chance to be able to go out of my howl so I am going to make sure that it'll be worth it.

We made it to school at exactly on time before the last class ends. Students are still in their respective classes and Dan is not even there yet.

I had so much fun, we played like little kids in the arcade, and then ate, and then window shopped. I also got to know Max better. His parents are separated, and he is living with his dad while his younger brother is living with his mom. His dad remarried but his step mom died 2 years ago so they decided to move in St. Louis from Nashville. Lacrosse is his favorite sport but he also plays basketball, he listens to punk and alternative rock, his favorite color is blue, his zodiac is Gemini and only had one serious relationship.

"Thank you" I whispered.

We were sitting on the Carterch near the soccer field while waiting for the bell to ring.

"Did you have fun?" he asked.

"Yeah, I had so much fun" I grinned.

"I'm glad" he said and his fingers trailed my arm.

I can't deny the voltage of electricity that runs through my veins whenever we touch each other.

"Thank you for showing me how to have fun"

He smiled and scooted over so our arms are brushing each other, the warmth of his skin gave me tingles in the silly place (alright! That's a song).

"My pleasure, I hope we can do this next time"

I shrugged my shoulders, I don't know if I can be able to go out with him again.

"You know my life is way more complicated than what it looks like" I said trying to choose the perfect words on how to describe it. "I don't live a normal life Max"

He looks at me with curiosity, waiting for me to say more.

"What do you mean? I notice that you barely share your life to me, don't get me wrong Jill, I just felt like you are always hesitant to talk. . That you are always afraid, that you carefully choose the words you say. . At first I thought it was just me that you don't trust, which I completely understand but today I saw that it's not just me who you don't trust, it's everybody who you don't trust, it's the surroundings that you don't trust and I have been trying to understand why?" He looked at me with so many questions in his eyes.

All he said was true, that I am always afraid, I have been afraid for the past five years. Dan literally took everything from me; my freedom, my happiness, my dignity. When I look at myself in the mirror all I see is a girl who has been dead for five years now, a girl who is trying to find the light and for the longest time being in the dark she stopped hoping and gave up.

"E-everything you said was true" I confessed.

He held my hands.

"But why?"

I was about to say something when the bell rang, that was the sign that the day finally ended, and it was a sign too that I wasn't suppose to talk to him about what's really going on.

I felt a sudden pain in my chest knowing that I am going back to reality, that this dream is over, that I'll be back to hell in a moment.

"I'm sorry" that's all I was able to tell him.

He sighed and it hurts me to know that he is disappointed, so I moved to close the almost 2 inches space between us and put my lips to his. He immediately responded.

For the first time I kissed someone without me being forced to do it, and it felt so damn good, he is a good kisser, his lips were soft and gentle.

"See you Monday" I whispered after our passionate kiss.

He grinned, nod and once again we kissed.

 

Like the usual, Dan is already in the parking area when I walked out of the school. He is standing at his usual spot with his usual self, just by looking at him makes me wanna puke. I hate every inch of him, his disgusted lips, nose and those devil eyes.

When I reached the car I get in without saying anything to him, then he got in and drove away. We drove in silence; which very odd for me. He is not usually quiet, often than not he listens to the radio with his lame music.

He still didn't say anything until we reach the house; I immediately got off and made my way inside our house. Mom wasn't there; for sure she is on duty again.

I was about to go to my room when he suddenly grabs my arm, I screamed in pain when he twist it to my back.

"What's your problem?" I cried.

He pulled my hair and turned my face towards him.

"You whore, I saw you kissing that boy. . . I knew it! You are just like your mother, you're a fucking slut . . . how dare you play behind my back?"

I stopped in horror. This is not happening. . This couldn't happen.

"W-What are you talking about?" I asked, pretending not to know what he is saying.

He pulled my hair even harder and tightens his grip on my arm.

"Don't fool me bitch, I went to your school, your teacher called me and told me you skipped class, did you really think you can escape me? You are wrong. . . Now you will get your punishment"

He dragged me to the room while I cried and screamed in pain, I feel like my arm is broken and that my head is already bleeding. He threw me in the bed and took off his belt from his jeans. I screamed again when the leather landed on my skin merciless. He slapped me with it until I don't have any more energy left to cry in pain.

I lied in my bed, breathing heavily; my whole body is numb with so much pain. I thought he was done but I was wrong. He unzipped my jeans and took it off of me with my undergarments, then he found a scissor and cut my sweater and brassier and then he stood up and took off his jeans. My entire body is numb but I still felt the pain when he put his manhood on me. I want to fight back but I was so weak that I can't even speak. Tears are flowing non-stop on my face but he didn't care at all, he just took me again, and took me one more time and another time and another time.

When he was finally done, he left me lying in my bed cold and naked.

 

 

Chapter Two

 

I was still in pain when I went to school on Monday, I was wearing my usual baggy jeans and sweater that covers the bruise all over my body. Thank god it’s cold so I don’t look like an idiot wearing winter clothes to cover all my bruises.

I can’t even walk properly, and it seems like Dan is really punishing me for kissing Max cause for the first time he didn’t drive me to school.

Apparently, when I skipped school on Friday, the guidance counselor called our house and since Mom was out, it was Dan who answered. He went to school to look for me, perhaps afraid that I’ll escape. He looked all over the school for me and reached the school field when he saw me and Max kissing. My teachers thought something was wrong about me since I wasn’t at school. I never skipped school before since that was the only time that I can be out of Dan’s sight.

I made my way to my locker like as if I am having dysmenorrhea, my whole body is sore. All I want is to lie in bed but I don’t want to be anywhere near Dan.

“You look wasted!”

I closed the door of my locker to see who it was, that was Nicole, wearing his usual, tank top and short skirt and high heels. Though I notice her new hair color, her usual brownish locks is now auburn red.

“I’m sore” I whispered.

She looked at me.

“Business again?”

I shook my head, I remember what Dan did to me on Friday and I felt my tears forming in my eyes. I can’t even talk since I am afraid that I might breakdown, the last thing I wanna do right now is to cry in front of the whole school.

I felt Nicole grabbed my hand to the ladies room.

“He did it again?” she asked.

I nodded then I heard her took a deep breath.

“Why are you letting him do that, why don’t you just leave? Escape?” she said impatiently.

I shook my head.

“I tried . . . so many times” I said hopelessly.

I stood near the sink as I watched her asked the people in there to vacate the place. When she was sure that no one was there but us she looked at her reflection in the mirror and pulled the strap of her brassiere like what she also did the last time.

“I am leaving” she said without even looking at me.

I cocked my brow.

“Where are you going?” I asked unconsciously

“I am going to Florida . . . for good.”

I widened my eyes; she is going to another state? For what?

“Why?” I asked with