“Well I’m going without you, I’m sure there will be plenty of men to dance with once I get to the bar.”
Shaking her hips provocatively to the stereo that was turned up to a dull roar. That got his attention right away; he sat up in his chair stubbing out the cigarette he was holding. His eyes met hers with aggravated hate. Rising, he took the few short steps to where she was and grabbed her by the arm, hard enough that I knew it would probably leave a bruise on her pale skin.
“Enough Cassie.” He said firmly.
She stopped dancing and countered his drunken glare. “I hate you!” She screamed.
He snorted and continued to glare at her almost in a mocking way. Finally breaking their stare down, my father looked in my direction as my mother jerked her arm out of his hold. “Where is my money?”
“Not much saved except for grocery money dad. Work has been slowing down.” Why did I say that? I so knew better. Obviously my head was focusing on other things tonight. Normally I never would have said that, I was always on survival mode and watched myself carefully when around them.
He drunkenly stomped to where I was sitting at the kitchen table. I knew it was coming, but before I could react, a hard slap crossed my face causing my head to retort sideways. I could already taste the familiar metallic taste of blood on my lip.
“Where is my money? If I have to ask you again you will really regret it.” I didn’t turn to look at him this time.
“Grocery money is on top of the fridge.” The sick thing is that I actually smiled when I said it, this would be the last time either of them ever put a hand on me again.
He stumbled over to the broken cookie jar that sat on top of the fridge and grabbed all of the cash out of it. “You want to dance? Let’s go woman.”
With a giggle from my inebriated mother, they both headed out the door not even glancing back at me. I almost felt bad for them; that was the last of the money I would be leaving here and they were going to spend it drinking. Big surprise. Like I said I almost felt bad. I watched them walk down the driveway and get into my dad’s rusted pickup truck; it backfired once as they drove away into the darkness and out of sight. Silently telling my creators goodbye forever, I knew I would never see them again if I had any sort of choice in the matter. I turned to run up the stairs to get my bags. This was it; I was getting out for good.
After loading up my car, I headed in the direction of Dee’s house. She was the one person, in my opinion, that deserved a goodbye from me, and I needed to do it in person. I pulled into her small curved driveway causing her motion detector light to illuminate the darkness. Turning my car off, I got out and could already hear her dog Sam, barking inside the house, so I knew she would be up. She pulled back the curtain and peered out the window seeing it was me. She opened the door and Sam greeted me, licking at my hands.
“Hey Sammy girl.” I said while reaching down and petting her furry head.
“Ashton it’s late, is everything okay?” She stopped talking when her eyes landed on my split lip. It was barely anything, trust me I had survived much worse abuse from both of them than some little slap, but Dee always fussed over me no matter the situation. “Whose handy work is this one?” She asked as she turned my head, holding on to my chin examining me for any other marks.
“Abe’s. But don’t fuss, I am fine Dee. That’s not why I am here. I came because I wanted to say goodbye. I’m hitting the road tonight.”
She let out a deep sigh and looked away from me briefly. She hugged her arms to herself and found my eyes again. She didn’t say anything for a long time, just stood there and stared at me like she was trying to memorize every inch of my face.
“Well get in here” motioning me with her open arms. Dee was the only person that I ever allowed to be affectionate with me. Hugging and intimate things felt so very foreign to me because I was never shown any of this growing up. I can remember the first time Dee hugged me; I must have been around five, she thinks, when she had found me sitting on the side of the lonely dirt road that led to my house. I was holding a chunk of my golden hair that my mother had ripped out of my head leaving a bald spot. I remember telling her that it was okay and that I was going to be able to glue it back onto my head. She drove me to her house, gave me a warm bath and fed me. She called child protective services so many times over the years and I had been taken out of my parent’s custody and placed in foster care a total of seven times. Foster care was even worse than living with my parents, believe it or not. There were usually lots of other kids there that beat on me or the men in the house would be perverts, so I would always find ways to run back to my house or Dee’s. Eventually, Dee stopped calling and we just handled things ourselves. That first night after she found me on the road she hugged me and told me everything was going to be alright. It was the first time I had been treated with kindness instead of abuse. Dee was older in age. I wasn’t sure her exact age but I guessed somewhere in her fifties. She had wanted to become my foster parent but I never allowed her to. I never wanted my parents over here harassing her because of me.
