Who Are You?

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

            Autumn heads to the lunch room with me and I put my stuff down as usual then head to the lunch line. I noticed Autumn still has her stuff with her but I just shrugged it off. Once I got my food and went to my table Scarlet joins me. “Hey sis.” I say as she sits beside me. “Did that creep bother you again?” I asked as Autumn joins us and we both glance at her. “What?” She asks innocently as she grabs her notebook and pen. “Cole, who is this?” Scarlet asks me and Autumn looks confused.  “Sis, this is Autumn, Autumn this is my sister, Scarlet.” I say as I pop a grape in my mouth. “Nice to meet you.” Autumn says as Scarlet nods. “Why did you call him Cole? Didn’t you mean Lucas?” Autumn asks before taking a bite of her pizza. “No, I meant Cole.” Scarlet says and I smile a little at Autumn’s confusion. “My full name is Lucas Cole Adams. My family calls me Cole.” I say as she nods understanding. “Okay is she your only sister or do you have more siblings?” Autumn asks and Scarlet raises her eyebrow. “I have three more siblings besides Scarlet.” I say and then I turned to face Scarlet. “We have an assignment in English that requires us to stick to each other like glue.” I tell Scarlet as Autumn laughs. “Our English teacher wants us to get to know our partner and write a two page essay about them.” Autumn says as I grin. After answering a few more questions from Autumn the bell rings.

            Autumn and I walk into History class and instead of taking her usual seat she sits in the desk next to me. “Autumn.” I whispered as she leans closer to hear me. “When Mr. Parker said to stick to each other like glue, I don’t think he meant it literally.” I say as her face reddens and I laugh a little. “Sorry.” She says and I smirk as the teacher walks in the classroom. After class was over with I met Scarlet in the parking lot. “Ready?” I ask as she nods and we ride home together. Once we are home, I noticed that Jackie and Richard are there also. “Shit.” I say as I pulled my forgotten phone out of my back pocket. Five missed calls and ten text messages. I pressed my mouth into a thin line and brace myself before walking into the house. When I walk into the house I immediately tell Scarlet to take the kids outside. “Why didn’t you answer our calls or texts?!” Jackie shouts as she and Richard come into the living room. “I told you, I was in class.” I say simply as anger flashes in their eyes. I stand my ground, keeping my face emotionless as Jackie says, “That’s your excuse? You were in class?” “Yes I was and if I had answered your call or texts they would have taken my phone away and you would have to go to the office to get it back, and I am pretty sure you don’t want to go up there.” I say as Jackie’s face twitches and a loud smack echoes through the house where she slapped me. I bite my tongue and turn my head to face them. “Go upstairs, I’ll be up there in a minute.” Richard says as I push past them and go to my room.

            A minute later just like he had said he came in my room as I sat on my bed and he took his belt off. “Come here.” Richard says as I get up off my bed and walked towards him. He grabbed my arm and jerked me to him. “What the heck man?” I say as he pushes me up against the wall. I prepare myself as the leather belt pierces against my butt. Then another one. And another. You can hear the sound of the belt hit against me echo through the house and I pray that my brothers and sisters can’t hear it. I count each lick he gives me until he stops at seven. He jerks me around to face him and spats in my face, “Next time do as you’re told.” He shoves me to the ground before he leaves my room. I exhale twice before getting up. I decide I would take a nap before I go to work, so I set my alarm to wake me up at six. Then I locked my door and took my shirt off. I looked in the mirror and saw my back. “They will be permanently on your back forever. There’s nothing more I can do.” The doctor’s voice rings inside my head. I shook my head to clear the thoughts and went to lay down.