23 ~ Valerie
"The roof." Thomas says, pushing me toward the window across the room. "Valerie, get on the roof."
"Why-"
"Just go!" Calum says, his voice strong, yet body shaking and eyes terrified.
I give them both a confused look before stepping onto the window frame and pulling myself into the roof, my muscles used to this action.
A harsh wind whipped my hair around my face, my arms automatically wrapped around myself.
Calum's fingers curl over the edge of the roof, his arms shaking with the effort of pulling himself up.
I grab his arm, huffing as I pull him next to me, his body leaning against mine.
A second passes and nothing happens, both of us waiting for Thomas's hands to pull himself up, yet it never happened.
Calum curses, his fathers rough voice drifting though the window, I strained my ears to hear what was happening, the wind carried the voices away, making them hard to hear.
Questions swarm my brain, it was hard to focus on the conversation below.
Why are they so afraid? Yeah, no kid what's to get in trouble by their parents, but this is different. The state of panic I just witnessed felt completely different to one you get when you're about to get caught doing something wrong.
What makes it even weirder is that we didn't even do anything wrong. We were helping Calum, he is sick and needs to be home...
I'm brought out of my thoughts by Thomas's voice. It was much louder than before making it easer to hear.
"Now that." He pauses, the silence stretching for what seemed like an hour but was only a second. "Was a big mistake."
I shiver, not only at the cold, but at the atmosphere of this whole experience. It's colder than the weather could ever be.
A hard, almost sarcastic laugh boomed. "And what are you going to do? Hit me back? You do know that you're not actually Calum, right. You're so weak, Thomas. You can't do anything, I'm your father, and it's my house my rules my discipline."
Hit me back?
I glance at Calum, his face was etched with worry. His eyes catch mine and he shifts away from me, his cheeks and ears turning a shade darker, his warmth leaving my side instantly.
The sun was starting to set and I bet would have been such a beautiful sight if I wasn't in this situation.
A few of Thomas' words reached my ears. "...No problem covering up Calum's bruises, he looks the type to get in fights. But how are you going to play this off? What will..."
I stopped listening, turning to look at Calum again, a sudden anger boiling up in my stomach as it clawed its way through my entire body, spreading like wildfire.
How could anyone hit their children? It simply doesn't make any sense whatsoever. There no excuse.
If I ever rule the world, I'm going to make everyone take a mental test if they want to have, or are suddenly expecting a child to make sure they are a fit parent. If they fail the kid will be put into a nice and save foster house, not like the ones today.
"You don't scare me, there's no proof that I did that, it's my word against yours, and you're just a kid. I've got the upper hand." The disgruntled voice of their father made its way to my ears.
"You're wrong." Thomas says, though he sounds unsure. "I- I have a witness."
I freeze, my head lowered to the edge of the roof to hear better. A witness? Does he mean me?
"You have a witness?" Here was a pause, my breath still in my lungs, I didn't know what he wanted me to do. "I don't see anyone."
"Oh I do, and they heard the whole thing." Thomas says coolly.
"Yea right, you really think-"
"If you don't believe me, then you'll be to blame when you're sitting alone in your jail cell." Thomas spits. He backed up against the window frame as his father growled.
"What's your dads name?" I whisper as quietly to Calum as I could, my lips brushing his ear softly.
His words catch in his throat at the touch, but I don't bring attention to it. "David." He answers, his voice taken by the wind instantly, I almost didn't hear it.
"I don't believe you." His father hisses, Thomas' shirt was griped tightly in his fist, there faces inches apart.
The sun was now gone, only a soft glow was left as the darkness started to fall. Perfect.
I glance to Calum before quickly climbing a way from the window and hanging over the edge, lowering myself with my arms until my feet were a safe distance from the ground then dropping, rolling away from the side of the house.
Calum's shocked face appeared over the side edge of the roof, his eye wide mouthing 'what are you doing?'
I put a finger up to my lips, telling him to be quite and slipping my hoodie over my head, pulling the strings until only my nose was showing.
Most of my vision was cut off from the black material over my eyes as I crouch down, crawling under the window.
Thomas' shoulders were shaking slightly, though he was not crying as his father spit angry words at him.
I finally got to look at David. His facial features were very similar to the twins, however much harder set.
"It's just you and me. Calum's not here to run to you're pathetic cries this time. Where's your witness now?" His voice jumped slightly with laughter and the anger that was spreading throughout me finally contaminated my actions.
"Right here." I say, lowering the tone my voice and broadening my shoulders, trying to seem larger than I am, trusting the darkness to be on my side and hide my petite frame.
I watch through the small space between my hoodie and my nose as David pushes Thomas roughly to the side to find the source of the voice.
"Who the hell are you?" He asks, his veins popping as he sticks his head out of the window in an attempt to get a better look at me. I don't step back.
"That doesn't matter." I pause, my disguised voice sounded nothing like my own. I cross my arms over my chest, trying to look more like a guy. "What matters is that I blatantly saw you hit your son. Now, let's take a minute to think, I know that might be a bit hard for you, but please try to keep up." I say coolly, my tone colder than cold itself.
David's nose flared at my insult, only causing me to smirk.
"What if I went to the press about this? I'm sure they would love this little bit of information, surely it would boost the votes." Sarcasm dripping from my words.
"No!" He shouted desperately, his face had fallen realizing he has be caught. "Don't... Don't tell anyone."
"Alright I won't..." I watch as his face relaxed, his body slumping against he window frame in relief. "Under some conditions."
His jaw tightens as anger flared in him. "Go on." He forced out.
"Don't you ever touch either of your sons, or your daughter for that matter in any threatening way." I say, my tone stone cold in authority.
"Don't call your children demeaning names, when they are the complete opposite." I say, my anger slowly leaving me with my words.
"And lastly, show them some respect, because the less you give the less you get, and I can tell you right now, I have none for a man like you." I spit, my eyes narrowing under my hood.
"Are we clear?"
David's fist clench in frustration, however he lets out a deep breath and gives me a fake, cold smile.
"Crystal."
And with that we threw a small glare at Thomas before turning and leaving Calum's room, slamming the door behind him.
Thomas rushes to the window, his jaw dropped.
"That was amazing!" He squealed and I laughed, pulling back my hoodie and taking out my now ruined ponytail.
"How did you even get down there so fast?" Thomas asks, helping Calum as he climbed back into the window.
I shrugged. "I get on my roof all the time, without going through a window."
Calum and Thomas share a knowing look before Calum's eyes drop down to Thomas' cheek.
His eyes glimmer with anger and guilt as he looked at the darkened and puffed skin right under the apple of his cheek.
"You should Clean that up." I say softly, reaching through the window to touch it slightly.
I could feel Calum's eyes on me, and I guess Thomas could too because he agreed quickly, leaving the room before anyone could say anything else.
I lean against the window frame, looking up at Calum as he looked past me and out the window to the stars.
He closed his eyes for a second, taking deep breath before connecting them with my own.
I take in his features, and they all seemed worn and tired. I had a sudden urge to jump though the window and have him fall asleep against me again, however I just asked a simple question instead.
"Let me take you somewhere, come with me?"
-
A|N
BAM! GOT YA WITH THAT POV TWIST!
Valerie will only have a few povs, I just wanted you to see this through her eyes.
I've never said my age on here, but I'm starting high school tomorrow and I'm super nervous. Anyways, that doesn't matter.
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