by Beth Maria
“Don’t you dare talk about her like that,” I warn, my temper about to explode.
“You’ve always been a mommy’s boy. I’m surprised you’re not gay,” he laughs, the sound glaringly out of place in the quiet room.
“Why are you here?”
Drew stands up, closing the distance between us. God, he reeks of alcohol. There’s only one reason why he came here. I just want to hear him say it.
“I came here because you stopped giving me money. Didn’t you, you little cunt?” He doesn’t wait for me to answer. “I need to find money from somewhere, and I knew with a little persuading that your mom would hand some over, except she fucking passed out before she could tell me where the money is. So, I guess you’ll just have to tell me. Where is my money?”
He’s all up in my face, breathing his smelly breath over me. I’m disgusted that I share DNA with this guy. After checking to make sure Mom is okay, I turn back toward my scumbag of a father.
“Get. Fucked,” I tell him, spitting the words in his face.
He isn’t getting another dollar out of me. I’m done helping him. He’s never done anything for me, so why should I carry on helping him?
“I don’t think you heard me. Where is my fucking money?” he shouts, getting red faced.
Oh, this is going to be funny. Does he seriously think he can take me? I’m much stronger than he is now that I’m not an innocent child. I’ll have him knocked out in one punch.
“And I don’t think you heard me. I said, Get Fucked,” I tell him calmly, which just riles him further.
“What’s going on?” Maisie’s scared voice asks from behind me.
Wait. What? She isn’t supposed to be here for another half hour. I have to get her out of here before my dad finds out who she is. He’ll destroy her if he can. I won’t give him the opportunity.
Not looking at her, keeping my eyes on Drew, I tell her sternly, “Maisie, leave.”
Drew is checking her out. Dirty fucking pervert. My temper rises to new heights. Get your fucking filthy eyes off of my girl.
“Maisie, leave. NOW!” I shout. I don’t have time for this. She needs to listen to me and leave. I don’t need her seeing my demons come to life. I’ve been protecting her from this since I met her. I need to keep protecting her from this.
“Now, that’s no way to talk to this beautiful lady, is it, Jesse?” my dad slurs, trying to act charming and giving Maisie a sickening smile.
Maisie doesn’t reply. I know the moment she spots my mom in the corner of the room by the loud gasp that she makes.
Then she’s running toward me and checking my mom over.
No way am I going to be able to get her to leave now. She loves my mom too much to just leave her.
“What have you done to her, you monster?” Maisie screams at Drew, tears streaming down her face.
He best be careful how he replies.
“Just leave her. She’ll be fine. Come and introduce yourself to me, sweetheart.”
Maisie flinches and looks at Drew’s outstretched hand in disgust.
“Don’t even think about it,” I warn him, taking a step to my left to try and hide them from his view.
“She’s awful pretty, Jesse. Why don’t you share her with me?” he sneers at me, licking his lips.
That’s it. He’s gone too far now. Nobody talks like that about MY girl.
Leaping forward, I uppercut him straight in the nose, causing him to stumble back onto the sofa.
God, it feels good to finally do that. I’ve waited years to give him a taste of his own medicine.
“Is that all you’ve got, you pussy?” he goads, holding his nose. “Maisie needs a real man, not a fucking queer like you.”
“Jesse, don’t list…”
I don’t hear the rest. I’m seen red for the first time in a long time. And the great thing is that the reason for that is sitting right in front of me. I can finally take my anger out on him.
Pouncing on top of him so that he’s trapped under my weight, I punch him over and over again, the whole time replaying the times that he beat my mom, until he stops struggling.
Screaming is going on in the background the whole time, though I don’t know where it’s coming from. I’m only thinking about one thing; destroying this man who has destroyed my mom and me time and time again. I have to get rid of him once and for all.
Something tugs on the back of my shirt, ripping me off of Drew.
My fist poised in the air, I spin around, coming face to face with Brandon.
I immediately drop my arm, collapsing into him. That’s when the tears start falling down my face.
What the fuck have I done? I’m as bad as him. This is what he wanted. He wanted to prove that I’m just like him, and I gave him what he wanted.
“It’s okay,” Brandon says, rubbing my back.
It’s not okay. I’m a monster. I knew I was. I was just waiting for it to show itself.
“I’m the same as him, Brandon,” I cry.
“No you’re not, buddy. This isn’t your fault, okay? Go and check on your mom. I’m going to check on Drew.”
Looking to the corner of the room, I’m met with a wide-eyed Maisie, who’s still holding my unconscious mom. She looks so scared right now. I don’t blame her. I’m scared of what I’ve just become too.