As she pulled me close, and hugged me so tight I thought she was going to cut off my air supply. I hugged her small body back, just as hard. I did not know what the future held and I may not be able to see her again for a long time. When she pulled away, looking at me, one lonely tear was sliding down her cheek. I wiped it away with the sleeve of my hoodie.
“Don’t cry Dee, I’m trying my hardest to hold myself together right now, but I won’t be able to if I see you so sad.”
She nodded her head in agreement “I know don’t mind me, I am a silly old woman.”
“I will call you when I get there, okay?”
“You better. Don’t make me come hunt you down, you know I will do it.” I smiled at her feistiness. “Oh, I almost forgot,” she left me standing on her porch as she went back inside. When she came back out she was holding an envelope. “I don’t want you to protest to this. It is my gift to you. I have been saving for your future for a while now. I always knew you were too smart for your own good and that someday you would want to get out of here and pursue a higher education. I wanted you to have that opportunity. It isn’t much, but please just take it.” She put the envelope of money in my hand and squeezed my fingers around it.
I clasped her aged cheek in my hand looked into her moist eyes. “You will always be my guardian angel Dee. Thank you so much for everything, y-you… you saved me.” My throat was so tight I could barely get the words out.
She sniffled a sob and looked down at the ground. “I love you my sweet girl, take good care of yourself. Go and find the happiness you have always deserved.” Then she turned and went back inside her house without another word. I stood there and looked at the door for a minute, willing my feet to move. In the car, I stopped at the end of her driveway and looked back; she was standing at the window watching me go. I put my hand out and waved to her one last time as I drove onto the road that led out of town.
2 Days later…
I PULLED into the student parking lot and turned off my car. It had taken me two full days to drive the whole way, stopping only to eat and sleep. I had never been out of town before so I fumbled with the directions. I called Dee once and let her know I was okay, and then, turned my cell off. I knew when my parents realized all my stuff was gone that they would be calling me nonstop. I didn’t even want to think about the drunken, angry messages they probably left, telling me to get my ass home pronto or else. I had come clean to Dee that I didn’t tell them and was basically running away. As always, she completely understood and I’m pretty sure on some level she had already known. I was going to miss her, she always understood me.
I got out of the car and locked it. I had no idea where to go so figured I should wait to grab all my stuff. I looked at the large dormitory building, which would be my home for the next year, and smiled. I was so happy I could hardly stand it. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by a small lady with short curly hair.
Her name tag read Janice, and she was the dorm administrative assistant.
“Name please.” She asked looking down at her clipboard.
“Ashton Becker, first year, grade twelve.” I answered nervously.
“Becker….Becker… hmmm.” As she scanned her papers, a sudden wave of terror washed over me. What if something had changed, what if they wouldn’t let me in? I couldn’t go back home now…
“Ah here you are.” Clicking her pen to mark my name off. I hadn’t been here ten minutes and the woman had already managed to give me a mini heart attack.
“You’re in room 24b, it’s all the way at the end of the girl’s wing. There is a welcome packet in there with all the information you should need. You can move all your stuff in now. You will have a roommate, so keep that in mind when unpacking. Your resident advisors will have a ‘meet and greet’ dinner with you and the rest of the girls tonight, in the dining hall, at six o’clock. Any questions?”
“No, I think I’m good, thank you Janice.” She gave me a curt smile and sent me on my way.
I went out to my car and got my duffle bags from the trunk. I was grabbing a plastic tote of odds and ends when the bottom gave out and things spilled out onto the ground all around me.
