Dear Rosey,

I met Casta’s father today. He is a horrible man. I hate him, I hate him so much. I wanted to kill him, to hurt him as he hurt her. I wish Casta didn’t have to live with that sick bastard. I wish more than anything that she didn’t have to see him ever again.

This is how it happened. Casta bought stuff for the generator then she let the whole street know, aka the hangout crew, so that they could come and chill and not have to be in their homes. I went with her and we got the A.C on. In like 10 minutes it was a paradise in there.

Every kid on the street showed up, including seven who I’ve never met before. There was Cindy, a 13-year-old with an attitude, she likes to pretend she is popular. Marcus was a quiet guy, definitely the reclusive loner type. He was short and skinny, golden skin. Maybe around 14 or 15. Berny is a 12-year-old. Kind of chubby definitely looks like he gets bullied a lot. I can tell by how cautious he was when meeting me. Shantain is 16, she likes to sing. It is her dream to be a singer, and she’s actually really good. Lali is this really pretty Indian girl, she has to dress very traditionally because of her parents, but when she got to the hangout she shed the headdress and was just herself. She just turned 17. Then there was Hal and Sal, short for sally. They are twins. 16 years old. All in all, there were 12 of us.

“Here he, here he! Welcome back all, sorry the hangout has been out of commission for a while but we are back in business. At least for the next 72 hours. This is our newest member, and my girlfriend, Zara. Zara, everyone. Snacks are good still and beds are mostly clean. Help yourselves!” Casta said standing on the bar.

There was a whoop and then everyone raided the snack bar.

“You did tell Casta about us right?” Riley asked as I stood off to the side waiting for everyone to move.

“Of course. We are in an open relationship. Relax you're cool.” I said.

She sighed in relief.

“Trying to steal my girl again I see.” Casta teased wrapping her arms around me from behind.

“No, I wasn’t---” Riley stammered.

“Just teasing.” Casta rolled her eyes.

I snickered.

“Ugh, you two are so perfect for each other,” Riley grumbled.

“We are aren’t we.” Casta pulled me in so I kissed her.

Riley rolled her eyes at us before walking off.

I’ll admit I was becoming comfortable with Casta. We worked so well together. It was easy for me to love her and still be her friend. Just because I am comfortable with her though doesn’t mean I am falling in love with her. Just so we are clear.

We hung out and played board games. Shantain busted out the Karaoke machine and she and Cindy got into a sing off. J, Marcus, Hal, Berny, and Lu played a game called fortress. They made it up, and honestly, I think it was excuse for them to be nerds. They had to build a fortess and come up with battle strategies. They acted like royal knights. Lali, Sal, me, Casta and Riley switched between games, finally landing on truth or dare.

“Okay, I dare you to go knock over their fortress.” Sally dared me.

I smirked and got up.

“A dragon has come to destroy your fortress!” I announced before kicking over their table and chair fort.

They gave collected groans of complaints.

“Sorry, a dare is a dare.” I shrugged.

“You guys want in?” Casta called to them.

They looked to each other then shrugged, joining the circle. Soon all 12 of us were sitting criss crossed on the floor.

I spun the bottle and it landed on j.

“Truth or dare?” I wiggled my eyebrows.

“Truth.” he said triumphantly.

“What is your deepest darkest desire?” I purred. Remembering when I asked you that.

Everyone giggled and snickered waiting for him to answer.

“Oh come on, pass.” He got flustered.

“No pass, you got to answer you picked truth.” I sang.

“Come on J. just say it.” Hal urged.

“Don’t laugh. I want someone to blow me.”

“That’s it.” I frowned.

“While I’m tied up.” He finished.

Everyone laughed and made faces. He buried his face in is hands.

“Nice.” I smirked.

He spun the bottle and it landed on Cindy.

“Truth or Dare?”

“Dare.” She stuck up her nose.

“I dare you to say I’m sorry after every sentence until the game is over.”

“Deal.” She smiled.

He raised his eyebrow.

“I’m sorry.” She rolled her eyes.

She quickly spun the bottle, it landed on Riley.

“Truth or Dare? I’m sorry.”

People snickered.

“Um, I think I’ll pick Dare.”

“Okay, I’m sorry. I dare you to wear your hat backwards for the rest of the day. I’m sorry.” Everyone knows Riley hates that, it’s her pet peeve.

“Yeah, you better be sorry.” She grumbled and flipped her cap around.

Cindy stuck her tongue out at her.

Riley spun the bottle and it landed on Casta.

“Truth or Dare?”

“Dare, duh.”

