CHAPTER 2

IVORY'S POV

I woke up stressed and sore all over. I thought about skipping school. I don't want to see Amelia for another week, she is energy draining and it exhausts me. I'm an introvert, I would be perfectly happy doing introverted things if only I wasn't desperate for the money she has.

I got up from bed reluctantly and went to the bathroom to take my bath. I'm sure I'd mentioned this before but I am impossibly poor. My entire family share a small bathroom located at the end of the house. I wanted to open the door to the bathroom and it was locked. I knocked in the door telling whoever was in there that I needed to get ready for school since I was running late.

There was no response from the other side. I already woke up irked and I didn't need a member of my family adding to my frustrations.

"GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE, FREAKING DUMBASS. I NEED TO GET TO SCHOOL ", I assumed it was my brother in there because I never wake up to my dad at home and I'd already seen my mom in the kitchen.

The door opened and my eyes widen in surprise. I mean why wouldn't it? The person I never wake up to meet was the one in the bathroom, my dad was glaring at me, obviously angry with my earlier statement.

Before I had a chance to apologize, I felt a sharp sting in my stomach, my crazy step-dad proceeded to punch me right in the gut. I lost my balance and fell backwards, the man pounced on me and continued punching me without mercy. I screamed apologies at him but he didn't relent, my mom came out of the kitchen in a calm way, looked over at me and walked away, I certainly wasn't surprised at that reaction.

This wasn't the first time my dad would beat me or my brother, he'd physically abused us right from the moment he married my mom. My mom was a prostitute, a successful one, she was also a drug addict so all of her incomes were spent on drugs. She'd been dating my step-dad from her youth but she got pregnant for one of her customers, my step-dad let her keep the baby since he was infertile, that pregnancy led to me and my twin brother.

However, we were not his blood and that gets into his head sometimes as he feels it's ok to use us as punching bags. I guess we remind him that he's not our father. He and my mother have black hair but my brother and I are gingers. He hates the very sight of us and we've learned to avoid contact with him from early age.

I must've been stupid running my mouth however I liked especially since I'm so good at pretending to be meek.

"Because you've been attending the rich kids' school, you think you're hotshot, huh?", he said as he continued to beat me ignoring my cries and pleas.

Normally I wouldn't react to his beatings but I haven't had them in two months and I'd forgotten how they felt like.

After a few minutes, I guess he got tired, he stopped hitting me and he got off me. I thought he was done with me and I tried to crawl away but he pulled my hair. He pulled it so hard I thought they were going to fall off my scalp.

"Jason, honey", I heard my mom's voice from the other end of the hallway, I knew it was useless to have her defend me, I knew but there was a small place in my heart that she'd try to stop him.

"What", he spat.

"You don't want people to see her bruises and start questioning us, do you?", she said. I thought her words were going to make him leave me alone and I was about to thank her when she added something to her words.

"At least hit her where it won't be obvious so her school uniform will cover the bruises."

Ah shit, I'm dead. I get that Jason hits us because we're not his kids but I literally came out of this whore of a woman and she's just standing there watching as her husband by name hits me with the intent to kill. Hell, these two weren't even legally married, Jason just moved in with my mom after she got pregnant and was chased out of her prostitution business.

"Davis dear, you complete me", he said while smiling at her.

I wish he'd keep on hitting me instead because I feel like puking right now. I got my wish super quick because he punched my nose- something definitely broke- and I passed out.

I get to school around 9 in the morning, I had a bandage around my broken nose and a hood over my head to hide the cuts on my forehead. Every single one of my injuries were carefully tended to by me. I'll have fun stitching up my patients in the future.

I came late so I was asked to do community service after school. I didn't have my shift today so it didn't matter to me either ways. I was just happy to get out of the house. I got to my classroom in the middle of art lecture. The teacher looked at me and asked why I was late. I gave him a typical reply.

"I overslept"

I didn't forget to use my sweet innocent tone to make it more believable. He gestured over to my desk.

"Take a seat and let's resume lecture."

I obeyed and went to sit. While searching my bag for my art note, I spotted Victoria glaring at me and my adrenaline rushed.

With the stress I had with Amelia yesterday, I'd completely forgotten all about the little tasks she gave me. Was I going to receive another hitting today? I didn't want to so I searched my bag for her notes and then it struck me.

I'd done Victoria's little tasks the previous night but I'd forgotten it at home on my desk.

I desperately needed to get out of class. Or else I'd have more bruises on my body.

JAMES' POV

I got to school this morning and didn't see Ivory. I know her to be an early riser so it was weird that she was not in school by the time I got here. When lectures started and I didn't see her, I started to get worried but that worry faded when she walked into the class. The silly girl overslept. I'd continued listening to the teacher and his lecture but when I peeked at Ivory, I saw that she was restless.

I threw a note to her... I'd asked what was wrong in the note. She read the contents of the note, looked at me, smiled and looked away. She probably didn't want to worry me. She has a nice personality and fine it hard to burden anyone with her problems.

It may have been this attitude of hers that made me fall for her.