Save Me From the Dark Read Online Free Page A

is disgusting. My mother is being dragged through the dirt by this man that claims he loves her so much.
    Shaking my head, I focus on my schoolwork. It is important to me that I achieve my perfect grades so I can get into the best school and away from this hell I live in. Still unsure on how I am going to get the whole college thing squared away, but I’ll figure it out somehow. No one deserves to go through what I’m going through. No one, not even me… right?
    It is about two in the morning when I finish all my homework. Placing everything back in my book bag, I turn my monitor on to shut down my computer. There is a message left from AJ that astounds me.
     
    AJ: You haven’t replied and that has me worried. If what I said offended you…well I can’t apologize for it. I meant every word I said. As time passes, I don’t think about the fact that I haven’t seen your face. I don’t need to. I’ve seen your heart. For me, that’s all I need to see. I miss you already and hope to hear from you soon. Hugs, AJ
     
    It is still unbelievable to me that there’s someone out there that cares about me like that. Am I reading too much into his words? Maybe he’s not meaning it in the romantic sense like I so badly want to take it as. Sighing, I type out a reply.
     
    Bella: I’m sorry I didn’t reply sooner. My dad came in and I was side tracked before I knew it was eleven. I had to get my homework done, just turned on my monitor to shut it down and saw you wrote. To be honest with you, I’m not sure how to take your messages. I don’t mean that rude either. I just don’t want to hope for something that isn’t there. I’ve been let down too much already. I don’t want to be again…especially not by you. Goodnight, AJ. Hugs, Bella
     
    Just as I hit sign out, he wrote, but it was too late to see it. I will just read it tomorrow. I’m tired and I need at least a few hours of sleep. Climbing into bed, I look up at my picture of Ace. For the first time, I wish I knew what AJ looks like. My dreams would be much better with his face rather than the face of a man that doesn’t even know I exist. Closing my eyes, I fall into a restless sleep.
    The morning arrives far too early for my liking today. I am just in a foul mood. Climbing in the shower, I need to get the dried blood from my hair. Once I’m dressed, I head downstairs to the kitchen. Shocked to find my father still awake, I scream in fright.
    “What are you coming into my kitchen for?” He hisses.
    “I was getting breakfast,” I say nervously.
    He throws a banana at me. “There’s your breakfast now get out.”
    Taking what I can get, as usual, I run out the door to my car. Once I’m a little bit away, I check my wallet to see how much money I have. No, I can’t spend it on food. I need to look presentable for the concert and I don’t have much money.
    For money, I write papers for kids at school. Of course, they don’t know it’s me. At the beginning of every school year, I put flyers into lockers with instructions. It may not be the best way to earn money, helping others cheat, but it’s the only way I can. If I didn’t do this, I’d have no shampoo, soap, clothes, nothing. My father certainly never got anything for me.
    Arriving at school, I brace myself for the day I’m about to have. Seeing my father so early in the morning could only mean bad news for the day. Throwing my bag over my shoulder, I clutch my planner to my chest, and keep my head down as I head inside.
    I rarely use my locker. Frankly, it’s a safety mechanism for me. If I need to leave quickly, stopping at my locker to get my things is unnecessary time to take. My locker holds all my extra school supplies for the year. Today, I have to stop at my locker to get a couple of notebooks.
    Just as I reach in to grab them, the locker door is pushed shut on my hand. I cry out and drop my planner to the floor. Bending down to collect my planner, the locker door hits me in the head.