Forbidden Love

2.1

The next day, I was allowed to go home. Though I was told to take it easy and to not engage in any physical activities. I was also told not to stress myself out too much as it would most likely result in another panic attack.

I was excited to go home, but I knew that as soon as I was alright again, I would have to tell my family about me and Conner. I wasn't exactly afraid of telling them, I was just nervous to see how they would think of me. They had told me before that they usually thought of me as the book worm nerd who didn't date, but that was about to change.

Mother was excited to tell them, as I had never had something so big happen in my life; according to her at least. I hadn't even told them about Adam, which meant I was going to have a hard time explaining everything.

"Erika dear, everyone will be here around 4 tomorrow. Until then, you should get some rest. We'll be in the kitchen if you need us." Mother commented, breaking me from my thoughts. I was in front of the tv watching a show I didn't really care for.

"Is Conner going to be here?" I asked. Cody's head popped up, and it was immediately covered with a frown.

"Why do you care?" He questioned.

"Because I do. Why do you not care? He is your best friend after all."

"He is not my best friend." He growled glaring at me. I raised my eyebrows in confusion.

"What do you mean? You were literally best friends last week, and he was staying here every single night! What happened that made you guys lose your friendship so quick?!" I yelled. His face was covered in shock before he covered it up with anger.

"You were the reason it was ruined! If you hadn't gotten in the way with your little romance, then Conner and I would still be friends, and he wouldn't have to be living in that god awful house!" He yelled back, abruptly standing up. 

"What's going on in his house?" I whispered as different possibilities ran through my mind, none of them good.

"Did he not tell you?" He asked as he started to calm down. I shook my head as tears started to fill my eyes, as more and more possibilities started to go through my mind. "Just don't worry about it. Why don't you go upstairs and sleep? We don't need you to stress yourself out again." He suggested. But I couldn't get myself to stand up and walk those few stairs to my room.

"I need to go talk to him," I muttered standing up and heading towards the door. He had a different plan however and moved in front of the door.

"You can't do that." He ordered.

"Why not?"

"Because that is not a place that you need to be going." He explained. 

"What do you mean by that? What is happening in his house that you don't want me to go over there to check up on him? Tell me what you mean." I demanded. He looked down for a second, before looking back up with tears in his eyes. 

"He didn't want to tell you or Jane, because he wasn't sure what you would think, but I guess that doesn't matter much anymore. His parents have always had a problem with drinking. From before he was born to know. When he was about five his parents started to turn to him as a punching bag for all of their problems. He didn't really understand what was going on as he was too young, but as he got older he became more aware of what was happening. When he was 10 he tried to run away, only to be caught by his father. He got the worst beating of all that night. He was starved for a week before he was finally allowed to leave the basement. The day school started, I found him bloodied in the middle of the street, as I was trying to skip. I took him back to school and cleaned him up. That was the day he told me all of this. That's why he was staying with us. Now, do you see why I don't want you to go over there?" By the end of the story, I was a sobbing mess, and even Cody had tears falling out. The story didn't stop me though. I tried to push past Cody to get to the door.

"We have to get him out of that house!" I yelled as more tears streamed out of my eyes.

"Erika! Do you not realize that I already tried to at least get him a hotel room? His parents wouldn't even let me come up the steps, let alone talk to him! I have tried everything I can Erika and nothing is going to work!" He yelled. I stopped for a second, making him lose his focus. Those small seconds were all that I needed. I pushed past him, opening the door. I rushed to the car, that for some reason still had the keys in it. 

As soon as I drove down the driveway, a thought struck me. I didn't know where he lived. All I knew was that he lived on the other side of town, as I had once asked him where he lived. That was the only response that I had gotten. 

As I was driving, I saw something that would stay printed in my mind forever. It was something that I ever thought I would ever have to see, and it terrified me to no end. That thing was a bloody beaten Conner in the middle of the road.