• CHAPTER 1



    I had just finished doing my laundry and was sitting on the front steps of the house playing with my PSP when James pulled into my driveway in his Jeep Cherokee. I smiled a small smile and turned back to my game. I heard him slam the door to his car and walk towards me.

    “Gawd, Jade, you’re so boyish. Look at you, playing PSP outside your house. What a guy.” He sat next to me and tilted my chin so I was facing him. “But I guess that’s just how I like you.” He kissed me and I smiled. He pulled away just enough to look back at the house for a minute and said “Anyone home?”
    “Nope. After a hand-to-hand between mom and Gerald, they both left. I guess mom’s working and Gerald’s drinking.”
    “And where’s Ben?” He looked back at the driveway. “His car’s not here so…”
    “Yeah, Ben’s with Kim… probably on the back of his car.” James smiled impishly.
    “Wanna come to mine?” He snickered. I elbowed him on the rib cage.
    “Uh no… thanks.” Just then his cell phone began to play “Say” by John Meyer. He pulled it out and flipped it open.
    “Hello?” He raised his gimme-a-minute finger and turned away. “Aww kinda. Why?” A male voice reverberated from the other side of the phone. “Uh well I’m with Jay right now—Okay, I’ll ask her. Hey, Jade,” He asked turning to me. “Andrew and a few other guys from the football team are at his house watching movies and stuff. Wanna join?” I thought about it for a minute. I really liked hanging out with James’s friends which so happened to be the football team but I still hadn’t eaten and I was starving. I wasn’t in the mood for chips-n’-dip anyway. I denied the offer and continued playing my game. “Uh she doesn’t want to go—oh okay… fine. Bye.” He hung up. He let out a disappointed sigh and I smiled.
    “You know you can go, right?” I asked without facing him. “As in… without me… ring a bell?”
    “Yeah but I want to be with you.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. “’Sides…” He whispered into my hair. “I can’t just leave you alone.” I turned my PSP off and turned to face him.
    “Well too bad ‘cause I’m about to ditch you for a sandwich.” I stood up.
    “Seriously?”
    “Yeah. Besides, I still have some more laundry to do.” I lied. I’d spent the entire afternoon doing all my clothes. “You should go. Don’t wanna miss a good game now would ya?” He mulled the idea for a minute and stood up. I walked over to his car and through the opened window on the driver’s side grabbed my jacket which I had previously left on the passenger’s seat.
    “’Kay, babe.” I turned around and he kissed me. I pushed away but he pressed his body against mine, pinning me between the car and him. He kissed my jaw line and made his way down my neck. I giggled and he looked up. “Bye.” He whispered. He pecked my lips and grinned. I stepped aside and he got in the car. “I’ll text you later.” was all he said as he drove away.

    I sat back down on the steps. The sun had set and I was starving. There was no food in the house since no one has actually bothered to do some shopping. Gerald leaves for work early in the morning which is when mom sleeps because she works at night at a hotel. But today was different. After Gerald got back, he and mom began arguing. I was in my room listening to my Ipod when I heard dishes breaking and doors slamming. I saw Gerald get on his car from my window and drive away. Two hours later, mom left for work. None of them have showed up since then; and no one does the shopping.

    I walked inside the house, so dark and empty, and made my way to the stairs. I noticed the scattered pieces of ceramic from the broken dish across the floor and sighed. “Gee mom, smart as always” I muttered. I took a shower and stepped out in nothing but a towel when I heard someone in the kitchen. Probably Ben. I went to my room and changed into a pair of sweats. I jogged down the stairs and froze as I saw the person leaning over the fridge.

    Gerald.

    I looked across the room to the window that faced the driveway. Ben wasn’t here yet. I began to tremble. I was alone in the house with Gerald. I swallowed the building, bitter urge to scream and turned around. If I was lucky enough, I could hide in my room and wait until he was passed out drunk on the couch. But I took the wrong turn and stepped on a broken shard of ceramic the pierced my skin. I swore loudly and gasped. “Jade, is that you?” Gerald asked.
    “Uh y-yeah.” My voice trembled.
    “Did you eat anything?”
    “Um no… I didn’t.” I clenched my toes as the pain ripped through me and blood spilled onto the wooden floors.
    “Well then how about we grab a bite? My treat.” No. No. Oh no.
    “Um no thanks.”
    “Aw c’mon.” I heard the fridge door stick close and his steps approaching me. “Why no--” He looked down at the tiny blood puddle beneath my foot. “Jade, what happened?” He kneeled down to get a closer look. “Don’t touch me.” I whispered so low I wasn’t sure he heard me. He raised my foot and a whimper escaped my lips. “S’okay. S’okay. I’m just taking a look.” The pain in my foot was nothing compared to the disgust I felt as he touched me. “Ooh it’s in deep.” He looked up. “You’re gonna have to sit down. I’ll take care of it.” No. No. No.

    My mind screamed “no” but my body was frozen in fear. He sat me down, my eyes wide opened, and grabbed the first-aid kit above the fridge. He rolled my sweats up more than necessary and rubbed my leg. A cold, unsettling shiver ran up my spine when he looked straight into my eyes and smirked. He pulled the shard and cleaned my wound. He was just placing a bandage when he began kissing my foot. I jerked my foot away and he laughed. “Sorry if I tickled ya.”

    It didn’t tickle.

    “Let’s go!” He pulled me up. I was shaking, my mind blank with fear and shock. I limped my way into his car and sat on the passenger’s side. I buckled my seatbelt and leaned as far away from him as possible. As he pulled back from the driveway, he turned to look at me. “Why so tense, Jay?” He placed his hand on my thigh and grinned. “You should relax a little.” I swallowed loudly and he chuckled.

    He took us to McDonalds. I ate my food quickly but he took his time with each bite, not forgetting the occasional glance at my chest between each fry. When he was finally done, he dumped the tray and signaled me it was time to go. I’m grateful the ride back was quiet. Just talking to him got me on edge. When I got out of the car, when we reached the house, he backed up and drove away. I wiped my sweaty palms and shivered one more time. That was the most nauseating dinner I’ve ever had.