Don't Tell (2 page)

For a moment, I tried to remember my life before mom died. I still missed her like crazy everyday. I knew that if she were still alive, she'd be in here now, helping me pick out an outfit, and helping me fix my hair.

I sighed and stepped away from my closet. My life had done a complete one-eighty since her death. Charles, my dad, hasn't been the same. He blames me for her death. He went from a loving father, to a literal walking zombie, to an abusive alcoholic. I keep hoping that he'll snap out of it. I not only lost my mom, but I lost my dad too. I miss him.

I heard a knock on my door and I jumped. When I opened my door, Charles was standing on the other side.

“
Hey, Dad,” I said, hoping that today was a good day.

“
Lucy,” his voice was slurred. He was already drunk. “Why didn't you tell me you were home?”

“
I didn't want to bother you. I thought maybe you were still sleeping.” I sent up a silent prayer that he would accept my answer.

“
You... think you bother me?” he took a step closer, tripping over his own feet. He caught himself on my dresser.

“
Are you ok?”

“
NO!” he yelled angrily, and then he started sobbing. “I can't go on without her.”

“
I know. I miss her too.”

He stopped crying, and looked up at me. “You don't have a right to miss her.” His voice was full of malice and disgust as he spoke to me. “You were the one who killed her!”

I couldn't help the tears that filled my eyes. “No I didn't. Remember, Dad? It was a drunk driver. Another guy hit her car.”

“
She was coming to pick
you
up!”

Charles shoved me, and I fell backwards over my clothes basket. I hit my head on the ground, but thankfully it didn't hurt that bad. I started to get up, but when I did, I felt his fist connect with my eye, and I fell back down.

With that, he left the room, slamming the door behind him. I lay on the ground, unable to get up for a few minutes. My eye was throbbing, but the pain couldn't compare to the heavy feeling in my chest. He truly believed that I was the one who killed her. My own father can't even stand the sight of me.

I let the tears run freely down my cheek.

…

Ian

I walked into Derek Freeman’s house around 8 o’clock that night. I wasn’t his biggest fan, but I would do anything to see Lucy again. I looked all over for her, but she was nowhere to be seen.

I honestly hated parties. Loud music, a bunch of drunk teenagers… it just wasn’t my scene. I decided if I didn’t find Lucy soon, I would leave.

“
Hey, Winters,” I heard Derek’s voice.

“
Freeman,” I greeted him. “Nice party.”

Derek started to say something else, but he was distracted when Mandy walked up and started talking to him. I turned and escaped while I had my chance. He would probably be distracted for a while anyway. Mandy Fine didn’t have the best reputation, and Derek loved girls like her. I inwardly cringed. She had tried to
talk
to me before. She was still mad that I shot her down, but I didn't like her like that. Only one girl could ever hold my attention.

After 20 minutes, I finally decided to ditch the party, but as I was headed towards the front door, Lucy walked in with Tess. My heart felt as though it stopped momentarily. Her beauty was absolutely breath taking. Her long, blonde, curly hair was pulled back into a braid, but a few lose curls hung around her face.

Tess walked off, leaving Lucy standing there alone, so I slowly made my way towards her.

“
Hey,” I whispered in her ear from behind.

She shivered as she turned towards me. Her face was just inches from mine. I breathed her in, memorizing her scent. She smelled like peaches and mint. I never knew peaches could smell so good.

“
Hey, Ian,” she said, taking a step back.

When she stepped back, I noticed she had a black eye which she tried unsuccessfully to cover up with makeup. “What happened?” I pointed at her eye.

She turned her face slightly to the right, as if she could hide the bruise from me. “It’s nothing… I ugh… I am such a klutz. I tripped over my clothes basket and hit my face on my dresser. No big deal. It doesn’t even hurt that bad.” As she spoke, she didn’t make eye contact with me. I knew that she was lying, but I couldn’t figure out why she would lie about something like this.

“
First your arm, and now your eye,” I tried to smile, but failed. “Do you fall often?”

She finally made eye contact with me. “I see Addison over there. I should really go say hi. I’ll see you later.” She walked away before I could say anything else.

Addison Smith hated Lucy. They had been arch nemesis since the eighth grade, or at least in Addison's eyes they were. Addison was jealous of Lucy’s popularity, her outgoing personality, and her beauty. Though she could never, ever compete with Lucy. She was stupid for trying.

I watched Lucy walk past Addison and up the staircase. I didn’t want to be a stalker, but I followed her. I had to figure out what was up with her.

She opened a door. It was a coat closet. She walked inside and shut the door behind her. I took a deep breath and followed her inside.

“
Do you do this often?” I asked.

“
Ian,” her voice broke. It was so dark, that I couldn't see her face. “What are you doing?”

“
I’m trying to figure out why a beautiful girl like you would come to a party and hide in the closet,” I said honestly. “Lucy, what’s going on with you?”

“
You wouldn’t understand. Just, please, go,” her voice broke off with a sob. I pulled her close. She rested her head on my chest and began to cry even harder.

“
Whatever it is, you can tell me,” I said softly.

She tensed up at my words. “No, I can’t, Ian. I can’t tell anybody.”

“
You can trust me.”

She pulled away from my embrace. “I can’t trust
anybody
.” She started to open the door, but I stopped her.

“
Please, don’t go. I’m sorry. I won’t ask any more questions. I will just be here for you.”

