Family

•9•

Holly's POV:

The sobs consumed me. My whole body shook as i let out another heart-wrenching cry. One that actually hurt my heart.

I regretted not just saying then and there what was happening; i regretted not telling them the actual reasons for my bruises. However, i knew the second i did anything my dad would hurt me more. I knew he would destroy me if it came to his side versus mine. Who would believe a 17 year old? I'm too innocent, too naive to understand. 

I lay on my bed, looking through pictures of Tom, Haz and i :Pictures of us from the age of 3 onward. I took another look at this picture before flipping it to the back of the pile. Tears rippling though my body. I wanted nothing more than to just speak to the boys but i knew if i did it would result in one of two things if not both. A) my dad walking in and yelling at me for talking to the people who called child services on him or, B) Tom and Haz hearing the sobs that were now taking over me and getting more worried.

"screw it" i said as i got up reaching for my phone: Putting a message into the group chat.

Harry, Ron and Hermione

Me: meet me in 10 at our spot.

Immediately i got 2 responses

Tom: Okay see you in 10

Haz: see you soon

I grabbed my phone and hoodie, heading down the stairs. "Dad..." i said waiting for a response "ugh what" he replied absolutely disgusted that i had interrupted his football.
"I'm going for a walk"
"K" he replied blankly. I rolled my eyes and opened the door closing it quietly behind me. Before walking to our spot. I guess i should clarify what i mean.

There's this one place that Tom, Haz and I discovered when we were maybe 8, It's only a five minute walk from our houses and as far as i'm aware only we know about this place. It's a spot in the woods where an event called illuminight used to be held. There are fairy lights across all of the trees that haven't been taken down. Everyone just forgot about it after Illuminight got cancelled but we didn't . Ever since then it's been our spot.

I finally arrived, sitting down while i waited for the boys to turn up. They both turned up together; they must have met on the way here. I ran up to them hugging them both individually. "I-I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have acted the way i did" i said finally releasing myself from the hug. "Don't be silly. It's our fault if anything. It was dumb of me to get child services involved. If you say you're not getting hurt at home. Then that's whats happening. i'm so sorry for putting you in that position" Tom said finally breathing afterwards.
"uhh.. yeah i second that" Haz said not having thought of what to say which resulted in all of us laughing. It was a real laugh. One that was desperately needed after today; i would be lying if i said it didn't hurt a little due to the many beatings i had received in the past week but it was worth it. I grasped my stomach, scrunching up my face due to the pain.

Tom and Haz just looked at each other their worried faces growing by the second; like wildfire. "you okay?" Tom asked carefully.
"yeah just a little sore" i laughed
He looked mad but he was smart enough not to say anything.

We sat and talked for a while before i finally stood up, "okay i gotta go" i said.
"what whyy? Haz moaned
"because i told my dad i was going for a walk, he'd kill me if he knew i was with yous"
they looked at me confused.
"Tom, my dad kinda thinks it was you who called" i said taking a breath before saying "he's mad"

"why?" Tom said "surely he would be glad that we care enough"
"oh yeah..." i said sarcastically
"did you not tell him it was me, and that i saw your bruises and that's why i called?" he asked, confused.
"oh yeah, cos i'm just gonna tell him. 'hey dad, Tom saw the bruises so, you're kind of screwed'. He would be so mad at me, even more than he is now, for not being smart enough to cover them"

SHIT