Don’t Cry Baby novel Chapter 3

Sleep comes and goes throughout the night; nightmares greet me when I finally fall into a deep sleep. They cause me nothing but dread until I wake up to the sound of my alarm. I peel my eyes open and slowly sit up, my body screaming at me as I start to move. I feel sore and achy all over, I climb out of bed and reach for my housecoat. I wrap it around myself and pick out an outfit. Simple leggings and a sweatshirt, something comfortable for today, I retreat to the bathroom to take my morning shower.

I whimper as I finally catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The bruises on my jaw, his fingertips, are not a pretty sight. I avert my eyes and climb into the shower to wash away the memories of last night. I feel the tears slide down my face, I try my best to keep them away, not wanting my eyes to look red, but I can’t help it.

When I finish in the shower I get out, get dressed and begin applying makeup to the bruises on my face. I use a sponge and lightly dab at the different areas hoping to cover all the bruises. Every time I touch the dark spots to conceal them, I feel pain. The pain makes me whimper and my hands begin to shake. Making it difficult for me to apply all my makeup.

As I'm finishing up, I take one last look making sure no sign of the bruises are there. There is a hint of a darker shade in the areas where the bruising is worse but, nothing that anyone will notice. I straighten up and finish getting ready for school. I can do this, no one will even know.

I race down the steps and to the door hoping no one will stop me as I try and escape. I do not feel the need to explain why I chose to wear makeup today unlike every other day. I normally just do mascara. I choose sleep over a full face.

I race towards the door and put my shoes on.

"Have a good day at school hunny!" My Mom calls from the kitchen table.

Every morning she sits there drinks a cup of coffee and reads the news. I’m just glad she's not one of those moms that forces me to eat breakfast. I'm never hungry until at least 11.

I step outside not eager to start the day and jump at the sight ahead of me. There standing against a tree is Ty, with sad eyes. He slowly trudges over and looks down at me through thick black lashes that could make any girl jealous.

"I'm so sorry baby, I never meant to hurt you. You know I can't control it sometimes please forgive me. I love you; I'll do better." I smile at him and take his hand squeezing it reassuringly.

"I forgive you Hun, please don't ...don't grab me like that again. It really scared me. I thought we were passed that." He nods and I can see that he truly is sorry. We walk together for awhile; we stop about a block away from the school to make sure we aren’t seen by too many people. We say our goodbyes and part ways.

"Have a good day baby doll, I'll come over later and make it up to you." He winks and I shudder knowing exactly what he means. He gives me a quick peck on the cheek and runs off in the opposite direction.

..

School has been relatively boring today, nothing too special going on pretty much the same old shit. Damien makes it a little more bearable. I know Ty would be angry that I am still friends with him but, I can’t just drop my only friend at this school.

He sits with me at lunch and sits by me in all our classes together. He truly is an overly sweet guy; Maybe Ty can learn to like him; he just needs to take the time to get to know him instead of letting his jealousy take control. He has been hurt a few times. He always tells me; it is hard for him to trust anyone.

It's hard for us sometimes when he loses his mind over something so little, I try to be understanding but sometimes he can get scary.

"Hey Ash, I asked you something. Did you hear it?" Damien says with a laugh, I feel the crimson creep up into my face as I look up into those amber eyes.

"I didn't I'm sorry I was just thinking, what's up?"

"I was just wondering if you could come over after school today and help me out with something?" I nod and smile. He smiles back and we set up a time to hangout.

Maybe Ty just won't have to know that I’m going over to Damien's today, it's best if he doesn't for the both of us.

**

Damien's house isn't large, but it isn't small either. It has a beautiful porch with a wooden porch swing hanging from it. I'm itching to sit and relax in that swing. It's painted a beautiful grey colour with darker trimming. It looks so homy when I step inside, all mild calm colours. Except for the vibrant red couch that sits in their living room.

Damien tells me that he had picked it out when his dad first left because all the colours in their old home were boring and he wanted a colour that would cheer everyone up. Red is vibrant and exciting, so he picked that one.

I smile at this thought; Damien is so caring when it comes to other people; it's no wonder we get along so well.

