Chapter 24: The Slap

The man in charge finally spoke and all he said was "It's about that Donavon kid, isn't it?"

My face was turning redder by the minute. I began to stutter. "Uh-I- wh-k- na-no. No it isn't. Uh I don't even know who you're talking about." I was too stunned to lie.

All heads snapped in my direction. "Donavon sounds like a boy's name. Doesn't it  sound like a boy's name?" Jesse put out.

While they were staring at me, I stared at Sasha. Help me please! I silently begged. Can't help you. Sorry. Is what her eyes said back to me.

"Lidia, answer the fu-", Sasha smacked his arm, "freaking question. Who. Is. Donavon?" Caden pressed further.

I panicked and looked at everyone. I saw Ian's defeated face and I went on full red alert. You just hurt him. You are a bad person. Someone you care for feels pain because of you. My mind chanted like a protester. I said the first thing that came to mind which was surprisingly not a lie

"He's a kid who was smoking and I told him to stop. He thence decided to give me sass and so I gave him sass back. Don't worry I got the final laugh.", I said. Zack looked like he was about to ask another question but before he could, I answered. "Yes he just so happens to be the kid who was vandalizing the school." I finished.

You could actually hear the sigh of relief from almost everyone in the room. I even think the cook did it. Everyone was thanking the Lord and saying 'praise Jesus'.  A bit dramatic if you ask me.

I gave a death glare to Luke which probably looked like a baby smiling to him but his face held indifference. What a bitch.

Soon after our little scuffle dinner was over.I trudged to my bathroom to take off my perfect makeup which doesn't happen everyday. Not even Sasha noticed. Am I really that stupid to think that someone would compliment me? Let alone compliment my appearance? How stupid. I didn't look in the mirror that night.

I turned on my white noise machine on high, having a feeling that I may have a nightmare. That night I had one of the worst ones yet. I was in front of Carl and his friends nude. They were playing poker but also staring at me. My hands were chained to the ceiling lifting them up so I could show off my boobs. His creepy, yellow tooth smile was wide. He was having so much fun.

I woke up with a startle. I checked my phone and eyed it to see the time and it said the time was 3:45 a.m. my face was trickling with tears while I rocked myself back and forth. How pretty, such sweet and tender little thing. I cried harder. I'm astonished the boys didn't hear me cry.

I stayed up all night crying. My alarm went off and I got up and took a long cold shower. I was trying to freeze myself. I cannot stand being cold so I was torturing myself by turning it on the lowest setting it had and with this being my brothers house, they had a setting where it's even colder than a normal house.

I got out of the shower and dried myself off. As much as I didn't want to I couldn't help but look in the mirror. Just one look made me start crying. After about 10 minutes of staring and judging myself I pulled out of my trance and went to my closet and picked out black sweatpants, a comfy shirt I would sleep in and the biggest hoodie I could find. Of course I had to wear my favorite black cross necklace.

My feet barely left the floor when I walked downstairs, tripping over anything and everything. "Hey Chica, want some breakfast? Zack asked, smiling like there was no care in the world. Ha. There was too many to count for me.

"No thanks, I'm good." I said.

I glanced around and saw Jesse and James already sitting at the table. When did they get here? I'm normally the first one up. "When did you guys sneak in here?" I asked.

Jesse looked at me weirdly and scrunched his face into confusion. "Um Lids, we've been waiting for you for like 10 minutes." He replied.

My eyes bulged. "What?! Why aren't we in the car?" I said with shock.

"Woah Lids calm down. We're on time. We just won't have a lot of time to get our stuff." He chuckled.

"I'm going to the car. See you guys in there." And with that, I left.

For the first time I actually got in the seat and buckled without Jesse driving off. The twins got in the car. They both looked like they wanted to punch someone.

"Hey guys, why are you mad?" I genuinely asked.

James turned around and looked straight into my eyes. "Just sit and look pretty okay?" He said. I also heard him mumble "that's all you're good for anyways."

Tears sprang to my eyes. I quickly blinked them back. I won't let them see me cry. Not more than they already have.

When we parked I didn't even wait for Jesse to open my door like he usually does. I ran to my locker ignoring all the weird looks people were giving me. I went to my classes as per usual. Audrey was obviously knew something was up but she didn't question it. Well, until lunch that is.

I wasn't surprised when Audrey was waiting for me at my locker. If it wasn't for me, she would walk into class 10 minutes late.

She was talking to me but I saw a glimpse of James and tears immediately began to swell in my eyes. "Okay girl, you've been acting weird all morning. Tell me wh-" she saw the tears I tried so hard to keep back. "Oh baby, what's wrong? Here let's go into the bathroom."

She directed me into the bathroom and I slid down the wall and started to bawl. "Why do they hate me so much? Why? What have I ever done to them?" I asked no one in particular.

"Oh baby who? C'mon. Talk to me." She comforted. Although she dresses in all black and acts like a jackass to basically everyone here, she understands me. I haven't told her my past but she understands that I don't like to talk about it.

"Audrey, they- they hate me." I cried harder.

"Lidia tell me who." She says.

I don't say anything and for the rest of the class period, me and her are sitting on the floor of the school bathroom. I guess she got tired of being ignored because she says "Lidia White. Tell. Me. Who. Hurt. You."

I look up at her and say "James."

She gets a fire in her eyes and gets off the ground and storms off to the cafeteria. I run after her yelling "Audrey stop it! You're not being rational!"

She slams open the cafeteria doors and storms over to my brother's table. "You bitch!", She screams and slaps James. "How the hell could you say something like that to your little sister!"