“I dare you to bet money that Zara can’t go the rest of this game without kissing someone.”

“That is oddly specific, you really are trying to steal my girl aren’t you?”

“Nope, just a hunch that Z. has prime kissing lips and we are horned up teenagers. Come on, put money in the pot.”

“Anyone else want in on the bet?” I asked.

“I’m in I know you is the horniest of all of us chica.” Lu placed five bucks in the pot.

“Is she now? I’ll take the best to.” Shantain put in a couple of bucks.

Berny put in a couple quarters, and sal put in five bucks. The total pot $22.50. counter pot, $17.15

“Alright if Zara kisses anyone for the rest of the game including you Casta, the winners take all and divide amongst selves. And vice versa.”

“Fine by me, I have faith.” Casta said.

“Thanks.” I playfully nudged her.

Casta spun the bottle it landed on Lali.

“Truth.” She said before Casta could say anything.

“Okay, I’ll steal Zara’s what is your deepest darkest desire?”

She went bright red. Again, everyone snickered.

“Um, I’ve always wondered what it would be like with a girl.” She admitted.

“Zara is open for business.” Riley teased.

I swatted at her leg. Everyone laughed.

We played for a while until I got back on me for the third time. I had been picking truth lest anyone try and dare me into kissing someone. Marcus had spun it.

“Truth.” I said before he could ask.

“Oh come on, how many times can you pick truth.” Shantain complained.

“What? No way am I risking anyone daring me to kiss someone.”

“What is the worst thing you’ve ever done?” he asked.

The room got quiet. So many things came to mind, so many horrible things.

“Well, I’d say that prize goes to me getting drunk and cheating on my then girlfriend with her friend in a drunken one-night stand. Second place is getting in a fist fight at school and being arrested.”

“You really are the horniest of all aren’t you.” Hal snickered.

“Hush it.” I rolled my eyes.

I spun it and it landed on Berny.

“Well?”

“Dare.”

“Okay, I dare you to confess to your crush over text message.”

There were gasp and smiles on faces. The highest stakes dare yet. He fidgeted.

“I don’t have a crush.” He lied, I could tell by how red his face got.

“Liar, lair pants on fire.” I teased.

“Oh come on Z don’t make him do that, that’s just cruel.” J said.

“Yeah.” I couple others agreed.

“Okay fine, I’ll make it easy, prank call a restaurant and order a can of ass whooping.”

Everyone laughed.

Still, he squirmed. I watched him slowly pull his phone out and call an Olive Garden. Everyone snickered and laughed.

We listened to them as he requested to place an to go order.

“Yes, I’ll take a can of ass whooping. With a side of kiss my ass.” He said.

Everyone busted into laughter. Then he quickly hung up.

“Yes! Nailed it.” I high fived him.

“You’re bad.” Casta pinched my side.

“Can’t help it.” I cooed leaning in to kiss her.

She pulled back.

“Not uh, you’re not losing this for me.” she chastised.

I pouted.

“I’ll kiss you Z.” Riley teased puckering her lips.

Everyone laughed.

The game went on forever until once again it was my turn.

“Dare.” I said.

“I dare you to put on a strip show.” Lu said.

I got horrible war flashbacks to kitty underwear and the chicken dance. I had to think about what I was wearing underneath. I hesitated too long.

“What? Not wearing panties?” Riley teased.

Everyone laughed.

“Let me check.” I joked and pretended to look.

They laughed some more.

Then I stood up with a sigh. How do I get myself into these situations?

Shantain turned on the karaoke machine and let the music play. 

This is embaressing.

“Oh look how red she’s getting.” J laughed.

“Shut it.” I slowly and as seductively as possible lifted my shirt up.

Lu whistled and a few others cheered.

Then I slid my shorts down real slow shaking my butt around. I wonder what Blythe would have said to that, I bet she would have loved it. Lu grabbed a dollar bill from the pot and stuck it in my bra. Everyone laughed.

“Okay enough of that.” I slipped my shirt on and took the dollar out.

“Aw my poor cinnamon roll, come here.” Casta held out her arms.

I went to her, still in my undies.

“Look at you, look how red you are.” She pinched my cheek.

“Stop it.” I pouted.

“Here let me make it better.” She kissed my cheek.

I moved and kissed her lips. Everyone made oh! Sounds and pointed and laughed at us.

“You lose!” Riley said.

Casta flipped her the bird and deepened the kiss. I couldn’t help but laugh into the kiss. Then I pulled back and spun the bottle, it landed on Casta.

“Dare.” She sighed dreamily at me.

“I’m not going to be the only stripper today, strip down and run across the field.”

