Missing

I can't help but smile to myself. It had been three years and I still couldn't get over the fact that he'd actually followed me on Twitter and kept in touch. He was such a down-to-earth guy and I loved him for that.

''What are you smiling at?'' Dad said, interrupting my thoughts.

''N-nothing,'' I said, locking my phone and putting it on the table. He didn't have a very impressed look on his face, I could tell he was going to drag this out further.

''Give me your phone,'' He demanded.

''No, dad, leave it - it's just twi-''

''Give me your phone!'' He raised his voice, but I didn't give in. I couldn't! He'd read all my texts, he'd snoop around on my phone and wouldn't stop until he found something to hold against me.

''No dad!'' I said, sliding my legs from under the table and getting up from my chair.

''Why not?! Do you have a boyfriend?! I thought I told you not to be snooping around with boys! I bet you're pregnant! Is that it? Huh? ANSWER ME!'' He roared, lunging out of his chair and straight my arm, I dodged it, luckily. Joe was covering his ears and struggling to finish his pancakes. Jessica just sat there, tolerating the way he was acting.

''Dad I don't have a boyfriend, I swear!'' I denied it. I didn't have a boyfriend anyway, like I'd even admit it to him if I did.

''I'm sick of your attitude lately, young lady!'' He yelled, lunging and managing to catch me this time. I flinched, oh God, here it comes. He shoved me against the kitchen wall and my face collided with it. I then felt a very large burn on the side of my face and knew he'd slapped me, hard.

I didn't even know what I had done?

''Now, stop lying to me and tell me you have a boyfriend,'' he growled in my face.

''But dad, I don't have a boy-'' I was interrupted by him pulling me back and shoving me against the wall again, my face hitting it for the second time.

''What did I say about lying?!''

I could feel the tears streaming from my eyes, but no sound came out of me. I was too scared to make a noise at that point in time. Everything fell silent and I wondered if I had lost my hearing or something, but then I heard the loud screech of a chair.

Jessica pulled my dad from me, ''Peter, leave her, come on. She's just a teenager, and it's her birthday! You can't keep treating her like this when all she's doing is acting her age!''

Jessica had never stuck up for me like that, but I still hated her guts. I guess Dad had forgotten it was my birthday because he came walking back up to me with his arms out, wanting a hug.

''Oh, Joce, I'm so sorry. Give daddy a hug, I shouldn't be doing that to you, especially on your birthday!'' He looked really sad and apologetic.

No Joce! Don't fall for that shit! Think of how many times he's apologized and then done the exact same thing to you the next day! You can't take this anymore, his abuse will never stop!
I scolded myself, knowing my conscience was right.

''G-get away from me!'' I screamed, scrambling to my feet and pelting up the stairs. I reached my bedroom and ran inside, slamming and locking it behind me. I was right, I have to get out of here.

-

I had crammed a load of clothes into my backpack, grabbing my concert ticket - whether I was having a bad day or not, I was still going to see my idols. Dad hadn't followed me up the stairs, no one had. I decided to call Sarah, she was the only one who knew about what went on behind closed doors at my house.

''Hello?'' A familiar voice answered.

''S-Sarah?'' I sobbed.

''Joce! What's wrong girl?'' She asked, sounding worried.

''I-I need to get out of here, can I stay at your house tonight?'' I choked, checking I had all I needed.

''Of course, you're always welcome, do you want me to pick you up?''

''P-please,'' I answered.

''Okay, be outside your house. Also, I wouldn't let anyone see you, I know what your dad thinks of me,'' She sighed, hanging up. It was moments like this that made me glad she was eighteen and had her own car.

I looked in the mirror. My face already had a bruise forming on the right cheek, and when my dad had slammed my face against the wall, I hit a picture frame, so it was cut a little too. A large red mark was across my other cheek from where he had slapped me. Great, I looked like shit.

I opened the door as slowly as possible, it let out a loud creak. Curse this house and it's shitty doors. I checked nobody was in the hallway or at the bottom of the stairs, all clear. My phone buzzed with a text from Sarah.

Sarah-Bear: I'm outside, hurry x

I walked down the stairs with complete ease, trying so hard not to make a single squeak. I reached the front door and pulled on my converse.

''Jocey?'' Shit! I turned around, but it was only Joe.

''Joe,'' I breathed, putting my finger to my lips.

''Where are you going?'' He whispered.

''I'm going out, don't tell daddy okay?'' He nodded, creeping towards me and planting a kiss on my cheek.

''Please be back,'' He said and I nodded in response.

''Don't worry,'' I reassured him before opening the door slowly and stepping outside. I heard someone yelling my name from inside the house and I ran down our path as fast as possible and yanked open Sarah's car door.

''Drive, drive, drive!'' I practically screamed as I saw my dad open the door, a furious expression across his face. Sarah started the car and drove off just as my dad had reached the end of our path. I sighed with relief.

''That was so fucking close, thanks for picking me up.''

''No problem, you do realize he's probably never going to let you set foot in that house again, right?''

''To be honest, I don't even care anymore. I'm sick of his abu- I'm sick of what he does to me all the time and for what? No serious reason!'' I hated using the word abuse when talking about my dad.

''Remember how far you got last time he kicked you out, and before that? Come on, Jossy, you never last long without a home.''

''I can't take it anymore, Sarah,'' I sighed, ''Don't you understand how if I stay with him any longer I'll end up dead?''

''It wouldn't be the first time you've almost died because of him,'' She mumbled, keeping her eyes on the road and not looking at me.

Oh yeah, don't get any wrong ideas... He didn't try to kill me, I only - It was all my idea... I can't, I don't wanna think about it okay?! Thank you very much, Sarah.

-

''Are you excited for tonight, birthday girl?'' Sarah giggled, nudging me in the arm.

''Yeah! Remember when we met them?! Oh. My. God. I tweeted Alex earlier and he said he couldn't wait to see us, so we'll definitely run into them again! How awesome is that? Maybe you'll finally meet Jack!'' I squealed, as Sarah fell backwards on her bed and started waving around in excitement.

''Oh my God!'' She screamed, muffled by her pillow.

''Bless you,'' I chuckled, getting out my phone, seeing I had a message.

Jessica: Jocelyn! I need you to get home as soon as possible please! Your father is going crazy and thinks you've run away from home! He said he might call the police. This is urgent you need to get home!

''Ugh,'' I sighed, throwing my phone on the bed. ''My dad's threatening to call the police, he thinks I've run away or something,'' I explained in reply to Sarah's confused expression.

''I think you should go home and let them know you're okay, or at least call them and tell them where you are.''

''Okay, no. One - If I go home there's no doubt he'll throttle me. Two - they're just going to make me stay in the house and won't let me out. How will I see the god damn concert then, huh? Smarty?''

''Alright, calm down. I'm only warning you, this could get serious and it'll only be worse if they call the police, right?''

''Sarah, you're saying unhelpful things. Don't worry okay? I'll be fine, we'll be fine, shut up about it.'' I held my hand out to her to stop her saying anything else.

Notes

Okay, chapter two! You guys inspired me to write more! I didn't expect that many reads and it's my first post c;
If anybody got offended by this chapter because of the traces of child abuse I am very sorry and this is just a story and it's not based on anything real (of course!) so don't worry ;p