Chapter Eight

Crying, someone was crying. Where was it coming from? A need to find the source and to comfort it; no, to help her to stop her from ever crying again. Her? Yes, a girl was crying. Where are you? I tried calling out. It was totally pitch black; I couldn't see anything. I tried walking towards the sound, but I couldn't even tell if I was or not. The sound of her crying seemed to get closer. Desperately I tried getting to her I struggled mightily but I never could find her. I started to whimper with despair, fear of never being able to help her filled me with dread. "Mike wake up time to wake up!" "No!" I struggled with the thought of leaving her all alone in the dark. I fought to stay in the blackness of the dream; not wanting to wake up. Needing to stay and help her.

My eyes open looking at the ceiling, I turn my head towards Alyssa. She smiles at me "about time sleepy head!" A final shiver course through me then the dream was gone; forgotten. I remembered yesterday and what I saw Mandy naked; a blush came to my face then I remembered that look I still couldn't figure out and my blush and smile disappeared. "What not happy to see me?" Alyssa asked while lightly punching my arm. She walks towards the door. Mandy is waiting for us at her house so hurry up. I get up and take a shower wondering the whole time if she still wanted me to come still.

Downstairs everyone was waiting for me and excitement filled the air, but I just didn't feel excited anymore instead a sense of dread filled me. I put on a smile anyway halfway expecting someone to mention what happened at Mandy's last night. But no one did, when she didn't tell anyone. Then neither will I. a few minutes we walked out the door and headed towards Mandy's.

Mandy steps out of the shower, grabs a towel and wraps it around her body. I go over to the mirror and wipe off the steam on the mirror. My dirty blond hair was darker when wet plastered to my head. Light freckles cover my face, hazel eyes stare back at me. I look down at my body and remember yesterday with Mike a slight heat comes up my face. I can't believe he saw me naked, and his thing was well awake, I guess. A shiver ran through her, and she hugs herself. Unwanted thoughts entered her mind and quickly forced them out. A sigh escapes my lips, and I remind myself that everyone was coming over here in a couple minutes to finish the preparations for tonight. Mike will be here; I hope I will be normal around him. Quit it Mandy pulls yourself together. Knowing him he will try and see you naked again or something. A smile at the thought then panic. Girl you gotta keep it together. It's Mike for crying out loud he is a sweetheart and would never hurt you or anything. Hell, he probably doesn't even like me like that. Hell, I never thought I would like him. I was always attracted to fit guys and older and more well manly. He isn't my type and yet...yet something about him is different. I got dressed and head downstairs. A few minutes later a knock on the door, I put the cookies in the oven and headed to the door.

I open the door and see Dan up front grinning broadly at me "What up!" I rolled my eyes at him and looked at Jessica who was smiling; Alyssa was behind her; next to her was Mike...Mike looking at me anxiously at me. My heart started to pound I was for sure everyone would be able to hear it. We locked our eyes and feelings came over me. "Hey Mandy, you gonna let us in or what?" Alyssa asked, smiling at me. "Of course, you know all but Dan there he just full of crazy ideas I can already tell." I back away from the door and let them through.

When I closed the door behind them they were looking at my house commenting about how large it was and how cool it was that I was here alone no parents. I smile and agree with them. A couple of hours later we were all done with the preparations inside. Me and Mike barely said a couple of words to each other, which was easy cause we didn't have many chances to talk. I could tell he wanted to say something. I know that I should talk to him about it and reassure him nothing changed but I feel like I would be lying to him and Mike deserved better than that. We headed outside and started to work on the lighting and putting up gravestones in the yard. Dan had a warning sign staked in the ground which read: Warning Ghouls Inside Enter at Your Own Risk! We put a knob handle on the front door that every time you open the door a shrill cry rang out. About four thirty we had everything done and were sitting outside drinking lemonade on the front porch.

"So Mandy are you excited for tonight?" I laugh "Well duh! I can't wait to see which girls drool over Dan here." I lay my arm around Dan while he blushes. "Whatever Mandy." "Ha! You know girls will be lining up to dance with you Dan." Mike says grinning mischievously. "Don't worry Mike, us girls here will hang out with you, and we put them to shame." Jessica says winking at Mike. Mike drastically acted horrified about that "Oh no Dan help man." "Ha Mike, like you would help me with the other girls." Everyone burst out laughing. I finally starting to loosen up around Mike again, thank God. Maybe it won't be too different.

