*Avani

*****

He hung up. I couldn't belive it. It all felt like a terrible nightmare and all I wanted was to wake up from it. I started hitting and pinching myself to make sure it wasn't a dream.

"It's not a dream Avani. It's not a dream!". I yell and start to sober. I'm so stupid. How did I let all this happen?! I didn't know what to do. I decided to call my best friend. I'm sure she can help. I picked up my phone and I started seeing a lot of texts from different people in my school calling me a porn artist. I ignored them and opened my chat with Teresa. She didn't respond to my last text. I felt she was busy but I really needed her, so I called her. It went straight to voicemail. I was so sad and I didn't know what to do. Where do I start from?

"Maybe I should apologize to my family. They're the most important people in my life". I said to myself. I stood up and went into my bathroom to clean my bruises. Dad gave me wounds all over my body. He was upset and I wasn't even sure I could calm him down. I've never been his favorite child. Even for my mum. They love Jayla; my younger sister more than they love me and it was so obvious. They didn't even try to hide it.

I sighed as I changed into a black shirt and grey pants. I walked out and went to the living room. They were all sitted there and they were judging me.

"I'm sorry Dad. I'm so sorry mum. Please forgive me", I said as tears began to gather in my eyes. They didn't say anything. Jayla looked at me with shame and embarrassment in her eyes. Of course it had to be like that. What kind of example was I setting to my younger sister? I'm really a disgrace.

I knelt down in front of them and started begging. I pleaded for forgiveness and I tried to explain but they didn't give me ears. Dad became even angrier and pushed me to the ground. I moved backwards immediately so he doesn't start hitting me again.

"From now on you're no longer part of this family. You're a disgrace to this family. In fact, you're a disgrace to womanhood". Mum said and spat on the floor.

"I'm sorry mum, please forgive me". I said, crying bitterly.

"You've been cut off from our allowances, you have no right to eat or drink in this house. You want something, go work for it you stupid child. So you learn to respect the name of the hands that feed you. You're an embarrassment. Stupid slut.", dad said with a lot of seriousness. He stood up, walked to me, collected my phone from me and smashed it. I looked at my mum with the hope that she'd do something but she looked away.

"Learn from this Jayla. I don't want to have two useless daughters", dad said.

"Get out of here you disgusting child", mum said. I hurriedly got up, picked my phone and ran into my room. I laid on my bed and started crying. This is so bad. They will never forgive me. Suddenly, I heard a knock on my door.

"Avani.", I heard. It was Jayla. I wiped my tears and stood up to open the door for her. She hugged me and said that she was sorry and that she understands how I feel. I was confused cause she's just 16. What could she have gone through?.

"Jayla I'm sorry. This is all a misunderstanding. I promise I'm not a pornographer. I'd never do that", I said to her and held her hand.

"Please forgive me Jayla. Please", I added.

"It's fine Avani. Dad doesn't want me to talk to you anymore. He's planning on throwing you out. I just came to warn you so you can be careful. I'm sorry for everything you're going through". Jayla said and hugged me. She left my room and I started crying again. I cried throughout that day.

****

I woke up feeling so sick. I didn't eat the previous day because of everything that happened. I thought of going to the kitchen to prepare something and suddenly I remembered I'm not allowed to eat anymore in this house.

I sigh and look at my reflection in the mirror. I looked so terrible. I look at my broken phone, Teresa still hasn't responded to my text. I began to worry. I decided to sneak out and go to her place. She's the only one who understands me. She and Raymond were the only people I felt comfortable talking to. Raymond hurt me. Thinking of him broke my heart again. Tears rolled down my eyes.

I arrived at her place and everything was weird. I saw Raymond's car parked outside her house. I felt like leaving because I wasn't ready to confront Raymond but I didn't. I came to see my best friend so I must see her.

I knocked and she didn't answer. I leaned against the door and it opened. Her door wasn't locked. I became scared. What if this is another set up for me? I shook off that weird feeling because she's my best friend and she wouldn't hurt me. I was surprised she didn't call or come to look for me after the Raymond incident. I began to fear that her house was broken into and she was hurt. She lives with her mum and her mum is a nurse. so she's not always around. I looked back and sighted Raymond's car again.

"What could he be doing here", I murmured.

I walked into the house and what I saw shattered me completely. I was in astonished.

Raymond and Teresa were making out.

"What the fuck", I said with my eyes widened. Raymond got off her and she stood up fast. She was surprised to see me.

"Av…. Avani. What are you doing here?", she said with a shaky voice. Raymond was putting on his clothes and she stood there with only bra on. I didn't even know what to say.

"Put on some clothes Resa". Raymond said and stretched his hand to give her clothes to her.

"Resa?", I asked still completely confused. Resa? Really? I've never heard Raymond call her that. We've been together for almost a year and he never called her that. They weren't even close. Why are they even making love? I was deep in my thoughts.

"You look a mess", Raymond said. Teresa hurriedly moved towards me. She wanted to hold my hand but I moved back.

"You back stabber, you're sleeping with my boyfriend? Are you aware of what this guy right here did to me?", I said and pointed at Raymond.

"It's not what you think Avani. I was just helping Raymond with something".she said and held my two hands.

"Helping him by sleeping with him?", I said and turned to look at Raymond. He looked like he wasn't even sorry. I shook my head, removed Teresa's hand from mine and turned my back to leave.

"Avani. Please wait". Teresa said. I turned around

"Wait? Why? So you can lie to me?". I yelled at her.

"Turn your fucking voice down", Raymond yelled at me.

"Raymond stop it." Teresa said

"You know everything that happened to me. You know. Instead of you to be by my side right now helping and comforting me, you're here. Sleeping with my boyfriend".

"Who the fuck is your boyfriend?", Raymond said and laughed.

"You're so stupid. All these while I thought you were a calm and collected sensible girl. You're stupid". Raymond added.

"Quit it Raymond.", Teresa scolded him.

"Put her in her place baby. Why are you petting her? She deserves to know the truth. She's worthless"

"Baby?, Really?". I said and turned to look at Teresa.

"You heard him". She answered in a cold tone.

"Teresa please tell me what happening here. I'm so confused please", I said to her and she smirked.

"You want the truth? Fine, I'll fill you in.", she said and paused.

"It was all a set up. You dating Raymond, all the love and gift were all fake. I asked Raymond to host an after party so he could ruin you cause I knew you'd fall for it."