-Chapter 8: What the Clock Read-

-Cassie-

11:47 pm is what my clock read when I last looked at it. I can't sleep, but I tried. I turn over and try yet again to sleep when I hear my phone buzz. I turn back over to see it was a message from one of my old friends, Lydia.

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-Lyds-

L:heyyy

C: hey lyds

C: whats up?

L: nothing, I'm just checking to see how you're doing, seeing as ur in a new city and all

C: I'm fine so far

L: good fine or bad fine?

C: ok fine

L: you'll be ok Cass, at least you'll be away from her

C: she's never home anymore anyways

C: shes usually drunk out of her mind somewhere

L: you'll be ok Cass, I believe in you

C:thx<3

L: anytime

L: I gtg my parents woke up

C:ttyl

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I put my phone in my sweats pocket and gave up on trying to sleep. I grabbed a jacket and snuck out my window.

"Where to go." I think to myself once I reach the sidewalk.

I don't know where I'm going, but I start walking in a random direction which, eventually led me to a familiar park. I walked to a grassy area and lay down to look at the quiet dark sky. Nights are my favorite, the stars and silence help me relax, and that's what I do for the next hour, just lay on the grass, looking at the night sky and thinking about dead hopes and crushed dreams.

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1:45 am is what my clock read when I looked at it. I think It's about time I head home. It was getting cold anyway. I somehow found my way to the house in record time for my speed, but my heart dropped when I saw the lights on.

"Oh shit." I think.

I mentally brace myself for what was to come and reluctantly, go inside to find my mother waiting for me.

"Well, well, where were you?" My mother asked in a sickly sweet tone.

"T-the park," I respond.

"Why were you at a park, huh?!" My mom's voice started to escalate. "Were you there to fuck another boy!?"

I'm in complete shock.

"What?! No, mom, it wasn't like that at all!" I said in an attempt to defend myself. "I don't even have any frie-"

*CRACK*

Everything went black.

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I woke up to my sister KC, wrapping bandages around my head.

"What happened?" I wince.

"Mom hit you over the head with a beer bottle," KC said sadly. "I tried to help you as best I could, but this is the best I could do."

"Cassandra Rose! Get to school now!" Our mom yelled.

"I suggest you wear a hoodie or something." My sister whispered, throwing me a baggy hoodie.

I somehow manage to sit up and slowly put on the hoodie and my backpack, and with KC's help, I get up and walk out the door. I force myself to walk. I can't stop. But ironically, after I got to that park that caused this mess, that's exactly what I do. I stop and sit at the base of a tree. The pain was almost too much. It was to the point where I close my eyes and, for a moment, consider skipping to rest.

"My mom would kill me." I think fearfully to myself.

Skipping wasn't an option.

"Hurry the fuck up, beanie boy!" A voice screamed.

I recognize it as Jessie's voice and attempt to make a run for the school. I can't let them see me like this. They'll start to ask questions.