Taylor.
I know that I mus look like a deer in headlights when Joeys father concludes that I hadn't been in the car accident with his son, and now he knows that something is up. I can feel myself shift nervously beneath his kind, stern gaze after Ashley leaves, and I beg silently that he doesn't ask, but my prayers were unanswered, for he did ask the question that I was hoping to avoid.
I feel my heart jump into my throat and I look down at first, staying dreadfully silent, trying to paint a lie by pasting a grin to my face and acting completely normal.
Then again, what would normal even be anymore? I can't even think straight, definitely not well enough to come up with a decent lie.
"I-I," I stammer, forcing the fake grin as I painfully look up and force my eyes to meet his, before I find I cannot tears them away, even though I want to.
"I-I was," I say, lowering my voice to a strained whisper as I stare at him, jaw locking up mid-sentence as tears prick my eye and I don't know how much longer I can hold them,"B-Bike riding with..." I break off and a son tears from my throat and I shudder as my body begins to jerk and my head falls, blonde bangs sweeping and shielding my face as I start to cry.
I just began to cry in front of him.
Just, cry.
I feel all of my emotions rush out of me, faster than I can even wish to stop them. Soon my lips part and I'm speaking so fast I don't even understand, I'm filling up with terror and agony.
"My dad! M-My Dad, he-he came home! He didn't call me in advance, and my mom didn't either, and!" I suck in quick, short gasps of air, shaking horribly now,"He-He was drunk," I sob,"He was drunk again, and this time he was worse than usual! H-He," I blubber,"He beat me Mr. Smythe!! I know he was drunk, and I was happy because... Because Ashe was at your house, I just," I can feel my hands fumbling shaking, reaching into my pocket and pulling out my wallet and giving it to Sebastian,"Please! Please don't say anything! Please! I-If he figures out.. I know he'll kill me.. He-He'll go after Ashe then, and I really don't want her to be hurt.." I sob openly before my hands were shaking so badly that I drop my wallet and coins hit the tile and create an immense racket score I reach up and cover my face, feeling afraid, open, and ashamed for saying anything.
"I'm sorry..." I whisper and soon I start to repeat that phrase over and over again, thinking Ashe or whoever else could be watching and thinking I am crazy.
"I'm sorry..."