The phone rang. I prayed that Bobby would answer the phone. He did.

“Hello?”

“Hi.” I replied. I could tell he was smiling.

“Ang! Hi! I’ve been calling your house nonstop and no one has been answering. Where are you at?”

“Zac’s house.” I said.

“What? Why?”

“It’s a really long story and I need to talk to you. Can I come over?” I asked.

“Sure, I’ll be waiting.” He said and then we hung up. I had to do this. But breaking up with Bobby was going to be so hard to do. Zac rubbed my upper arm gently.

“You can do this.” He encouraged as he saw the doubtful look in my eyes. Then he pulled me into a hug. I pushed him away in fear of someone catching us together again. His father had given us a long speech earlier and I wasn’t really in the mood for another one.

“I’ll be back soon.” I said at the door. He quickly kissed my lips. “I’ll hurry.” As I turned to leave, I saw his father behind Zac, a look of disrespect on his face.

I made my way to Bobby’s house for probably the last time. He was waiting outside for me. When he saw me, he smiled broadly. I approached him and he immediately took my hands in his and kissed my lips.

“Finally, we’re together again.” He said. He looked so happy to see me.

“There’s something I need to tell you.” I said, taking a deep breath. “Actually, two things.”

“Uh-oh…this sounds pretty serious.” He said. I nodded.

“Well, it is. Ok, last night, I had to spend the night at Zac’s house.”

“Why?” he asked, an accusation hinted in his voice.

“Because my mom was in a car accident.” I said, tears building up in my eyes. I quickly blinked them away. I was not going to cry. Bobby comforted me and pulled me into a hug.

“She’s ok, isn’t she?” he asked. I shook my head.

“No, it was a really bad accident. Bobby, she died.”

“Oh my god, are you okay?”

“Well, it’s pretty rough, but life goes on. I’m going to be staying at Zac’s house until, well, I don’t know how long I’ll be staying there. I mean, I don’t even know where my dad is and I don’t know if have any relatives.” I said, demanding to myself that I wasn’t going to cry. “So, I guess that I’ll be living there for now.”

Bobby nodded, but he couldn’t hide his disappointment. “Couldn’t you stay at Micculla’s house instead?”.

“I didn’t even talk to her yet. And I wouldn’t want to intrude on her family. Besides, Diana is like a 2nd mother to me. I feel a lot more comfortable with her.” Bobby still nodded, but I knew was angry about me staying at the Hanson’s. “And the other thing that I have to talk to you about is…”

“You’re gonna break up with me, aren’t you?” he accused. He looked hurt and betrayed. I didn’t say anything and looked down at the ground. He already knew my answer. “I can’t believe this Angela. I knew it, the day that you told me he kissed you that this was going to happen.”

“Bobby, I--”

“Ang, do not break up with me.” He said.

“Bobby--”

“I said, do not break up with me.” He said more forcefully. He looked so dangerous. I thought that I knew him, knew his personalities and expressions, but I never saw this one before. It was scaring me and I didn’t like it. He moved closer to me and wrapped his arms around my waist, then kissed my lips. I tried to avoid them, but he forced them against mine. I tried to push away, but he had a firm grasp around my and wouldn’t let me go. I struggled to free myself. He only squeezed his hands harder around my arms.

“Ow, Bobby! Stop it! You’re hurting me!” I cried out. He was hurting me and he was acting really weird. I never saw him like this before.

“You’re not breaking up with me.” He said. I didn’t say anything. He shook me and his tight grip didn’t loosen. “Ang, say you’re not breaking up with me. Say it!!”

“Bobby, I’m breaking up with you.” I said. I wasn’t going to stay with him if he was going to be like this. It was inhumane. Tears streaked down my cheeks and I closed my eyes as I say Bobby raise his hand.

His hand came down hard and struck my face, leaving me in total shock. The pain shot like needles throughout my right cheek and spread quickly to the rest of my face. I cried out in pain, but mostly in fear. This was so scary. My eyes went wide and my own hand went to my cheek that he slapped. It felt like it was on fire, it was so hot. He released me, and then pulled me into a hug.

“Ang, I am so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” He said sincerely. I sobbed now, in disbelief of what just happened. “I’ll never do it again, I promise Just don’t break up with me, Ang, and I’ll never do it again.”

I pulled away from him, and this time, he didn’t stop me. “Bobby, I don’t feel like talking to you right now.” I walked away, out of the driveway and back to Zac’s house as fast as I could.

“Don’t you cheat on me, Angela! I love you! Don’t do anything to hurt me.” He shouted after me. I quickened my pace and rounded the corner to 78th Street. I leaned up against a telephone pole and started shivering. I wrapped my arms around myself and the pain in my upper arms screamed out. I rolled up the sleeves of my t shirt and saw hand imprints where he had been squeezing them. I pulled my hand to my cheek, and it was still hot feeling. There was probably a went on it, I closed me eyes and tried to make the pain go away.

“Ang!” someone shouted my name. My eyes opened and I saw Zac jogging down the sidewalk towards me. I got up and let him envelop me in his arms.

“Oh my god, what happened to you?” he asked. Tears spilled over my lids again and he put his arm around my shoulder and beside me back to his house. “Did Bobby do this to you?”