Lost

Chapter 21 : Shopping

Max was woken up by yells coming from the living-room. It was Neil again, reproaching Billy for coming back home drunk or something like that. It was not even four in the morning, why so early!? She just wanted to sleep, to be far from them, but no, they had to yell! She didn't know what she had done to be punished like that, but it must have been horrible. She hoped she wouldn't have to pay her entire life; she was coping enough.

She took her pillow and placed it on her head, trying to stop the noises. But the two men outside the bedroom were certainly fighting now as she could feel her walls shaking. Or it was her body shaking so much that the environment around her was shaking too; she didn't know.

She looked at her wall and saw Jane's drawing. A weak smile appeared on her face. A part of her was glad that she wasn't there, she didn't want her to witness what her life was looking like, but another part of her was hoping she was there, just looking at her was comforting and reassuring, and, right now, she needed to feel reassured. Two doors slammed and the house became quiet again. But her heart was still racing, she knew she wouldn't fall asleep again easily.

Brutal knocks at her door woke her up. She had a startle and looked around to know where she was. Still in Hell. It was seven in the morning, why did they have to wake up this early! Nobody liked sleeping in this house!?

- "I'm awake!" grumbled Max to stop the knocks.

- "Move your ass, little shit!" yelled Billy from behind the door.

Max put her pillow on her face but this time to scream in it while she was punching her mattress. She was so tired that she could cry for no reason right now. Once she calmed down and accepted her fate, she got out of her bed to join her loving family for the breakfast. Billy had a black eye, a swollen lip, and many bruises on his face, Neil had his knuckles purple; and her mother was acting like if it was normal, as usual. Well, this kind of scene became normal for them, but the redhead knew it should have never become normal, none of this was normal, they were just faking the perfect family for the others, but when they were at home, it was Hell, far from perfection.

She sat at the table and began to eat silently. She wasn't hungry, but the last time she refused to eat something, Neil slapped her. So, she ate, without thinking.

- "We're going shopping today," told Susan.

- "Uh, ok, have fun," frowned Max.

- "Don't be stupid Maxine, we're going in family," intervened sharply Neil.

- "WHAT!?" exclaimed Billy and Max in the same time.

The man hit the table with the palm of his hand, making startle the two teens.

- "It's like that, whether you like it or not, am I clear!?"

Billy and Max looked at each other before shyly nodding.

- "I didn't hear you, AM I CLEAR!?"

- "Yes!" answered Billy and Max.

- "Good. We're leaving in ten minutes."

The two stepsiblings quickly stood before going in direction of their rooms.

- "This is your fault!" grumbled Billy.

- "My fault!? I hope you're kidding! Why would it be my fault!? I'm not the one who looks like a punching ball!"

- "Shut up, piece of shit! If you were wearing normal clothes we wouldn't have to go shopping for your stupid ass!"

- "It's not MY fault if YOUR father decided he could choose for me what to wear! I didn't ask him anything!"

- "You still didn't understand that you don't have the choice!?"