Chapter Four

            “ASHLEY!!! Get up! It’s time for school!” Becca is screaming up the stairs. She stayed here last night. She told me that I didn’t need to be left alone to wallow in my misery. Really I know that she just didn’t want to go home, and yeah maybe she also wanted to make sure I was okay.

            Let me tell you a little about Becca seeing as I mention her home life so much. Becca’s biological father, Bill, skipped out on her and her mom when Becca was five. Actually it was her fifth birthday to be exact. He said he was going to the store to pick up some more drinks for the party. Becca never saw him again until two years ago. He didn’t even recognize her. He is currently a wealthy business man with a wife and two kids. He wants nothing to do with Becca. He told her his new family doesn’t even know about her. That was the last time she saw him.

            Now Becca’s mom, Melissa, she slowly went downhill after Bill left. She didn’t even try to keep it together for Becca. She started drinking a lot and sleeping around with sleazy guys just so she could get some money or alcohol. All the guys she has ever been with have been abusive. Her most recent boyfriend or husband, whatever he is, Jake, well he has been the worst so far. He is a complete drunk. He can never keep a job. He mainly takes his anger out on Melissa, but Becca has received his wrath a few times.  He comes and goes a lot. He can just up and leave one day and be gone for weeks then he will come back for however long. When he is there, that’s the main time Becca stays at my house. If it’s just her mom home she can handle that, but she can’t handle Jake and his abusive behavior. I’ve asked her many times to move in with me, but she says she can’t leave her mom because even though her mom is an alcoholic who doesn’t ever pay attention to her, Becca still loves her. She has an amazing heart.

            “You’re quite this morning Ash,” Becca says. We are now on our way to school. I’m so not looking forward to today and dealing with Spencer. It’s still hard for me to wrap my head around everything she said.