"Okay so I just needed help with this cake, it's my mom’s birthday and to be perfectly honest with you I have never baked a cake in my life. It's just her first birthday without my dad and I want to do something special for her."

"Oh awesome, I'd love to help you bake."

Damien walks into his kitchen and grabs everything he needs to bake a cake; I smile and stand patiently at his side as he gets everything ready.

"So, this is the part where you come in because I have no idea how to bake this damn thing." I giggle and step forward to take charge, I slip my hair up into a knot with the elastic I always keep on my wrist.

"Okay first of all you need to preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit." He smiles and walks over to the oven he stands there staring at it for a few minutes and I begin to laugh.

"You don't know how to do that do you?" He turns around looking guilty. I walk over shaking my head with a grin. I press the button and preheat the oven and walk back over to the counter.

"Okay so we'll need a large mixing bowl please." He grabs a large red bowl out of the drawer to my right.

"Okay grab a cup of white sugar, 1/2 cup of butter,2 eggs, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, 1 and 1/2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of milk and then mix it all together in this bowl." Damien's eyes grow wide as if he didn't hear half the things I just said. I chuckle and shake my head.

"Maybe we'll take it a bit slower than that okay." He nods and we begin putting the ingredients one by one into the bowl. I grab a piece of flower and chuck it into his face his mouth hangs open.

"Oh, you did not just do that." I giggle and he grabs an egg throwing it right at me I turn, and it lands right in my hair.

"Oh my god that's so much worse then flour you ass." I roll my eyes and laugh, and he looks at me with a grin his cute dimples in full view.

We finally get the cake in the oven to bake and my hair is officially crusty. I lift it up filled with disgust. Damien sits at the table laughing his ass off. I walk over and punch him right in the arm. He doesn't even bat an eye.

"That didn't even hurt." He rolls his eyes and picks me up slinging me over his shoulder. I'm laughing so hard I can't even breathe. He starts walking me towards the stairs. We're both laughing so hard we don't even hear the door open or close. He spins me so I'm facing the door and all I see is a woman tall and beautiful standing with an amused expression on her face.

"Um hey there, you must be Damien's Mom. Happy birthday!" Damien drops me on the floor in surprise.

"Oh hey Mom, how was work. Shit I'm sorry Ash." He leans down and helps me up.

"You know that really hurt." His Mom laughs and shakes her head.

"Hi Ashley, how are you?"

"Very good Mrs. Edson, how about you."

"Good, would you like to stay for dinner?" I smile and nod she ushers is into the kitchen and we sit down at the table.

We talk to her as she prepares dinner and I can't help but enjoy being around these kind people. They're both so wonderful.

..

By the time I get home it's pretty late, my parents knew where I was so they were perfectly fine with it.

I climb upstairs to go to my room excited by the idea of climbing into bed. I open my door and take a sharp intake of breath. Tyler sits cross legged on my bed looking at my favourite book, roughly turning the pages. Looking from front to back.

"You know, I still don't understand why you continue reading this book. You've read it so much I'm sure you have it memorized." He speaks quietly and slow, almost sinister. He grabs the cover and rips it off. I gasp, he continues to rip pages and throws them on the ground. A tear escapes my eye and I look away. He walks over and grabs my face in the same spot he did last night. I whimper and more tears fall.

"Do you feel that the heartbreak as you watch one of your favourite things get ripped from you." My bottom lip quivers as he holds my jaw tighter. "That's exactly how I feel knowing you were over there with him. Look what is in your fucking hair. You need a shower." I completely forgot about the egg Jesus his mom was probably staring right at my hair the whole time. Ty grabs my arm and forcefully pulls me to the bathroom. My muscles clench hoping my parents are nowhere near the bathroom. He pulls me in and roughly undresses me turning the water on. He undresses himself and climbs in first. I stand outside the shower shivering goosebumps dance all around my skin.

"You better get in here princess; you wouldn't want me getting angry again now would you." I slowly climb in and he pulls me into the stream of hot water. The water cascades down my body and relaxes my tight muscles but, fear of what to come still floats through me.