A couple of hours later everyone started to show up. We were all dressed up. I was dressed up like a dead track star, a track shirt torn up showing my belly button and a little skin up top, fake blood all over my shirt and body. Dan walked around towards me through a group of witches. Dressed up like a vampire, a very sexy vampire. Girls were looking at him and giggling. Hair slicked back, face painted white, black around his eyes when he smiles his fake teeth flash, a tight black muscle shirt on with tight latex pants just like "Interview with a Vampire" he looked a lot like Brad Pitt too. "You know Dan, that all the girls here are drooling over you." He laughs with bright eyes with glee at the compliment. "You don't look so bad yourself I see plenty of guys looking at you too." I blush and retort "Not even close to Jessica and Alyssa they really look too sexy for their own good." "Yeah, but they are fighting over Mike's attention. Dan shrugs "Go figure and he doesn't even notice that they even like him." "Yeah, I know." "Funny thing is, is that everyone thinks he must be gay just cause of the attention he gets from two of the hottest girls." I looked at him shocked that he said that and the fact that people can think like that just because he is chubby. Anger at what Dan just said, "Well people are stupid and don't know what they are talking about!" "I know Mandy if Mike knew how many times, I've punched someone who said that to my face it would kill him." I look at Dan with a newfound respect.

"I know we have all been friends since well forever but why are you guys such great friends for? I mean I know what he did for you when that thing with your father, but I mean before that. You guys are best friends no doubt about it but totally almost opposite in the social aspect. You know what I mean?" Dan stops watching the people around him and looks me straight in the eye. "That time with my father wasn't the first time Mike saved my life Mindy." Dan sighs and looks around to make sure no one was watching us. "You remember when you first met us in kindergarten?" "Yeah, me and Alyssa were already friends, and we were playing outside during recess, and we were getting picked on by a few boys who took a ball from Alyssa. Why?" "Well, I remember that day as well and it was Mike who pointed it out to me. He saw you two being picked up and asked me to help him help you two. I complained to him saying it was none of our business, but he wouldn't have it. He just looked right at me not saying a word and started walking towards you guys. I stood there for a second, fear froze me in place, but I watched him walking and wanted to be as brave as him. So, I caught up to him, he turned towards me and smiled gratefully. I realized that he was scared too and that made me feel so much better." "I see and then you guys drove them away and saved us from crying and being afraid. Since that day we have all been close, but you said he saved your life more than once." I knew I was asking him something very personal, but I had to know, something about Mike was different and even I didn't understand what it was, but Dan had known him longer and he is closest to Mike.

Dan sighs again a little heavier this time. "I was ten years old, and my parents had just got a divorce. Mike was cool, he wasn't chubby and acted older than his age. I was chubby and he didn't care. During the first time I stayed with my father I was hit for the first time. I went over to Mike’s, and he saw my eye. He took me to his room and asked me why my father hit me. I couldn't believe he already knew who did it. I started crying and told him what happened. He...he held me and let me cry on his shoulder. He didn't say a single word until I stopped myself. When I quieted down and stopped sniffling, he grabbed my arm and told me to follow him. We went for a walk to the high school we are at now and took me to the football field and we sat down in the stands. I looked at him questioning what his purpose for this when the football team came out and started to practice. He told me just to watch. Watch what I did, and I felt myself wanting to be a part of that. I watched as they pushed each other and when they congratulated each other. After they were done Mike asked me what I saw. I thought hard about it, Mike ever patient waited. I told him it was like a family they pushed each other to get better. Mike smiled at me saying I was right and said that he didn't need that, but I did. The next year I started playing Peewee football. I'm like I am now because my best friend cared about me enough to give me purpose and hope but most of all he showed me how to love." A tear silently ran down Dan's face, I was stunned to silence feeling Dan's raw emotions and loving both of these men that I am honored to know and love and to be loved back. I give Dan a large hug wanting to cry with him for him. "So, you see I would die for that crazy man and he is my brother, he is more blood than anyone else." I finally understood why one of the best looking guys in the school follows a chubby quiet guy. We stood quietly until a girl I didn't recognize ran into Dan. "Hey watch...wait a minute I know you. You ran into me a couple months ago." The girl turns around and smiles "Oh it’s you." Walks away from us. Dan calls out to her then chases after her. I just laugh at the picture of Dan chasing a girl. That is funny.