He gazes  at her with pure hatred. "What the hell bitch?! I didn't do anything! You're going to pay for that!" And he tries to backhand her but just as he was doing it, I place myself in front of her and he backhands me.

He looks petrified as he stutters an apology. "I-I, Curly I am so sorry. P-please forgive me." He begs.

Tears trickle down my face as I hold my stinging cheek in my hands. Jesse has rage in his eyes as he rears up and slams him against the wall. He yells harsh words to him but all I can see is Carl flickering back and forth to present time. Carl. James. Carl. James. Carl. James. I get the courage to look at him and for the first time, I see regret on his face. My brother never regrets what he does but when he hits his little sister he regrets the action immediately.

He looks at me and begs for forgiveness with his face. Regret, sadness, hatred for himself is quite evident on his perfectly chiseled face that would make even happily married women swoon. I grab Audrey's hand and we bolt for the door.

"Where are we going?" She asks.

"Just follow me." I say.

One night at dinner I overheard Luke talking to my brothers about their business. That's where we are headed. To be quite honest, I was just looking for the quickest place to stay that also doubles as a place where I know I'll get special treatment. Diva much? Yes but if you were me right now, you would too.

We walk in silence and finally the building comes into view. "Woah, what are we doing here?" Audrey asks.

"Well my good friend, this place is owned by my eldest brother so I thought we could come here. Besides, if I know my brother like I think I know him, we'll probably get some candy." I respond.

She nods in agreement and we walk in.

"Excuse me miss, I am looking for Luke White. I need to see him." I tell the receptionist.

She smiles a kind one. "Oh honey don't we all. But um no, no you cannot see Mr. White." She chuckled.

"Oh is he in a meeting or something?" I say.

"No but I'm afraid that you cannot enter.", She says sternly. "Now young lady if you and your friend do not leave when I count to three I will have security escort you out." She finishes.

"No I am not leaving until I see either Zack or Luke White." I protest.

She sighs. "Fine, you give me no choice. Security! Please escort these young ladies out."

My eyes go wide. The security guards grab ahold of me and Audrey, much to our protests and they almost make it to the door when I hear a familiar voice. "Lidia? Is that you?" Manny calls out.

I sigh in relief. "Yes! Yes it is. Could you please tell these men to stop touching me and my friend?"

He quickly nods. "Do you know who she is? You incompetent fools! That right there is Luke White's littlest sibling and you just put your hands on her! If I were you I would go to your posts immediately before the boss finds out."

The men rush to their spots while me and my partner in crime rub our wrists. I nod to him in gratitude. "Thanks, that could've ended badly."

He looks at him like I'm a child who disobeyed the rules. "Lidia White! Aren't you supposed to be in school?" He scolds.

I give him a deadpan look. "Seriously? I'm getting in trouble right now? Can you just take me and my friend to Luke's office?" I plead.

He huffs but complies. He leads me and Audrey to a elevator and music plays. Me and Audrey communicate with our eyes. Who is he?  She asks. A family friend. I reply. The elevator dings and opens and we walk into a waiting area. The assistant at the desk nods to Manny and glances at me and Audrey.

Manny knocks then opens the door. He gestures for us to go in the room. "Curly? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in school?" Luke cocks his head.

"Well yes but!", I explain, "um, James kinda uh, he tried to backhand Audrey but I wouldn't let him so I jumped in front of her and he backhanded me." I said a mile a minute.

How he understood what I said, I couldn't tell you but on his face-although still indifferent- you could see anger on it. He stood up and walked over to me and tilted my head to the side to the see the red mark. He blew out air in disappointment.

"I see. You girls can go into that room there until school is over", he glances at me, "and I'll get someone to give you some ice. When we get home I'll have a talk with your brother."

For the rest of school time me and Audrey played in the room which I'm sure was designed for boys because of all the video games and books and other stuff. It looked very classy despite the games. It was white and blue and very clean to which I'm very astonished by.

She taught me how to play Mario Kart which she obviously won. I insisted on catching up on my homework while she danced around the room, throwing things and eating the candy that was provided in glass containers. I giggled as we danced and sang to Taylor Swift's You Need To Calm Down.

Luke's assistant came in and told us it's time to leave. So we did. A man by the name of Joe was driving us. Audrey insisted on us just dropping her off at a gas station 'close to my house' much to my protests. He dropped me off at the front door and I thanked him. "It's my pleasure ma'am. Hope to drive you again." He said. I gave him a kind smile and walked into the house.

I saw James in the living room. "Lids, please talk to me." He begged desperately. I ignored him and walked to my room.

I need a minute to be petty then I will forgive him. Until then, I am completely shutting him out of my life.

I read a new book, Inside out and back again, a book written in free verse rather than normal text.

We had dinner and it was awkward to say the least. James wasn't present and everyone kept staring at my cheek. I kept my head down and ate as quickly as possible.

I decided tonight was a good night to write in my diary.

Dear Diary,

Today was an eventful day to say the least. First things first, I had my first nightmare in four days. A new record. It was about me being nude in front of Carl and his friends. My hands were raised up so he could see my breasts.

In the car James made a hurtful comment and I was trying to hard to keep in tears but I broke down in front of my best friend, Audrey. She slapped him and he tried to slap her but instead he slapped me.

We ran away from school and hid away at Luke's office. He wasn't at dinner tonight.

Yours truly,

Lidia White

Poor baby. She needs a break. To bad she won't get one ;). I'm so mean :(. I hope you like it and don't forget to vote, comment and obviously like:)