I can’t go over there knowing I put that look on her face, so I stand where I am.
“He’s breathing,” Brandon says.
I don’t feel relief hearing that he’s still alive. I feel disappointment. He doesn’t deserve to live. At least if he was dead, my mom would be able to live her life without fear.
“I need to finish him off,” I say to no one in particular.
“NO!” Maisie shouts.
No matter what she says, she isn’t going to change my mind. The world will be a better place without him. And me. I’ll probably get sent to jail. That way, I won’t be able to hurt Maisie or anyone else.
Ignoring her, I take a few steps toward him before, Brandon comes crashing down on me, pinning me to the floor.
“Get the fuck off of me, Brandon,” I warn, my voice deadly. I’m in no mood for him to interfere. How the fuck did he get here anyway? I didn’t call him.
“No. You’re not going to end up in jail. I won’t let you. Your mom and Maisie need you. Stop being selfish.” It feels like he’s just slapped me across the face with his words.
Selfish? I’m trying to protect them from me. I’m only going to end up destroying them. It’s inevitable, especially now that the beast has been unleashed. I’m a ticking time bomb.
If I say I’m going to go after Drew, there is no chance that Brandon is going to let me go. I’m going to have to play along. I’ll wait until they’ve all gone before I make my move, even if I have to finish him another day. I will do what I have to do.
“Fine. I’ll leave it. Just get the fuck off of me.” I relax my body, showing defeat.
“You better not be messing me around, Cohen,” he warns in my ear.
“I’m being serious. I’m not going to do anything.”
He eventually gets off of me, allowing me to get up.
“Jesse, she’s waking up,” Maisie says worriedly.
Rushing over, I fall to the floor next to my mom. Her eyes are fluttering open, though I’m sure they are going to be painful. She has two black eyes. Fucker really did a number on her this time.
“Jesse,” she says hoarsely. Her eyes are barely able to open from the bruising.
It hurts like hell to see my mom like this again.
“I’m here, Mom,” I reassure her, holding her hand.
“Y-y-your d-d-dad,” her eyes start looking around frantically, her body shaking with fear.
“He’s not going to hurt you anymore,” I tell her, looking her straight in the eyes.
Her body relaxes, her eyes closing again.
“Thank you,” she whispers before her breathing evens out, and she’s falling asleep again.
“Brandon, a word please,” I say, nodding my head toward the stairs.
“Okay,” he replies, following me. Maisie stays with my mom.
“I need you to get Maisie out of here. She’s seen enough,” I tell him, leaving no room for questions.
“She isn’t going to go willingly, bro,” he states.
“I know,” I agree, nodding my head. “You’re going to have to do whatever it takes to get her out, even if that means tossing her over your shoulder and not letting her leave your car. Can you do that for me?”
“You’re not going to do anything stupid, are you?” he asks, narrowing his eyes at me.
I’m not going to do what he’s thinking I’m going to do. I’ve got to let Maisie go, and it’s going to be the hardest thing I’ll ever going to have to do.
“Not what you’re thinking,” I tell him vaguely.
Brandon looks at me strangely for a few seconds before looking shocked. He’s figured it out. He knows me too well.
“You’re throwing Maisie away, aren’t you?” he whispers so that nobody else can hear.
“Yes,” I sigh.
“What the fuck are you doing that for? That girl is the best thing to ever happen to you,” he whisper shouts.
I’m starting to lose my composure here. Out of everyone, I need him to understand where I’m coming from.
“She may not see it, but I’m just like him. It’s only a matter of time before I hurt her. I won’t allow that to happen. She has to leave before I have the chance.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Maisie states resolutely.
How long has she been standing there?
“Yes, you are. You need to go with Brandon.”
“No.”
“Dammit, Maisie! Will you listen to me for once please? I can’t have you here,” I raise my voice, causing her to flinch.
I automatically feel bad. I’ve never raised my voice at her before. Maybe this is the way to get her to leave, though. Maybe she will end things with me. We can’t be together after this. I can’t give her what she needs, not after tonight.
“Please don’t do this, Jesse,” her voice trembles. “Please don’t push me away, not after everything.”
“It’s for the best. Goodbye, Maisie.” I look at her one last time before giving Brandon the sign to take her away.
“NO! DON’T DO THIS. PLEASE. BRANDON, GET OFF OF ME!” Maisie kicks and screams, trying to get out of his hold. I can’t look anymore.