“Oh!” J laughed.

“Do it, do it, do it.” Everyone cheered.

“Seriously, what a meanie.” She pouted. We all climbed out of the hatch. It was dark out. I put my shorts back on.

Casta striped until she was only in her undergarments and then took off running. Everyone laughed and cheered. Then some man walked right up to her and knocked her to the floor with a punch. We all went silent.

I grabbed her clothes and ran over to her.

“Hey!” I shouted.

“Zara don’t.” she warned.

“Leave her alone.” I stepped in front of her to guard her.

“So this is the trash you’ve been hanging around with.” He spat.

I helped her up and handed her clothes.

“You think you can just not come home? Where’s my money bitch.” He decked her. She fell back to the ground.

“Stop it!” I pushed him.

He slapped my so hard I fell back.

“Don’t touch me bitch.” He spat.

“Dad stop it!” Casta stood up. She had her shirt on now.

“When I say get your ass home, I’m not asking. Hear me?” he punched her in the gut.

She doubled over.

“Now get your fat ass home and make me dinner.” He kicked her.

I lost it, all I saw was red. I jumped up and tackled him like a savage animal. He fell to the ground and I sat on top of him punching him over and over. He smashed his hand against my face, my nose popped and blood started spewing out.

Then he threw me off of him and started hitting me.

“Dad! Stop it!” Casta cried.

I tried to fight him off but he was bigger and heavier than me. I was no match. He flung me around like a rag doll. I may have gotten a few good hits in, but he got in more than just a few. By the time he was done with me I was a bloody mess on the floor. He picked me up by my hair.

“You stay away from her little bitch. You so much as come near her again I’ll kill you. She’s mine. She belongs to me, hear me? Now get off my property.” he shoved me back into the ground.

“Zara.” Casta was crying she bent down to help me.

“Get your ass in the house bitch.” He pushed her.

I tried to get up and help her, but he stomped me back to the ground.

“Stay down dog.” He spat.

Then he dragged her away by her arm. Everyone ran to help me up. They had to carry me to my house. My mom wasn’t home.

“It’s okay, I can walk.” I sputtered, blood spitting out of my mouth.

“Shit, what do we do?” Lu asked.

“It’s fine, go, leave me. I’ll be fine.” I lied.

I knew I was beat to hell. Worse than the fight I got in with Blythe, way worse.

I stumbled into my house and shut the door behind me. No one followed me in. Then I just collapsed on the couch. I did the only thing I could think of, I called my dad. He is a cop, I thought he could help.

The phone rang and rang, he didn’t answer.

“Dad, please call me back. It’s important.” I slurred out threw a swollen face, leaving him a message.

Then I let exhaustion take me.

I woke up to my mom shaking me awake.

“Zara, Zara what the hell happened? Come on I’ll take you to the hospital.” She forced me to sit up.

“He took her away, he took Casta.” I sobbed.

“Shh, it’s okay. Come on, let’s go.”

She led me into her car, it was around three in the morning, then she drove me to the hospital. I found out I have a fractured cheekbone and a concussion. I also had several busted blood vessels. They gave me stuff for the swelling and had to give me a couple of stiches in my lip which was split open.

“Who did this?” the doctor asked.

“My friends dad abuses her, I was trying to protect her.” I told the truth.

“Can you tell us where they live?” he asked.

I nodded.

Then the police got involved.

I felt relived that they were going to do something about it. Except they didn’t. After talking to him, he covered the whole thing up. Said that us kids were on his land and attacked him. Said he was just defending himself. To make matters worse Casta agreed with him, she backed his story. No charges were pressed and they left the whole situation alone. They left her with him. They failed in providing justice.

I am writing this now as I lay in bed at my house on some serious pain meds. There is no way I am going to let this go. That monster won’t have his way with her if I have anything to say about it. Whatever it takes I will set her free, even if it’s the last thing I do.

I really needed my dad today and he let me down. I thought once he realized it was a serious issue he would get over himself and call me back, but he never did. The one time I needed him and he didn’t come.

My dad may not have showed up to the party but Casta’s dad did and he woke the beast inside of me. I am angrier now than I’ve ever been. Any little thing will set me off I can feel it. How can people let this happen? How can they see this injustice and turn a blind eye? Why hasn’t anyone tired to help her sooner? Why did the police not see the bruising on her?

Why is that man still breathing? What will I have to do to change that? I need him away from her, I need him gone. I’ll save her, just like she saved me. She was there for me when I needed her to be, even when I didn’t want her to be, she was there. It’s only fair that I do the same.