She tenses under my touch, and I quickly pull away. “I’m sorry I shouldn't have, he's a dick, and I didn’t want you getting tricked by a guy who will break your heart.” I sit back against the pillows. “It pissed me off when he treated you like everyone else, because you're not everyone else. You're better, and I’ll bedamned if I sit back and watch you get used like you’re nothing, because you’re–” I was interrupted by the door being swung off its hinges.
Scarlett jumps out of her skin and immediately begins to tremble. Her dad storms in, looking fifteen shades of pissed off. “Oh, Spencer, I didn’t know you were in here.. With the door closed… Usually, when people are over, the rule is that the door stays open. Isn’t that right, kid?” His words seem to come from a place of concern, but there's something about the way he spits them out that sets my nerves on edge.
She is shaking so bad, the bed blanket is nearly vibrating, not that you could see it, but I could feel it. “Yes, Sir. He was just bringing me the homework I missed, and showing me which piece is more important.” Her dad shakes his head.
“Thank you for bringing over her homework. I think you should go now, it’s almost dinnertime. And son, the next time you come over, don’t go breaking rules.” He stands by the door, showing me the way out, not moving until I am nearly out the door. I nod and smile at Scarlett, who smiles back, but it's not her usual “shit eating grin.” There's something else going on behind those eyes.Could it be an embarrassment of being caught in her room with a guy? No, that doesn’t explain what I saw flash across her face, damn it! What was that look? Fear maybe?
Walking home, I immediately run to my room as my emotions flare in every way. The fear she showed when she moved in, the way they never invite me over to their house, and the way Levi is so protective of her. At first, I thought, damn, he really loves her, and he does, that much is true, but does he protect her because he has reason to? All the air has been taken from my lungs, and all the remarks are mixed with how jumpy she was.Her own dad wouldn't— He wouldn't hurt her, right?
Scar
Thank you for bringing my homework. Sorry about my father.
Reading her words over again, like trying to decipher her truth. I sent a quick text back.
Me
Sorry if you're in trouble
Scar
Not at all, I think it just scared him. I had a boy in my room. He probably thought you just got done driving me into my king-size bed and making me scream. ;) LOL
I read the message a million times.New fantasy unlocked.After dinner, I took a long, cold shower, and that was the first time I jacked off to the thought of my best friend's sister. Damn her and her wicked mouth.
Chapter 13
Scars
Scarlett
Isit waiting for Grant to barrel back through the doorway after walking Spencer out. My heart sinks knowing what he just saw, and hoping like hell he didn't catch anything off.Just an overprotective dad, keeping his daughter safe from boys.Funny, Spencer said, he didn't want me to get my heart broken. The truth is, my heart has been broken for five years, the first time my father hit me. We knew he hit my mother, but we never thought he'd hit us until he did. When he hit me, he took a piece of my soul; he continues to take and take with each kickand each punch as he slowly kills my mind and my body. His words are like acid; they burn, and they scar.
Grant stomps in, his work boots hitting the hardwood with force. “I should beat you senseless for that slutty behavior.” He takes a step closer. “I should punish you for breaking the rules and being the entitled little brat you are. You think that boy cares? You think he looks at you and sees worth?” A deep chuckle falls from his smug smirk. “Stupid girl. All he sees is a piece of ass who’s weak with a few holes to shove his dick in. I know, because that’s all I saw whenever I looked at your mother.” He takes another step forward, his thighs now pressed hard against the side of my bed. Reaching over, I brace myself, his hand balls into a fist, and his finger points directly in my face, nearly touching my nose. “I can't afford to have you miss any more school, it makes me look bad. Think yourself lucky, if you hadn't already been hiding out in your room like a pussy for days, I would have knocked some sense into you, until you finally got it in your head that you are nothing but worthless. Think yourself lucky that I’m not in the mood to teach you some damn respect.” I look at him directly in his cold eyes. “Don't fucking look at me like that, you look just like her. It wouldn't surprise me if you end up like her, too, crying into a bottle of pills.” With that, he removes his finger from my face and storms out, slamming my door in the process.
I let out my breath of fear and closed my eyes, releasing the never-ending sobs of hatred. His words burn into my skin, scaring me. I can't settle; it feels like something is crawling under my skin. Anger, guilt, and hopelessness crash over me like a tsunami. I run my hands up and down my arms, silently begging for it to stop. I feel the need to get rid of the shame he's made me think, take back control, erase the scars he leaves withhis venomous words. Spotting the lighter I took from Spencer's car, it hits me, the feelings settle to a gentle tide of relief.
The lighter is my sanctuary, and the flame is my release. Fire is powerful like Grant, only I get to control the pain; I get to make my own scars.
Sliding off my black sweatpants, I sink to the floor, leaning against the cabinets, flicking the lighter and creating the flame of release, ready to burn the scars he made with my own.
Chapter 14
Trellis Effect
Spencer
Lying in bed, I hear a car rip down the street, and my mind is in shambles, thinking about how I left Scarlett. Levi wouldn’t have left her, and I did. I am supposed to be ‘keeping an eye on her’ while he is at practice, some fucking job I’m doing. I stand up and watch Scarlett's dad’s car take off from the stop sign.
Looking at my smartwatch, it’s 8:30 p.m. and Levi should be home around ten. I throw on a black T-shirt and a pair of greysweatpants, grab my phone, and head downstairs.Fuck it, I’m checking on her.
Walking around the house, I look up and notice a white trellis leaning against the siding, creating the perfect pathway to her window. Shoving my phone in my pocket, I start climbing, hoping to hell I don’t get caught. I knew if I texted her, she would give me some bullshit story about how she is fine, but something inside me is screaming to check on her.
Sliding open the window, I quietly step inside; silence greets me, as does her smell. I walk towards the closed bathroom door, putting my ear to it, when I hear a wince of pain.Is she hurt? Did he hurt her when I left?I try to open the doorknob, but it’s locked. I rattle it. “Scarlett, let me in!” My heart beats rapidly, as fear sets in. Movement sounds behind the door. I try to turn the handle again, and this time it turns.
Her face is soaked with fallen tears, and there is redness around her cheeks. My eyes soak in every detail. Her long t-shirt hangs mid-thigh, and her legs,fuck, her long, golden legs. She’s beautiful even when she’s broken.“What are you doing?” My voice is stern; embarrassment and fear flash across her face, and she shakes her head. I catch a glimmer of something silver and yellow in her hand; it’s a lighter.My lighter. What the fuck is going on?I take a step closer. “That’s my lighter? Wh–y why do you have my lighter, you don’t smoke…” My heartbeat races, making my nose flare as my breath tries to escape, searching for an answer when the holder of them won’t speak.
She shakes her head again, as another tear falls from her swollen eyes. I take one step closer, slowly moving my hand to her cheek, placing my hand on the side of her face, using the pad of my thumb to wipe it away. “Tell me what you’re doing, Scar?” Another tear rolls into the pad of my thumb, and her chintrembles. I take my other hand and slide my lighter out of her death grip. “Show me, Scar.” My voice is a desperate whisper.
