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I take a deep breath feeling completely defeated I stared at my phone for a minute scrolling through the text messages Cade had sent me my hands shaking as the messages became more and more threatening.
His name pops up again on my phone he's trying to call me. I decline the call and another text from him pops up on my phone.
I know where you are and I will find you. Don't think for a single second that you are going to get away with this. You'll never make it in New York. You're a dirty worthless disgusting bimbo and you won't last without me.
My hands shake and my mouth goes dry. I feel like I'm going to throw up. I quickly block his number and take a deep breath closing my eyes for a second.
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I looked down at my phone and hesitated dialing his number. My brother left so long ago I haven't talked to him forever but there was no way I could stay here.
I had just gotten my acceptance letter, which was the only sign I needed to leave my boyfriend Cade.
I had been putting up with his abuse for years thinking he would change and would become the man I thought I had started a relationship with but he never did he blamed me for everything.
A part of me thinks maybe I deserved it. If I was just a better girlfriend if I did more for him he wouldn't beat me. But no matter what I do I'll never be good enough for him so I needed to leave before things got even worst.
I swallowed back my anxiety and dialed my brothers number. I held my breath waiting for him to pick up he finally did. "Hey" I froze hearing his voice. "Hello anyone there?"
"Umm Jake it's uhh it's Madison." "Oh uhhh Madison hey how are you?" "I'm ok I uhhh I had a question well a big favor I needed to ask." I hesitate.
"Alright shoot." " I was wondering if I could umm come stay with you..." silence no answer I swallowed back the urge to just hangup and started rambling. "I'm so sorry to ask this I really am I don't want to impose it's just I just got accepted to NYU and I umm I really need to leave as soon as possible I can't ummm." My voice breaks and I scream at myself in my head I hated sounding so weak I hated having to plead with someone.
"I'm sorry this was stupid never mind." I go to Hangup but before I can I hear his voice. "Mads of course you can please come whenever you need to you're always welcome." "Really?" My voice breaks even more.
"Yes please come I'd love to see you." "Thank you Jake thank you so much you have no idea what this means to me."
"No problem just shoot me a text when you figure out the date." "I uhhh was actually planning on trying to book a flight tomorrow if that's not too soon I'm really sorry to inconvenience you I know school doesn't start for a few months, I just I can't stay in California any longer for reasons I should probably explain later but I just uhhh I I really have to leave but if that's too soon it's ok." I pause.
"No you're not an inconvenience that's completely fine." I smile we talk a little more and then hangup. I'm actually getting out of here.
When I finally arrive at the airport I down my other seltzer before grabbing my bags and heading into the airport praying that Cade won't show up.
I exhale a breath of relief when I finally reach my seat on the plane and no sign of Cade. My leg is bouncing still not believing that I'm leaving.
When the plane takes off and I watch California become smaller and smaller. Tears well up in my eyes and I smile for the first time in a while. I am actually leaving he can't stop me.
I have about a 5 hour flight ahead of me so I take my blanket out of my backpack and the beverage is starting to hit me making me loopy. I curl up and allow sleep to take over I can finally sleep in peace without fear creeping in.
I wake to a flight attendant announcing we were about to land to fasten our seatbelts. I quickly put my seatbelt on and looked down at my phone to check the time I see 32 missed calls from Cade and 27 text messages.
I swallow back my fear and try and take a deep breath trying to get my hand to stop shaking. It was currently 7:30 I wasn't sure if my brother would be awake yet but it would take me a little bit to get my luggage and everything.
Once we landed and I was safely in the airport waiting for my luggage I called my brother. I anxiously waited for him to answer I hoped he wouldn't be upset.
He answered "Mads what's up?" "Hey Jake umm I really don't want to bother you." "Your not a bother what's wrong are you ok?"
"Yeah I'm fine I just uhh something happened last night and I ended up having to leave earlier then I thought I am actually at the airport and I was wondering if there was anyway you could send me the address and I'll just call a cab or an Uber?"
"What do you mean something happened are you alright?" "Yeah I'm ok."
"Okay I'm at work right now but I'm going to send someone to pick you up alright you're not getting in an Uber alone."
"No no please don't do that it's alright I'm sorry I shouldn't have called I don't want to be an inconvenience." I cringed I hated that I was being such a burden on him.
"Mads it's fine don't worry about it I'm gonna send someone just sit tight for a hot minute." "Ok thanks Jake."
"Don't worry about it I'll text you when they're on their way." Before I could ask who he hung up.
I take a deep breath feeling completely defeated I stared at my phone for a minute scrolling through the text messages Cade had sent me my hands shaking as the messages became more and more threatening.
His name pops up again on my phone he's trying to call me. I decline the call and another text from him pops up on my phone.
I know where you are and I will find you. Don't think for a single second that you are going to get away with this. You'll never make it in New York. You're a dirty worthless disgusting bimbo and you won't last without me.