“That’s just great.” I muttered under my breath.
I kneeled down and began picking up the random items. I was startled when long tan fingers came into view holding out my hair dryer for me to take.
“Uh, I am assuming this is yours.”
Looking towards the voice I met a pair of chocolate brown eyes. I rose to my full height and he did the same. He smiled and showed his perfectly straight white teeth. I smiled back at him taking the hair dryer from his hand our fingers grazing in the process. I suddenly felt very awkward under his gaze. But for some reason I found myself unable to look away. I felt an unusual pull towards this boy one that I had never experienced before. Maybe I was delirious from my long journey. It was then I realized I hadn’t said anything and was just flat out staring at him this entire time.
“Thanks, this dumb thing is cheap and broke so… yeah my stuff went flying.”
He chuckled at my ramble of an explanation. “It’s okay no harm done.”
I nodded and began to pick up the rest of my stuff.
“I’m moving in today too, I’m Noah.” Extending his hand to me we shook.
“Ashton.”
He smiled with a toothy grin. “Nice to meet you.” He grabbed one of my large duffle bags and hoisted it up on his lean shoulder. “Here let’s get you, and your things inside before all your belongings are scattered all over the parking lot.”
I laughed as we walked through the large double doors.
The dorm buildings were split in two. The boys were not allowed in the girl’s dorms and vice versa so I thanked Noah and said I would be seeing him around since we were technically kind of living together now. Heading to the end of the hall, I opened the door, which was unlocked, and entered the empty room. I was glad my roommate hadn’t arrived yet; so I could be alone for a little and take a breather before meeting the stranger that I would be sharing this room with. The room was basically split in half, one side had a standard twin bed and the other side had a loft bed with a desk underneath it. Two armoires sat kitty corner to each other. A door opened to where the toilet, four sinks, a large mirror on the wall, and the shower were. We would be suite mates with two other girls in the adjoining room. Four girls, one shower to share, oh I’m sure that was going to be so much fun in the mornings. I chose the side of the room with the loft bed. I had never really lived with anyone besides my parents, unless you count foster homes and occasionally Dee’s house, so this was going to be new to me.
I was starting to hang up some of my clothes in the armoire, on the side of the room that I had declared mine, when the door swung open and in whirls this stick figure with auburn hair and glasses. She eyed me up and down and then glanced around the room again. Her hands on her tiny hips she walks back to me.
“You must be Ashton. I’m Tessa, your roommate, but everyone calls me Tess.” I shook her hand and smiled.
She just kept standing there staring at me with a goofy grin on her face. I was getting more and more uncomfortable by the second.
“What?” I finally asked. Her smile grew even wider if that’s possible.
“I can already tell that you and I are going to be total BFFs this year.”
I snorted a laugh “You can tell that already huh?”
Nodding her head up and down enthusiastically. “Oh yes, I have a skill for reading people. I can always tell if I like someone right from the get go and I am always right.” She winks at me “And you my dear, I like.” She said with yet more smiling.
I didn’t know what to say to that so I turned back to my clothes. I had never really gotten along with girls my age. I was a tom-boy; I liked to go fishing and play sports. You would find me in a pair of Nike’s not heels. I had always gotten along better with guys and most of the boys back home were my friends; yet another reason girls didn’t like me. This girl, instantly taking a liking to me, was very odd to me and yet I couldn’t help but be intrigued by her. She seemed nice, very nice; things could always be worse in the roommate department. So, as of right now, I told myself that living with Tessa was going to be a breeze compared to the torturous years spent living with Cassie and Abe. No matter how odd the girl may be.
Six o’clock rolled around before I knew it. I had been so busy unpacking and allowing Tess to gab my ear off. We needed to head down to the dining hall to meet our resident advisors.
“So what’s your story? Why are you here?” She asked while she unpacked the largest collection of beauty supplies I had ever seen.
I paused for a moment trying to decide the best way to answer that question. “Oh, I um …just needed a change I guess.” Bracing myself, I hoped she didn’t push the questioning further.
