I waited for a few minutes before I left the bathroom in hopes that Caleb would go to bed so that I wouldn't have to see him again for the night. I had nothing to say to him. All that I wanted was to make it through the night so that I could wake up early and go looking for an apartment.
To my luck, the kitchen was empty, meaning that Caleb must've decided to go to bed.
I walked quietly into the bedroom and shut the door behind me. I got ready to walk over to the bed when I noticed a shadow in the corner of the dim room. I jumped.
"Caleb," I muttered, scared half to death.
I blindly reached over and flipped on the switch to see Caleb leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his bare chest. He gave me a friendly smile and walked over to stand at the foot of the bed.
"I just thought maybe you could use some company." He pointed down at the bed and grinned. "Come here. I'm not really tired and the couch is a little stiff." He rolled his shoulder as if it hurt.
The thought of Caleb in bed with me angered me. I didn't want to be anywhere near him.
"No," I said firmly. "If you want to take your bed back then you can. I don't think I can sleep anymore tonight anyways." I reached for my leather jacket and slipped it on.
Caleb hurried over and reached for my purse at the same time as I did. "Where are you going?" He kept his eyes on mine, not loosening his grip on my purse.
I snatched my purse from out of his hand and threw it over my shoulder. I didn't have to explain myself to him and I wouldn't. "I'll just be back," I muttered.
His eyes studied my every movement, sending chills up my spine as I opened the door and dashed through the house to get outside and into the early morning air.
It was still dark outside, but somehow I managed to feel safer outside than I did inside the house with Caleb. I had to get out of there and fast.
I heard the door open behind me, but I ignored it and kept walking.
First thing in the morning, I was going to grab my things and call Dex. He gave me his personal number in case I ever needed a ride again. He said that he stayed on call most of the time because he really needed the cash to save up for college. I would be more than happy to give him a call.
The more that I walked, the colder that it got, but I didn't care. I actually welcomed the feeling. It reminded me that I was alive.
It was quite strange. The things that I had been feeling for the last few weeks were so intense and unlike anything else, I had ever experienced in my life. No matter how hard I tried to deny it, I had Jace to thank for that. I think.
After about an hour of walking, I noticed that I had been circling the same block repeatedly. Looking up to see where I was at, I noticed that I was just down the street from Jace's house.
I took a deep breath and threw my hands in my hair as I stood staring over at Jace's house. The place that I once called a home. Every part of me wanted to go
there, just open the door, and crawl in bed. Maybe even with Jace. Just being in his arms was a feeling that I missed. To be honest there was no better feeling in the world.
I gradually found myself getting closer and closer to his house until finally I was standing at the bottom of his steps, the cool wind whipping through my hair and smacking me in the face, as I stood there frozen in place.
The house was dark and I got a feeling of peace knowing that Jace was inside sleeping.
I willed my legs to work until I found a spot on the stairs and took a seat. The cement felt cool through my clothing and made me shiver up in a ball with my arms wrapped tightly around my body.
I leaned my head back into the wooden railing and closed my eyes to rest. Just for a minute. The longer that I sat, the heavier that my eyes got. I tried repeatedly to open my eyes until finally I gave up.
~•~
The porch light flickered on, waking me from my short sleep. My heart dropped to my stomach as I scrambled to get back to my feet. I couldn't let Jace find me sitting outside his house like some kind of idiot.
I ran off his porch and somehow managed to trip over my own feet, sending me landing on my face. I quickly pushed my arms out in front of me and pushed myself back to my feet. Without looking back at the house, I took off in a sprint and made my way down and across the street.
The walk back to Caleb's house seemed to go by quickly as I found myself standing at the end of his horribly long driveway. I could tell by the brightness of the sun that it had to be at least seven o'clock a.m. by now.
I couldn't believe that I had let myself fall asleep on Jace's porch and not to mention that I almost got caught.
Once I got closer to Caleb's house, I noticed a brown Station Wagon sitting toward the side of the garage.
It seemed as if Caleb always had some kind of company. It was annoying and strange.
Shaking my head, I reached for the door and let myself inside. The house was surprisingly quiet as I walked inside and set my purse on the table.
"There you are," Caleb squeaked. "I was worried about you. You've been gone for hours." He stepped out from behind the curtain and threw his phone down on the couch. "I've been calling you all morning."
I shrugged my shoulders, not caring what he thought. It wasn't his job to worry about me.
"I was fine. My phone was in my purse. You know that I never pay attention to it." I reached into my purse and grabbed my phone out. "No one ever calls me..." My voice trailed off when I noticed six missed calls. Five from Caleb and one from Jace that was sent at 6:15 a.m. I swallowed hard. "I'm fine."
I shoved my phone in my coat pocket and turned toward the hallway.
"Wait," Caleb shouted.
I slowly turned around and shook my head. "Caleb. I have places to go. I'm leaving after I-"
"There's someone here to see you." He grinned, pleased with himself. "I wanted it to be a surprise for a later time, but I was worried about you so I gave him-"
"There's my little girl."
The room went silent, as my father stepped into the kitchen, with his arms out in front of him.
My heart stopped at just the sight of him. He stood there with his old flannel jacket and graying hair, looking at me as if I was truly his little girl.
His face and hands were bruised and bloody and he looked as if he was on a mission.
