-My Life is a Lie...Who Would Have Guessed?- (Prologue)

RECAP:

I lightly tapped on the window, which made her jump. I winced. I didn’t want to scare her. She looked frantically around the room, then whipped her head toward the window when I tapped again. Her eyes grew wide as I gave a sly wave. She jumped up and ran to the window wrenching it open.

“Billie Joe, what the HELL are you doing here?!”

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-Billie’s P.O.V.-

My heartbeat rose slightly. I kind of liked it when she said my full name, even if she was pissed. I noticed the streaks of tears going down her face, and her eyes were puffy and red.

“Because Arianna, I thought something was wrong and I was right. Can I please come in?” I asked kindly, hating the fact that I was still standing on a ladder way above the ground.

Her eyes grew wide again and she looked down at my feet. “You stole a LADDER?!” She whispered again.

“No, I’m borrowing it, now please let me in.” I whispered firmly. I lost my determination now that I finally reached her, and thoughts of me falling ran through my head.

She stepped aside, letting me carefully climb in. She shut the window and turned to me.

“Billie Joe…” she whispered dangerously.

“Arianna…please tell me what hap- Anna, what’s on your face?” I noticed a small purple and red mark on her cheek. She gasped and she quickly covered her face.

“Nothing Billie, I’m fine…” She said quickly. I knew she was lying.

I walked closer to her. “Anna…” She stepped back and sat on the mattress.

“I’m fine Billie…” she whispered, her voice cracking.

I sat down next to her, and gently pulled her hand away from her face. A small but distinct bruise was forming on her cheek. Anger rose up inside of me. “Who did this?” She stayed silent, her eyes welling up with tears. “Was it your dad?” I whispered a little more softly.

She nodded slightly, then tears free fell from her face. I felt sad all of a sudden. I didn’t want her to cry.

“Arianna, what happened?” I asked, kneeling in front of her. I knew something happened. My gut was right.

She slowly told me what happened after she got in the front door. I felt more and more hate towards her parents, especially the part about slapping her and the slut and whore comments.

After she was done, she kind of sat there in silence, and then cried harder. I pulled her to me, letting her cry on my shoulder and hugging her tightly. “I’m so sorry Arianna…”

She gripped my shoulders, her body trembling from her sobs. I moved to sit on the mattress, taking her with me so we could both be more comfortable. I hugged her tightly still, trying to calm her down.

“Shh it’s okay… Arianna, you’re okay now… I won’t let anyone hurt you again…” I whispered in her ear. I felt her grip me tighter. I didn’t know a lot about her, but I yearned to. I want to know what happened to her when she was little, how her old town was like. I didn’t know why I wanted to know so much, or why I cared so much about her… I just did. And I couldn’t just fake it.

I rocked her back and forth slightly, trying to comfort her more. Finally her sobs lessened, and her grip on my shoulders grew weak. She readjusted her head, and she whispered, “Thank you Billie…”

I smiled and said, “Of course…” She slowly pulled away, got up and muttered a “be right back, bathroom” and I just assumed she was going to go blow her nose, which was fine with me. My heart was racing. I didn’t know why. I couldn’t like her…no, I don’t like her. She is just a friend. I’m just here to help.

A couple minutes later she came back. Her eyes were puffier, but she didn’t cry anymore. She sat down on the bed next to me.

Silence took over the room. I didn’t want her to be here anymore, at least not for tonight. So, I hatched up an idea.

“Arianna…how about you spend the night at my house?” I offered. She gave me a pleading look, as if she would take anything to get away from here. But she then turned her gaze to the door, and I knew what she was worried about. “Don’t worry about your parents. I waited till they went to sleep.” Relief swept across her face. “Just bring a change of clothes and let’s go, okay Anna?”

“Okay…” her voice was still cracked, but she was smiling. I waited as she hurried and gathered her things in a plastic bag. “I’m ready,” she said finally.

I nodded and motioned her to follow me. I slid open the window, took her bag full of clothes and dropped it next to the ladder on the ground. Then, I cautiously stepped over the windowsill, onto the first step. Then I did the same with the other foot, and faced back at Arianna, who was staring at me frightened.

“Arianna…” She walked over to me and bent close to me. I ignored my heartbeat skyrocketing and leaned toward her ear. “Take your time, one step at a time. Once you’re out, close your window and slowly climb down, okay?”

She nodded and I started to climb down. After I got to the bottom I looked up at her, and motioned for her to start. It took her a lot longer, but she eventually climbed out. Gently she shut the window and walked down, step by step very slowly.

A few minutes later she reached the ground and stepped away from the ladder. “Where is that supposed to go now?” she whispered.

“Next door. Here…” I handed her the keys to my car. “Let yourself in and lock the doors. It’s…almost 11:30. I don’t know where Blade and all of them are, and I don’t want you to get jumped. So grab your bag and hurry, okay?”

