I Still Think About You, chapter 1

Mike and Jen both sat in their bedrooms listening to yet another one of their parent's fights. This time it was different, you could hear things hitting the walls, glass shattering, things being tossed around. A kid's worst nightmare.

Jen and Mike Pritchard were as close as siblings could get. Despite their two year age difference they had a lot in common. They liked the same bands, they had the same taste in style, and they both had a passion for music.

In attempt to block out the sounds, Jen buried her head into her pillow and blasted music through her headphones, The Ramones. Mike did the same in his room. When the two thought it was safe to go out they took their headphones off, both walked over to their room doors, and opened them. They heard the last of the fight and then the front door slammed shut, their mom always left the house for a couple days after a major fight like this one.

*Jen's P.O.V*

We waited a few minutes...

"Do you think it's safe to go downstairs yet?" I whispered to Mike across the hall, where he was standing in his doorway also.

"Yea, I think so."

I started walking towards the stairs when Mike grabbed my arm, grasping it tightly.

"But Jen, if Dad is down there... it means trouble so... "

I cut him off before he could finish his sentence, only because I've heard his little spiel about a million times. "Yea, yea I know go to Billie's before he does something to hurt me again. I know the drill."

Our father Henry was always drunk when he got home from work. Most days he would just pass out on the kitchen floor, or on the couch, but if he didn't... he was abusive. Our mother Linda is always gone either working, partying, or just trying to stay away from home because of the bad home life we have, even if it means leaving me and Mike behind to get beat up. A couple of times our dad got a hold of us. Since then we've made it a point to go straight to Billie's house if Henry was awake after he got home. Just to avoid any beating or pain we might have to go through. Truly it is an awful life to have to live, but it's all we have.

"Jen let me go first. Just in case Dad is downstairs and awake. You can run if he is, don't worry about me." Mike said to me, his voice shaking.

"Mike, I am not doing that!" I whispered back.

"I don't want you getting hurt any more than he has already hurt you Jen. You are always the one he gets. Let it be me for once."

I let Mike go first, it was the only way that he would be happy. When he got down to the last step he made a creaking sound on the hard wood floor. Just then loud footsteps came from the kitchen followed by crashing glass hitting the ground. I knew that what was to come would not be good.

I started feeling light headed, and I couldn't control myself. I started shaking and my breaths were becoming heavier. The one thing that I hated about myself was the panic attacks. I could feel the sweat dripping down my forehead, my lips were becoming blue from the lack of oxygen. I couldn't swallow, and my throat was starting to get dry. Making it feel like my throat was closing up, just making my panic attack worse. My heart started beating faster and faster. Everything was becoming a blur.

"M-Mike." I croaked out. Even though it was so quiet I couldn't even hear it myself. Why do things like this always happen to me?

*Mike's P.O.V*

Henry came trembling out of the kitchen. I tried getting away but he grabbed me by the shoulders and was holding on with all of his strength. I was trying to get free but even using all of my energy I couldn't get him to let go.

"Get off of me you asshole!" I couldn't take it anymore. Everything that was held up inside of me from all of those years was about to come out.

"You never talk to me like that again boy. Do you understand me!?" He yelled so loud it seemed the windows shook.

Henry punched me in the stomach and I fell to the floor. At that moment I just remembered Jen was still upstairs. I looked up from where I was laying on the ground clenching my stomach, and I could see her lying at the top of the stairs on the floor.

"Jen, Jen! Get out of here!" I tried yelling to her but it was no use she was out cold... must have been a panic attack.

Right after I said that I regretted it as Henry looked up from me and to Jen where she was laying. He started making his way up the stairs towards Jen. I knew she was in trouble but we made a deal to leave the other behind if ever we were in danger, and this was one of those times.

"Sorry Jen." I whispered as I got up off the floor and ran out the front door. I ran 5 blocks until I made it to Billie's house. I ran up to his front door and knocked with my left over energy. Finally Billie's mom answered the door...