Note: This story is co-written with my friend Jess. This is her chapter. I'm writing the next. She writes sort of differently, but still good.

Chapter 2:

" YOU KNOW WE CAN'T AFORD THOSE THINGS, ANN! WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO! YOU JUST FLIT THE MONEY AWAY, LIKE IT GROWS ON TREES!" Emilyn heard her father shout from below.

She pressed down on her pencil harder than she meant to and it broke. "Damn," she said under her breath. That was her only pencil. There were more downstairs, but no way was she going down there.

"DON'T YOU DARE BLAME ME FOR THIS, ANN. WE BOTH KNOW OH TOO WELL WHO'S FAULT THIS IS!" Then, a loud breaking sound.

Emilyn bit her lip, as tears stung the back of her eyes. She wouldn't let them come. She wouldn't. She felt the familiar salty taste, as a drip of blood spilled onto her notebook. She was doing homework for her class tomorrow. She was in college, but her parents couldn't afford to pay for her living on campus, so she lived at home.

She tried to wipe the blood off with her sleeve, but it only left a trail of red. She folded her arms on the desk, and put her head down. Then, she heard a door slam, and felt the familiar shake of her things. She knew he had gone, so she opened her door timidly, and went downstairs. She saw her mother, sitting at the table, a broken glass on the floor. That was what the breaking sound had been. She swiftly walked over to the broken glass, and leaned down, slowly picking up the pieces. This was the third glass this week. She put the glass in a bag, and then into the trash, her mother not moving a muscle all the while.

Emilyn sat next to her mother, " He went to Eddy's again, didn't' he?" she asked, though she knew the answer. Her mother looked at her, dripping mascara. She noticed how truly tired and sad her mother looked. Emilyn had to look away, but looked back as her mother nodded slowly. Eddy's was a bar down the street. Her father always went there. Especially after these fights, which happened a lot lately.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, then Emilyn remembered the pencil. It felt insignificant now, but she needed to get this assignment finished. "Mom, do we have any more pencils?" she asked quietly.

"You need to take a break from your homework. You're always up there in your room, studying. Go out, call Brenna. You'll have later for your homework. And tomorrow afternoon, that class isn't until 2"

Emilyn couldn't help but chuckle. "You know, most mothers have to drag their kids from being out with friends to do homework." "Good, give me the chance to be one. Now, go. Go call Brenna." Emilyn smiled. Maybe she should. " Thanks mom" Emilyn leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. " But what about...?" " I'm going to hang out here for a little. Catch up on my soaps." Emilyn rolled her eyes, her mother obsessed over her soap opras. She felt sort of bad for leaving her here alone though, after the argument. "Are you sure?" " Yes, yes! Go!" her mom said with a soft smile.

Emilyn turned and reluctantly went up the stairs, to her room, to call Brenna. She dialed her number, and it rang twice before someone picked up. " Hello?" " Brennaaa" Emilyn crooned into the phone. A small laugh came from the other end, " Hey Em. Sup?" " I think we should call Eric." " & do what?" " Go to Lake Tera" Emilyn heard a door slam, and a shout from downstairs. Oh no...he can' tbe back already?...can he?" Uhm, Brenna, I'll call you back" she said and hung up the phone quietly. She walked over to the door, and put her ear up to it. She heard deep grumbled words, "Where is that girl? You were gonna let her go out?" She heard her mothers small, frightened voice. So opposite of her fathers, vicious, bellow.

" She needed a day off. I thought a day with her friends would be good." " SHE SHOULD KNOW BETTER. SHE KNOWS SHE NEEDS TO STUDY HARD. GET HER DOWN HERE." " No, Adam. She's on the phone with her friend. Please, just let her be. " DONT' YOU TELL ME TO DO, ANN. SHE IS MY DAUGHTER AS MUCH AS YOURS. I SAID GET HER DOWN HERE. " Emilyn held her breath, then she heard a small yell.

" Emilyn, could you come down here please, honey" She didn't dare exhale, maybe if she pretended she didn't hear. He'd give up. " You can't call a child like that all sweet. " honey, oh please, dear." he mocked in a high pitched voice. " EMILYN! YOU GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE!" he yelled. Emilyn knew if she ignored this one, he'd come up to her. She'd have less room to run, less room to hide, so she opened her door. Her hands were shaking. She acted like she didn't know what was going on as she stepped down each step, getting more afraid with each one.

" Yes, daddy?" she asked, he used to soften when she called him that. " Don't you "daddy" me. What's this I hear of you about to go out with your friends!" Emilyn glanced at her mother, who looked at her, sending her messages with her eyes. I'm sorry, I tried to stop it.She nodded slightly, I know." DONT LOOK AT HER. ANSWER ME!" he said grabbing her chin, and turning her head. She winched, he was gripping tight. " I was going to go to the lake with Brenna." she said weakly. " DONT' YOU HAVE HOMEWORK!" " Yes."

He let go of her, she put her hand up to her jaw. It hurt. " You are going to corrupt my daughter!" he yelled to Ann. He struck her across the face. Emilyn had to turn her head, she started back up the stairs. As she did so, she heard her mother, in tears now, saying " Please, Adam" Another slap. She heard her mother sobbing. Then, she felt something hard hit her in the back. She fell, but held onto the railing. Her father had thrown a plate at the back of her. He aimed for her head, thank God he missed. She ran upstairs, and locked herself in her room.

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