Chapter One

Just a few more weeks to graduation and I'd be out of this hell hole. All I needed to do was study hard for my exams.

Walking down the hallway of my classroom, I got a lot of stares. Not because I was beautiful or anything but because everyone liked to tease me. I always dressed properly but then all these bullies still found a way to embarrass me in front of everyone. I was so tired of having people stare at me like I was some piece of shit. I increased my pace and almost fell on my face at how fast I went.

My hopes were that things would change for good at College for me. I hoped I didn't have to face bullies too.

I actually planned to apply for admission at Boston University. Yeah. It's actually been my dream College and I'm an A student so let's say I'm 95% positive that I'll be accepted there.

Just then someone tapped my locker snapping me back to reality. I got so scared and actually said a few words of prayer in hopes that that wasn't one of the bullies.

And a familiar voice brought me back from my prayers. "Penny for your thoughts?" It was Cheryl Emerson, my best friend.

"Cher, you gave me a fright, I actually thought it was one of these people who are just so interested in my life".

All she did was laugh and flip her hair. "Cheryl, I'm serious. I'm just so fed up with someone prying into my life. It really pisses me off but then I'm helpless." I tried explaining to make her understand.

"OK. I get. I'm your best friend but I still don't understand why you're so reserved. You could sometimes stand up for yourself and shove their attitude or whatever in their faces." She said with so much concern in her voice.

Cheryl was just the opposite of me. She was extremely extrovert while I was an introvert. But we're still the best of friends. I wasn't surprised after all opposite charges attract.

I just loved her. She was my better half. She has always been there for me. She's always had my back since I was fifteen even though we got off on a wrong foot.

She was the reason I could tolerate these bullies. She has always fought for me. Most times she taught me to stand up for myself.

Now back to the present.

I was a nerd. I just had this unexplainable attraction for books. I read a lot; be it academic books or not. That was my hobby and one of my favourite.

I loved singing too. But I never sang in the public. There was once a time when I was singing to myself and got humiliated. I was made fun of by some cheerleaders. Ever since then I stopped singing in the public.

My favourite song recently is Scars to your Beautiful by Alessia Cara. The lyrics got me going. She just spoke my mind.

Ok, I have a crush. His name his Jake Parker. He's one of the school's Mr Popular. He always looked so breathtakingly handsome. Cherry always called him the school's pretty boy.

Jake was so handsome with dark hair, blue-green eyes and plump and full lips. He's a 6'2 definitely not taller than my Dad.

And then his abs, OMG. There was one time I saw him shirtless, I couldn't stop staring at him. I almost lost my balance and then he came to my aid. When I felt his touch, the feeling I got was so unexplainable. I just kept staring at his face. God really took his time to create some people and I was so unfortunate.

That's by the way. I doubt if he even knows my name. He won't.

I'm just a nobody to him.

I remember when I was little, my friends always got what they wanted but me? Nah. I've always had this low self-esteem.

So I may never get to be admired by Jake. Why should I even think of that? He has a girlfriend. She's an epitome of perfection.

I'll just let sleeping dogs lie. It's just a crush, it will definitely go away with time.

And then there's always a someone who wants you but you don't want them. His name is Nathan Wilson.

He's been on my trail for over a year now but he's not giving in to a no answer. He's handsome but not like Jake and he's blond.

Nate, as everyone calls him, is so annoying because the only thing he ever talks about is how he wants me to be his Star Lady and I know it's all lies.

Honestly, I just want him to disappear into thin air, at least I'd never get to hear him talk about me being his Star and probably his forever. All I want for now is Jake and an acceptance in Boston University.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~

After my last period Cher offered to drop me home. I didn't have a car and that's because my dad said he'd get me one when I graduate. That's actually a lame excuse because I'm legal.

Some parents suck. Mine do. Dad especially.

My Dad was a 6'3 with brown hair and green eyes. He was dark skinned. He had one of the best smiles I know but then there were so many evil hidden behind those good features.

He always hit my mom. A lot. I guess that's where my problems started. No one's giving me attention. He believes in dominance so much. My grandmother always said that was one thing he got from his father.

My mom tries her best at times to maintain a mother daughter relationship with me but all to no avail. It's all my dad's fault. It seems she has lost her self confidence too. She doesn't seem so sure whenever she's counseling me about something.

