Her mother was a nurse at the memorial hospital so she was always being on call to help out the doctors at odd times. Tonight she had off though and went to bed early. Only to get up in less than three hours to work as a waitress at the small coffee shop across town. Poor mom. Her father...she didn't know what he was, or where he lived or even what he looked like. She wasn't even sure if he was still alive. He had left a long time ago. Just up and and left about two years after she was born without so much as saying good-bye or giving a reason. Rumors circulated around town that he ran off with some old girlfriend. But her mom always ignored them. She didn't understand how but she did.
She entered the living room and flicked on the lamp on the end table. The family dog, Snooper, lifted his head before putting it back down, realizing it was only her. The pounding at the oak door was louder in here she noticed as she walked across the carpet. This better be good, she thought and pulled open the door.
Outside, Derek stood on the stoop. He loojked up at her whent he door opened holding his stomach and breathing hard. It took a moment for her to recognize exactly who it was. Then she shook her head and asled what was wrong.
"Can I just come in Rena? Please?" he asked quietly.
"Yea," She stepped aside and he walked in. She closed the door behind him and bolted it shut, turning the various locks on the inside of the door. Can never be too careful in this neighborhood.
On the couch behind her, Derek slowly pulled off his jacket and winced. As she walked over, in the light of the room she noticed his face was bruised and his nose and lower lip were bleeding. His ear also looked like it had been too.
"Oh Derek! Not again." Rena exclaimed in a whisper. She gently lifted his head in her hands and observed his face. His lip was bleeding openly again and he had a black eye, which was swollen shut. Other cuts and bruises adorned his usually smooth, smiling face and as he peeled the jacket further away from his arms, a bruise caught Rena's eye along with a red mark in the shape of a hand.
"Your dad?"
He nodded. "This morning. My mom....just now."
Rena's eyes widened and she hesitated before asking her next question. "What....what did she do?"
"Apparently she hit me Rena."
She cringed at the bitterness and anger in his voice. "Why did she hit you?"
He grew quiet and wouldn't look at her as he answered. "Because I...I wouldn't...." He stopped and she could see his shoulders shake as he began to cry.
She scooted over on the couch and put her arms around him in a hug. They sat together quietly for a minute before she spoke again. "You have to tell someone. She can't keep doing this. It's wrong and illegal."
"No I can't, and you can't either." He shook her off gently and wiped his face clear of tears. "If I told someone," he began softly, "they'd find some way of getting out of it. Then they'd come after me again. There's only one thing to do."
"What?"
He didn't speak, but he didn't need to as he looked up into her eyes. The answer to her question was in them. The tears came suddenly and she was on her feet in an instant.
"NO! No way....absolutely not! Are youc razy?!"
Derek got up off the couch and stepped towards her."It's the only way."
"No it's not and you know it!" She spit at him. "You have to tell someone. A teacher, hte pcinciple...my parents! We can tell my parents and you can move in here! It would all be okay..." Rena whispered her face soaked with tears. Derek hurried to her as she was about to collapse and hugged her tightly. "...would all be okay...." she cried.
"No." Derek said softly in her ear. He pulled back and looked in her eyes. She looked away, so he leaned his head against hers and put his hands around her neck. His eyes filled as he spoke. "I can't. I wish it was that easy, but I've tried and it only resulted in more broken bones and absentences form school. This is it." He paused and breathed in deep, swallowing hard and blinking to make the tears go away. Was he wrong? "I love you Rena. You are my best friend and always have been. I'll be waiting for you." She let out a choked sob as he bent down and and gently kissed her cheek. God, he was scared. But he made himself turn and walk out, listening to Rena crying behind him. It was the hardest thing he ever had to do. He truly loved her.
In the house Rena composed herself and walked to the kitchen. Through the window she could see Derek heading towards the woods. She put her hand up to the window as he disappeared behind the trees. The house was silent as she picked up the phone. A pin could drop, like in the phone commercials. She hit the first button and a shot rang out. She jumped and closed her eyes, stifling her cries in vain and finished punching in the numbers and brought the phone to her ear, listening to it ring.
"911? I think my friend just committed suicide...."
