11 Days in Hell

Chpt. 2 "Robert 'Robbie' Reyez"

Cora did a pretty good job lying to her English teacher about why she was fiddling with broke glass. She made up a quick story about dropping her mother's vase and not wanting to get into trouble, she rushed to clean up the mess, accidentally cutting her hand during the process.

Of course she waited until after class to offer an explanation, brainstorming during the forty five minute lecture.

"My nephew is transferring to this school. Knowing your backgrounds, I think you two would get along great." Mrs. Reyez informed her.

Knowing your backgrounds?

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cora inquired, looking up at Mrs. Reyez, very confused. Cora most certainly wasn't a charity case and did not need to be treated like one.

Mrs. Reyez smiled down at Cora.

"I just think you two should meet. He's very shy and super smart. Who else does that sound like to you?" Mrs. Reyez grins at Cora, who couldn't help but respond with a cheeky smile.

"Me." Cora replies, rhetorically.

"I told him you'd meet him after school outside of the main office."

When Cora's school day was over, she followed her English teachers instructions and waited by the main office for the nephew.

Cora was somewhat nervous, constantly adjusting her clothes and spit cleaning the stains on her sneakers away. She took first impressions too serious at times.

"A-hmmm," a stern clearing of a throat brought Cora out of her self-cleaning daze.

"Do you know anyone by the name of Cora? I'm supposed-" somehow Cora's ears had stopped working as she analyzed the person in front of her.

The boy was very tall compared to her petite 5'3 stance. He was red headed with icy blue eyes that seemed to shoot a chill down Cora's spine. The boy wore a white sweatshirt, black ripped skinny jeans, and black high top vans. A blue backpack hung from his left shoulder while an assortment of book and a black leather jacket sat neatly in his left arm.

"Um," Cora finally managed to mutter our, "I'm her. She's me." She spoke lowly and nervously. "Sorry, I'm Cora."

Surprisingly it wasn't his cute looks that made her nervous. It was any sort of social interactions. 

The boy chuckled and extended his right hand out to shake hers. "The way my aunt described you... I was expecting a nerd with thick bifocal glasses and a scooby-doo backpack." He joked. "I'm Robert, well you can call me Robbie."

"Really? Am I worse or something?" Cora questioned. Her backpack wasn't scooby-doo themed, however, she was hoping he didn't see the Hawkgirl keychain that hung from her backpack strap.

"Actually, better. You're beautiful." Robbie confesses. He wasn't one to hold back his inner most thoughts. Cora was beautiful to him. Absolutely breathtaking, in fact.

"Thanks." Cora tells him quietly. The only other person who had ever used those words were her mother.

With no immediate plans at thought, Cora decided to show Robbie around the school. Because the day was over, she figured it was best to do it while the halls were pretty much vacant with exception of the janitors and after-school club members.

Cora took him through the maze of her school. From dirtiest corners to NOT stand in, the best bathrooms on each floor, which faculty members to completely avoid, where to hide during gym class, and the most peaceful places to go clear your mind.

"Wow, you really know everything about this school, huh?" Robbie pointed out as Cora disposed of the map the principal had provided Robbie with. It wasn't up to date and she knew she had showed him everything.

Well I've been here for four years, Robert. She wanted to say. As if he didn't know that she was a senior.

"I know that seems like a stupid question. I'm assuming you've always stayed at this school. Since you were a freshman?" Robbie wondered.

Cora nodded. "It's weird you're coming in at 12th grade..." she trailed off.

Robbie sighed heavily. "This is my fourth school." He finished his statement with a quiet laugh. "I've kind of been through a lot." He told Cora, having no fear of telling his secrets. For some reason, he felt like he could trust Cora.

Cora looked up at Robbie and half smiled. She knew about going through 'a lot'. Especially with the life she's been living.

"I totally understand." Cora let out, truthfully.

Cora looked down at the cheap watch on her still, bruised and bandages wrist, shocked that it had only been forty minutes with Robbie.

Noticing Cora's facial expression, he immediately became concerned.

"Do you have to go?" He questioned Cora, worriedly.

