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“Um, thanks,” I responded, unable to tear my eyes away from his.
He leaned closer, nuzzling my nose with his own, “I’m driving you to school.”
“Ok,” It’s all I had. Seriously. No other words would form. I was totally and pleasantly distracted.
Until I heard another voice.
“Rae!” Step-Vader yelled, “Dammit Rae, where the hell are the keys?”
I cringed. How would I know? Was I his keeper? It’s not like I drove.
Peter’s eyes narrowed. He turned and stood in front of me protectively as Charles – Step-Vader – charged into the room.
“I asked you a question.”
I trembled slightly as Peter grabbed my hand, “I don’t know. I haven’t seen them.”
“Well, shit. Help me look for them,” he glared at Peter. “Now!”
“Fine,” I pouted, walking out of the kitchen and into the living room. It took me twenty minutes to find the keys since they were buried underneath the couch. No doubt he dropped them there at some point after he came home late last night.
“Here,” I handed them over. “I have to go. I’m going to be late for school.”
His eyes narrowed at me, “If you’re late again, you’re going to be grounded.”
Peter leaned against the door frame, “Isn’t that your fault?”
Step-Vader laughed and shook his head, “Move on little Pet.”
We glanced at each other. A muscle in Peter’s jaw twitched with anger. I walked past him and placed a kiss on Leah’s cheek.
“See you later little munchkin.”
She plastered a sloppy wet kiss right on my mouth, “Bye-bye Sissy.”
Peter grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the front door, scooping up my backpack with his other hand. I noticed how stiff his arm felt but I didn’t say anything. He tossed the bag in the car and held the passenger door open for me, all the while glancing back at the front of the house. Once we left the driveway, he cast a thunderous frown in my direction.
“He’s getting worse.”
I knew he was. I had no idea why. He seemed to hate me which was completely confusing. I never did a thing to him. Mom asked me to be nice and I always was. Pretty much.
“He sure lives up to the nickname, doesn’t he?”
Peter worked hard to swallow, his jaw clenching, “It’s not funny Rae. If I wasn’t there he might have done something worse.”
“Since mom started going in earlier to work he finds something to yell at me about almost every day,” I sighed. “I don’t know why.”
He reached for my hand and held it, bringing my fingers up to his lips, “Some people are just mean Rae. Why doesn’t matter.”
I nodded and gazed out the window, my thoughts running rampant in my head. I would be gone in a couple of years and could escape him, but what about my baby sister? Who would protect Leah from his wrath?
My mother married Charles two years ago after a whirlwind romance and a surprise pregnancy. I wasn’t mad at her. I knew she was lonely. For four years she never dated anyone. At first, Charles was really nice, but after they married his demeanor changed. His true colors shone through his fake façade.
For some reason I was often the object of his wrath. His anger never made any sense to me. Why be angry and harsh all the time to people you’re supposed to love and care about? To family?
What could that possibly accomplish?
Peter opened the car door for me at school and immediately tugged me into a fierce hug, “You know I’m always here for you, no matter what time of the day or night. If you fear him, if he comes after you, promise me you’ll call me?” His arms gripped tighter, “I mean it, Rae. Text me. Run to my house if you want. I don’t care. But make sure you find help.”
