Starcrossed

9. Old Habits Die Hard

Bee

I watched as Lola walked away, her mood had changed in the last half hour or so. It had been fun learning the lines with her. From the moment I met here I knew that there wouldn't be a dull day with her; apparently I was right. Lola seemed to be able to make me smile and laugh when I wasn't exactly in the mood to be lively.

I had been surprised when I saw her standing beneath my window. It had been a pleasant surprise, though. I hadn't invited her over in all these months because I knew that my family wasn't going to like the fact that she's a lesbian. My mom would probably just tell me to be careful but other than that she wouldn't mind at all. However, I knew for a fact that Raul was a homophone. I had heard him talk about a gay coworker of his and the way he expressed his hate for the man made me want to keep Lola at bay of his hatred.

I sat on my bed, thinking about what had happened while Lola was here. It had been the first time she had come to my house but it had felt as if she came constantly. The time we spent in my room just goofing around had felt so natural. I mean whenever Tammy comes over we end up talking about Memo or about the guys in school. She always wants to know who likes her in school.

When Memo comes over we don't spend time in my room. I know what he wants and I really want to avoid such situations. He gets mad at times because he wants to be alone with me but I really don't want to. It may be something fucked up with me, but the thought of being alone with him makes me shudder. It's perhaps my own opinion but men are men in the end and they've got urges.

I shook my head and took a deep breath. Every time my mind headed that way, I always ended up with a headache. Tammy had asked me time and time again why was it that kept me from jumping Memo's bones and I never knew what to tell her. No one knew about what had happened with my stepfather, not even Monica, and no one would ever know. It was a secret I'd be taking to my grave, most likely.

"Ah, enough of these bad thoughts," I wiped my forehead from the sudden cold shiver and took over my body.

I heard the front door downstairs close and I walked down the stairs and towards the kitchen. I had expected to find my mom with many bags of groceries and my little sister pestering for a chocolate bar or an ice cream cone, but instead I found myself face to face with the man who ruined my life.

"Hey, there Beatriz," Raul smirked as he placed his phone and wallet on the kitchen table.

I glared and took a step back, feeling the urge to run upstairs as fast as my legs could take me. However, I was forgetting that my stepfather was faster than me because the moment I had turned around to leave he had me by the hair and was pulling me towards the living room.

"Let me go! My mom's going to be home soon!" I fought against him hitting him with my fists every time I got the chance to swing at him.

Raul chuckled, "Why are you acting like you don't like it, Beatriz?"

I growled, "Dejame ir, hijo de puta!" I jumped on the couch and took the surprised look on his face to my advantage and swung my leg back, hitting him on the stomach. He took a step back and let go of me to hold his beer belly and I took this as my chance and took off for the stairs.

"Maldita perra!" I heard him yell and I felt my heart thundering in my chest. Oh why did my room have to be in the second floor?!

I was on the last step and instead of seeing my door I was face to face with the carpet. He had reached me in time and pulled my foot before I could run for my room. Raul turned me around and I started kicking for dear life. I had been only twelve when he molested me and now I was seventeen, the hell I was going to go down without a fight.