Silent Lies - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

It's Friday. I'm standing by my locker with Adrian and everyone else. Adrian's driving us all home, again. He doesn't seem to care about it at all though. It's nice having a ride home-and to school, he picked me up this morning-despite the risks.
I close my locker, hearing them all talk about the party that's happening tomorrow. I wish I could go, but I won't risk something like that with dad. I hate how simply going out is a risk for me. Leaving is way worse of a risk for me than getting rides to and from school.
We all walk out towards Adrian's car and I wonder about dad. He didn't do anything yesterday-in fact he didn't even come home until like 9pm. I wonder if anything will happen today, I'm starting to worry.
I sit up front with Adrian as I have been, everyone else in the back. I don't pay attention to much of the conversations happening on the way home, just watching trees and other cars pass by through the window.
Adrian takes me home last, thankfully. I wore his hoodie again today-by accident, I've gotta give it back. I take off my seatbelt, and then take the hoodie off. Adrian looks at me confused, and I'm thankful for the shirt I wore underneath as I never usually wear anything underneath except a bra, sometimes.
I know he can probably see the scars and cuts up and down my arms but he's already seen them, so I don't worry like I'd usually do, thankful no horrible bruises have been added to my arms. I hand him the hoodie and he's hesitant to accept it back.
"You can keep it." He smiles, making his dimples appear. I see his cheeks flush slightly and he fidgets with his bracelet, the same friendship one Danny got us all. "It looks better on you than me."
Now my cheeks flush and I turn away from him-just now seeing dad's car in the driveway. That's enough to take away the blush and my focus away from his comment.
"You okay?" I turn back to him, seeing him look so worried now. His own blush and smile are gone now and I see him looking back and forth from my face to something further down.
My neck.
My hair fell back from my shoulder, revealing bits of my still bruised and marked up neck I'm sure. I pull my hair back over my shoulders, hiding the parts I can't or haven't hid. I suddenly wish I never took the hoodie off, needing a hood to hide me even more.
"Uh, y-your neck...how's it..." He struggles to find what to say, but I'm thankful when he settles on saying nothing at all.
It becomes completely silent and I just decide it's time for me to go. I do the usual sign language to say thank you, grabbing my bag.
"I'll text you later?" I nod, opening the door. I shut it and walk towards the house, up the porch steps, and to the door. I wave back to Adrian once more as he does the same, opening the door, seeing him driving off now.
When I shut the door and finally turn, I see dad. Panic rises in me when I see him on the couch, holding a beer bottle. I stand frozen for a few, expecting something since he's been drinking, and has let me off so easily lately.
But nothing happens.
He just sits there, his attention solely focused on the Tv. He says nothing when I make my way towards the steps then upstairs. I let out a heavy breath when I sit on the bed, thankful for getting away easily once again. Despite being confused-figuring he'll erupt soon but I ignore the fear of that.
I take out all my homework for the weekend to get started on it. Adrian ends up texting about Physics homework, needing help. But I also need help. Neither of us understands much about it at all, so it doesn't do much.
Divine also texts about English-Adrian saying Ashton's also texting about Economics homework then Danny with English homework. We all need help-so a group chat is made, making it all so much easier since we have some of the same teachers and all.
But one conclusion I've made from this group chat is that none of us are exactly smart.
Also that Ashton and Danny can't even get along when simply in a group chat for homework. I seriously wonder how they aren't brothers.
It's nearly 7pm by time we all call it a night on the homework, everyone's texting going quiet. Adrian keeps texting me, privately, though. He texts me about the book he had brought because I said it was my favorite-I get super excited.
He tells me he's starting it right now and I'm overly excited to hear that. I decide to start the book he also brought me just because I took some interest in it-I finished the previous book I was reading last night finally.
I wake up around 8am, the book rested on my chest. I fell asleep while reading, and also texting Adrian. I fell asleep in the worst position ever so I take my time to get up, grabbing my phone and unlocking it to see mine and Adrian's text still pulled up-but several missed texts from him.
He got her a fucking bouquet of
almond joys???
Adrian, 12:16am
Almond joys are disgusting though
Adrian, 12:16am
I hold back a laugh reading those two texts, agreeing with them being disgusting.