“But what abo –“ She started.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Now go, hurry.” I quietly took the ladder and watched her as she ran towards the street. I guess after the last time, I dreaded anything happening to her. I still didn’t understand my motives for this, but I just couldn’t ignore them. I walked back around towards the neighbors shed and quietly set the ladder inside. Then I hurried back out to my car.

Arianna was sitting in the passenger side, watching me run over. She reached over and unlocked the driver side door, which I opened and hopped in. “You okay?” I asked.

“I’m fine Billie. Really, you need to stop worrying about me,” she laughed.

I just smiled and turned on the car. We drove in silence. I was afraid of saying anything that might upset her.

A few minutes later I pulled into my driveway. I got out, waited for Arianna to catch up and we both walked up to the porch.

Before I could unlock the door, Arianna asked, “Are you sure it’s okay if I stay here?”

I just smiled at her and said, “Of course. My mom won’t mind. She’s actually not the kind of parent that butts into their kids business…most of the time.” She had been known to barge in at times, but rarely.

I heard her chuckle a bit as I unlocked the door with the key I pulled from my pocket.

“Hey Mo–“ I started, before a whirl smacked into me, hugging me tightly, restricting my lungs from air. I thought I heard Arianna start to laugh.

“OHHH BILLIE JOE, you’re home! I was starting to get worried!” My mom whined in my ear. I just gasped and croaked, trying to get her to notice that she was crushing me.

Finally she let me go, allowing my air passages to be free. “I’m so sorry Billie Joe, I was just happy that your back. I know you’ll always come back, but you can’t blame me for worrying,” My mom said. I nodded, knowing what she meant.

“Oh, who’s this beautiful young lady?” She questioned, moving towards Arianna. I started to blush with embarrassment.

“Mom, this is Arianna, the girl I told you about last night,” I said, giving Anna a slight wink.

“OOhhh Billie Joe has said so much about you! I think he was excited to meet someone new!” My mom blabbered. I watched as Arianna just smiled and nodded at my mom.

“Oh my goodness, what happened to your cheek?” My mom asked kindly, worry showing in her voice. She bent low towards Arianna’s face and examined it.

I frowned when I noticed Arianna’s beautiful smile disappear, hurt taking place. “I-it’s nothing…” Anna croaked. I sighed, wishing she would stop lying.

“Mom, Arianna needs a…better place to stay for tonight. Is it alright if she just spends the night here?” I asked, trying to distract my mom’s mind from Anna’s face.

My mom gave me a concerned look, which I returned with a stern “I’ll tell you later” look. She nodded and returned to her happy self. “Yes, of course she can stay! I’ll pull out the bed from the couch, okay? I’m sorry dear, we don’t have a guest room but I hope the couch-bed will be alright with you?”

Arianna smiled slightly, nodding. “That would be fine, thank you.” My mom clapped her hands with glee and disappeared to the closet to get a few blankets and pillows for her. I motioned for Arianna to follow me, after she dropped her bag of clothes at the front door, and we headed up to my room.

“Are you su-“

“Arianna. My mom said its fine. Don’t worry, okay?” I said with a reassuring smile on my face. She just nodded and sat on the bed. I slowly sat next to her.

“Anna…what’s bugging you?” I asked. I knew what was wrong, but I wanted to know more.

“I never thought...my father would ever…hit me…nor my mother…” A single tear dropped down her cheek. I gave her a small hug, trying to comfort her.

“Its fine Arianna…you’re safe here.” I said reassuringly. She smiled back, muttered a thank you, and said she was going to go get ready for bed. I nodded, letting her leave, and I layed on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My thoughts went straight to Arianna. I was upset that she had gotten hurt by her own father, but she was a wreck. I felt horrible. No one should ever have to put up with something like that. Yeah, it wasn’t that bad, but just the fact that she got hit by her own father like that…I don’t know whether to tell the others or not. I guess I’ll see what happens.

Arianna came back into my room wearing the same pajamas I saw her in before. I laughed. “You know, I still like those p-j’s.”

Arianna playfully stuck her tongue out at me. “What, you sleep in your boxers or something?”

I nodded, smirking. “Yup. Boxers are great.”

She smirked back. “Mmm yeah, boxers are pretty sexy. But, sadly, I don’t think I wanna see you in some,” she said jokingly.

I laughed. “Psh, I’m totally sexy in boxers.”

She shook her head. “Nah. You can’t handle ‘em. They are too sexy for you.” She laughed when I stuck my tongue out, mimicking her. She started to leave, but I didn’t want her to just yet.

“Hey, Arianna…” I said, walking up to her. I squeezed her in a hug and said, “If they ever hit you again like that, you know where I am…okay?”

I felt her smile and hug me back. “Okay, Billie Joe. Thank you. Night.” She turned and left downstairs while I closed my door and sat on my bed again. My heart was again beating a million miles an hour. I was only being friendly, so why am I reacting this way?