Romance on the Dancefloor - Ch. 6

I had no choice but to go back home that morning. Dan pretended like nothing happened, so things went back to normal. Not that normal was a good thing. I tried to avoid him as much as I could by keeping myself busy with training and school. As for my mum, she looked at me differently since that night. You could see shame and guilt in her eyes. But that didn’t take away the pain I still felt.
It was very awkward seeing Sean at school. We ignored each other as if nothing happened, as if he never helped me, as if we never kissed. I did catch him looking at me once and a while, and I still couldn’t get him out of my mind. So despite what we agreed on, things weren’t the same anymore.
I walked down the hallway, making my way to History class till I suddenly felt someone grabbing my arm and dragging me to the janitor’s closet. It was Sean. "What are you doing?" I said. "
Don’t worry, nobody saw us." He whispered so that nobody could hear us. I looked at him waiting for him to explain. "How are you?" he then said.
"You dragged me here to have a chit-chat?" I said, knowing that there was more to it.
"I just want to know how things are going, you know... at home."
"Well I have it under control" I replied.

"You clearly don’t" he was looking at my arm. I totally forgot about the bruise I had on my arm. Dan grabbed me by the arm yesterday. I don’t even remember why he did that.
"I thought we agreed to pretend like nothing happened". I started to get irritated.
"I can’t just ignore all this. You can’t let your stepfather do this to you. This needs to stop before it gets out of control". He whispered. How did he know that Dan was my stepfather?
"Have you been doing research on me? Look I really appreciate your concern, but this is my problem not yours". I was firm and serious. It was so much easier when nobody knew about my situation. Now I had him seeing me as his new charity case. It drove me nuts.
"Your proud will get you in some real trouble you know that". He said.
"Why do you even bother?" I said curious.
"If something happened to you, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself knowing that I could’ve prevented this. I would’ve done the same thing for anybody, even the ones I don’t get along with".
"There is nothing you can do, besides you’re blowing this way out of proportion. I have to go now." I opened the door to leave.
"Wait! Here is my number. Call me if you need me" he quickly wrote his number on a peace of paper and handed it over. His behaviour really didn’t help me getting him out of my mind. His arrogance was replaced by sweetness and care. I never knew he had this in him. But it was Sean, a member of another crew.

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That evening after practice while I was heading home my phone began to ring. "Hello" I answered.
"I’m sorry, Layla. I had to leave, it wasn’t safe anymore".
"Mum?" her voice was trembling, she was crying. "What are you talking about? What’s wrong?" I felt fear going through me, I never heard my mother talk like this.
"I’ve put some money on your account. I know you can take care of yourself. You always do. Don’t go home, it’s not safe there for you, okay?"
"What do you mean? Mum what are you talking about?!!" my voice became louder.
"Layla, I’m really sorry about everything I’ve put you through, but I have no choice, I need to do this. I hope one day you would be able to forgive me." And then she hung up.
"Mum?! Mum?!" there was no response. What did I have to do? Where did I have to go?
I grabbed my phone and I stared at it. I hesitate to call Sean. But he was the only one who knew about this, and he proposed to help me out if I was in need. I was staring at his number, still hesitating. I pushed the button, but before it started to ring I hung up. No, I needed to this on my own. So I decided to go home to grab my stuff and then… well then we’ll see.

Dan’s car wasn’t in front of the house so it was the perfect time to go inside. I ran to my room, quickly gathered some of my stuff and put in a bag. I hurried downstairs to the front door, but before I could open it I heard a car getting near to the house. The engine stopped. It was probably Dan. My hart started beating faster. The front door was the only way out, so I needed to hide somewhere. I ran to the kitchen and hid behind the kitchen island. Dan’s footstep slowly came closer. My heart was racing and my knees were shaking.
"Layla!?" he screamed. He knew I would be home at this hour. I tried not to make any noise. When he didn’t get any response he left the kitchen. Suddenly my phone started to rang. Shit I forgot to turn down the volume. I quickly took my phone to switch it off but it was too late, he heard it.
"So the bitch is hiding in the kitchen" I heard his footsteps come closer and closer. I couldn’t hide anymore so I got up and ran out of the kitchen to the front door. He went after me and before I could reach the door he grabbed my arm and spun me around. I still had my phone on my hand. He tried to pull it out of my hand but before he succeeded I pushed on the last number that I had called. He then threw my phone on the floor.
"You think you can get away with this?" He pushed me against the wall and put his hand on my neck. I could hardly breathe. "You are the reason why she left!". His eyes were red and he looked more furious than ever. He squeezed my neck even harder.
"Dan… pl…please". My desperation didn’t even touch him. He actually enjoyed it. He than grabbed me by my hair and threw me on the floor. Before I could get up he pushed me to the floor again and sat on top of me. He held my wrists against the floor. "You know, now I come to think of it, you're quit prettier than your mother. You could be my new girlfriend. Now that you’re all grown up." The way he said it was disgusting. The thought of it made me sick. I spit on his face "You bitch!" he yelled. He let go of my wrists to wipe his face and I took the occasion to push him away from me and to escape from his grip. I quickly got up and ran towards the door but he grabbed my foot and pulled it so hard that it made me fall to the ground again. I tried to crawl but he kept pulling me back. He then got up and hurried to the door to block my way. "Do you really think I’m just going to let you leave?" he said. I took a few steps back.

"What do you want from me Dan? Do us both a favour and let me go. I’ll be out of your life forever."
"That’s not enough!" he yelled "Your mother left because of you and now I will make you pay!". He slowly took steps towards me while he looked me in the eye. Eyes that could kill. "And after I’m done with you, I will go after your mother." He looked calm this time. Seeing him like that and hearing him say those things, made me feel helpless. I froze. And he saw it, he knew I was scared and he took advantage of the fact that I wasn’t resenting anymore. He came closer.
So that was it. After this I will just be the girl that was part of a family drama. The girl that got killed by her abusive, alcoholic stepfather. I saw my life flashing before my eyes. My hart was racing as he came very close.
No, I refuse to be that girl. I gathered all my strengths and courage and kicked him in the crotch before he could reach me. He screamed it out of pain so I took the occasion to push him as hard as I could and started running towards the door again. I finally got out but he came after me. I ran as hard as I could, even though I couldn’t feel my legs I still managed to escape him. Suddenly I heard a loud brake noise. "Get in!" it was Sean. I think I’ve never been so happy to see him. I quickly got in the car and we drove in speed away.
"Are you okay" he looked worried. He gave me a searching glance. Checking if I didn’t had any injuries.
"Y.. yeah" I was trying to catch my breath.
"Are you sure? Do you want me to take you to a doctor?"
"No.. that... wont be necessary... I’m fine."
I suddenly saw a police car driving to the opposite direction. "Did you call the cops?"
"off course I did. We should go back to explain the whole thing" he was going to take a turn. "No." I said, in panic.
"Why not?". He was surprised by my reaction.
"Just drive I’ll explain to you later."

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I have to admit that it was difficult for me to write this chapter so I hope you guys like it. There isn’t a lot of romance on this one but I assure you that there will be plenty on the following chapters.
Please keep on commenting. It’s very important to me to know how you think. And that way it doesn’t give me the impression that I’m writing for nothing.