Alys slowed her steps to allow William and Mara to catch up, now that the barn was in sight. Once the two were next to her, she looped one arm through Mara's, forced a smile upon her face and jaunted along in a seemingly happy fashion.
She knew Danny wouldn't be back yet since he had to let his hair dry first but that didn't stop wide blue eyes from glancing about with a cursory glance to spy him out. She was surprised when she saw Mrs. Brooks. Her brows furrowed slightly and as she glanced over at Mara she mouthed the words, "Where is Danny?" Since he had left with his mother, she figured he would still be with her. She was worried now because of the abrupt way they had separated just moments after her confession. Was he thinking right now and deciding that he didn't feel what he thought he did. Did he decide that maybe she wasn't worth all of this trouble? Was he now worried that her father would confront him? She sighed heavily, nibbling at her lower lip as all of these doubts ran through her mind. Her poor self esteem made it next to impossible to believe that maybe he really did care about her despite all of the obstacles in their way.
Alystelle slipped her arm from Mara's and smiled slightly as her friend squeezed her hand. Her father had seen the three arrive and she didn't see the dark look upon his face that was usually a precursor to a beating. She knew he would never show that face amongst their friends and acquaintances, so she didn't relax her guard at all. Despite the fact that the Brooks family knew, most people in their small farm community only saw the public face of Mr. Makayen. They saw a generous, hard working, God fearing man that took care of his family and friends. Most of them would never believe there lived a monster behind that smiling facade. They wouldn't be able to comprehend the sickness that compelled the man to do the atrocious things to his daughter that he did. The only reason the Brooks' adults knew the little they knew about the mistreatment of Alystelle was because Mara had mentioned hearing Mr. Makayen hit the girl. Had they known the full extent of the abuse and they probably would have stepped in to help. Alys told no one, even her brothers didn't know the real horror she lived.
She was pulled along by Mara, who followed William, and found herself settling onto a metal folding chair next to the dancing area. A sweet smile was offered up to Mara who was still standing at the edge of the dance floor, staring over at William who was staring back at her. She nudged her friend with her bare foot as she whispered in a conspiratory fashion, "you should go ask him to dance, Mara. He likes you and I know he would say yes." Of course, the talk of dancing only made her think of Danny again, there was no reprieve. Cerulean pools shifted past her best friend to rest upon the entrance to the barn as if staring at the door could draw him through it. She sighed softly as the band began to play a lively little tune, definitely not feeling so upbeat at the moment. She watched Mara walk towards William and despite the funk she had been allowing herself to wallow in, she found herself smiling at the pair.
She knew Danny wouldn't be back yet since he had to let his hair dry first but that didn't stop wide blue eyes from glancing about with a cursory glance to spy him out. She was surprised when she saw Mrs. Brooks. Her brows furrowed slightly and as she glanced over at Mara she mouthed the words, "Where is Danny?" Since he had left with his mother, she figured he would still be with her. She was worried now because of the abrupt way they had separated just moments after her confession. Was he thinking right now and deciding that he didn't feel what he thought he did. Did he decide that maybe she wasn't worth all of this trouble? Was he now worried that her father would confront him? She sighed heavily, nibbling at her lower lip as all of these doubts ran through her mind. Her poor self esteem made it next to impossible to believe that maybe he really did care about her despite all of the obstacles in their way.
Alystelle slipped her arm from Mara's and smiled slightly as her friend squeezed her hand. Her father had seen the three arrive and she didn't see the dark look upon his face that was usually a precursor to a beating. She knew he would never show that face amongst their friends and acquaintances, so she didn't relax her guard at all. Despite the fact that the Brooks family knew, most people in their small farm community only saw the public face of Mr. Makayen. They saw a generous, hard working, God fearing man that took care of his family and friends. Most of them would never believe there lived a monster behind that smiling facade. They wouldn't be able to comprehend the sickness that compelled the man to do the atrocious things to his daughter that he did. The only reason the Brooks' adults knew the little they knew about the mistreatment of Alystelle was because Mara had mentioned hearing Mr. Makayen hit the girl. Had they known the full extent of the abuse and they probably would have stepped in to help. Alys told no one, even her brothers didn't know the real horror she lived.
She was pulled along by Mara, who followed William, and found herself settling onto a metal folding chair next to the dancing area. A sweet smile was offered up to Mara who was still standing at the edge of the dance floor, staring over at William who was staring back at her. She nudged her friend with her bare foot as she whispered in a conspiratory fashion, "you should go ask him to dance, Mara. He likes you and I know he would say yes." Of course, the talk of dancing only made her think of Danny again, there was no reprieve. Cerulean pools shifted past her best friend to rest upon the entrance to the barn as if staring at the door could draw him through it. She sighed softly as the band began to play a lively little tune, definitely not feeling so upbeat at the moment. She watched Mara walk towards William and despite the funk she had been allowing herself to wallow in, she found herself smiling at the pair.