Chapter 13

Dakota comes home and tried to downplay attacking Jessie, but Mara isn't having any of it.

Chapter Thirteen

 

"... Is she okay?"

"Yeah I think so, I've been sitting here for a while and she kind of fell asleep without much warning."

I opened one eye half way, I didn't realize I passed out, either from the pressure in my head or the tea worked. Sometime I doubt relaxing teas do what they're supposed to do since I put so much honey in them, but honey is naturally sweet and it's not caffeinated as far as I can tell.

"Hey Ben, when did you get here?" I asked when I picked my head up, but not all the way just enough to let them know I'm awake.

"A few minutes ago, but you were sleeping."

"I guess I was," I laughed then remembered I had my head buried in the pillow I looked at the sandy brown pillow and pressed my hand against it, there's make up from my cheek all over the pillow. I dusted it off with my hand to the best of my abilities.

"Is there something on the pillow?" Tristan asked watching while I panicked to get the makeup off before anyone else noticed.

"No well yeah but fine now, I think." I gave up on the pillow, I didn't want to look at anyone but I had to fix my face. "I'll be right back." I got up as slowly as I could and hoping that my hair blocked any visible bruising. I nearly ran up the stairs and I stopped at the little circular mirror on the landing of the second floor. Most of the concealer on my cheek rubbed off during my brief nap, but that's what I get for buying cheap drug store makeup. Out of the corner of my eye I saw someone walking up the stairs and I instantly ran, I don't care who it is, my mind said Dakota and I'm not sticking around to find out if I'm right or wrong.

"It's just me, Ben."

I stopped running, but I wasn't turning around, I couldn't let him see my face.

"You said you wanted me to be here and yet you're running from me."

"I didn't know who was coming up the stairs; I thought it was Dakota, so I ran away."

"I know everyone says they won't let him near you but I'm serious, he's not touching you unless he kills me."

"Ben, he’s stronger than my dad! I don't want him to hurt you like he hurt me."

"He's not going to hurt me~"

I turned around and wiped the rest of the concealer off, although they've healed significantly since the beating, they're still prominent on my face and I feel the need to hide them. "Look what he did to me!" I felt tears forming and I could hear him whispering in my ear again. I don't think I'll ever get over this.

"Here's the thing Jess, if he takes a swing at me I'll probably break his hand. He's bullied you for years and you only have one good hand, I have two and I'm not scared of him. He can't corner me, pin me down, and beat me like he's done to you. I won't let it get that far and no one in this house will let it get that far, hell I might not get to him with everyone around. He might be physically intimidating but he hurt you and I'm not scared of a bully who picks on someone they know won't fight back or can't fight back for whatever reason."

"Ben~"

"I won't let him near you, all he can do, if he shows up, is give you nasty looks and talk trash."
"I can't look in mirrors sometimes, I see him there glaring at me like he's going to kill me! His looks are enough to traumatize me!"

He wasn't giving up on helping me feel better, he pulled me into a tight hug, "I'll tell him to stop it and you have Tristan protecting you and your parents." He tilted my head up with his finger, "If he comes back and refuses to leave while I'm not here and you can't take it anymore, call me and I'll come get you."

"One day away from him isn't going to help if he decides to move back home."

"I mean you can live with me, as odd as that might sound since I'd rarely be in an actual house, but you get the point."

"But then I'd be alone since you wouldn't be there."

He smiled, he has an idea and for a second I thought he wasn't going to tell me but he leaned down and whispered, "I guess I'll have to take you with me, you'll be like an unofficial 'official' member of the band, but it'll be our secret."

"Really, you can do that?"

"Hell I started the band I can do whatever I want."

I squeezed him as tightly as I could, all the fear and pain drained from my body and excitement filled the spot the negative emotions hogged for the past week of my life.

 

Christmas dinner, normally at around five, was a little late this year and it started at six. Mara plans on staying for the whole day, but Dakota is still missing in action. I don’t think she knows he beat the s**t out of me. They couldn’t have planned it. Dakota made that decision by himself; no one else encouraged him to assault me. I thought about telling Mara what happened, but my throat dried up at the thought of talking about it again.

 

I thought, no I prayed that the fact Dakota hadn’t contacted anyone since the fight with dad meant he’d be absent for dinner. Then the front door opened and closed with a heavy thud. My heart dropped and I tried to keep my eyes away from where Dakota would soon be standing, but I couldn't, my eyes were glued to the doorway leading into the hallway by the front door.

 

This is why I should have stayed in my room. Now he's going to block the one escape route I had. I can't run to my room if he's a few feet away from me, he'll catch me and he'll kill me!

 

I felt a hand rest on my upper thigh, it's Ben's hand, but I can't stop shaking. I can fit under the table, if I can maneuver my plate onto my seat and somehow eat that way, he won't know I'm there and I get to look at everyone's feet.

That plan won't work; my parent won't let me eat under the table like that. I can't stay here. I have to leave... so I'm going to run, no I'm going to fly up those stairs all I have to do is get up and take the first step. I'll be running in no time.

 

"Hi Dakota," I heard Tabby say and the color drained from my face. He's standing there; he gave Tabby a small smile and said hi to her. My dad grabbed some of the Tupperware that was sitting on the counter all day and began filling it with some of the dinner foods. I didn't look at him; I refused to look at him. My stomach churned and I couldn't breathe, he sat down next to Claire for the fact that she wasn't too far from me. I felt his eyes on me. He's probably enjoying the fact I'm terrified of him. I grabbed Ben's hand and squeezed with strength I didn't know I had. He squeezed my hand, letting me know I'm safe despite how vulnerable I feel.

"You're not going to say anything?" Tristan asked and I elbowed him.

"What is there to say Tristan?" He asked folding his arms.

"An apology to Jessie for beating her so damn badly for starters," he said and I elbowed him again.

“Shut up Tristan you’re making it worse!” I mumbled praying he’d shut up.

"When the hell did that happen? She looks fine to me." Mara said and I looked up at her, she looked genuinely confused. That confirms my suspicions nobody bothered telling Mara Dakota is a monster.

"It was nothing, don't worry about it Mara~"

"It was nothing?" I screamed at him, "You piece of crap I can't function anymore because of you! You hurt me because you thought Mara wasn't going to be here for Christmas! They were still talking about it and you took it upon yourself to beat me like it would send a message to them! Look what you did to my face!" I wiped away the makeup so he could see the bruises. "But it's nothing to you, nothing important, it's not like I still hear you threatening to beat me again if Mara didn't show up! It's not like I don't have nightmares of you killing me every other night. No it's nothing it's f*****g nothing!" I stormed away from the table. I wasn't hungry, I heard some arguing as I ran away but I didn't turn back to see what was going on. 

Author's Note

Sorry for the cover photo I couldn't find one without the band name and album logo... However that doesn't mean I don't like the band I absolutely love them! I highly recommend listening to Soil & Eclipse.