I walked towards the kitchen where Jessica, Alyssa and Mike were sitting on the floor talking. Alyssa was dressed up like an angel. in a white dress that clings to her delicate perfect skin. She really did look like an angel. Jessica dressed up as a cheerleader who got into a car accident. Everything cut up and showed off her more than perfect curves. They both got bigger boobs than me just not fair. I watched as guys stopped and stared at the both of them and then scowled at Mike as they walked away. All three of them oblivious of the attention they drew. Mike was dressed up as a killer clown. When he looked at his face his eyes just pop out and draw you in. He is quite scary but yet his eyes make him look beautiful. If he stayed sitting, you couldn't tell he was chubby the clown shirt big enough to cover his chub. Alyssa looks up at me. I wave at her and smile; she says something to Mike and Jessica and gets up walking towards me. "Hey girl, how's the party going not too much wild play, right?" Alyssa asks me. I smile "nope nothing bad nothing broken." "That's good, I think someone spiked the punch by the way, I tasted alcohol." I rolled my eyes "figures, has Mike's mom noticed yet?" "Nope, don't think she will either." "Yeah, until someone pukes or goes up to her acting drunk." Alyssa laughs at the thought. "Yep, then game over party's done." I shrug for the guests all but you, Dan, Jessica and Mike and of course me." She nods her agreement and watch people float in and out around us. A group of people sat around the fire and started to tell ghost stories. I could hear the laughter and gasps of excited frights. "Alyssa." She turns back towards me "yeah?" "Do you...do you think that Mike is...well different?" Alyssa frowns at me then looks over at Mike. "I guess, no; yes, he is very different." "Why do you think?" Alyssa looks at me thinking about the question. "Something about him...he is deeper than any man I have ever known, smarter too. Then there are his eyes though beautiful have a life of their own, when you look into them you feel like you're the only one around that nothing else matters. They make me personally feel special." I think about what Alyssa said, remembering times when I looked into his eyes and felt at peace, which is very rare for me. "Yeah, that is something different isn't it." I watch as Alyssa watches Mike with a look of wonder or love maybe both. I smile and start doing the same. Jessica looks up at us and gets up to herself saying something to Mike. He looks over at us and smiles. We both smiled back. Jessica reaches us "Hey why don't you gals join us." Alyssa looks at Jessica smiles "I think I will." She walks towards Mike to sit down with him. "So you enjoying the party Jessica?" She looks at me smiling "oh yeah never been to a party before first one." The first time I met her she was already hanging out with the others or more like Mike.

"Can I ask you something Jessica?" "Hmm?" "Why do you like Mike so much?" She looks at me blushing "is it that obvious?" I laugh "for everyone but Mike." She laughs back then grew serious "he doesn't like me in that way does he?" I frown at "no it's not that, it's that it's the fact that he thinks he is too chubby to be liked by; in his own words "someone so beautiful." Jessica blushes looks at Mike. "He is foolish to think that I am so shallow." I blush remembering how shallow I can be. "Yeah but ever since middle school when he gained so much weight so fast that he lost confidence, especially after everyone started to pick on him. Everyone but his close friends. It can be tough I think." A look of sympathy came across her face. "Don't get me wrong I think he is happy for the most part he never complained, he even laughed with them. We tried to defend him but he just tell us not to worry about it and leave them alone." "I wouldn't of listened to him and still would of defended him." I nod understanding her feelings "I know but back then we did what he said. We trusted his judgment without fail." "Why?" I had to think about it for a minute. "He did so much for all of us that we never thought he was wrong. Looking back now after leaving for a few months without him I realized that he wasn't always right, when it was about him, he was almost always wrong. Anything else he was always right." "He's smart, I feel loved around him too." "It is amazing isn't Jessica, but why did you start talking to him at first glance he is usually ignored by girls let alone someone so beautiful." "I wouldn't call me beautiful, but the reason that I started talking to him was his smile. Something about it just made me want to talk to him. Usually, I'm the shy one but instead I wasn't at all, but he was." She smiles to herself while telling me this. "He does tend to attract people to him, though why don’t I know." Jessica nods her head, her hair in piggy tails bounce with every nod. To damn cute looking Jessica. "Do you think he really doesn't know I like him?" "Yeah, he definitely doesn't know." "Does he know that Alyssa likes him too?" I looked at it a little shocked she noticed. "What it's not hard to tell." "I don't think she knows she likes him let alone that he knows." Jessica looks right at me seriously "just like you don't?" My breath felt like it was sucking out of my lungs. "You started to figure it out huh. To tell you the truth I'm so jealous of you two. You two have a huge advantage over me, you both known him for years." "I wouldn't say that." A ping of sorrow stabbed my stomach. "He really likes you and is starting to figure out that he likes Alyssa as well but me...not so much." "I don't know about that." Quietly "anyways I would never be able to be with him." Jessica looks at me with surprise. "Why not you’re very beautiful." I blush at the compliment. "I... just couldn't." She studies me then nods her ok. "You should join us hangout ya know." I nodded heart in throat at what I had just admitted to myself and her.

