On particularly bad nights, her mom would sneak into her small bedroom and shove a change of clothes into her backpack for school. On those nights she never let Elaine see her face, hiding behind her long blonde hair, but Elaine knew better. Her mama was the prettiest lady in the whole town and she never covered up her face unless it was black and blue.
“Baby, go to Hannah’s house. Sneak out the window and ride your bike to Hannah’s.” Her pale green eyes pleaded with Elaine to understand.
Elaine glanced down at her pajamas, confused. “Mama, it’s a school night. I’m not supposed to be out late on a school—”
“Elaine!” her mom yelled, before softening. “Do what I say, sweetie. Hurry.”
Elaine shook, trying to keep from crying. Her mama never yelled, not at her.
“Susan! God dammit, I'm not done talking to you!”
Her mama flinched at the sound of his voice. She bent low and put her face right in front of Elaine’s, letting her see the worst of it. Her mom’s lip was split open and her left eye was already big and puffy, almost twice the size of the right one.
“Please go,” her mom pleaded.
Elaine couldn’t stop the tears. She couldn’t be a big girl.
“Come with me,” Elaine begged. “Come with me to Hannah’s!”
Her mom shook her head and moved to the window. She flipped open the rusted lock and pushed it up. A gust of cold night air rushed in and Elaine crossed her arms, trying to keep warm. Her mom tossed her backpack out onto the grass and then turned back for Elaine, waving her closer.
Her dad’s heavy steps sounded in the hallway, growing louder as he yelled. His words were nasty and filled with hate. They were the kind of words that earned Elaine a smack on the butt, but there was never anyone around to punish her dad.
He banged on Elaine's door, turning the knob until the cheap particleboard began to splinter.
“Open the door!” he yelled.
Her mom rushed forward and grabbed Elaine’s arm, yanking her toward the window.
“Ride your bike to Hannah’s,” she insisted. “You remember the way. Just like we practiced—”
“OPEN THE DOOR,” her dad yelled again, his fist banging and banging and banging.
Her mom lifted her up, trying to get her to climb out the window.
“I don’t want to leave,” Elaine cried, clinging to her mom’s neck. “Please. Come with me. Please come!”
“Go, baby. I’ll come get you after school tomorrow. GO.”
She pushed Elaine toward the window and held her steady as she climbed through. It was a three-foot drop from the window to the front yard, and when her bare feet hit the soft grass, she looked up and met her mom’s pale green eyes.
“I love you,” she said just as the thin door gave way to her dad’s fists. “GO.”
Elaine turned, yanked on her backpack, and ran for her hot pink bike lying on its side in the dirt. She tried to block out the sounds coming from her bedroom as she peddled away. They were the noises that kept her awake at night, the noises that haunted her dreams.
She peddled fast, leaving the rotten trailer park behind to cross over Main Street. Hannah’s house was in a better part of town, where the houses had big porches and roses in the front yard. Elaine unlocked the gate on the short fence and dropped her bike in the grass. She tiptoed around the edge of the house until she reached Hannah’s window in the back. Her friend was sleeping in her princess bed, under a ceiling painted to look like a blue sky, clouds and all.
“Psst. Hannah,” Elaine said, tapping her small finger against the glass. “Hannah!”
Her friend shot up in bed and squealed when she saw Elaine outside. She scooted out of her blankets and rushed for the window. Her small hands had to work on the lock for a few seconds before she could slide the window up just enough for Elaine to climb through.
She took Elaine’s backpack and then helped tug her inside, too excited to notice Elaine’s tearstained cheeks.
“I was hoping you’d come tonight!” Hannah said. “My mom gave me cookies after dinner and I snuck an extra one for you.”
She turned for her nightstand and pulled out a cookie wrapped tightly in a napkin. She cradled it in her palm as she carried it to Elaine.
It was still warm, and when Elaine bit into it and let the chocolate chips melt on her tongue, she realized that she didn’t need to pray for a guardian angel.
She had Hannah.
Chapter Seven
Lilah
Music pounded around us as I followed Ashley through the crowded party, keeping my gaze focused on her back. I wasn’t ready for a slew of hometown reunions; my first day back at school was sure to have enough to last me a lifetime.
Ashley bypassed the keg and beer pong tables and led us toward a gazebo in the backyard. There was a small group gathered there and as we stepped closer, I noticed Trent Bailey perched inside.