Chapter 30

Fear floods me as I watch my father look between My Peters and I. My only option is to lie and hope he believes me.

"Err, this is Mr Peters. He came to drop off some work for me. He forgot to give me the work today in class," I say, picking up the bag, "And his aunt and uncle are Mr and Mrs Rosendale from across the road,"

"Oh yeah," he says and walks back out of the house for the rest of the shopping. Mr Peters takes the bags from me and walks into the kitchen. My father walks back in with four bags in his arms and carefully places them on the floor "What does he teach you?" he asks

"English and Art," I say, his head slowly moving to the coffee table observing the two cups. "I asked him if he wanted a cup of tea as he was going through the work with me," I say. He nods showing he understands.

"Why have you bought so much?" I ask.

"Well there were a lot of things on offer and I realised that the cupboards were a little bare so I bought mostly tinned food than anything else," he then smirks at me "I bought you your favourite two," his smirk grew into a smile. I just give him a small smile and fold my arms. "Now you have two choose from; lemon or chocolate." I raise my eyebrows slightly "you haven't guessed yet then?" he asks. I shake my head "Oh what am I going to do with that memory of yours," he says, reaching down for two of the bags and walking into the kitchen. I pick up the remainder two bags and shut the front door and walk into the kitchen to where they both are."You have a memory like a fish you know that sweets" he says taking the food out of the bags.

"I must get it from you" I say quietly and placing the bags on the counter. He looks at me with a touch of hurt on his face. I sigh slightly ready to say sorry when he speaks first "hmm," he says "go back in the room I'll put all this away," he says "You too" he says towards Mr Peters.

I and Mr Peters walk into the room and I sit down on the couch. He sits a space away from me.

"Are you ok?" he asks.

"I'm fine," I say quietly. Im not fine, my father seems in a mood and it is my own fault. "You should go," I say not looking at him, I just look straight down at my lap. I hate knowing what is coming, I hate it so much.

"Ok," he says and stands up and looks at me "are you sure you want me to go?" he asks. No I’m not sure I want him to stay and hopefully I won't get a beating tonight but he can't stay as it will just make the next beating even worse.

"I'm sure," and I look at him. He looks reluctant to leave me but that doesn't stop him, "ok well I'll see you Monday," he says and then looks towards the kitchen "Tell your dad I said bye."

"I will do," I say and stood up to escort him out.

Once I shut the door a hand moves to the side of me on the door. The hand is level with my head so I can see it perfectly. "Don't tell me you're doing your teacher in my house now Megs?" I hear him say.

I gulp and answer, "No."

"Good," he says in my ear. "Now tell me why you told Jonathon?" he asks. My eyes widen slightly then I become confused.

"You are Jonathon," I say quietly.

"I'm not. My names Benjamin, you know that," he hisses in my ear.

"Benjamin," I repeat quietly, saving it to my memory. He then turns me round by my arm and slams me against the door.

"What did that teacher of yours really want?" he asks.

"Nothing, he just gave me my work," I say.

"Good," he then moves closer to me "I don't like him," he says, scanning his eyes over my body. "I want you to stay away from him, do you understand me."

"Yes, but he's my teacher. I'm going to see him everyday," I explain.

"Still, do everything you can to not be with him, okay?"

"Yes," I answer.

"Good," he says and nuzzles into my neck. I squirm away from him as much as I can. He sighs and pulls away from me, "You have gained weight," he says and walks off "I don't like fat women, I suggest you lose the pounds," he states and walks into the kitchen.

I sigh in relief, he is wrong though I have lost weight, I have lost a lot of weight and I hate it. I liked my curves. I didn't have to keep pulling up my clothes when I had them and he made me lose them.

"Megs get your fat arse in here," he shouts. I sigh slightly and walk into the kitchen "Did you go shopping with Jonathon?" he asks

"No," I say.

"Could have fooled me look at all this food," he snaps “don't think you're having any of it tonight, you look like you've eaten enough to last you all year," he states. "He didn't even buy any alcohol, what an arse," he says to himself "go to bed" he snaps. I nod and walk off as fast as I can to my room and shut the door behind me. He broke my lock the night he had put me in hospital, he says it is a fire hazard.

Ten minutes later my door opens quietly. I close my eyes knowing what is coming, "Drink this," is all I hear him say and a cup has been placed on my bedside table. I turn and look at it "it's juice," he says. I pick up the juice and look down into it to see it fizzing at me and white little specks coming to the top, telling me it wasn't just juice. He has put something in it. "Drink it" he snaps, getting impatient.

I sigh and down the juice and put the cup on the table. "Good girl," is all he says and leaves picking up the cup with him. He stops at the door and turns so he can see me "get some sleep," and then he shuts the door leaving me utterly confused. What the hell is wrong with him today? I mean, yeah I should be pleased that he isn’t beating ten balls of crap out of me right now but it is confusing. Maybe he is playing mind games with me and the stuff that is in that juice is about to kill me right now. Not that I'd mind if it is going to or not, but still this confused me Benjamin is sort of nice!