Back to the street

I woke up the next morning at 9 and felt happy. My parents would be leaving as soon as my grandparents arrived, which would probably be around 11. That meant I only had 2 hours of my parents. I got up and had cereal for breakfast and then got given a single tablet to take. I could see my mum's mind working as she handed me the bottle.

"I'm going to trust you to administer this yourself over the next few days," she said. Obviously she trusts me more than she trusts her parents.

My grandparents arrived just before 11 and I greeted them formally. I waited until my parents had driven down the road before giving my grandparents both a hug.

"I'm so glad it's you that’s looking after me."

"Well we wanted to check on our favourite granddaughter," my granddad replied.

"I'm your only granddaughter, in fact I'm your only grandchild full stop."

"Well then, we have to make sure you're alright."

"So how is it being back home? Are you doing what your parents want you to?" My gran asked.

"It's great to be home, and of course I listen to my parents," I said that last bit sarcastically.

"We were worried that school would turn you into a model daughter." My granddad said, "So how long were you back before you were breaking your parents' rules?"

I thought back to my first day, well I'd been allowed to see Ryan but I still wasn't supposed to see Gary. "About four hours," I replied. My granddad sighed and pulled out ten dollars, I looked questioningly as he handed it to my gran.

"I bet you wouldn't last two, your gran said you'd last at least three."

I laughed, I loved these grandparents so much. Unlike my other set who were just as strict and just as religious as my parents.

About an hour later I was sitting in my tree looking down into Ryan's garden. I was worried about him. I knew his dad was at home because there was a car out on the driveway and I couldn't help but worry about what was happening.

Then I saw Ryan run out into the garden. He looked pale and he didn't even see me, instead he climbed up a tree dropping into my garden, I hid myself amongst the leaves and watched as a man who I assumed was Ryan's dad looked out into the back garden and then slammed the door. Ryan was sitting close to the fence, poised to run and I dropped out of the tree.

He looked up at me startled as I walked over to him.

"Sorry," he whispered, "I didn't know where else to run to."

I smiled and held his hand, I pulled him upright and dragged him into the house.

"Your parents out then?" Ryan asked.

"Yep, they're gone for a few days."

"And they left you alone?"

"No, but my grandparents are shopping right now."

I'd led Ryan into my room and I sat him down on the bed.

"And now you have to tell me what's going on."

He looked away, but I placed a hand under his chin and forced him to look me in the eyes.

"Please?" He nodded and motioned that I should sit down next to him.

"It's my dad," he began, unaware that I already knew what he was going to say, "I told you he's an alcoholic but when he's drunk he's worse than just that." Ryan paused and I saw he was starting to cry, I reached for his hand and squeezed it gently. I waited until he was ready to continue.

"When he's drunk he's… violent, very violent. He comes home and beats me up. He loves just causing me pain."

And then he broke down, he turned to me and I pulled him into a hug, letting him cry into my shoulder. He was wearing a t-shirt and I could see bruises all over his arms. I saw the pain he was in and I felt angry and sad at the same time. I felt Ryan stop crying but I held him close for a while longer.

"Thank you," he whispered, lifting his face from my shoulder.

"Just know I'm always here for you Ryan. No matter what shit my parents give me if you ever need help you can come here."

He smiled slightly and pulled away form my hug.

"Your grandparents won't mind me being here?"

"No, they'd probably be delighted to find I'd broken my parents' biggest rule and got a boyfriend."

"They're not like your parents then?"

"No, they're brilliant. I don't know how my mum ended up the way she did."

I heard the door close downstairs, Ryan seemed to be happier but I wasn't letting him leave. My grandparents would just have to put up with him being there.

"Do you want some lunch Summer?" My gran called. I looked at Ryan.

"Do you want lunch?" I asked. He nodded so I led him back downstairs.

"Ryan's having lunch with us," I said encountering my gran in the hall.

My gran looked at Ryan for a while then smiled and walked away. I knew she suspected something but she wasn't going to say anything and neither was I. I was standing by my own rule of not telling anyone about me and Ryan.

Food and company seemed to do Ryan good, at least by the time we'd finished eating he was looking a lot more cheerful.

"So, what are you doing this afternoon Summer?" My granddad asked once we'd finished.

"I dunno, what do you want to do Ryan?"

"I was thinking about going to see Gary."

"Then we're doing that."

My granddad gave me a look, "Are you allowed to do that?"

"Nope, are you gonna try and stop me?"

"No, I just want to know what not to tell your parents when they get back."

I smiled and pulled Ryan after me.

"I'll see you later."