Mike watched as his mother left waving at us as she shut the door. I turn towards my friends who are all left. My mom helped us clean up the house, so it wasn’t dirty anymore. I look at the clock which read eleven thirty. Halloween was almost over. The girls talking to each other told us that they were gonna quickly change into PJ's then join us. While they left, we quickly changed ourselves. "So Dan, who was that girl you were talking to all night?" Dan blushes, that's the first now I am really interested. "Well her name is Amy and she is in the same grade as us but different class. She always seems to run into me then runs away so I cornered her and we talked." "Yeah, I say the whole time the party was going on. She is cute, do you like her?" Dan's blush got redder. "Yeah Mike, I think I do. She promised me that we would start to hang out." That's good! Good for you Mike! So she gonna start hanging out with us?" "Yeah if that's alright." "Of course it is!" "Yeah, Dan finally a girl got your attention." We turn around and watch as three beautiful woman walk down the stairs smiling at us. Dan leans over and whispers "Mike is it just me or are they just beautiful." I nodded my head not trusting my voice.

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First was Jessica, five foot five wearing red-laced PJ's showing more of her body then I had ever seen. She was a vision. her hair laying against her back lightly lifting while she walked, her eyes dancing in the dim light from the fire and a couple of candles. Next was Alyssa wearing white velvet PJ's, her five foot eight all from her long shapely legs which I could see clearly with her only having a gown on, long blonde hair cascading down around her, delicate skin enhanced by the white velvet gown, her breast large and perfect no bra on either, blue eyes riveted on us enjoying our reaction. Last but not least was Mandy, the tallest at five foot nine long perfectly muscled legs flexed while she walked, her short dirty blonde hair bouncing with every step, her freckles lightly sparkling in the dim light arms and legs tanned but everything else white in comparison, wearing a green laced gown, her hazel eyes glowing with the flickering of the firelight. I felt like I was in lingerie department store. "Ladies, you all look very lovely." Bravo Dan for being able to even talk. "Yeah, um you guys look very pretty." I managed to say blushing happy that it was dim in the room. The sleeping bags were laid out in front of the fire and we all got into them and started talking.

Dan looks at me winks "Hey you guys want to play a game?" "Sure!" we all said, "What is your game?" I asked. "Truth or Dare!" I groan, Jessica giggles, Alyssa rolls her eyes and Mandy laughs "it figures you would think of that." “its fun and well exciting. Admit it you guys wanna play." "It's better than spin the bottle I guess." "Darn, I forgot about that one!" Alyssa hits Dan with her pillow. "Dork!"

The first couple of rounds were easy and kinda boring we laughed Dan making a fool of himself by having to eat toilet paper, I only had to act like an Indian and say what I loved the most about school. The girls got away very easily, always taking truth. Then it was Dan's turn to pick someone for truth or dare. "Um hmm Jessica truth or dare." "Truth." "Ok since you all seem to love truth let’s make this one interesting, hmm what guy do you have the biggest crush on?" I look over at her wondering who the lucky guy was. "Umm well I have a crush on Mike." She blushes at me I was shocked at her answer and didn't know what to say. "Man, Mike you lucky guy!" I smile at Jessica; I never even guessed it. Jessica turns towards Mandy "Truth or dare?" "Well I'm not picking the truth anymore how about dare." "I dare you to kiss someone in this room on the lips for five seconds." "What ugh that's just wrong!" "Hey, I had to admit having a crush so now it's your turn to suffer." Mandy rolls her eyes and thinks about it. "Fine revenge then." She gets up and walks towards me. "Get up Mike." "Huh!" I get up in a daze, I look into Mandy's eyes remembering seeing her pretty much naked. She is so beautiful. Panic and fear flashed in her eyes. I suddenly remember that look I couldn't figure it out, it was fear. "What are you sure Mandy you don't have to you know." She smiles "it's ok Mike, I picked ya didn't I?" Then her lips met mine, they were soft, and time stood still. "Alright time up Mandy." She pulled away from me and I felt like I lost something I wanted back really bad. My hormones wanted to get involved and I suppressed them as best as I could. Everyone was smiling, even Jessica. I laid back down on the sleeping bag.

