I'm Not Insane. Just Not Insane

Stay Strong

Chapter 1- Stay Strong

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I finally put Xavier to bed, and went up to my room.  Quietly shutting my door, I heard my phone buzzing somewhere on my bed. I ran to get my phone. Once I found it, I checked to texted me, it was that horrid thing, called my step mom. She just wanted to let me know that she was coming late- like always. Since she wasn't going to be home, I turned up my stero, knowing neither Xavier, nor my dad, would wake up.  I started blasting Brompton Cocktail by Avenged Sevenfold. I think it was a bit to loud because I heard something hit my window. Ping ping ping. I walked over to my stero, paused the song, and ran to my window. I slid the window open, and saw Matt through his window. 

"Nice music," Matt said, in a normal voice.

"Thanks," I answered back awkwardly. "Sorry, was I playing it to loud?'

I could tell he was smirking, "Just a bit, but thats okay," He chuckled a bit, "becuase I'm listening to that same song right now. So, hearing that song from your house surprised me."

I just stared at him. I didn't know what to say. He doesn't even look like a person who would listen to Avenged Sevenfold. "Wow," That's all I could say. "Well, this is a bit awkward."

He smiled, "And why would it be awkward?" 

"Because," I turned around for a second, debating whether or not I should tell him, "because you don't look like you would listen to them."

He smiled and stared. I'm guessing he was about to say something, when I heard my door knob jiggle. I stuck my head back inside my room, and slid my curtain over the window. My dad manged to open the door, and walked in. He just stared at me for a moment, then started screaming. Screaming for no reason. I sat there like usual because this is normal. Even though I hated it, I had to go through it. Blaming me that my mom died. Blaming me for everying I didn't do. Then he hit me. He slapped me as hard as he could on my face. I didn't scream or anything because that wouldn't help. Not at all. I guess he felt like that's all I deserve for tonight, and left.

Tears were streaming down my face. I couldn't handle this. I know I couldn't, but I know that I can't follow in my mom's footsteps. I slowly walked over to my stero, and turned it back on, but I turned it down. I laid on my bed for a few minutes, crying, and then I just remembered that I left the window open. I know he couldn't really see anything, but he probably heard everything. And I do mean everything. I got up slowly, to tired to think about anything anymore. Slidding the curtain to show the window, I saw his face. He had the straightest face I've ever saw. He looked worried, but it didn't really bother me at the moment. I started wiping the tears away, shut the window, moved the curtain back, shut the lights off, and laid on my bed once again.

I'm pretty sure I cried for about three hours, and then fell asleep. Because my step mom, Kate, walked in and moved the curtain for the sun to shine in my room. 

"Come on Ella, wake up!" I ruffled the blanket, and moved it from my body. The cold hit my body, and I shivered.

"Why did you wake me up?" I stood up, and felt the pain in my cheek.

"Well the neighbor came by, and asked if you could sh-" She stopped. I think she noticed, but I doubt she'll care. "What's that? That purplish mark on your face?"

I just shook my head, "Its a bruise. Can't you tell? And don't ask me who did it because I know you know who."

Kate just sighed, "Okay, whatever. I told him that you would be ready in 30 minutes, so get ready." And with that, she walked out.

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I walked over to Matt's house, pulling down my sleeves. Right when I was about to knock on the door, he opened it. He grabbed my hand, and dragged me inside.

"My mom wants to meet you," Matt said quietly, while dragging me to the kitchen. "Mom," A women- in her late 20s at least- looked up, "this is Ella."

"Hi."

The woman walked towards me, and stuck her hand out. I grabbed it gently and shook it. "Its a pleasure to meet you! I'm Karren"

We let go of eachothers hands, "That's a pretty name, and it's a pleasure as well."

Matt's mom- Karren- was about to speak, when Matt cut her off, "She's going to show me around, alright?"

"Oh okay, that's every nice of her. Bye you too! It was nice meeting you Ella." Karren smiled.

"You too!" I said, and walked out of the door with Matt.

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It was a quiet 15 minute walk to town. He asked me some simple questions, like what was my favorite color, what grade I was in, what was my favorite book and movie. I answered with some simple answers, for example: black and green, 10th grade, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Dention. When we got to town, I showed him were everyone hung out after school, but me. Showed him the theater, music store, ice cream parlor, library, school, and some other places. We were walking back when he asked me about my favorite place to go. I just said the park or music store. We were walking back home, when he just stopped. So, I stopped as well.

"Why did you stop?" I asked quietly, not wanting to be rude.

"Well I wanted to ask you something," He said softly, his hazel eyes shining.

I froze. Was he going to ask about yesterday? Did he know what happen? Did he see me get slapped? "W-w-what?" I asked in a shakey voice.

"Well, it was about yesterday, when you slid the curtain over the window." He softly said, looking down at the sidewalk.

"It-it was nothing." I was lying. I was not just nothing, it was everything. But, I can't tell him that. I can't tell thing anything. 

He just sighed and continued to walk. I was infront of him, not wanting to look at his face. I'm not insane, I'm not insane. I repeated that over and over in my head until we got back home. I waved at him, and ran home. I just ran to my room, locked myself in there and cried.

"I am insane, I am insane" I cried out.