Bruises Heal, My Heart Doesn't

I unlock the front door and go inside with the grocery bags in my hand. I see my mom sitting in the living room, reading the mail.

"Hey, Ma." I greet her, carrying the bags to the kitchen. I leave them on the table and go back out to the living room and stand in the doorway.

"You wanna help me put away the groceries?"

She chuckles. "Alright," she says, getting up and starting to lead the way to the small kitchen.

We put the food away in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

"Where'd you get the money to get all this stuff?" My mom finally asks, looking at me. "Usually, we're living off cereal, milk, pop-tarts, and microwave meals."

I shrug, refusing to look up at her as I continue to put the stuff away.

"Mom, when I said I'll handle the groceries and half the bills, I didn't want you to ask questions. I just came into some extra money at work. Okay?"

She stares at me for a few seconds , but then she just drops it and we continue putting things away in silence.

When we're done, I go up to my room and lay down, exhausted from this day already. I just can't wait for it to be over… and it's only three in the afternoon.

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Later, I decide to tell my mom that I talked to my father. I leave my room and go into the room next to mine. My mom is laying down on her bed, resting.

"What's up, honey?" She asks, sitting up.

"I talked to him."

She slightly cocks her head to the left. "Talked to who?"

"My dad."

The color drains from her face. "What?! When?!" I'm about to answer when she cuts me off. "Nevermind that. What happened? What did he tell you?"

I sigh. "He said he wants to see us--especially me--but that you don't want anything to do with him."

"There's a reason for that. I don't want you to talk to him anymore."

"Igavehimmynumber." I reply in a small voice.

"Dailyn!"

"Mom! What did he even do? Why's he in jail?"

She gets a scared look on her face but then quickly recovers. "Just please listen to me and don't talk to him."

I nod and change the subject. "I really need a car, Mom."

"I know. I was thinking you could forget about the bills until you can buy a decent car."

"I'll be fine. I'll keep paying the bills and buying the groceries. For now, I'll keep getting rides from Danny."

My mom smiles wide at the mention of Danny's name. Her and Jack, Danny's dad, think we're the cutest couple. I think they even expect us to get married someday.

"I know you wouldn't mind that." She says, wriggling her eyebrows.

I laugh. "Yeah. I'm gonna go take a nap."

I leave her rom and go into mine, locking the door. I plop down on my bed with a sigh and close my eyes, letting the melancholy feelings overtake me.

Times like these, I would be calling my best friend, Jordan, to cheer me up. Well, he used to be my best friend. He stopped talking to me after he and Danny got into a fight two years ago an Danny forced me to tell him that our friendship was over. I still remember that day clearly.

*flashback*

I stood with Jordan in front of the school, waiting for the bell to ring so we could go to class. Jordan was tickling me and I was trying--unsuccesfully--to make him stop. Tickling was my weakness.

All of a sudden, Jordan was off of me; I didn't feel him on me anymore.

"Finally letting me go?" I teased, turning around with a smile to face Jordan.

Instead, I saw Danny punch him in the jaw.

"YOU STAY OFF OF HER!" He yelled.

I ran to them and tried breaking it up but Jordan pushed me out away from them. I stood there, helpless, and watched them as a crowd started to form around them, instigating.

Later, after the the principal broke it up and punished them both with 5-day suspensions, Danny talked to me in the main office.

"I don't want you talking to him anymore."

"Danny, no!" I'd cried out, already knowing it was a lost cause to argue with him; but I did anyways. "I already stopped talking to all my guy friends."

"Except him. I hate the way he touched you."

"He was TICKLING me! It's what friends do! Please just leave him alone. He's my only friend now. I gave up all my other friends because of you."

"There are plenty of girls in this school to befriend!"

I rolled my eyes. He just didn't understand, did he? "I'm not like them, Danny! I don't fit in with them and they hate me because I'm going out with you!"

He scoffed. "You're such a bad liar! Drop him."

"No! You made me drop all my other friends! Not this one."

He grabbed my arm hard and forced me to look him in the eyes. "I can make you drop whoever I want you to drop. I want him out of the picture!"