We played a couple more rounds, not really doing anything interesting besides Dan running around in his boxers which was very funny. Everyone was starting to fall asleep. I was talking to Jessica and Dan for a while; Alyssa and Mandy were talking then Dan told us he was gonna sleep. Then Alyssa followed suit. Mandy had stopped talking so I figured she was sleeping as well. I talked to Jessica alone for about another thirty minutes but then she yawned. I told her to go to sleep and that I would see her in the morning. I heard Jessica softly snoring and sighing, rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling trying to fall asleep. "Mike, are you still awake?" I turned towards Mandy, surprised that she was still up "yeah I'm still up I thought you had fallen asleep." I hear her rustling and sitting up, I like to back at her. Her eyes looked sad yet determined. "What's wrong Mandy?" She smiles softly "will you follow me Mike, I got something I wish to show you." I look worryingly towards her "yeah of course Mandy."

Mandy led Mike upstairs silently. I reached my bedroom and opened the door, finally turning to him. Mike grabbed his shirt pulling it out subconsciously. He might understand if I show him. Mike stood silently patiently waiting for me to say something. My heart started to beat faster, my palms started to sweat and shake. I sighed and pull my PJs over my head, knowing that he was watching me. Mike gasped but didn't say anything. Half naked I looked down looking at the scars visible around my breasts, a couple of them very ugly looking. Tears started to well up threatening to poor down. With only my underwear on I felt very exposed to my best friend. Suddenly Mike walked slowly towards me inadvertently I started to twitch away from him. He stops and looks into my eyes. I see only sadness not hunger not lust. He started to walk towards me, and I stayed still trusting him not to hurt me. He stops inches away from me. I could feel his breath and body heat. Then he took his right hand and slowly touched my left breast. ShockedI looked down and it wasn't my breast he touched but my scar right below my nipple. Then very gently he traced my scar, then started to do the same with the others. Tears silently fell on top of his hand and my scared breasts. Love for this young man filled me, he was the first man to touch me not in lust but with love. If he wanted to, I would have let him do whatever he wanted at that moment cause he just gave me a gift that I could never repay. When he was finished, he bent down and started to grab my PJs then stopped. I cried even heavier than before soft sobs escaped my mouth. Knowing what he saw my inner thighs on both sides; I slowly opened my legs showing him it all. I never felt as exposed as I did at that moment. I wanted to so badly run away and escape, but this was my decision and unlike these scars I picked this choice. This thought gave me courage as his fingers touched me shaking. What he was seeing was knife marks saying a word on both sides, on my left was the word "MINE" on the right was "WHORE". Memories on how I got it threatened to resurface the fear and the helplessness almost too much to bear. Suddenly I felt a light kiss on my left thigh then my right. I stopped shaking stunned that he was willing to touch me let alone kiss them. I was really expecting him to back away in disgust. Mystification at this action, Mike is still clutching my PJ's stood back up looking at my face, I looked away not wanting to see the disgust he must be feeling on his face. Gentle hands cupped my face lightly asking me to turn towards him. I saw Mike tears were slowly falling down his face, but his eyes showed not lust not anger not disgust but...love. "Hands above your head Mindy." Stunned, I did what he asked. He put my PJ's on for me unrolling over my scarred breasts and covering my branded thighs. He then took my face and slowly led it to his chest and then the tears truly started to rain down.

