The following morning I woke up, still lying on the stairs. I attempted to stand but felt too dizzy to, so I dropped back down to my knees and crawled up the stairs to my room. My step dad’s door was still closed so he was still in bed.

Reaching my room, I forced my self to stand and walk into the bathroom. Ignoring the mirror I turned on the shower before making my way back into my room to get some cloths for after my shower.

By the time I got back into the bathroom the water was nice and hot. I stripped down and stepped gingerly into the shower. I stood for several minutes letting the hot water rush over me.

Ten minutes later I climbed out of the shower and dried off with the green towel that was hanging on the rack. I quickly got dressed in a pair of faded blue jeans and a dark blue T-shirt, grabbing the gray sweatshirt of the floor, before brushing my hair and teeth. I walked softly back into my room and grabbed my gray converse, some socks and my backpack, before sneaking out of the house and starting up the street.

I was three blocks away from my house before I stopped to put on my shoes and socks. I sat down on the curb and slipped on my white socks, followed by my converse.

I could hear a car driving near by. I glanced up, to make sure it wasn’t my step dad, to see Alex’s white jeep driving down the street, toward my house. I turned to stare at my shoes, praying that he wouldn’t notice me so I wouldn’t have to explain the large bruise on the right side of my head. I reached a hand up and poked my forehead on the right side. Yep, a big, fat, purple bruise.

To my dismay, the white jeep pulled up beside me. Alex got out and came around the car, hurried. He knelt down in front of me, and just sat the watching me, a worried crease in his forehead. I glanced up at him, through my bangs that had fallen in my face. Alex slowly reached out and ran his hand along one of my arms, trying to comfort me but being careful not to put any pressure on the bruises that were scattered across my arms.

“Hey, it’ll be okay,” Alex spoke softly. I glanced up at him before turning my eyes back down to the ground. “You want a ride to school?” Alex offered after a couple moments of silence. I nodded, still staring down at the ground. I didn’t make any move to get up. I didn’t know if I could. My legs hurt so much. After a couple minutes I looked up at Alex. He stared into my dark eyes for a second before speaking, “You need some help?” I nodded again, my forehead wrinkled and I could feel the tears coming.

Alex reached over and picked me up carefully before standing up and starting toward his car. He set me in the passenger seat before starting around the car and getting into the driver’s seat. The car pulled away from the curb.

I glanced over at Alex to find his slate eyes focused on the road. When I felt the car turn I glanced ahead of us to find that we were pulling into my driveway. Alex shut off the car and started to get out.

“Uh uh, no,” I said, my fingers clung to the seat. “Alex, no.”

“I’ll be right back,” Alex said. “Lock the doors.” With that Alex started toward the front door of my house. I swiftly reached across his seat and locked the door, before locking mine.

Alex came back, a couple minutes later, rubbing his left hand. He walked around the car to my door before tapping his knuckles against the glass. I unlocked the door and pushed it open. I just sat it the seat my legs curled around me, staring at Alex with a blank expression. I wasn’t sure that I would be able to stand anymore.

“Belles, it’s okay, come on,” Alex said, holding out his hand to me. I stared at it for a second, confused, before setting my hand in his and letting him help me out of the car. It took me a minute to gain my balance, but when I did Alex started to lead me toward the front door.

I froze just before the threshold, unable to enter the house again.

“Belles, it’s okay, nothings going to happen. We’re just getting some of you’re stuff,” Alex explained.

“Why?” I asked confused, staring up at him. Alex sighed, shaking his head slightly as he stared down at the ground.

“You should have to come back here,” Alex said softly, meeting my eyes. I stared back at him, still confused. “Belle, I know you don’t like it here, and I know that he’s been doing this to you,” Alex said, running his fingertips lightly across the bruise on my forehead. “I can’t let you stay here.” I stared up at him, on the verge of crying. I bit down softly on my bottom lip, looking away from him to glance through the open door.

“Okay,” I said softly, looking back up at Alex.

“Okay, come on,” Alex put his arm around my shoulders and led me into the house and up the stairs.

In my room, I stepped away from Alex and started over toward my closet. I opened the doors and pulled out an already packet duffel bag.

“Here,” I said, dropping the duffel bag at Alex’s feet, silently telling him that he was carrying it. I walked into my bathroom and grabbed all my stuff out of the drawers, which wasn’t a lot. I dropped the stuff from my bathroom into a side pocket of the duffel bag and Alex and I started back out of the house.

I got in the jeep silently, hoping that was the last time that I’d have to go into that house. Alex set my duffel bag into the back seat before getting into the car. I picked up my sweatshirt off the seat and pulled it over my head as Alex pulled out of the driveway and started to drive toward school.