The Deals We Made (Chapter 4)

“Whaddaya mean where was I?” I snapped back. Willie wouldn’t have told him I asked him to come over. Nope. Not a chance. I tried to convince myself, yet again, that things couldn’t be this bad.1

“Just what I said. WHERE WERE YOU?” he yelled and gave me a dreaded look. My heart was pounding. My head was spinning. 2

“I was at home...” That right there, was my mistake. Last weekend I told him I was staying at my sister’s house. I really had my friend Shayna sleep over because my parents were gone, but I couldn’t tell him that because he hated Shayna. 3

“What?!” He asked, becoming even more angry. “You little bitch!” He got up out of his chair and started to walk towards me. I got up off the couch and walked around the coffee table so it was between us. “You wanna fucken lie to me now? Who the fuck was there with you?!” He yelled.4

“No one! I was alone! Mike, please baby, calm down!!!” I pleaded. Tears were already forming in my eyes. I was so scared. He was capable of anything when he was angry.5

“Calm down? CALM DOWN?! Tell me who was THERE with you!” His face was getting red, and he clenched his fists. I knew what was coming all too well. I tried to run into the kitchen. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?!” He screamed as he grabbed me by my hair. “You wanna fucken get away from me now? HUH?” He was holding me down on the floor. I was crying and screaming at him.6

“Mike stop! Let me go!” I swung at him and ended up hitting him in the side of the head which didn’t do much good.7

“What the fuck is wrong with you, you little stank whore?! YOU WANNA FUCKEN HIT ME? REALLY??!!!” He picked me up around my waist and threw me over to the couch.. “You DID have him come over you, didn’t you?! DIDN’T YOU?!” He screamed as he stampeded toward me.8

“Mike please!” I pleaded some more, with tears running down my face as I tried to get off the couch. He slapped me across my face.9

“You lying slut!” He yelled. “How could you do that to me?! You’re lucky I don’t fucking kill you!” He screamed in my face, grabbing my arms. “I don’t fucking believe this shit!” He pushed me back against the couch and walked away. “Don’t you fucken leave here Erica, I swear to fucken god Erica, don’t you fucken leave.” And with that he walked upstairs, leaving me behind, balling my eyes out. 10

I couldn’t believe what had just happened. “I didn’t even do anything wrong!” I kept saying in my head. I knew that wasn’t the case. I should have never lied to Mike. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be in this mess. My stomach was full of knots, I was still really scared. He could come downstairs at any minute and start again. I was tempted to leave, but I knew if I did, I’d just be getting myself into even bigger trouble.11

I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I had welt marks on my face from him slapping me, and a massive amount of hair was coming out of my head from when he grabbed me by it. I could feel a bump on my head too. My eyes were puffy and swollen from crying so much. I rinsed my face with some cool water and got a drink from the kitchen. I looked at the clock, and it was already 1:00am. I figured I might as well just go upstairs and crash in the spare bedroom. 12

I walked upstairs and stopped by Mike’s door. I wanted to go in and tell him that I loved him and kiss him goodnight, but I didn’t think I should wake him. I walked down the hall and as I was walking into the spare bedroom, I hear his door open.13

“Erica....” he said. “Come here.”14