River of Lies by Sammy King Read Free Book Online Page A

of them in the lounge room through the window.  Dylan squeezed my hand.
    “You ready?” he said a frown had covered his face.
    “Why didn’t you tell me he was coming back Dylan?” I asked, a fresh batch of tears building up.
    “I didn’t know how to, I hate this, this man is bad news, he won’t bring anything good” he said as he stared up into the window. 
    I could see Tilly’s silhouette as she peered through the window and looked out at us.  I nodded, and squeezed his hand tight, as I opened the car door I sucked in a deep breath, while I built the courage to go back in and face what I’d grown to hate.
    Tilly met us at the front door, she leant forward to kiss Dylan, who brushed her off, and shoved past her.  She frowned and grunted, then returned back to the lounge and flopped onto the couch next to dad.  Dylan moved into the kitchen and I could hear him banging cupboards.
    “Are you hungry Mon?” Tilly asked, her voice sounded nice, but her face was back to that look of hatred.
    I shook my head.
    “You’ve got to eat something, look how skinny you are” she laughed.
    “Leave her alone Tilly, she’ll eat when she wants to eat” Dylan spat.
    Tilly spun to the kitchen door, and gave Dylan a death stare.
    “Well what the fuck is wrong with you?” Tilly snapped.
    “I think you’re well aware of what is wrong with me”
    Dylan moved off the door way, and brushed past Tilly with a grunt of anger.  I turned to watch him go into his room, and without looking back he kicked the door shut. I looked over at where my dad sat on the couch, he stared at the carpet, his hands fidgeted and he was obviously uncomfortable.  With a frustrated sigh, Tilly flopped down on the couch next to dad. I shook my head, lost for words.
    “Are you going to storm off too?” Tilly snapped as she stared at me.
    I rolled my eyes. Tilly sounded just like mum, nothing was good enough.
    “Tilly, please, let her be, it’s not been easy on her” dad said sadly, Tilly grunted a half snort.
    I eased my way into the chair, and suddenly realised the pain that was in my legs from my running. I had become so tired, and all I wanted to do was go to sleep, and not wake up for a week.
    “I’m tired, I’m going to go to bed, night Tilly; night dad” I said, as I stood up and headed towards my room.
    That night, sleep came easily, it was a dreamless night, and when I woke the next morning, I felt more refreshed than I had in many weeks. 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven.
    Throughout the week, I tried my hardest to avoid my dad and Tilly.  Dylan would take me and pick me up from school.  After school we would sneak out somewhere and be all over each other’s bodies in the back of his van. When we got home on the Friday night, we could see other cars parked in the driveway. I recognised Michael and Shelly’s Volkswagen. I looked over at Dylan who frowned.  My stomach sunk.  I reached over and took Dylan’s hand. He looked at me, and touched my face.
    “We’ll do it together ok?” he said, as he kissed me on the cheek.
    “Hey you too, you gonna come in and join this party or what?” I heard the familiar shriek of Shelly.
    I sighed as I got out of the car, and walked solemnly up to the front step, I didn’t want to go inside, and wished I had somewhere else to go. I wished I could run away with Dylan and not come back. As we got to the front step, Shelly wrapped her arm around me and hung off my shoulders, Michael came out, beer in hand.
    “Hey you two, yer missin’ all the fun” he said, as he took Dylan’s hand in his gnarled dirty hand and shook it firmly.
     
    “Glad to have yer dad back squirt?” he asked as he tussled my hair.
    I just smiled in response, because they just weren’t ready to hear the truth.  Shelly dropped her arm off my shoulders, as Michael took hold of my hand, holding me back from entering the front door.
    “We need to talk Mon” he said.  He looked down at me, his eyes