HE WALKED A MILE IN THE RAIN
CAUSE SHE DOESN'T LIKE THUNDERSTORMS?
Adrian, 12:54am
Liv...I'm crying. Why does your favorite
book have to be so sad? Are you okay?
Adrian, 1:13am
Did you fall asleep??
Adrian, 1:21am
Sleep well Liv:)
Adrian, 1:23am
I smile while reading all the texts, seeing he's already read a decent amount of the book, and has gotten to some of the best parts. I text back right away, apologizing for falling asleep, and replying towards his texts about the book.
I put my book on my desk, getting up to use the bathroom and get ready for the day. Well, there's nothing to really get ready for as today is Saturday but still.
I decide to do laundry, knowing nearly all my clothes are now dirty. That happens quickly when I don't have many options for my clothes.
I gather everything that needs to be washed, hoping dad went into work today. He doesn't work weekends but he goes in sometimes anyways-and I'm thankful to not see his car in the driveway.
After I get the clothes into the washer I decide to take a shower, seeing no new texts-Adrian's more than likely sleeping in as it's the weekend, as the same for Divine. I haven't really done much texting one-on-one with Danny or Ashton.
By time I'm out of the shower, the clothes have thankfully finished washing so I toss them into the dryer quickly while just in my towel. I rush back to my bathroom, drying off then pulling on underwear and a bra. I start to braid my hair, until I hear my phone ding.
It's just Adrian, saying me falling asleep was expected with how late we were up then telling me more about how he's enjoying my favorite book-I'm, once again, overly happy about this.
I wash my face and everything else that's done after my showers, sitting in my bed and covering up with a blanket while literally all my clothes are drying except the ones I've just taken off before the shower.
Adrian tells me he's going to the store to pick some more things up for the party tonight-that I still very much wish I could go to. He tells me everything that'll be happening tonight, sounds just like a party I'd expect to be happening, then finally my clothes have dried.
He's still texting me as I pull some leggings and a hoodie on then start to fold the few other clothes. He still tells me I'm more than welcome to come to the party, that he'd come and get me-I hate having to decline still.
Adrian gets busy with helping Ashton set everything up-it's at Ashton's house-so his texts become slow and I pick back up my book, having nothing better to do as of right now. This will probably be what I do all day, read, and finish homework.
After reading for a few hours, now only having less than a quarter of the book left, I decide to finish the rest of my homework. It's nearly 3pm. Adrian's still busy helping Ashton out, along with Danny now according to his last text.
I sigh in annoyance after struggling forever with an equation for math. I have the urge to just look it up, cheat, but I tell myself to keep trying. Until I hear the front door open then shut-thankfully not slammed shut.
Apparently slammed doors meant nothing today, though.
I listen to dad's footsteps up the steps, going to his room. I wait and wait for him to come into my room and do something, but it never happens. I go back to finishing my homework in peace.
For now, at least.
It's about 5pm by the time I finish every bit of homework I had left after last night. I use the bathroom, then look at all the bruises and marks.
My black eye is healing well, my jaw is almost completely healed, but my neck is still purple and blue. I pull my hoodie sleeves up, seeing all the cuts. I shake off the urge of adding more, regretting even looking at them.
My stomach growls when I sit back down at the desk, I'm starving. All I had yesterday was some grapes, and nothing today.
I try to ignore it, picking up my book and deciding to just go ahead and finish it. But Divine distracts me, wanting help with an outfit for the party tonight-still seeing if I want and can go.
Then it's nearing 7pm, I've finished my book, helped Divine with an outfit then her hair and makeup, texted Adrian a bit more-but now the party is about to start. The weekends are so boring for me, but usually there's more happening than this.
The 'more happening' being dad.
I look around, needing something to do. But there's nothing to do. Usually, on weekends or even weekdays, I don't have the energy or will to do this but I start to clean my room. It's not really dirty, though. I don't have many things for it to become dirty.
I tense hearing a door slam, hearing dad's heavy footsteps. Oh fuck. My door opens and I curse myself out mentally as always for not locking it after getting my dried clothes, dumbass.
I slowly turn towards him after making my bed, and I'm scared when I see how angry he looks. I'm honestly surprised there isn't steam coming off of him-if he's to become any more angry it sure will though.