She dropped her hand from the door knob. “You’re a good person, Ian.”

“
I like you, Lucy.”

“
I like you, too.” I didn’t have to see her to know that she was smiling. “I should get back to the party.” She opened the door and walked out. After a few seconds, I too left the closet.

Lucy Pierce likes me
.

I knew that nothing would wipe the smile off my face for the rest of the night.

…

Lucy

I walked back down the stairs, far away from Ian. He was too good, and too nice to spend his night listening to my sob story. If I would've stayed in there much longer, I would have told him everything... As always, I would hold my feelings on the inside. I would put on a smile for the world, and pretend that I mean it. I live a lie that everybody believes.

“
Lucy!” I heard Derek Freeman's voice, and inwardly cringed.

“
Hey Derek,” I greeted him with a smile. “Great party.”

“
Thanks. I'm so glad you could make it.” He stepped closer than I liked. His breath reeked of cheap beer and vodka.

“
Me too,” I lied. Well, it was partly a lie. I had to get out of my house. Being here definitely beat the alternative. After the party, I would go to Tess' house to stay the night. It was the one place I felt safe. Charles couldn't hurt me there.

Derek yelled at somebody else and stumbled off. I was thankful he was easily distracted from me.

I looked for somebody that I knew. I saw a few familiar faces from school, but the party had grown, and I didn't know at least half the people there. Finally, I spotted Chrissy, and I made my way towards her.

I've known Chrissy practically my whole life. Her family moved to Paradise when we were in the third grade. We've been friends ever since.

“
Hey, Chrissy!”

“
Heeeey! Lucy!” she laughed. I could tell she was completely wasted. “You cheered so good at the pep rally today. How do you get your body to bend like that? I wish I could do that.” She looked a little green. She stumbled and I caught her. “You're so pretty, Lucy.”

“
Thanks,” I said as I helped her stand up straight. She started to grab another can of beer, but I grabbed it from her. “I think you've had enough.”

“
C'mon! Don't be a party pooper!”

“
You'll thank me in the morning,” I assured her as I helped her to the bathroom.

“
You know, I've always been jealous of your hair,” she said as she sat down on the bathroom counter. I searched for a washcloth. “I have to dye mine blonde. My natural color is like... dirt. Why couldn't it at least have been a pretty brown? Like Tess' hair. She had the darkest brown hair ever. She looks like freaking Kim Kardashian. And you, you look like a barbie. Why do I have to look like a freaking whale?”

I found a washcloth and ran it under cold water. “Chrissy, you do not look like a whale. You have curves. Nice curves.” I dabbed the cloth on her face. “And blonde hair is so... average. Anybody can dye their hair blonde. I actually like your natural color. You have the slightest tint of red. It's so unique, and not at all like dirt.”

“
Whatever,” she rolled her eyes. “You only say that because your... well, you... You're freaking Lucy Pierce!”

“
And you are Chrissy Smith. You're beautiful. Anybody who tells you otherwise is a liar.”

“
Thanks, Lucy,” she said, smiling. “You're really awesome.” She scooted off the counter, and almost fell.

“
Are you ok?” I asked, as I helped steady her.

“
I'll be fine,” she laughed again.

“
No more drinking.”

She started to walk to the door, and fell against it. She laughed even harder. “You know, I think I
have
had enough to drink.” She opened the door and yelled into the hallway, “What's up party people!?”

I shook my head. She would definitely regret this night.

I left the bathroom to find Tess. I was more than ready to leave this party.

THREE

Ice Cream

Ian

After the party Friday night, I couldn't sleep. I had a lot of emotions running through me. First of all, I was excited. Excited that Lucy actually talked to
me
, and she didn't run away, or try to push me away. It was progress. Second, I was worried. Lucy was lying about her bruises, and I didn't know why. Was it a family member? I knew that her mom died, but did anybody else live with her besides her dad? Maybe it was her dad? Somebody was doing this to her. Deep down, I knew that I should probably tell somebody, but who? The last thing I wanted to do was make Lucy hate me. So maybe I should talk to her first, and get her side of the story. Maybe there
is
a simple explanation and I'm just making it complicated.

One thing was certain – I had to get Lucy to open up to me. Last night, while I was holding her, I knew that I would do whatever it took to protect her, and I will. In my arms she felt so vulnerable and small. Why
would
anybody want to hurt her? I couldn't figure it out.

At church on Sunday, Lucy and her dad slipped in the back just after church started. I had never before realized how scared she looked sitting next to him. Sure, she was smiling, but I could see the fear in her eyes.

I planned to talk to her after church, but they slipped out before the service ended. I thought about going by her house, but I quickly decided that would be border-line stalker, so I waited until Monday morning at school.

Lucy slid into the desk beside me just as the bell rang, as always. She was always just on time, or late. I think it's because she rides with Tess. That girl is late for everything.

“
Good morning, Lucy,” I greeted her, like every morning. When her eyes met mine, my breath caught in my throat. Her blue eyes were mesmerizing.

“
Hey, Ian,” she smiled.

“
How's your eye?”

Her smile faltered just a little. “It's better, thanks.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she looked forward, away from me. She was pushing me away again. I couldn't let that happen.

“
So how was your weekend?” I asked, trying to keep the conversation going forward.

She once again looked at me, and my heart skipped a beat. “It was good. I hung out with Tess all weekend. We watched 2 whole seasons of Vampire Diaries.”