The Woman at the Bar ➳ Dinah Jane

sixteen

DINAH'S POV

I was shuffling papers on my desk during first hour noticing that all of the girls including Y/N wasn't there so I was a bit worried but I'm sure they're all fine.

I heard loud muttering across the room and I decided to call the students out on it, "This is reading time. Jeremy, would you like to share what you were talking about."

The bright eyed student turned straight faced and shook his head, "No ma'am."

"I insist. I'm giving you time to do your work in class and you've continued to talk. So go ahead and share with the class." I sternly ordered the boy.

"We were talking about Y/N being in the hospital because of her ex." He solemnly told me.

My eyes widened but I tried to keep my professionalism to a appropriate level, "Well, talk about that outside of my classroom. Now since all of you have found this so intriguing, you must be finished with the last scenes of Macbeth by tomorrow." Everyone groaned in sync.

--

The last class of the day couldn't have ended sooner. I hurried the students out of my room to close the door and lock it.

I rushed to my drawer to grab my phone and find Y/N's contact so I could call her.

The phone rang endlessly until I finally heard a hoarse voice on the other side, "Hello?"

"Y/N?"

"Hey Hansen." She groaned.

"What happened to you? I heard some kids talking about how you're in the hospital because of Zane."

"It's already spreading around school?!" She exclaimed angrily. "Fuck. I was hoping this would just be a quiet moment that would pass by."

"I wanna know what happened." I demanded.

She sighed, "Come over. I'll be in my room resting. You'll see how bad it is at some point."

--

I rushed over to her house and went to the back. I threw my bag to the side while I stomped to the hallway and down to the end to turn her doorknob.

She was curled up in covers staring at the tv.

When she heard me, she turned and the light from the TV shined on her face.

The markings were worse than before. Dried blood and scrapes covered her beautiful face.

Tears brimmed my eyes and my bottom lip trembled, "Oh God babe." I covered my shocked expression with my hand and rushed over to her side.

She frowned, "Dinah, it's not that bad."

"Not that bad?! I almost didn't recognize you." I tried to scan her face.

She looked pained when she replied, "Wow, babe. You make me feel so pretty."

"Stop joking like this." I scolded her, "Tell me what happened."

She breathed out slowly almost to think of how to say it, "Zane told me to come outside and Lauren was over so I wasn't too worried. But she was asleep so I went out and he got really upset. Before I knew it, he was beating me and Lauren came out to tackle and knock him out. Then I had to go to the hospital. It wasn't that big 'a' deal."

"You pressed charges, right?"

She looked away from me, "Actually-"

"Stop protecting him! He's hurting you. Then there's the fact that I haven't been able to stop hearing about how you've been beaten in every class that I have. I can't help but be worried now." I admitted feeling something ache in my chest for her. She didn't talk to me. She kept her eyes averted, "Why aren't your parents here taking care of you, y/n?" No answer. "Where are your parents?"

"Nevada." She softly spoke.

"Why aren't they here?"

"They left me here to finish my last year of school."

My blood boiled, "You've been living here alone? No wonder this is happening. There's no one to protect you. Especially now since that asshole is getting away with hurting you."

"Babe, please-"

"Come home with me." I demanded.

Her eyes shot open at me, "Dinah, I can't-"

"I don't think you understand, Y/N. You don't have a choice at this point." I retorted to her with a glare, "I actually care about you and I'll be damned if you're hurt again. You're staying with me for this week. Just until I know that you'll be okay. I want to take care of you. You'll be here by yourself, curled up in that blanket with no one to tend to those welts."

"This blanket is warm though." She smiled trying to lighten my mood but it wasn't working.

"Get your stuff and let's go."

"Babe, won't it seem a little weird when I'm coming with you to school?" She made a good point.

"Then get your car and come back to mine. I want you with me."

"Lauren will show up at the house. What do I tell her when she finds out I'm not at home?" She kept prying. You could tell she wanted to go but was finding every excuse to keep me at bay. Which I'm sure she does to a lot of people.

"I dunno. Make something up. But for this week, you'll be with me. Now go pack your shit. I'll be waiting at home." I kissed her head and looked into her eyes, "Promise me I'll see you in at least an hour."

She nodded and I kissed her lips softly before getting up and walking back to pick up my shit that I threw to the side.