Juliette 

 I was taking my bath inside my bathroom when a heavy knock came at the door, "Who is there?" I asked. But I got no response. I continued pouring water on my body, and the knock started again. 

Then, I couldn't finish bathing, so I rushed out of the bathroom to the door I opened it slightly and saw Natalia, my step-sister.

Natalia standing at the doorstep, I usually don't want her to disturb me. I hissed and slammed the door angrily, I went back and sat on my bed. 

I looked at myself in the mirror, I stood up and walked to my bathroom again, trying to rewash my face which was still with soap, then I returned to my room and took my phone. 

Another knock on my door again. "What do you want?" I yell at the person knocking on the door. "Juliette?" a voice said from outside.

"Dad?" I asked. Feeling shocked, I heard my Dad's voice, I stood up immediately and went to the door.

I opened the door and my dad was standing right in front of my door surprisingly. I hugged him happily. "I was not expecting you to come back home by this time of the month Dad," I said.

It was the middle of the month, my Dad only usually came home at the end of each month and returned to work as soon as the month started. He walked inside and sat down on my bed, then I closed the door and went and sat down next to him.

I remained silent waiting for him to start the conversation. "Dad, why did you come back home so early?" I asked because in my mind I knew that something was wrong, but I didn't know what exactly it was. 

My Dad cleared his throat, "Juliette, your stepmother always called and reported the issue of your rude behavior toward her" my dad said.

"You never come home anytime I call you and tell you she mistreated me but you did when she called," I said to my dad.

"You have changed since you married a woman who has her child. You are always in support of her no matter how many times I try to tell you, I will not stay in this house again." I yelled and walked out immediately.

My father shouted my name and went after me but he was always slow, I had already disappeared into thin air. I went out through the back door. 

I walked around through the neighbourhood, for sometimes I soon got tired and rested on a public chair. I was hungry and I sat down thinking of what to do and what would be my next step.

"I am not ready to go back to that house." I thought of going to my friend's house. I stood up and started going there. It was a long walk. But I managed to reach my friend's place. 

I knocked on the door and my friend opened it. "Juliette, what are you doing here?" she asked in surprise, she was shocked to see me on her doorstep breathing heavily. "Hi Jane…can I come in?" I asked gently.

"Sure, come in," Jane said.

I worked in and met Jane's parents eating on a dining table. I exchanged pleasantries with them and they invited me to join them. I gently accepted and joined them on the table. 

I ate the food in a hurry because I was very hungry without caring about whether they were looking at me.

Before I looked up I saw Jane's parents were busy staring at me, they were surprised to see me eating in that manner, and I knew there would be a problem. And to the fact that I came to their house in the early hours of the day.

They stood up and excused themselves, walking out of the dining room without saying a word to me. Jane took her chair quickly and sat close to me. 

"So tell me, why are you here by this early morning?" I was still eating the food in a rush. Later, I cleared my throat and looked at her face. "My dad came back and he didn't inform me that he was coming back to check on me. He accused me of being rude to my stepmom," 

"You didn't answer my question, Juliette," Jane said. "He returned because my stepmom reported me to him," I said.

Jane looked at me, "That still does not explain why you are here," Jane said. "My dad is always in support of my stepmom no matter what happens. I am sick and tired of staying in that house." I said and continued eating the food again.

"I don't think I am returning to that house soon," I murmured with the food inside my mouth.

I continue eating and finish the food. I rest my back on the chair, feeling okay.

Jane's parents returned back in a few minutes and sat down, "So Juliette, why are you here by this early hour?" Jane's mother asked.

I was feeling too shy to respond to them. "Em… my dad returned home and was accusing me of behaving wayward to my stepmother, I left angrily." I managed to say.

Jane's parents continued to eat their remaining food, that moment Jane's father stopped eating. Later, he took a sip of water and cleaned his hands. "We called your dad and he's coming here anytime soon." Jane's Dad said.

"Why did you call him? I'm going now." I said and stood up immediately, I walked to the door and opened it. I stepped out of the room and shut the door after me, my dad was at the gate. He parked his car outside and stayed at the gate door.

 I wanted to push the gate and go out, but my father grabbed my hand to the car. He opened the back door and instructed me to enter the car, I refused, and he pushed me inside and locked the car door.

My stepmom was sitting at the front door, she murmured some words angrily but I didn't hear what she said. I hissed. and was not comfortable in the car with her.

My dad turned to the driver's side and opened the door, he got in and started driving us home.

The car was silent as no one said a word, "Dad, I don't think you're making a good decision, I don't want to go home," I broke the silence. My Dad turned and looked at me without saying a word, he turned and increased the car's speed.

We finally reached home, my Dad stopped the car and switched the car engine off.

"Dad, I am not staying with this bitch in this house anymore," I yelled.

"Don't you dare call your stepmom a bitch or if you want this in a hard way, I will give you the hard way." My Dad yells loudly.

He moved out of the car. Then he opened the door, so he dragged me out of the car and pushed me into my room. He locked me inside the room. "You are going to stay inside here until you can learn some manners," he shouted.

"Opened the door," I yelled from inside and started hitting the door.