Truth or Dare (Ch.8: Jayden's Story)

We sat there in silence for a moment, just staring into each others eyes. “So, babe, what did you need to tell me?” I asked him.1

“It’s your turn to promise not to get mad, okay?” he started.2

I got nervous, but I wouldn’t get mad. “I promise.”3

“Okay, it’s a mix of things. It involves you and Lauren, in a way,” he warned.4

“Lauren how?” I questioned. “And me how?”5

“She made me remember all of this, and you remind me of her. I’m still not sure if that’s a good thing or not. It’s something that Craig and I have never told to anyone, but I feel you deserve to know,” he told me. I was curious then who I reminded him of. Another girl?6

I smiled, glad that he could trust me. “I’m honored that you’ll tell me.”7

“I’m glad you’ll listen,” he looked at me, closed his eyes, and opened them again. When he opened them, they were sad. I grabbed his hand, and he began. “Craig and I aren’t my mom’s only children. My mother had a daughter after us. Her name was Molly, and she looked just like my dad. And she looked kind of like you. She had dark hair and gorgeous golden eyes, just like you.”8

I nodded, showing that I understood and he could continue.9

He went on. “MY mother and father were together until Molly was 7 and Craig and I were 9. Then my dad started drinking a lot and got out of control. He got to the point where he would beat my mom.”10

I tightened my hold on his hand, but didn’t know what to say. I remained silent.11

“One day, Mom announced that she was pregnant again. Dad went over board when he drank, and he threw my mother down the stairs. He didn’t want another child, and he was drunk and angry. He couldn’t control himself.” Jayden tensed as he said this. “I remember hearing my mom scream as she rolled roughly down the cement stairs. Dad was drunk, really drunk, and he didn’t realize what he’d done until I jumped in.12

“I yelled at him saying that he couldn’t do that. That made it my turn to meet his fists. He beat me, then Craig, and then Molly. Molly got it the worst though. Her beautiful golden eyes were full of tears, her face was covered in cuts and bruises. She was beaten up pretty badly.”13

Jayden paused and looked at me. I saw his pain, and I was trying to fight back tears as I listened to his hurtful past.14

“We took Mom to the emergency room that night. Dad dropped us off and left. He went away, nobody knew where he was. We weren’t sure if he left out of fear, or shame. He was gone for months, and he never called. Mom found out that night that she lost the babe; Dad had gotten his way.15

“Well, when he got back, they tried to work things out. Dad promised to stop drinking, and Mom believed him. She was so in love with him, she didn’t think she could live without him, but she needed time away from him to heal. He moved to San Francisco near his parents, taking Molly and I with him. Craig refused to go, and Mom needed him, she couldn’t be alone.16

“In San Francisco things were okay, at least at first. Dad didn’t beat us, he had a job, and Molly and I were making friends. But then the week before Molly’s eighth birthday, Dad got fired from his job. He started to drink again, and dad once again got out of control.17

“It was July, and it was hot in San Francisco. Molly and I were outside playing, and Molly started to laugh. Her laugh was beautiful, so innocent and free. Dad got mad that she was laughing ‘too loud’, and he called us back inside the house. He scorned her and told her she needed to be more lady like. When she got confused, he hit her. He hit her a lot, and he didn’t stop.” Jayden stopped talking, and his voice cracked.18

I got up and moved to his lap, holding him so that he could finish and know that I cared.19

“Molly was screaming. I ran for help. The neighbor agreed to come help, and when we got back to the house, Dad was no where to be found. I couldn’t find Molly either, so I frantically went looking for her. I was scared to death that she would be hurt like Mom had been. Thinking back to that night, I went to the stairs and looked down them. Molly was laying at the bottom. She was completely still. Blood was pooling around her limp body. The neighbor called 911, and I ran down and held her in my arms. She wasn’t breathing.”20

I kissed the top of his forehead, crying. “Oh, Jayden, I’m so sorry.”21

“When the cops and paramedics got there, Dad was back. He started to panic, and he told the police that it was just an accident. Dad said he had had a bad day and was drinking; he didn’t hear Molly fall down the stairs. Paramedics announced her dead upon arrival; there was nothing they could do to save her. They said her death was accidental, but I knew otherwise. I was scared to speak up, though, in case Dad did the same thing to me.22

“We struggled for years. I was only 10 years old when Molly was killed. That day seems like yesterday to me, though. Recently, I decided I couldn’t stay there anymore. He still would hit me when he got drunk since I wasn’t the person he wanted, but I got to the point where I hit back. I wouldn’t let him do to me what he did to Molly. Then he sent me here.”23

“Oh, Jayden,” I said, wiping my tears. I kissed his cheek and just held him. “Thanks for telling me.”24

“I figured I had to tell you. When I saw the way Lauren treated you yesterday it made me sick that she could want you miserable. You’re her sister. I could never have treated Molly that way,” he looked down. 25

I knew now why he had told me. He wished that Lauren would act towards me, like he did towards his sister. The sad part was that I agreed with him.26

We sat the rest of the lunch hour in silence until the warning bell rang. I stood up, his hand in mine. “Wait, Brie,” he stopping me, rising.27

“Yea?”28

“Thanks for listening, and for not judging me.”29

“Babe, I’m here for you. I care about you, Jayden, if you ever need me, I’m here. You know that,” I told him, holding both of his hands in mine.30

Jayden leaned in and kissed me deeply. “But please don’t tell anybody about this. Craig doesn’t know I told you. We want it to be a secret.”31

“I wont tell a soul. Your secret is always safe with me.” I put my hand over my heart to show him that I would hold it close and not let it out.32

With no more words, Jayden leaned down and kissed me, again, this time with so much care that I nearly cried again. We walked to chemistry in silence.33