Whenever mom and I start off on a good ground then dad always does something to spoil it. I don't know if it's intentional or it's just a coincidence.

"Mom?" I called out to my mom trying to find her. Wait. I was hearing muffled sobs.

Dad must have hit her again and she as the coward she is has gone to her pillow to cry. I just hated my family. I hated me. I couldn't even stand up for my mom. He hit her most times right before me and the best I can do is cry along with her.

Why can't I have a normal life like my fellow teenage girls?

I just have many unanswered questions.

Why can't me, dad and mom live happily?

Did mom know that dad was like this before marrying him? If she knew, did she really think he could change for her?

If she thought so then as much as I hate to say it, she's just as crazy as him.

I don't believe that a guy can change himself all for a lady. It's all fantasy. I've read it in books but never seen it in reality.

The both of them are just crazy. Dave and Madeleine Hill are crazy. Yes. Nicole Hill said that.

I'm just so tired of the both of them always arguing, getting at each others necks and mom getting beat up in the end.

He needs mental care. He needs to visit the Psychiatrist. Maybe that will help.

I walked towards the direction of the sob and found my mom in my room.

"Mom?" when she heard my voice she went quiet all of a sudden.

"Mom did he hit you again?" I asked as I took a spot beside her on the floor, opposite the window.

"No," it was so obvious she was lying. "I... I... I just hit my head while cleaning. That's all".

"Mom you know it's not really nice to lie to me. It's so obvious he hit you. This bruise doesn't look like you hit your head. It looks like you got a fist or two". I'm sure she could hear the anger and disgust in my voice. "Why do you keep letting this man hurt you?"

She never said anything to anyone about this. Maybe she was scared she'll get it worse from him. She's so weak.

At least I'm not as bad as her. I don't let people hit me and get away with it.

I was a fighter. Even though I don't fight a physical fight always, I fought within me.

In just a few weeks, I'd be done with high school preparing for college and I'll be able to stay out of this hellhole.

Sighing, I stood up and kicked off my shoes and took a bath before changing my dress and moved to get something to eat and for mom too.

After spending a while in the kitchen, the sound of Dad's engine came to halt. After like a minute or two, he walked in with a big smile on his face.

"Welcome Dad", I greeted with a frown.

"Yes Nicole." He was one of the very few that called me by my full name. "How was school today?" He walked into the kitchen and took a seat.

"The usual", I said quietly but enough for him to hear. "You seem so happy, what's the good news?"

He looked up for a while before answering me. "I got the contract I've been working so hard for. I started working towards it two years ago and now, it's finally mine." He said with a large smile, a genuine one and honestly, it looked weird.

"I guess that calls for a celebration. What do you say?"

" I actually had that in mind. How about you and your mom get dressed, we'll have dinner out today."

My mouth fell open as I stared at him. Was this really so important for him? He had never taken us out for anything since my childhood. This was the first time in my teen years. Yeah, he wasn't always bad. I remember him being so different in a bad way when I was about nine or ten.

"Are you going to inform your mom and get dressed or you'll keep staring at me?" He asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Yes. It's just that..." He cut me off before I could continue.

"We've never had a family outting in a long time? I'm in a good mood now. So go get dressed, I don't have so much patience."

I ran to my room to give mom the good news. She was equally as shocked as I was. I quickly changed into a black shirt and a faded coloured jean. My mom wore a loose fitted gown. She covered her bruise with concealer and her eye bags too.

After dinner, I reached out to open the door but Dad's voice stopped me.

"Maddy, I'm sorry for how I acted with you this morning and every other day I hit you. I promise that today is going to be the last day. I'm sorry too Nicole. I know I've neglected you both for a while now. I hope you both can forgive me." He said before pulling mom and I into a group hug. After a while, he let go of me and hugged mom tightly.

"I love you, Made." My Dad said and tears ran down my cheeks unexpectedly.

That was a word I've never heard my dad say in years.

My mom pulled away and looked at him with tear blurred vision. "You haven't called me Made in years."

"I know and I'm truly sorry about it, about everything." Dad replied.

"I love you too, Dave."

Everything seemed so strange. It felt like I was dead. This pompous brat of a dad was finally apologizing and trying to be a better person. Let's see how that goes.

When I got tired of watching the Netflix display, I turned on my heels and went away quietly. It was a long night after all.

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Hey guys, I'm Daphne and this is my first book.

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