Everything happens too quickly, his hand moving to my arm to grip it so tightly then throwing me to the ground. His foot making its usual way to my ribs, knocking the air out of me. His hand making its way to thread through my hair, pulling me up by my hair making me want to scream-I can already feel a headache coming. His fist then colliding with jaw, the same one that was just almost fully healed-not no more.
His hand leaves my hair, letting me collapse to the floor. I can't my hold back my tears thanks to the agony my body is now in. I knew he'd erupt eventually.
He stares down at me like I'm nothing more than his punching bag-which is exactly what I feel like.
When he finally speaks I'm pissed, "I need you out of the house, my girlfriend's coming over."
Girlfriend?
Who is stupid enough to date him? Who has actually taken enough interest in him to be his girlfriend? Is she okay? Because clearly she's not if she has chosen to date the bastard of all people.
And kicking me, his own daughter, out? Because of a girl? He's choosing a girl over his own fucking daughter to the extent of kicking me out?
Why am I even shocked.
"You may come back tomorrow." You may go fuck yourself, Prick.
I seriously wonder what could happen if I'd never come back. I want to never come back but I have nowhere to go. Being homeless would get me away from the abuse, but it's about to be winter. I have Divine but I just can't bare telling her stuff just yet or anything.
I should just stay too, wait for this girlfriend of his to show up and show her how he really is. I should show her my once again brushing jaw. I should show her my ribs that are constantly painted purple and blue and green. I should show her my neck. I should tell her about Hadley and how he's the one who drove her to the edge, making her take her own life then showed no remorse about it.
But I have no choice but to leave for now when he grabs my arms and forces me to stand, a sob escaping my lips. He just rolls his eyes.
"C'mon. Get your shit and get out. I'd hate to have to do more." I grab my shoes, knowing my body won't be able to handle much more.
He glares at me as I tie the shoelaces, trying my best to hold back sobs but I keep failing. I hurry and grab my bag and phone, not knowing what else to grab and not even thinking about what I'd need.
I very slowly walk towards the door to my bedroom, my arms wrapping around my body in an attempt to ease the pain. He so happily moves so I can walk downstairs, following me.
He literally opens the front door for me then practically shoves me out. I stand on the porch for a few, trying to figure out what the fuck to do.
The party.
I could go, have somewhere to spend some time for a little bit, somewhere warm-it being the last days of October it's not exactly warm outside, especially with the sun already being down.
But with the fresh bruise I'm sure is already forming on my jaw, they'd know something's happened.
They already know stuff is happening. You've been lazy with hiding it.
Then I remember I keep the makeup products I use to cover bruises in my bag, in case of it smearing off or something at school.
I finally get my feet moving to try and get to the nearest gas station, it thankfully being just outside the neighborhood. I ignore how cold it's getting with it being night, the pain making it too difficult to even care about it being cold.
Even with the gas station not being that far away, my entire body aching makes it so difficult to get there, making the walk take way longer than it should. Adrian texts me a picture of how well the party is going and I wonder if I even should go, even if it means somewhere out of the cold for a bit.
Because in the background I swear I see at least a hundred people, just there. Ashton's house is pretty big too, so who knows how many more people there are. I know it's a party, but I just don't wanna be around that many people.
Thankfully I finally make it to the gas station, walking in and to their restroom . I ignore how nasty the public restroom is, getting my makeup out to cover my jaw, black eye, and neck the best I can.
My ribs were doing so well, but now they're horrible once again. I don't have the bandage I had been using around them either, so great.
I cover my jaw first, wincing and having tears well up in my eyes. Then my black eye, which is so much easier to cover now with it healing a lot. I take the braids out, seeing perfect waves now, covering my neck where the bruises and marks can be seen, using my hair to cover the rest.
Adrian texts again.
Last chance if you wanna come, and
I pick you up or else I might start drinking
Adrian, 8:37pm
I think for a moment, the whole reason I went to the gas station was to cover all my bruises that can be seen then go to the party. I was going to walk but maybe if Adrian will pick me up...It'll be so much easier on my body but I hate him always driving me anymore and me not having the gas money or anything to give to him.
I say I've changed my mind, and have convinced my dad to let me go anyways. First time going to a party, let's see how this goes-all while in so much pain.