I tossed and turned, trapped in my thoughts...
I couldn't stay on the bed any longer, I began to pace about while awaiting mom's return
The image of a younger Hayden along with that little girl and dad kept resurfacing in my head.
If Hayden knew my dad then was am I perhaps missing something?
I heard some noises in the living room and knew mom was back...
Only she could answer the questions burning through my mind...
I quickly made my way downstairs, clasping the picture tightly as if it was some evidence of some sort...
"Hey sweetie" she greeted with a tired smile.....
Without saying a word I handed the picture over to her, she accepted it and I watched as the blood slowly drained out of her face...
"Mom, what's wrong?"
"Where did you get this!" She snapped, her voice raised in anger...
It was really rare for a mom to raise her voice and she looked quite pale now, it was surprising if not shocking to me.
"M..mom?" I called out unsurely
"I'm asking you Graciella! Where did you find this!" She sounded even harsher this time...
"Mom, what's wrong with you? And why is dad with that boy in the picture?" I asked motioning to the photo in her hands
Her gaze looked distant for a moment before she snapped out of it.
"This isn't your dad, now stop with all these silly questions "
She was behaving weirdly? It was clearly dad in that picture... Her reaction got me even more suspicious
"I just want to know how this photo came about mom, the boy in there is my classmate.....the same one who brought me back home the other day.....Hayden McAndrew...so please give me an answer "
"There's nothing to discuss, let this matter end right here!"
A ripping sound filled the air, she tore at the picture until there was nothing left...
"No! Why did you do that!" I half yelled at the sight littered all over the floor
I was about to start picking up the torn scattered photos when she gripped my arm firmly
"You want to know? Fine,, I'll tell you!"
"Your dad used to work for Mr.. McAndrew " her voice sounded bitter and distant...
Did dad work for Hayden's father? This was a very deep realization I never knew
"But dad is a journalist right from when I was born right? you've told me that many times"
She looked as if she was taken aback by my question, her gaze suggested that she was keeping something from me....something important...
"Please tell me,, everything mom"
I needed to know, I needed to understand.....
Perhaps this could relate to the reason why Hayden hates me so much.....
There could be more to this...
"I've told you all that you need to know, your dad once worked at their company before he......just forget about all this, why are you so adamant ?"
Yes,, I would be adamant, she didn't know how he's terrorized my life for nine years now......
She doesn't know of all the physical and emotional pain he'd caused me...
How he completely ruined my childhood...
How he corrupted my innocence and was threatening to take away my very soul
How I unwillingly sucked and jerked him off just up there inside my room, not to mention what happened at his house.....
Even Jasper got caught up because of me...
I couldn't even tell anyone about it, not even her...because I felt like they wouldn't understand
How I've had to live with the shame, disgust,, and humiliation I felt with myself....each time he touched me
So I had to know everything.....
"What aren't you telling me,, mom? You are clearly hiding something from me" my voice came out sounding both desperate and pleading
She suddenly slammed her palms on the table and I flinched back reflexively
"That's enough from you, you should never bring up this topic again! it's all in the past now"
I watched in disbelief, confusion,, and frustration as she stormed up the stairs, but not before shooting me one last warning glare......
I fell back to the ground staring at the scattered photos...
What was going on?....
Even mom was now behaving suspiciously...
************************************
Lyn waited outside as I walked into Mrs.. Clark's office...
She looked up from the pile of documents, a smile spreading across her face
"Graciela come in, I must say you really did well on your project this time, I knew I could count on you "
I could only gape at her...
I never went back to Hayden's house after that day, not to make mention of completing and submitting a project......
Did Hayden do that? I found it out to believe
"I think pairing you along with Hayden turned out fine "
A memory of him spanking my ass raw and an unwilling shudder ran through my body...
She was absolutely wrong but I didn't tell her that...
Her expression turned serious as she looked about as if looking out for listening ears
"What's going on between you and him?"
"Why did you pair me up with him, I already told you the last time"
Something flashed through her eyes but it was gone before I could make it out...
"You promised you were going to help me....." My voice cracked out at the end, I blinked back the tears that threatened
Her eyes flashed with something akin to guilt, she looked like she was searching for words to say but she ended up not saying anything
I shrugged before collecting the extended score sheets from her hands...
I turned to leave when her voice called out stopping me right on my tracks...
"Stay away from Hayden"
The hairs on the back of my neck stood still In alarm as I turned around to face her
"He's dangerous"
All I ever wanted was to run as far away from Hayden as I could, but then I never could get far before he catches me...
I nodded numbly and walked out on shaky legs...
"What did Mrs. Clark say? Why do you look so pale?" Lyn asked on seeing me, concern written clearly over her features
I shook my head forcing out a tiny smile, extending my text score sheets
"Look, I passed"
She held a hand over her chest as if In relief...
"Then why that expression, you almost got me there for a second "
If only she knew...
Mrs.. Clark's warnings chimed like a blaring alarm in my head...
"Let's go to class"
I could only agree with her words...
************************************
A burning sensation dug holes into my back all throughout the class, I didn't have to look to know who the pair of gaze belongs to...
Did I keep thinking about Mrs. Clark's words, how dangerous was he? I mean I've seen what he did to Jasper......but it seems she was also somewhat afraid of him......
She made me wonder who exactly he was
I made the mistake of looking back and my breath stuck in my throat, sure enough, he was staring at me, his green gaze burning brightly, he didn't even make to look away after being caught by me.......
A smirk slowly spread across his face, he slowly ran his tongue over his lips, smacking his lips loudly
I gulped down slowly and quickly averted my gaze, the blood rushed to my face, I shouldn't have looked, now my palms were all sweaty and I couldn't concentrate on what the teacher was saying.....
The class couldn't come to a quicker end, I was the first person to dash out of the class, the teacher might find me rude but right now I was running for my life......