19 Old Habits Die Hard

...Summer POV...

I watch as Austin walks away hesitantly, but then I see him wince while grabbing his side. Tyler must've hurt him somehow. Damn you, Tyler! I'm happy that Austin saved me from most likely getting a beating but now, Austin is the one that got hurt. It would be some kind of miracle if he ever speaks to me again. My life is such a mess, and my family, well, I guess that speaks for itself after Tyler showed him their true colors.

I walk toward Tyler lying unconscious on the ground. I'm not sure what to do, should I help him in the car and take him home? But then there's a high possibility that I would get the blame for the state of his face and his drunkness. Or I could leave him on the ground, and hopefully he'll forget that I was even involved. As I stand there to decide what to do, it's clear to me that I would get the blame for this no matter what I do, so I decided to escape while I can.

As I get into my car, I see his friends come running up to him. Now, I can relax as someone will look after him. I decide to take the long way home as I'm not sure what to expect when I get home. I really don't want to go home, but I've got nowhere else to stay. Memories of my childhood once again fill my thoughts, and I remember how paralyzed I felt most of my childhood. I remember how I just wanted to get out, and the day I finally got the chance I took it with both hands, running.

My mother was always very much "unaware" of what was happening to me, and she always made a point of telling me that I should obey my father. I did the best I could, but there was always something that wasn't right in what I was doing. I always believed that I couldn't do anything right until, of course, I got out into the world and realized my life was a lie, and I wasn't doing so bad after all.

I put the car off and free into the driveway while making sure my lights are off. I don't want anyone to notice me. I get out of the car and start to take the squeaky steps up to the front door. I still remember which spots to step on so that it doesn't make any noise. I get to the porch and open the front door slowly, but to my surprise, my dad opens the door.

"Dad?"

"Why do you look so surprised?"

"Oh, I just thought that you'd be sleeping, and I didn't want to-"

He stops me by grabbing my arm and helping me not so politely into the living room where my mother is nursing my brother. Everything inside me wants to turn around and run, but as I turn around I walk straight into my father.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I…uhm…well-"

Tyler then looks at me with that same look he gave me all my life. The look of "I got you." He smiles a mischievous smile and then speaks, clearly acting as if in pain.

"Ahh…Mom, her boyfriend just hit me out of nowhere…"

"That's not true! He's lying! He was the one-"

Then the familiar grip of my dad comes around my arm, and he squeezes much harder than I remember.

"Why don't you just come with me? We need to talk in my study."

Oh god! Oh god! I know what those words mean. I knew I would be paying for this, but I hoped that Tyler would've grown up by now and I would be free from this curse. I know I'm much bigger now, but for some reason, my dad still has a hold on me. I walk with him, and the closer we get to the study the harder he squeezes my arm. I take a deep breath and try to prepare for what is about to happen.

I walk into the study, and he closes the door. I feel a fear overpowering me as I remember all the places in this study I've been "taught" a lesson for my bad behavior. He then grabs my other arm too and looks me straight in the eyes.

"What were you thinking to let your brother's face get messed up like that? You know it's the Christmas party soon, and now he's going to look like that?!"

I feel the pressure from his grip around my upper arms tightens, and I swear I can feel him touching the bone. Tears start to form behind my eyes, but I will not show him weakness. He knows very well the life that my brother is leading, and he just wants to blame someone. I've always been the one he could blame cause he can't fathom that he's beautiful; only little boy could do something bad.

I stand in fear, wondering what to answer. I know that it doesn't matter what I say; he would still blame me for everything. But I won't back down; I'll still defend myself.

"I didn't let anything happen to him. He was the one that hurt Austin and me just-"

"Austin? Austin Pierce?? What are you doing with that nobody? Did you hang out with him? Didn't we explicitly introduce you to Raymond? Aren't you suppose to go out with him?"

Oh god! We're back there again? Do they honestly think that I would waste my time with someone like him? And how is Austin a nobody, and who cares about that? Oh, yes, my parents do. Do they know who Raymond is? He's not even twice the man that Austin is!

"But dad, Raymond is a filthy little spoiled money-hungry-"

And then I feel the all familiar slap against my cheek. It burns just as much as I remember, and then the tears come running down my face. My dad then loosens his grip and step away from me as I hold my hand against my cheek to somehow ease the pain. He doesn't look at me as he walks toward his chair and sits down.

"Now go! And I don't want to hear you talking to Austin Pierce again!"

I turn around face down just focusing on getting to my room. I close the door behind me and fall on my back on the bed. How did this happen to me again? I swore that it won't happen again. I swore that I would stay away from this place, and here I am again. Same place, same situation, same abuse.

But then a new thought comes to mind. Austin, Austin Pierce. How he came to my rescue tonight, and he hit Tyler so hard that he almost cried like a baby. I smile at the thought of Tyler crying like a baby, but then the pain of the slap comes back. I would love to see Austin again; he's probably the only man that I have in my life that protects me and not hurt me. I can't wait to see him again.

I fall asleep in despair with an ounce of hope, Austin.

I wake up in a cold sweat as I probably had a bad dream of some sort. I look out the window, and the sun is just about to show it's head. I jump and take a shower; I'm going to see Austin. I quickly get dressed, and then I walk past the mirror, and then I see marks on my arms where my dad made sure to leave his mark. It's all too familiar territory for me, but I don't dwell on it as I get to see Austin today.

I make my way out of my window as I'm not about to face my family. After what seems like forever I get to shop to be greeted by a friendly face.

"Hey, honey! Didn't think I'll see you so soon again?"

"Oh, Mr. Sinclair, you know me. I'm always in the mood for a cup of your cocoa."

He laughs, understanding my pun, and turns around to get me a drink. I walk towards the fireplace, and excitement fills my being. I'm going to see Austin again. Oh god! But what am I going to say about my brother if he asks?