Chapter 1 ~
Rory ~
There hasn’t been a single moment in the last three years that I’ve felt safe.
My father's snoring echoes through the house, making me extra vigilant of my movements. I look back, my eyes landing on the sleeping form on the couch. I turn back to the door, biting my lip.
I quietly limp to the door. The tiles are cold under my bare feet, my shoes held tightly in my hand. I hold my breath as I push the screen door open, wincing at the soft creak it makes as it shuts.
As soon as I'm off the verandah, I sprint for my car. It's not until I'm driving away that I finally relax. I wait until I’m turned away from the house that I turn on my headlights.
My hands shake as I grip the steering wheel, my knuckles turn punishingly white.
You’re okay,I tell myself.
There’s no other cars on the road at this time of the day as it’s still a few hours before sunrise.
I turn off the road to the backfield of my father's small property. There’s a sliver of land that passes Ms Beckham’s old house that gives us access to this side of the property. The few acres my father owns are overgrown and just scrub but there’s a little clearing here that I come to hide.
The old rickety gate gets stuck as I’m trying to yank it open. As I’m doing so, a house light comes on and I frown. Ms Beckham went to live with her grandson a few weeks ago, she would have told me if she sold.
We have our weekly afternoon Skype session on Wednesday so I'll have to ask her about it.
I drive the worn path to the clearing, park under the tree and hop out. Grabbing my sleeping bag and book from the back seat, I put the heel of my shoe on the back tire and heave myself into the tray of my Hilux ute.
I lean back against the cab and drag my sleeping bag over me. I place my book down beside me and pull my legs up beneath me.
My racing heart finally relaxes, the morning adrenaline wearing off. Closing my eyes, I try to sleep for another few hours.
Five more days,I tell myself. Five. More. Days.
. . .
Sneaking into school at six o’clock in the morning isn’t new to me.
The librarian leaves the back door unlocked for me most mornings and when she doesn’t, I have my own key.
Lindsay is probably one of the only teachers who care about our education. And, I’m not just saying that because I’m slightly biassed.
I’m here earlier than normal since I was able to sneak out this morning unnoticed so I take longer in the shower of the school locker room than my normal rush. I’m not always lucky enough to get away before my father wakes up.
Changing into a pair of stretchy skinny jeans and a plain t-shirt, I’m immediately regretting my decision when the denim rubs against the bruise on my hip. Walking over to the mirror, I gently pull down one side and wince at the dark colouring that covers a large amount of my hip.
I have shorts in my bag but that will bring more drama than I want to deal with today so I’m just going to have to suck it up and deal with the material against my bruises.
I grab my school bag and my car keys go straight in my pocket. I don’t trust the assholes here with my shit.
Lindsay smiles and waves when I walk into the library.
Her gaze immediately returns to the book in front of her. I get a peek of the cover and stifle a laugh. I think this is the third time I’ve seen her reading this series. I wonder why she hasn’t recommended it to me. Usually with her favourites, I can’t get more than two metres into the library without hearing the genre, content and how good it is. I take note of the title and remember to search it later.
I head to the back study room attached to the library. Thankfully, because of how early it is, there's no one else in here but me.
Pulling out my laptop, I busy myself with my English assignment until the bell goes and it begins.
. . .
Dominic ~
