"Alessandra, you have two minutes to get down here!" Dad shouted from downstairs. I quickly pulled on my ratty old converse, not bothering to tie them. I ran downstairs, probably just making it to the two minute mark. Dad folded his arms, probably upset that I'd made it in time.

"You're going to be late," he said. "You'd better get your ass out of here." I grabbed my bag off the chair, and grabbed a candy bar from the pantry. Just as I got out the door, he grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking it back. I yelped as my head jerked backwards, and I fell back into the house.

"Go say goodbye to your mother," he said hostilely. He unclenched his hand from my long dark hair, and I ran upstairs. The door was closed, but I let myself in anyways. Mom was laying in bed, with the covers wrapped around her head like a hood. She doesn't like it when Dad yells. I bent down and kissed her forehead.

"I'm leaving now Mom, ok?" I told her. She nodded her head slowly. I patted the comforter assuringly then left.

***

I cursed under my breath when I got to school. Bryant, my exboyfriend was there with his new girlfriend, and my now exbest friend, Aubrey. That may seem kind of harsh; and maybe I wouldn't be so bitter about it if Bryant hadn't cheated on me with her. And now that they both ditched me, today was bound to be another lonely day.

I pulled my hood over my head and stood near the trees, out of sight from Bryant and Aubrey. I don't mind being alone, it's just when people call you "a loner" does it bother me. Soon, but not soon enough, did the bell ring and everyone was let inside.

The morning and most of the afternoon went by slowly and painfully. In English class, I was stuck doing a project by myself, because my only other option was Bryant. Because of my stubborness, he got to work in a group of three.

Even though I was starving, I dreaded lunch coming. Once again, I was left all alone, sitting at an empty lunch table. I heard the laughs and giggles, and even saw a few pointing fingers. Like this morning, I pulled my hood over my head and focused intensely on my lunch. Soon later I lost my appetite and poked the green beans with my spork.

About a half hour later, I felt the bench underneath me move a little, like someone was there. I looked up to my side, and saw a guy sitting there. He looked at me, and he looked a little mad, or maybe confused. He was a little large, but not fat. He just seemed very tall and had a broad build. He had brown wavy hair, that almost covered his eyes. He wore a purple and lime green hoodie, with baggy blue jeans. He had on a black beanie.

"Hi," he smiled. I furrowed my eyebrows and didn't return the smile. His smile faded and his expression became confused. "Why're you sittin' here by yourself?"

"'Cause..." I said, guarded. He laughed and held out his hand.

"I'm Micah." I stared at his hand and slowly reached out and shook it. "And you are...?" he prompted.

"Uhh... I'm Alessandra... but my friends call me Alessa." He smirked.

"Well, am I your friend?" he asked. I frowned. I knew it; he was just another jerk that went around trying to befriend the "emo" kid. This happened a lot, but it hadn't in a while. Kids would always go up to me and ask me if I needed a friend, or if I was sad or something. I wanted to punch them in the face. The lunch bell rang and I stood up to leave. Micah stood up in front of me. He raised his hand to his head and scratched it. However, I didn't know that was what he was doing, and I flinched back.

"Well, do you mind if I join you tomorrow for lunch?" he asked. I walked around him.

"Be my guest," I muttered.

***

I got home, and was greeted by my always-joyful father. He started screaming at me, because this morning I hadn't had time to do the dishes.

"...you lazy, ungrateful little bitch!..." he continued on. I stood there, unemotional and took it. I saw Mom in the kitchen, looking at me worriedly. "...You're just like your mother!" he shouted. My attention snapped back to him, and my blank face grew pissed. I clenched my teeth and fists. He continued on saying how we were both selfish, useless, incompetant, worthless, and anything else he could come up with.

Then I did something I never thought I'd do.

Unthinkinngly, my right fist pulled back, and then snapped foreward, hitting Dad in the jaw. I had to reach up a little, because I actually am like my mom in the height department. Still, it was enough to make him stumble back a little. Even though it was probably just because he was off guard.

"Don't talk about Mom like that!" I shouted.

I regretted it as soon as I did it though.

He punched me back, hitting me in the mouth. My lip sliced open from being shoved into my teeth, and the blood flowed easily. He shoved me back against the wall, and my headed collided with the wall. Black spots started clouding my vision, and I laid there on the floor trying to make my head stop spinning.

"You watch your mouth, girl!" Dad shouted at me. I squeezed my eyes shut as he turned on Mom and yelled at her for teaching me to back talk. After fifteen minutes of ranting, he stormed out to the garage for a cigarette. Mom came over, and bent down next to me.

"Alessa, are you ok?" she asked. I stood up and headed upstairs, almost running into the wall on my way up.

"I'm fine," I told her. I went to my room, and closed the door behind me. I stood there in my room, and clenched and unclenched my fist, which was actually a little sore. I heard the garage door slam, and Dad's heavy shoes stomping back into the house. I ran back to my door and locked the door. Then I bolted the lock I had installed myself. And the other one. And the other one between those ones.

I heard his steps come to the second floor, and he jiggled the door handle. I ran to my bed and curled up with my pillow.

"Alessa! You open the door right now!" he shouted. He banged on the door again and again, the door frame trembling against his blows. I cried myself to sleep that night as his blows grew more tired.

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