“I hear that. I didn’t even want to come here; it was actually my mother’s idea. I was sort of getting into trouble a lot at home and my parents think that this place will help straighten me out and get me ready for college.” I could tell she was trying to play it off like she didn’t care, but when she said the last part her voice had fallen from the previously sing-song. She was broken like me; probably not the extent that I was, but still. Maybe she and I living together would be good for the both of us.
Everyone went to the dining hall to meet our advisors for the meet and greet dinner. They were an older married couple who seemed very nice, I was sure I wouldn’t be having any problems with them. As I was standing up to go walk back to my room, Tess came up and looped her arm with mine.
“So chick, let’s get down to business.”
“What business is that Tessa?”
“Boy business of course. Is there any other kind? Let’s make our rounds and see if any of these boys here are worth our time before we see the local crop.” She winked at me and I rolled my eyes. The last thing I wanted to think about was boys, I couldn’t possibly care any less. I was here to graduate, play a little sports, and go to college. Simple as that. I did not want a boy taking away any of my focus.
“Boy hunting already? Man, you two don’t waste anytime do you?” Noah came striding from behind us I gave him a smile and he returned it.
“And just who is this charming piece of man meat Ashton?”
I laughed and introduced them. “Tessa, this is Noah. Noah, this is my roommate, Tessa.”
He shook her hand as she eyed him from head to toe. “Nice to meet you Tessa.”
“Likewise I’m sure.” She wiggled her eyebrows up and down suggestively. This girl was a riot.
After an hour of hanging out Tess declared two possibilities for her male conquests. “So what do you think of Noah?” Tess asked as we walked to our room.
I shrugged nonchalantly. “He seems really nice.”
“I think he likes you.” I didn’t say anything to that. Over the years, a few boys ha
d shown interest in me and I had spent some time with a couple of them, but when it reached a certain point I had always pulled the plug. They always wanted to tie me down and make me their girlfriend and I was never interested in relationships. What was the point? One way or another, you would be disappointed, so why put yourself through it. I was good on my own, always had been.
I showered quickly and got into bed. I pulled back the covers and fell almost instantly asleep to the sound of Tess rambling about something or another. Bring on my first day of my new life.
OUR DORMITORY had decided to hold a welcome event for everyone to get to know each other. All dorm students, faculty, and locals where invited. Tess had woken up early to get ready for the occasion. I, on the other hand, had taken the opportunity to sleep in. For the first time in…I am not sure how long, I had had a great night’s sleep, one without interruption or worry. It was a very welcome feeling. I woke up with my new roommate fully engulfed in a conversation that I had been asleep for, at least the first half of.
“Ashton do you think we should?” Being still asleep, and in the spirit of taking on my new life here, I answered with the first thing that came out of my mouth without really thinking.
“Sure Tessa.”
An hour later I was regretting answering this girl in my comma like state. Tess had signed us both up for all the events of the day. And when I say all, I really mean all. I scanned the clip boards with random events. Balloon toss, three legged race, obstacle course, you name it, our names were on it. I wanted to duck out and hide, that is what I always did in situations like this, but I couldn’t be my old self here. I needed to embrace my new surroundings with open arms.
Tess had on a tight shirt with short shorts, revealing almost all of her thin form. We walked side by side and every single guy young or old would stop and give Tess the once over. I on the other hand had opted for a plain black t-shirt and jean shorts that were not too short. I never had any interest in showing off my body, I had learned at a young age that showing too much skin would only get you into trouble. I did not want to draw any unwanted attention to myself in this new place. Blend in was always my motto growing up in a small town where everyone knew your parents and your last name. It was a little hard to do, especially when your parents were the town drunks and everyone associated you with them. Tessa was pretty much my new chapter tour guide. She took me by the arm and dragged me to where I needed to go and what we were supposed to do, with little participation from myself.
Getting Out Page 2