"No, not really. My father won't be home for another few hours. But I don't want my mother to worry." She told him.

"You can't call her," Robbie threw out a suggestion, hoping to spend a little more time time with his new found friend.

"I don't have a phone," Cora told him, embarrassed. What teenager my age doesn't have a phone? A poor dweeb like me.

"What? Why not?" Robbie sort of yell-laughed in disbelief.

"My fathers pretty strict. And I don't really need one, I suppose." Cora thought out loud. She didn't. Electronics really weren't her thing in the first place. She didn't watch tv. All she needed was her books.

You're a very unique girl, Cora Abney. Robbie thought to himself.

"I'm sure my mom won't mind me being a few minutes late. I should get going now, though." Cora stated, watching the big hand on her wrist watch landing on 4, signifying she was now an hour late.

With the sun going down, Robbie didn't find it best to have Cora walking home alone. With past experiences, he knew that creeps lurked best at night.

"Hey, wait up!" Robbie called after Cora, flagging her down. "Let me walk you home."

Cora giggled. "Are you trying to find out where I live? What if it's in a complete opposite direction." Cora asked.

Robbie shrugged. "It's fiiiiiiiiine. And besides, I want to get to know you more. Friend."

As they walked side by side, Robbie revealed a lot more about his past to Cora, which was a bit surprising and heartwarming. They weren't too far off. They were practically in the same boat.

Robbie life had been upside down since he was a toddler. Both of his parents were alcoholics, often leaving Robbie alone and in secluded areas while they went on an alcohol binge.

His freshman year of high school, child protective services took Robbie away and placed him in a group home for teens from broken families. From there, he'd bounced around from school to school and group home to group home.

But finally, and thankfully, the system got in touch with his aunt, Mrs. Reyez and sent Robbie on the first bus into town.

"Wow. When's the last time you heard from your parents?" Cora asked gently, not wanting to appear nosy.

Robbie frowned. "I haven't heard from them in almost five years. My parents  never told me about my aunt in the first place so I'm sure I probably will never hear from them again." He confessed.

Robbie didn't want to think about his dark past anymore so he decided to change the subject.

"What about your folks, what are they like?" He asked, clearing his throat to disguise the sadness in his voice. Cora didn't like that question at all. But since Robbie was so open with her, she decided to be open with him.

"My fathers an abusive alcoholic, who beats on my mother almost every night. He doesn't let us go anywhere or do anything. I'm only allowed to go to school and occasionally a trip to the library."

Robbie looked at Cora shocked.

"But my mother- my mother is amazing. She's beautiful and young. But because of my father, she comes off a bit life-less.  She isn't allowed to work so she just cooks, cleans, and reads books all day."

Robbie took note of Cora's description of her mother but he had another question to ask.

"Has he ever abused you?"

Cora nodded slowly.

This caused Robbie to get really upset. Cora was a beautiful young lady to him and he felt the instant need to protect her.

"Cora, you have to tell someone." Robbie stated, exclaiming a little.

Cora shook her head, no.

"If I tell someone, or CPS gets involved in my family's business, my father will go crazy."

"You'd be placed in a better home. A safe haven. What are you afraid of? And I'm sure they can help your mother to-" but Cora cut Robbie off.

"CPS has showed up at my house before and my father nearly killed my mother. I won't allow it." Cora threw her hands up.

By the time Cora had finished her sentence, the two had arrived at her doorstep.

"I guess this is goodbye." She indirectly said to Robbie, looking down at her feet.

"Not really. I'm only a few houses down." He laughed before pulling Cora into a tight hug. "Let's hang out tomorrow." He suggested.

Cora wasn't really too sure if she should see Robbie again. She wasn't used to this much social interaction and she wasn't quite sure if she was ready for a real friendship.

You know what? Let's hang out.

"Okay." Cora accepted.

Robbie pulled a pen from out of his front pants pocket, held the cap between his teeth, and gently held Cora's hand in his as he began writing down a series of numbers into her palm.

"This is my cell. Call me when you wake up."

Watching Robbie walk away, Cora smiled to herself.

Had she really made a friend today?

And were they really hanging out tomorrow?