Here I'll Stay by Dominique Laura

Author:Dominique Laura [Laura, Dominique]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-19T06:00:00+00:00

“Sorry not sorry, Day, but I loathe your parents with a passion,” Maci said, her eyes following my parents as they walked around the room, arm in arm, and greeted people.

“Here, here,” Corey and Sarah said at the same time, holding their drinks up.

I cracked a smile, grateful that they had been able to make it. Though they weren’t aware, apparently my mother had sent out invitations to this shindig weeks ago, and their parents had each received one.

“Yeah, well, you guys aren’t the only ones.” I gripped the plastic champagne glass in my hands.

Unfortunately, it was filled with sparkling cider, but the burning sensation as the liquid slid down my throat was a welcome discomfort.

“Is Bren coming to this thing?” Sarah asked.

“Yeah, shouldn’t he have been here already?” Maci asked with a raised brow.

“I’m sure he would be,” I said, pausing for a moment. I knew they were going to like my next words. “Had I actually told him about it.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me, Day.” Mace asked, appalled. “He romances you last night, making it clear he’s totally into you, and you don’t invite him to this crapfest.”

I gave her a pointed look. “That’s exactly why I didn’t invite him because like you said, it’s a crapfest. I mean, look at them, smiling and talking like their lives are perfect. If people knew the truth about them, I bet they wouldn’t be so quick to laugh with them.”

Sarah’s arm wrapped me in a side hug and I immediately flinched at the placement of her tiny fingers. “What was that?”

“What was what?” I asked, playing dubious.

“That little flinch you just did,” Sarah said in a harsh whisper.

I looked at Maci who widened her eyes at me. I shook my head and sighed.

“My bruises are still healing,” I said softly. “You just pressed into one, that’s all. It’s fine.”

“No, it’s really not fine,” Sarah’s voice raised. Her tiny hands clenched and unclenched at her sides.

Corey gave her shoulders a gently squeeze. “We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves, babe. That wouldn’t help Day.”

I gave him a grateful smile when Sarah’s body deflated and leaned back against his.

“I hate keeping this secret, Day,” Sarah said with a tremble in her lower lip. “You don’t deserve any of this and if we told our parents or even the school counselor, I know they’d want to help. Why won’t you let them? What are you so afraid of?”

I breathed out, frustrated at myself for dragging them into all my issues. They were my best friends but I know my secret was burdening them as well, and I hated it. Hated that I was the reason for their worry and pain.

“Honestly?” I breathed out. “I’m afraid of not getting help. I mean, I’ve tried telling people before, when I was younger, and it was always brushed off because my mom would convince them I was being dramatic and seeking attention.”

“But you’re an adult now. I mean, basically. Isn’t it worth another try?”

I looked into Sarah’s sad eyes and shrugged.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.