I looked down, dreading talking to Jordan.

*end flashback*

Jordan never talked to me again. He told me he couldn't believe I was letting my rich boyfriend get in between our friendship.

I hate it that I had to let him go; I really do. But I didn't really have a choice.

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I woke up the next morning with a headache which, honestly, I expected when my head hit the wall yesterday.

I walk into the bathroom, open the medicine cabinet and take out a bottle of Motrin IB. I shake out two little orange pills and swallow them with some sink water, then brush my teeth.

I take a shower and go back to my room to get dressed. I'm surprised Danny hasn't called yet to apologize. I woke up kind of later than usual this morning.

I put on a pair of jeans and a long sleeved blue shirt, then do my makeup and go downstairs to have a bowl of cereal.

I can't wait until school starts. I'll be a senior and closer to college. I'll have to stay with Danny until I'm finished with college--I know he's not kidding about making his dad not pay for me anymore. Maybe I can convince him to go to anger management or something. Maybe by the time we finish college, he'll be better and I can actually want to stay with him.

I finish my cereal and rinse out the bowl.

If I had a car or friends, I could be going out to have fun right now.

I have no friends who are girls and Danny won't let me have friends who are boys. The girls at my school isolate me because I'm not like them and because I'm going out with Danny. They all want him, and they can't understand why he wants me. To tell you the truth, neither do I.

He's definitely not ugly and he has an amazing body. Plus, he's the lineback on our football team. He could have any girl he wants… I almost wish he would've chosen another girl. 'No, no.' I chastise myself. If he were with another girl, he wouldn't beat her. It's because I upset him. It's my fault. I'm so difficult with him.

I go to the front and look out the window. My mom's car isn't here; she already left for work.

I decide to go for a run, which isn't much of a good idea in this neighborhood, but I really need a good run to clear my head and cheer me up. Running is like my best friend.

I change into sweats and a tshirt. I can't wear my usual sports bra thanks to the bruises on my ribs and stomach.

I leave the house, making sure that the spare key in the potted plant is there before locking the door and start jogging down the street.

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About an hour and a half later when I get back home, there's a familiar silver Mustang parked in the driveway.

I see Danny get out of his car and come toward me as I walk up the driveway. We meet at the end of the car.

"Hey, babe." I greet him, smiling.

My expression changes when I realize that he's not in a good mood. I gasp as he grabs me.

"Where the fuck where you?" He demands, "I called you three times and you didn't pick up."

"I-I was out jogging." I stutter, scared.

He looks at me, probably trying to figure out if I'm lying. Finally, he sighs and lets go of me.

"Where's your phone?" He asks, softly this time.

"I forgot it here."

"Make sure it doesn't happen again."

I simply nod, my face flushed with relief that he didn't lose his temper.

I sigh and continue up the driveway with Danny following close behind. I unlock the the door and we go inside.

"We're gonna go out with my friend and his girl tonight." He says, putting his hands on my waist.

I turn to face him. "That's nice. Where are we going?"

"Dinner and a movie."

"Okay. Well, what do you want to do before then? We practically all day."

He leans down and gives me a kiss. "Anything you want."

"I'm gonna go take a shower and wash all this sweat off of me. I'll be right back."

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I put on a pair of jean shorts and a long-sleeved shirt and flip-flops before going to find Danny.

I look in the kitchen, but he's not there. But I see my phone sitting on the table. I grab it and put it in my pocket, then walk into the living room where I find Danny sitting on the couch and watching ESPN. I join him on the couch and lean into him, laying my head on his chest. He wraps an arm around me and kisses the top of my head. I sigh contentedly. I love these moments.

"So have you decided how you want to kill time yet?" He asks.

I slightly shake my head. "Let's just watch some more TV and I'll think of something later."

He nods and we settle back into a comfortable silence.

"Can we go to the mall?" I ask.

"You need something?"

I shake my head. "No, I think I got enough yesterday. I just wanna hang out somewhere fun."

"You got it."

He turns off the TV and we get up and leave.