My hands shake and my mouth goes dry. I feel like I'm going to throw up. I quickly block his number and take a deep breath closing my eyes for a second. I then quickly looked up realizing I hadn't even been looking for my luggage. Once I find it I go and sit and wait for my brother to text me.
I must've dozed off because I jolt awake at the sound of my phone ringing. I look down to see Jake calling I pick up. "Hey." "Hey are you ok I've been texting you you never responded?"
"Yes oh my god I'm good I'm so sorry I must've dozed off."
"Oh ok well my friends Noah and Nicky are waiting outside for you they'll take you to the house and I'll be back around 6."
"I'm so sorry were they waiting long." I mentally kick myself god how could I have fallen asleep.
"No they just got here a few minutes ago you're good I can imagine you're exhausted but they said they were at the front and they're in Nicky's car so look for a white suv and text me if you can't find them." "Ok thanks Jake."
I step outside and immediately spot a white suv and start heading towards them praying it was the right car.
A young blonde who looks to be around my brothers age jumps out of the passenger seat and rushes over to me.
Startled I stumble back a little trying to hide my wince as she pulls me in for a hug. "Hi omgg you look so much like Jake I'm so happy to meet you I'm Nicky!"
Surprised by how nice she's being I freeze for a second before responding. "I uhhh I'm Madison it's so nice to meet you I'm so sorry you had to come get me."
"Oh it's no trouble at all." A tall steadily built blonde guy comes walking towards me motioning for me to give him my bag.
I hesitantly hand it over. "Thats Noah my boyfriend and I'm sure Jake has mentioned him to you those two are so close." She leans over and whispers to me so Noah can't hear her "If I wasn't his girlfriend I'd think they were gay for each other." Nicky explains.
I laugh at her and immediately feel myself relaxing.
The whole ride home Nicky talked my ear off explaining how Noah and Jake had bought the house in their name and how everyone pitches in for rent.
There was seven of them living there, Noah, Jake, Asher, Ethan, Brooke, Jules and Nicky.
Nicky subtly hinted that they had an extra room available since she had just recently moved into Noahs room and that I should stay permanently.
I got excited by the idea but I don't want to intrude on my brothers life. I hadn't seen my brother in 5 years now he didn't even come to my parents funeral but I mean I can't blame him our parents were horrible to him they weren't any better to me but he never knew that.
He moved out as soon as he turned 18 and the second he left my parents refused to let me have any contact with him. We used to be really close I missed that but now my brother has moved on built a whole other life for himself that seems amazing.
We finally pull up to a gorgeous modern looking house.
I followed Nicky inside, Noah following behind us carrying my duffel bag even though I insisted on carrying it myself.
Laughter echoed throughout the house. I hadn't heard that in a while. I paused at the doorway for a second I could feel my anxiety creeping in. What if none of them like me what if I've changed so much and Jake won't like me? A million thoughts rush through my head.
"Come on I'll introduce you to everyone." Nicky grabbed my arm startling me I flinch and she immediately lets go. "I'm so sorry I didn't mean to startle you you must be exhausted let me introduce you to everyone real fast and then I'll show you to your room."
I nodded afraid my voice would break if I tried to speak. She gently takes my arm and leads me closer to the sound of laughter.
I could feel the anxiety rising higher the closer I got to the sound. In the living room sat 4 more people two girls and two boys. Nicky introduced the other blonde girl as Jules and the dark haired girl as Brooke and the two boys as Asher and Ethan.
Asher didn't say a word to me just nodded his head. Ethan smiled at me and the girls stood up and each gave me a big hug.
"Oh my gosh it's so good to meet you I've been so excited to meet Jakes sister y'all looks so much alike." Jules squealed. "Jules chill you're gonna scare her." Brooke laughed, "as you can probably tell we're really happy to have you here right guys." She shot an intimidating look towards Asher and Asher just grunted in return.
"Don't mind him he hasn't gotten laid in how it long has it been a a whole day now?" Ethan stands up laughing.
Asher shoots a death glare Ethan's way and Nicky shoots a stern look towards both of them and changes the subject.
"Anyways now that these goons have basically probably scared you off let me show you to your room." Nicky leads the way shaking her head at the group of people. I
force a laugh and follow her. They all seem really nice except for Asher he doesn't seem to want me here. Even if it's just one person that doesn't want me here I refuse to be a burden so I can't stay long I stress in my mind.
Nicky opens the door and steps aside to let me through and Noah soon follows carrying my duffel bag and tosses it on the bed.
"Wow this is beautiful thank you." Nicky smiles "I'm so happy you like it, we'll let you rest for a little Jake should be getting home soon."
Nicky motions for Noah to follow her out the door and then shuts it behind her. I sit down on the bed and look around my mind still couldn't process that I was safe. I let myself sink into the pillows and closed my eyes.
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