Mike was at first very excited that she had just taken off her PJ's but then he had seen the scars. I was shocked at first all thoughts of desire leaving me quickly. I didn't think I just acted; I knew just how hard showing me something like this must have been. I had gone to her not knowing what I was doing. Tears for her threatened to spill but I held them back as I traced her scars below her nipple on the cusp of her breasts. There were four all together, two on both breasts, one very jagged on stood out the most. When I saw her thighs and she had spread her legs so I could truly see them the tears started pouring out. All I could think was who would do such evil things to such a beautiful girl. Anger at the horror of it made my fingers shake as I touched the ugly words. I just kissed them ignoring their ugliness of loving her for trusting me so much. I wanted to kill whoever did this. My gut told me who it probably was. I wanted so much to ask her but instead I put her PJ's back on her and pulled her into me and let her cry. Slowly I had lead her to the floor as she cried. A few minutes later her head on my lap she hiccupped and started to quiet down. Suddenly she started to talk. "When my mother remarried and we moved out of this town, I was nervous but excited. Jerry never acted cruel or mean to me. He treated me kindly and he gave me presents all the time. My mother grew angry at me but never told me why. Then after a couple of months he started to come into my room at night.

At first, he just teased me, telling me I was beautiful and that one day some lucky guy would get me. I had just rolled my head and made a joke, then he started asking me what I thought of him. I at first shrugged telling him he was cool and nice. Then he gets mad at me saying that’s not what he wanted to hear me say. I... I was confused and asked what he wanted to hear." Mandy sighed I felt she was preparing to tell me something that must of took all her will to tell. Anger at this evil man filled me. "He told me that he wanted me to say that I was attracted to him sexually. I was shocked at what he said and told him that, that was sick he was with my mom and old enough to be my father. He became very angry and slapped me hard on the face. The pain was incredible but the shock of the hit gave me stunned tears was starting to run down my face and fear had me frozen in place. He then realized what he had done and started apologizing, begging me to forgive him and started to cry. I foolishly told him it was ok, and I wouldn't tell my mother. He thanked me and left me alone.

A couple of weeks went by, and nothing happened. Then one night my mom and Jerry had gone out and I went to bed. I was asleep when Jerry came into my bedroom. He grabs my breasts and squeezes them, waking me up. He covered my mouth and bent towards me I could smell the alcohol on his breath. He told me if I screamed or made a peep, he would cut me, and his knife came into view. I stopped struggling, staring at the knife. He said he just got my mother asleep and didn't want me to wake her since it took so much to wait for her to fall asleep." Mandy paused for a second looking up at me pain and a hint of fear in her eyes I leaned down kissing her forehead trying to comfort her let her know it didn't matter anymore. She closed her eyes. "He cut my PJ's off of me with his knife. Fear made me panic, and I kicked him in his balls." Mandy showed me a bitter smile then it was gone. "He called me a bitch and cut me deep on my left breast." I understood that it was the largest scar she had on her breasts. Disgust at this evil creature threatened to over take me but I calmed down. She went on.

"He then raped me for the first time, I... was fourteen. The pain was excruciating, I felt like I was dying, I wished I was. When he was finally done, he started to cry saying look what you made me do you whore. He said he was so sorry and begged me for forgiveness. I didn't say anything just laid there in so much pain crying. He finally left me, and I just lay there, blood smeared with his sweat and tears. I felt blood trickle down the inside of my thighs. I puked suddenly and ran to the bathroom. I puked for a while then got into the shower and cried letting the water run over me no matter how much I scrubbed I couldn't escape the feeling of being dirty. The next few days I escaped without talking to anyone. My mother demanded for me tell her what was wrong but one looked at Jerry and all the fear and pain would come up again, so I stayed silent. The next time he came he was again drunk; I fought hard not caring about my life anymore, but he just slapped me and rapped me again. Then he wrote "MINE" with his knife on my inner thigh. After that he cried again begging for forgiveness. He did it four more times before he had written "WHORE". This went on for three months sometimes it would be weeks of nothing then days of it in a row. Finally, one night he made a mistake, and my mother caught him in the act. By then I was numb when he rutted me. I learned to escape what was happening to me and almost ignored it. He had stopped cutting me for a while. I guess he figured that he didn't need to anymore...that I was tamed. My mother cried out and started to just wail on him. I just lay there naked numb, barely realizing she was there, he ran from her and my mother came towards me. When she was close enough, I recognized her and realized it was real not a dream. I cried out to her telling her all about it. When I was, she withdrew her hand from me and looked at me with disgust." Mandy started to cry very heavily, all her emotions were coming to the surface, and I felt helpless to help. I could only hold her, I wanted so badly to take the pain away from her, to make her smile again to give her, her innocence back. When she quieted down. "She pulled my legs apart and looked upon my brandings, then she said you are a whore and no daughter of mine. She got up and walked away from me. My mind threatened to break at that moment. The next day was the best day of my life. She told me she couldn't have a whore living in this house so she told me that she would give me money to go to school back here. She has been giving me money every month enough of it so I would never try calling her."