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"You want some ice cream, babe?" Danny asks me as we're walking by the food court. He stops in the line for Dairy Queen.

"Sure. With m&ms in it. I'll get us a table."

I leave Danny standing in the line and find us a table away from all the people in the food court. I'm just sitting down when a guy comes over to me, grinning.

"Hi there, sexy." He says in a husky voice.

I blush and look away. "Um... hi?"

"I couldn't help but notice you."

"Then maybe you also couldn't help but notice I have a boyfriend."

"Oh, come on. I don't care if you don't."

I see Danny making his way toward me with two ice creams in his hand. Oh gosh, I'm so screwed.

"I suggest you leave before he gets over here. Please."

Too late. Danny sets the ice creams down on the table and faces the guy that was flirting with me.

"Are you hitting on my girlfriend?" He asks, his fists already clenching.

The guy looks at Danny with a disappointed look on his face. He probably thought I was lying when I'd said I had a boyfriend.

"I wasn't saying anything she didn't like." He says, giving a cocky grin before walking away, sending a wink in my direction. His eyes held something behind them, something dangerous and I don't want to find out what it is.

When he's gone, Danny sits down. Ugh, why did that guy have to say that? Now Danny probably thinks I was throwing myself at him.

I sit there waiting for him to get angry with me… but it doesn't happen.

"Aren't you gonna eat your ice cream?" He asks softly, "Are you okay?"

I look up at him in surprise but quickly recover. "I'm fine. Thanks."

When I'm done with my ice cream I say I'm going to the bathroom and leave. When I'm done, I wash my hands and leave.

Almost immediately, I notice the guy that was trying to hit on me leaning against the wall. He winks and I freeze in the hall, not wanting to walk past him.

"Oh, come on cutie."

I roll my eyes. "Idiot. Leave me alone."

He clutches his chest as if I'd shot him. I wish. "Such hurtful words! So how about a date?"

I scoff. "With you?"

"Yes, with me. Your boyfriend doesn't have to know."

I raise an eyebrow at him and shake my head. I decide to take a chance and walk past him. He seems more intent on teasing me than trying something.

I feel him slap my butt as I walk past. I whirl around to face him, but before I can say something, someone beats me to it.

"Jeff. Leave the girl alone, you perv." Says a tall muscular guy coming out of the bathroom.

'He looks so familiar…' I can't help but think as he approaches his friend with a grin on his beautiful face.

'Jeff' scoffs. "You just ruined my game. Cock-blocker." He says playfully.

"You have no game." The guy replies, shoving Jeff.

I keep looking at him, trying to make my brain recognize him.

"Whatever." Jeff says before leaving.

The guy smiles at me. I look at his dirty blonde hair, blue eyes, and nice smile and suddenly I realize who he is.

"J-Jordan?"

He stares at me, confused. And then he says, "Do I know you?"

Ouch. He's already forgotten me?

"It's me. Dailyn."

He looks at me for a few seconds and his blue eyes go cold. "Doesn't ring a bell. Sorry."

I frown. I can't believe I just made a fool of myself like that. He's already forgotten me and our friendship and I should've done the same.

"Dailyn, what the hell?"

I look toward the end of the hallway and see Danny coming toward us. Shoot. Jordan scoffs and says something I can't quite make out.

"Now I see why you were taking so long in the bathroom." He eyes Jordan.

"The guy that was hitting on me was here." I try to explain, "He made him go away and I was only thanking him."

I ntoice Jodan's fists tighten as Danny roughly grabs m arm and starts to lead me away.

"Well maybe you shouldn't have worn those damn shorts. He would've been less tempted to hit on you if you'd covered up."

I blush, knowing Jordan could hear every word as it echoed off the walls.

"It's summer. Would you like me to have a heat stroke?" I mutter.

We exit the mall and make our way to his car. I stand at the trunk and wait for him to unlock the doors, then get in, slamming the door.

"Let's just go home." I suggest.

I'd rather do nothing while we wait to go on that double-date later tonight. It seems like everywhere I go, I do something wrong and Danny gets mad at me. Staying at home seems like the best way to avoid any confrontation.