Fighting to catch my breath, I dropped to my knees and tightly gripped the carpet for support. I placed a shaky hand over my chest and gripped my hair with the other. My body started quivering as the bile rose in my throat and threatened to spew out.
"No," I spat. "No! No! No!" I said while furiously shaking my head. I wanted it to all be a dream. For the man standing before me to just disappear.
Cale
b looked between my father and me before he leaned down and gripped my shoulder. "What's wrong?" he questioned. "Your dad is so happy to see you. Are you in shock? I know that it's been a while." He smiled and ran his hand over my arm.
I shook Caleb's hand off my arm and crawled over to the corner. My heart was racing so hard that it became hard to think straight.
Why? How?
"Avery, honey," my father said sweetly, his malodorous breath reeking of booze. "Your mother and I have missed you very much. I think that it's time you come visit your mother," he slurred, stumbling to the left.
I refused to look up even though I knew that my father was getting closer with each passing second. I was so confused that I just wanted to scream. Why was he acting as if he cared? It was all an act and I wouldn't be stupid enough to fall for his game.
"Go away," I stammered. "You can't control me anymore. I won't let you," I screamed. Inside I was terrified, but I wasn't going to let him take me away.
My father bent down and placed his hands on his knees for support. The look on his face was just as distant as I had always remembered.
He inched forward in an attempt to touch my face, but I pulled away. "I don't know what you're so upset about." He snickered. "Your mother and I have faith that you have changed your life around. You don't have to worry."
The words that he spoke left me in a daze and a bit confused. He was trying to turn things around and make me the bad guy. "But-"
"Avery, you're a good person," Caleb cut in. "Don't be ashamed. Your father told me everything. You're not that same person."
I slowly tilted my head up to look both Caleb and the scum in the eye. "Caleb, shut the hell up."
I pushed myself to my feet and waved my arms out in front of me in order to give myself more space. I felt as if I was suffocating. "And you..."I said looking at the man that was supposed to be my father.”
Get the hell out of my life. I hate you," I spat while shoving him out of my way.
My father reached out and gripped my arm. "You listen here. You are coming with me and I don't give a shit about what you say." His grip tightened as he pulled me toward him and slammed me into the wall, his nails digging deep into my flesh. "Your mother is dying."
My heart dropped. Tears started pouring down my face and my palms started to sweat. The look in his blue eyes softened at the mention of my mother and I knew right away that he was telling the truth.
I stood there frozen against the door as Caleb watched with shocked eyes from beside us. "Dying?" I managed to choke out.
My father loosened his grip on me and leaned against the wall next to me. He threw his hands to his bloodied face and then up to tug on his messy hair. "She doesn't have long to live. You have to come see her," he muttered. "She misses you." He stumbled over, but smoothly caught himself before he could fall.
My mind spun as I slowly slid down the wall and placed my hands on my knees so that I wouldn't fall on my face. I felt as if I could vomit or pass out.
Deep down inside my mother wanted to be good. I could always see it in her eyes. The way they always softened when he wasn't around to hurt her
. Shit! Hurt her. That bastard!
My eyes trailed over to my father's bruised and bloodied knuckles. "You piece of shit," I growled. "You did it to her." I placed my hands on the wall behind me and pushed myself to my feet.
Caleb's eyes went wide as he reached out and touched my arm. "Your mother is dying. How can you accuse-"
Without thinking, I swung my right arm out connecting it to Caleb's stomach. The impact hurt my hand, but it didn't stop me. Then I reached out, connecting my fist to my father’s left cheek, as he grabbed my ar
m again. It felt good to hit the man that had hurt me my whole life. "I hate you both," I screamed.
My father gave me that look. The one I had grown to remember. The one that had frightened me my whole life.
I took off running through the hall with my father following behind me. My heart raced as his footsteps got closer. I could hear Caleb not too far behind my father and I panicked.
I reached for the bathroom door and flung myself inside, slamming the door behind me. I quickly fumbled with the lock and then fell into the sink in relief.
My body jumped involuntarily as the pounding on the door began.
"Get out here you, little bitch," my father spat through the door. His voice was venomous and hateful. He pounded again, making my heartbeat skyrocket. "I will break this door down. Do you hear me?"
I backed away from the sink and crawled into the bathtub for safety. It was something that I did numerous times as a child while trying to escape my father’s wrath. I knew that it wouldn't save me, but it never stopped me from still doing it.
"Go away," I screamed, while throwing my hands over my ears and pressing firmly against my head to drown out the noise.
"Maybe you should give her some damn space," Caleb said firmly. "Pam never told me that she hated you so much. This was not what I expected."
I shook uncontrollably as I listened to them argue outside the bathroom door. Their voices began to blend and suddenly I was lost.
I squeezed my eyes shut and frantically started searching for my phone. If it were in my purse then I’m screwed. "Where is it? Shit!" I mumbled.
Finally, I felt the bulge of my phone through my leather jacket. I stared down at my phone, trying to see my contact list, but my vision blurry from the unwanted tears that wouldn't seem to stop.
"I'll give you some time to cool off. I'll be out here waiting for you." My father's voice taun
ted me from through the door. "Told you I'd find you."
I let out a deep breath and relaxed against the cool tub as I reached up to wipe away the tears. The mascara streaked my hand as I pulled it away and continued my search.