Chapter 13

Ariana bought soup for her mom and hamburgers for Mike, she ain't got the energy to cook dinner tonight. She rang the doorbell and Mike welcome her as usual with a hug. Mike was surprised to see her bruised face.

"Ariana what happened to you?" He asked with a sting of tears at the corner of his eyes. "Did you get beaten?"

"Beaten? Of course not, I'm strong enough to protect myself" Ariana smiled enough it made her cheek burned

"Then what happened? what happened to your face?" Mike's voice is wavering like he's about to cry any minute from now.

"Come here" Ariana have Mike a bear hug. "I'm fine buddy, I just helped separate a fight and this happen but it's okay" Ariana said with a soothing voice reassuring him that everything is alright.

"Are you sure you're not lying to me?"

"I'm not lying to you" Ariana kissed his cheek and smiled.

"So what are we having for dinner? I'm starving"

"I bought hamburgers"

"Really?" Mike's face lit up like a bulb when he saw Ariana taking out a hamburger from her bag.

"I haven't had hamburger since ages, thank Ariana" He collected the hamburger and left for his room.

Ariana took her bath before going to see her mom in her room. She thought that if she washed up, her bruised face wouldn't be noticed by her mother. She applied some ointment to help with the swelling before leaving to see her mother.

"Hi Mom" She smiled and she sat down on the bed next to her mother.

"Dear you're back,"

"How are you feeling? did you take your drugs today?"

"I did," Helena answered. "Honey what happened to your face?"

"It's nothing" Ariana said and she set up table ready to feed her mom. Helena pinched Ariana's cheek and Ariana grunted in pain.

"Nothing? Girl I need answers!"

One thing her mom hates is a lying child and she just can't tell her mom about the bullying and everything.

"What'd you do that for?" She rubbed her burning cheek to relieve it of the pain.

"What happened to you?"

"Ma it's nothing just forget about it. Please,"