I wanted so bad to tell her how much I wanted to kill Jerry and yell at her mom. "I know that I should have called the police, but I figured they would believe them over me." With those words I had decided. I didn't know how she would take it, but I had to do it. "Mandy, you know I love you; you are no whore, and both of those mother fuckers deserve to suffer and worse!" Mandy looks at me shocked at the anger of my words. "You know Mike, I love you too, more now than ever." "Mandy what I'm going to do is for you, and I hope you agree with my decision, it's the right thing to do. You're not someone's property and in no way was it your fault. Your beautiful inside and out. I'm going to tell my mom, and she will probably call the cops." Mandy looked at me, fear was in her eyes yet also I saw some strength. "Ok." I nodded and got up pulling her with me. "Right now, Mandy, before you try to persuade yourself not to." "But are you sure your mom is probably sleeping, and I don't want to wake her." "She would want me to wake her up for this trust me." Mandy looks at me, leans into me and kisses me on the lips, "I do with all my heart."

Mandy was scared about going to Mike's mother and telling her everything and showing her as well but she trusted Mike with her life and agreed to do so. We walked back downstairs. He had taken my hand, and I held onto him afraid he would let go but he didn't. "Mandy if it's ok I would like to wake everyone up and have them come too. They are going to find out no matter what I would guess you would rather it be you who would want to tell them." Fear of telling them and they thought it was my fault or disgusted with me almost made me change my mind, but Mike squeezed my hand. "I will be with you the whole time I won't let you do this alone." Relief came over me and I nodded my head. Mike woke them all up telling them that I had something to tell everyone, but we had to go back to his house and get his mom. Everyone looked at me worry in their eyes as they noticed the puffiness of my eyes from crying. Mike took my hand squeezing gently. Silently we walked to his house, no one said a word. No one had to sense the atmosphere, but I could feel their worrying over me. I felt loved by my long-time friends. I remember all those times that we were there for each other and my confidence in my friends grew. We went into Mike's house, and he let go of my hand promising he would be right back and went to get his mother.

Mike came back to his mother in tow with a worried look on her face. She scans all over us and stops at me. She sees my puffy eyes and watches as Mike takes my hand again gently squeezing my hand to give me strength as my heart starts to pound faster. "Mandy hun what is wrong are you ok? Mike told me that you needed to tell me something important." "I...I'm sorry that I woke you if you don't want to hear.." "No Mandy, I can tell this is important and I'm honored that you can trust me with whatever you need to say." I started to cry right then and there I haven't felt this much love surround me in so long. I truly feel like I don't deserve it. "Go one Mandy you can tell everyone; we are like family no one would ever betray your trust." I look at Mike with his beautiful eyes full of love for me. I turned back to his mother concern etched on her face. Then I told them everything, I even held it together until I told them about what my mom said. I watched his mother's face drained of blood and tears glistened in her eyes. When I was his mother asked Mike and Dan to leave a minute so I could show her these scars. Dan nods his head, tears running down his face looking at me, I knew he wanted to say something, but he didn't. Everyone had tears streaming down their faces. I wanted to hug them all because I saw no contempt or disgust on their faces. I saw them feeling my pain and crying for me. Mike started to leave like his mother asked. He tried to let go of my hand. "No! Mike, please, you can stay, don't leave me!" Mike stopped and looked at his mother and she nodded her consent. I sighed with relief I didn't want my strength to leave me. I let go of his hand and pulled my PJs over my head once again. His mother gasps at what she saw, anger clouded her eyes then Alyssa saw and started crying even harder, Jessica was last to see and stood there stunned. Then Mike's mom closed the distance between us and hugged me. I broke down again and she just stroked my hair and softly comforted me. I knew nothing would be the same now, for better or worse not only was my innocence lost but all my friends came close to something pure evil.

His mother decided that in the morning she would call the cops and child protection agency. She promised she would do the best she could to keep me here in this town with my friends. Jessica offered to ask her mother, who was an attorney, for the state to help. I agreed and we all curled up in Mike's living room and slept. I was in the middle and everyone surrounded me like a pack of wolves protecting their cub.