Jordan

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Waking up felt as if I were waking after a long and eventful dream. Did last night really happen? Or was I dreaming?

It felt real.

I reached up, feeling the spot on my forehead where he had kissed me. It surely felt real. Or when he hugged me, tucking my head into his chest? That felt real too.

I guess it really did happen; it was just hard coming to terms with it.

I walked to the bathroom, checking my reflection. I applied just a little concealer under my eyes and then threw my hair up into a ponytail. I tugged my moccasins onto my feet and decided TJ's jersey and my yoga pants would be okay for breakfast.

Speaking of TJ... I hurried downstairs, my nose being met by the smell of breakfast as I was descending the stairs. When I reached the kitchen, everyone was in there, piling their plates with biscuits and gravy, with bacon and sausage. My mouth was watering just at the sight of it all.

Though, when I noticed Cody, in his grey thermal, sweatpants and his hair messy from sleep, my cheeks were starting that familiar flare up.

He hadn't noticed me yet, so I kept my head low and headed to grab the last plate to grab breakfast. Rachel was the first to notice I had awoken.

"Jordan! Good morning," I flashed her a lazy smile, noticing she had her familiar mask of makeup upon her face. If only I could fix it.

I could that Cody had noticed but I didn't look up because my blush wouldn't go away. I plucked a warm biscuit from the basket, and using the tongs, I placed a few pieces of bacon on my plate. Cody was in using the ladle to scoop gravy onto his biscuit, while I just stood there awkwardly. I took in a quiet deep breath and released it.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally finished,carrying his plate over to the table. I quickly sauced the gravy over my biscuits and scurried to the dining room. I took a seat next to Elaine, which was of course the only seat, and next to Cody.

I quickly poured myself a glass of orange juice that was on the table, and began eating quietly. I could feel Cody glancing at me every once and a while, but I refused to look back. I was almost finished when of course, being me I dropped my fork between Cody and I.

"Whoops," I muttered underneath my breath. I was reaching down to grab, but suddenly felt my head back into something hard. I looked up as I rubbed my forehead and noticed Cody rubbing his as well.

My cheeks had to be the temperature of the sun right now.

"Sorry," we said at the same time, and I couldn't help laughing. He chuckled, swiftly reached down and grabbed it. I thanked him for it and finished breakfast, feeling as if a little bit of the tension was gone.

As we finished breakfast, dumping our plates into the sink, Rachel tapped me on the shoulder.

"Your friend called this morning," she said, handing me my phone.

"Thanks," I smiled and excused myself, heading to my room this time.

I searched my recents, finding TJ's name and tapping it. I put it to my ear as I walked into my room; the ringing began. After the third ring, I heard a low growl and what sounded like a muffled 'Hello'.

"TJ?" I called into it, only to hear more grunting.

I giggled, "What happened?"

"Phone rang... ran to get it... tripped... ran my foot into the table leg... hard," he huffed out between groans.

I couldn't help but giggle more, "Well, are you okay?"

"No, I'm about to die. My funeral's in a week by the way." Well at least he wasn't pained enough for sarcasm.

I laughed, heading to my dresser in search of something to wear for chore day. I didn't know what I would be doing so I swiftly ran from my room to get to the stairs.

"Hold on a se- OOF!" I ran into someone's chest, but as I glanced up, I could feel my cheeks burning all over again.

"Well, you just love bumping into me no don't you," Cody laughed, grabbing my shoulders so I wouldn't fall. Where he was touching was on fire, and it was so sudden, I shrugged him off immediately.

"Sorry, just was going to talk to Rachel," I said, trying to get past him but he blocked my path.

"Who's on the phone?" he questioned, gesturing to my hand which was tightly clasped around the small device.

TJ!

"Hey, sorry, uh hold on a sec," I said sheepishly.

Cody looked at me expectantly and raised his eyebrow, a smirk set across his lips. I groaned, "My friend who's in the hospital."

"Bullshit," he laughed, shoving his hands into the pockets of his sweats.

"It's true, now move," I said, shoving past him. I made it down the stairs, towards the kitchen and found Rachel there, clearing the table.

"Hey Rachel, what do I need to wear for chores?" I asked.

"Anything you don't mind getting dirty," she said, glancing up from stacking cups.

"Okay, uh," I noticed how much she had to clean up, "Need any help cleaning?"

"Oh, I'm just getting everything to the kitchen," she smiled, "One of the chores, but thank you sweetie."

I smiled, "No prob."

I quickly backtracked, up into my room where I resumed my conversation with TJ.

"Hey, sorry," I said, looking through my drawers. I decided to just switch out my jersey for a long sleeved thermal.

"No worries," he said, his voice less pained, "So what are you doing today?"

I pulled off my moccasins, replacing them with my vans. I sighed, "Chores."

"Fun," there was his sarcasm once again.

