Rae paused. “No, actually.”I leaned back. “That happen often?”She nodded. “Every time they get into a fight. She rebounds with some guy, they fight again, D.J. showers her with gifts so she’ll come back, then the cycle starts all over again.”“I’m sorry, Rae.”She shrugged. “Shit happens.”“Do you remember anything about your dad?”“Wow. You really just wanna dive in there, don’t you?”“I mean, do you have anyone else to talk about it with?”“Allison and Michael.”“Have you ever talked with them about it?”She shrugged. “Doesn’t mean I won’t.”I quirked an eyebrow, listening to her sigh. “You know I’ll understand.”“Why don’t we start with what happened to your mother?”I nodded. “All right. What do you want to know?”“What really happened, Clint?”I sighed. “I wish I knew. One day she was okay. And the next, she wasn’t. Painkillers are a bitch, but when you put it together with postpartum depression, it becomes a big issue.”“Your mother struggled after having you?”“My mother stru
I swallowed. “Just some privacy would be nice.”“I mean, you did hit the wall pretty hard. You okay?”“I’m not bleeding, if that’s what you’re asking.”I drowned out his voice with the sound of the toilet flushing. I splashed some water on my face, trying to remove the sleep from my eyes. I took the liberty of using what I had around me. Hand soap on my face. Toothpaste on my finger. I used a generous amount of mouthwash, gargling before spitting it out. I picked up the hair-filled brush and said a small prayer, then ran it underneath the water. And as Clint knocked softly on the door again, I groaned.“Can you give a girl a second?”“You aren’t the only one that has to pee, sweet cheeks.”I murmured, “Call me that again and see what happens.”“You know, you could just skip class.”I ran the wet hairbrush through my hair. “Not a chance.”“You could spend some more time with me.”“Yeah, like that’s a smart decision.”He snickered. “Your words would hurt if I thought for even a second y
“Hi. I’m—”Clint cut me off. “None of your damn business.”His father narrowed his eyes. “You wanna try that again?”“No. I really don’t.”I drew in a sharp breath. “Clint, come on. We’re gonna be late.”“Did she just come down from upstairs?”Clint nodded. “Yes, sir.”“And is that fucking allowed in this house?”“Probably not, sir.”His father charged him and I cried out. Clint shoved his ass out, knocking me outside before his father gripped his leather jacket. I reached out for him, watching as his father picked him up onto his tippy toes. And as his father barreled him back into the wall, I cupped my hands over my cheeks.“I’m sick and tired of you thinking you run this house. Shut the damn door,” he glowered.I whimpered. “Clint.”He peeked back at me with nothing but sadness in his eyes. And as his hand reached out for the door, he nodded his head.“Get outta here, Rae. Sorry for making you late and not being able to give you a ride.”“Mr. Clarke, this is all my fault. We just n
“Rae, don’t you dare tell me you told someone at that fucking school what's happening.”“And what if I did?”She tried reaching for my eye again, but I snatched her wrist. If she told anyone at that damn school what was going on and they started poking around, I wasn’t sure I’d survive my father’s assault. I’d kept it hidden from the school this long. And the last thing I needed was someone attempting to upend my life because it was their job to give a shit about me.“Leave, Rae. I’m serio—”“Cleaver!?”I closed my eyes and quickly dropped her wrist. I stuck my tongue into the inside of my cheek as Roy pried the door away from my hand. I sighed as Rae’s eyes flickered over to him, and he pushed his way beside me, chuckling. I’d tried to spare Rae from my best friend, but it had been her choice not to fucking listen.Why the fuck did she never listen?Roy laughed. “What the hell are you doing here, Cleaver Beaver?”Rae rolled her eyes. “I could ask you the same thing, Roy Toy.”He shru
“Can I do anything for you?”“Do you want me to get you some ice cream?”I looked over at Roy and he winked. He was right. Women couldn't resist a guy with bruises on his fucking face. But if they knew how I’d gotten those bruises, it would be a different story. The line of girls coming up to me asked me where I got them, and each time my fight story became a little more dramatic. It went from some kid on the side of the road to some kid picking on a girl on the side of the road. Then, it morphed into some college kid on the side of the road picking on his fiancée before I offered to show her what a real man could provide.It was the first time in my life I ever felt pathetic for it.“Clint!”Rae’s voice pierced through the cafeteria and my eyes fell upon her. She strode with intensity in her movements and a sour expression on her face. The girl at my side, trying to practically spoon-feed me ice cream, got up and stepped off to the side. Roy chuckled and out of the corner of my eye I
“What do I do?”She sighed. “There’s nothing you can do. You can’t change a man. So you can’t let that man change you. Bad boys are just that. Bad. Bad for you. Bad for themselves. Bad for anyone who comes into their lives.”I nodded slowly. “People at school will know soon enough.”“And all you can do is stand up to them. Stand your ground and don’t let them beat you into it. High school is relentless. There isn’t a person on this planet—rich or poor—that would do it all over again. I’m here for you, no matter what. And you can talk to me about anything, okay?”I smiled softly. “Thanks, Mom.”She tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I guess we both have a tendency to go for the wrong men.”I giggled. “Yeah. Fuck D.J.”Mom laughed, covering my mouth with her hand. “Fuck D.J.”“Did something happen?”Her hand fell away from my face. “Isn’t something always happening with him?”“I thought you two just made up, though?”She shrugged. “Maybe I didn’t want to make up this time. Maybe I’
I ignored all of their comments and questions as I lumbered into Marina’s parents’ house. I slid the patio doors closed behind me, seeking solace in the ice cold air conditioning of their kitchen. I walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water, chugging it back as it filled my stomach. I backed it up with another. Then another. And slowly, I felt my veins being freed of the alcohol I’d pushed through them.Which freed my mind up to roam even more.“Clint! The fuck!”Roy’s muffled voice hit my ears and I turned around. I saw him banging his fist on the kitchen window before he shrugged at me with an attitude I didn’t like. I held my bottle of water up to him before drinking the rest back, but Roy wasn’t a fan of my actions. He looked pissed. Though I didn’t know why.I mean, did he sell his soul to Satan in order to get me that girl?Terrible exchange.I tossed my third empty bottle of water into the trash can, then grabbed a fourth. And as I cracked it open, I started wa
I saw her in the hallways and tried to meet her eyes, but she always turned her back to me. I tried scanning the cafeteria at lunch time, trying to catch where her and her friends would park it. I wanted to hear her voice again. Even if it was in anger, cursing me out before slapping me across the face. Yelling at me was better than the whole barrel of ‘nothing’ she was tossing my way now.And when I saw her walk into the cafeteria, hope ignited in my chest.I stood up from my chair as Roy rattled on about some stupid-ass nonsense. Marina nibbled at her banana, keeping the trend of her starving herself going. I stood there, listening as voices faded into the background. And as Rae’s eyes found mine, I saw her lips turn down at the sight of me.Then she turned around and walked back out of the cafeteria.“You good, Clint?”Roy’s voice pulled me back from the brink, as I felt my fists balling up, my arms shaking, every part of me tensing up as Allison and Michael appeared in the cafeter