Page 18 of As the Rain Falls
“I didn’t see you last night.” He pulls me again, more forcefully this time, forcing me to sit down.
My stomach tightens uncomfortably as I shift against him, trying to rise.
“Because you came home late and I had to have dinner alone. Will you let go of me now?” I deadpan, wanting him to let my wrist go. “I’m being serious.”
Nathaniel yawns, stretching his arms around me and pulling me into what I guess is supposed to feel like a hug. His touch makes my skin crawl.
“I’m going to be late, dickhead!”
“Is that so?” I roll my eyes. He snorts, “O-kay.”
“And you reek of…” I inhale deeply, my face twisting into a grimace as I do so. “Booze!”
The rain is still coming down strong.He shifts slightly to lay his head against the crook of my neck and breathe me in. I count down five seconds, knowing if I push him away too soon, he might feel rejected.
“Nathaniel!” I squeak when he tries to press a kiss right below my ear. “If you don’t let me go right now, I swear!”
“Jesus, Cassie. You’ve gotten so fucking grumpy.” He pushes me off, and I rise again before his brute ways send me to the floor.
It takes everything in me not to gag.
I cry, “I’m going to be late!”
His face softens, making him look a few years younger. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry!”
“This will bruise, you know?” I cry, walking up to the window and pulling the curtains. I keep my wrist close to my chest, massaging it as a red mark starts to show on my skin. Staring at him again, I somehow manage to grit out, “I’m not made out of steel!”
“I said I’m sorry. What else do you want me to do?”
There is some laughter in his voice, but it quickly dies down.
“Can’t you ride?”
“It’s raining.”
I open the window to show him what I’m talking about. The light comes in and blinds him for a second.
“Fuck!” Nathaniel opens his dark green eyes again, teary, and tired, before pushing himself to a standing position. “I’m sorry, Cassie. I can’t.”
My face falls.
He notices.
Nathaniel always noticeseverything.
“I would, but I’m too out of it,” he yawns.
“But I can’t miss any more school.”
It’s common knowledge that my attendance levels are really low. My not going to school is never done on purpose, I swear; I just can’t show up sometimes.
Dad brushes it off as bad period pain, and the teachers reluctantly let it go. I guess that’s one way to put it. Back in first year of high school, Nathaniel beat me up so hard I thought he’d fractured my left rib or something. I missed three weeks of school, and without Kayla by my side, I would’ve never been able to catch up.
This year is more important than the first year was. Good third year results are my key to freedom. I have a test with Mrs.Yun coming up soon, and she’s supposed to give us special hints today.I can’t afford to miss her classes.I suck at math.
It’s like Nathaniel knows about that.
“Can’t you ask Beckett to drive you there? He is going to have to take Lucia anyway.”