"Mhm, so what did you call for?" I said, walking to the bathroom and checking my ponytail.

"Well, I wanted to check if you slept okay," he said it as if it were obvious, "Any nightmares?"

This made me stop and think... had I? I didn't think so. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I hadn't.

"Surprisingly no," I said, a little confused.

"Wait, what?" he said, as if he hadn't heard me right.

"I didn't have any nightmares..." I trailed off, still not able to believe it.

"Well, that's great," he said, as if it weren't bizarre at all.

"Wait, you don't find this weird?" I asked.

"You wanted them gone right?"

"Yeah, but-"

He cut me off, "Then that's great news. Maybe it was just a temporary thing."

"Maybe," I said, trying to grasp that thought.

"Well, I have to go," he said, and I could hear a door slam, "I'm helping out my mom today at the hospital."

"Cool, tell her I said hi," I smiled, "I'll talk to you later. Love ya!"

He laughed, "Love you too. Later Jor."

I heard it click and that was it. I deleted his call, shoved it into my pocket. I walked back, downstairs and into the kitchen. Rachel was at the counter, looking over some papers.

"Hello," I said, it coming out way too perky.

She glanced up, smiling, "Someone's happy. How is your friend?"

"She is good, just told she is improving," I lied, the words coming out way too easily.

"Well I am glad to hear," she went back to her papers and I took a seat at the counter with her. Pretty soon, everyone had come piling into the kitchen, ready for duty.

Rachel handed each of her kids a piece of paper, each with a list and descriptions of their chores. Once they had all fanned out to work, Rachel handed Cody his and Mark went with him to help.

Finally, Rachel handed me mine and said she would be helping me as well.

I read over it.

Rake backyard of leaves and water plants.

Clean pool, filter and turn on pool cleaner.

Oh no.

"What does it mean by clean pool?" I asked, my voice a little shaken, but I hoped she hadn't noticed.

"You are going to take the pool rod with the net and scoop up any leaves or stuff in the pool, and then you'll go to both pool filters. Empty those, and then you will turn on the pool filter," she explained.

I couldn't help it; my heart was going at record speeds.

"Uhm," I cleared my throat, "I have a small fear of water. Could I trade with Cody?"

"I'm sorry, but once assigned, you can't switch," she said.

I nodded, trying to calm myself as we walked into the backyard. She walked me over to a small shed in the back and opened it, pulling out a long rod with a net at the end and a pair of gloves.

She handed the gloves to me first, letting me slip them on before handing me the rod. We walked over to the pool, my brain being reluctant but my feet being cooperative.

She directed me on what to do, and then said she would be right back in few minutes.

I stared at the water, my reflection staring back. I could see the fear in my own eyes. I just kept hearing and seeing the memories flash through my mind, chilling me to the very bone.

I made a move to go, but my feet were now being stubborn. I tried again, but this time, my vision was clouded with the vision of bubbles all around me. I could feel my lungs start to constrict, as I were in the pool and underneath. I couldn't breath as I was my vision start to fade darker, until it was almost black.

I shrieked as it all went dark, finally clearing my vision. I involuntarily chucked the rake at the ground and started to run, letting my feet carry me through the backyard, out the gate and down the street. I remembered seeing a playground on the way hear, and started to try and navigate from memory. After about five minutes, I found it, pacing over to the swing set and taking a seat.

Letting my breathing return to normal, I let my head hang down and I stared at the wood chips underneath my feet. I still had my moccasins on, and I could barely feel the outlines of each wooden chip underneath the balls of my feet. I started to use my toe, digging at them as my mind stopped racing and I gained control of my thoughts.

I shouldn't be so afraid anymore.

Yet, here you are.

This should all be behind me, just like the court case and everything else.

It doesn't forget so easily.

I groaned, letting my forehead slam into the butt of my palm.

I remained there until I head a car horn, scaring me. I looked up, seeing the familiar car and the familiar Rachel in the driver's seat. She hurried out, rushing over to me, and I didn't make a move to run.

"Jordan! Oh my goodness, are you alright?" she yelled, finally making it over to me and wrapping me in an unexpected hug.

I could only sigh and shake my head. She pulled away, looking me in the eye, and wiping something from my cheek. It was only then did I realize I was crying.

"Jordan, sweetie, what happened?" she asked, concern written all over her features.

"I can't tell you," I mumbled, my eyes starting tear up even more.

"Sweetheart, you can tell me anything," she said, crouching down in front of me. My eyes never left hers.

"I can't, I am supposed to have forgotten by now, but I haven't," I said, knowing none of this was probably not making any sense to her.

"Jordan," she said almost sternly, taking my hands in hers, "You can tell me anything. I won't judge or tell a soul, now please. What is wrong?"

I have no idea what it was, but I felt like I could trust her. I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly until I was ready to say the words. The ones that had destroyed my childhood.

"My dad abused me."

Hey lovelies! So... ya.