She carries on screaming until I can’t hear her. I collapse where I am. Bringing my knees up to my chest, and with my head buried in my hands, I break down; for what happened to my mom, for not having a normal family life, and for throwing away the best thing to ever happen to me.
Fuck. I need to forget. I need a drink.
I rush down the stairs call an ambulance for my mom, put Drew in the garden, and then I text Brandon to ask him if he can dump Drew off at an abandoned place.
I wait with my mom until the ambulance collects her. The paramedics ask if I want to go with her, but I decline. I need to have a drink ASAP. I know I should be going with my mom and making sure that she’s okay, but I just can’t at the moment. I can’t bear to see her in this state.
Once the ambulance has driven off, I hop on my bike and head for a bar that I know will let me in.
Chapter 23
Maisie
I can’t believe him. I can’t fucking believe him! He got his friend to drag me out of his house kicking and screaming. He wouldn’t even give me a chance to be there for him. He’s helped me with my problems, so why won’t he let me help him with his?
I realize that he just broke it off with me, and my heart is breaking. I knew it would hurt so much more if he hurt me than it did with Matt, and I was right. I can’t even explain what I’m feeling right now. I’m numb, back in the pits of despair. This time, though, I don’t see myself coming out of it.
I didn’t want to go back to my dorm. I didn’t want to see Chloe, or anyone for that matter, so I asked Brandon to drop me off at the beach.
I found a deserted part and have been sitting here, just staring out at the waves. I don’t know how much time has passed. I haven’t even looked at my cell phone. If anyone is trying to get a hold of me, they won’t be successful.
The last few hours keep repeating in my mind. Walking in and seeing Anna lying on the floor unconscious. The man, who I’m guessing is Jesse’s dad, checking me out. It made me feel physically sick. Then, Jesse nearly killed his dad. That’s what scares me the most. I didn’t even recognize him when he was like that. I was shouting at him for ages with no answer. It was like he didn’t even hear me.
I had to call Brandon in the end. I knew that he would be able to stop Jesse. I just didn’t expect him to help Jesse get rid of me. I thought that he would at least talk sense to him. He didn’t even try.
All those promises he made me? They were all lies. He gave up on me when the going got tough. He didn’t even care how it would affect me or make me feel. He just tossed me away without a second look. I will never forgive him for that.
I sit staring at the waves until the sun goes down. I should leave. It’s dark out now. I don’t want to go back to my dorm, though. I wish I was home right now, so that I could lock myself up in my room and wallow in peace. I’m six hours from home, though, so no such luck.
As I start walking back toward the sidewalk, I notice a figure walking toward me. I can’t see who it is, but I know it’s a man by the way they are holding themselves. My heart starts racing. It’s deserted out here. He’s not even walking a dog.
Maybe he just likes taking a stroll late at night, I try telling myself. Or maybe he’s a murderer. All sorts of scenarios play through my head, none of them good.
“Maisie?” the voice asks.
How the hell does he know my name? Maybe he planned this. Maybe he’s been following me and has waited for the perfect time to strike.
Stopping, I ask timidly, “Who are you?”
He carries on walking until he’s standing in front of me. I visibly relax. “Matt, what are you doing here?”
“I came here to apologize for how I was when I last saw you. I tried calling, but I couldn’t get through. Have you blocked my number?”
He came all this way to apologize? Why would he do that?
“You can’t have just come here to apologize. We’re hours away from home, Matt.” I’m confused.
He must realize that I’m not that bothered about how he spoke to me when we last saw each other. He knows that I’m getting on with my life. If he really cared, he would have come here months ago, not after some petty words have been said. Something doesn’t add up.
“I’m here to see some friends, actually,” he says casually, like he has friends everywhere.
I didn’t even know he knew people here…
“Okaaaaaaay… So why are you on the beach by yourself at this time of the night?”
I’m one to talk.
“I felt like taking a walk. It’s just a bonus that I bumped into you.” He gives me his smile that used to make my heart melt, but it now just puts me on edge.
“Well, it was nice to see you, but I’m heading home. I’ll probably see you around.” I start walking away when he grabs my arm, spinning me around to face him.
“Let me give you a lift home? I didn’t see any other cars over there, so I’m guessing you didn’t drive. It’s dark. Anything could happen to you at this time,” he asks hopefully.
I don’t really want to be anywhere near him, but he does have a point. It will take me ages to walk home, when it will only take him five minutes to drop me off.
Finally agreeing, I say, “Fine. Thank you.”
“My car’s this way.”
I pull my arm out of his hold, and we walk toward his car in silence.
When we get to the sidewalk, I don’t see any cars except for a white van. Where’s his car?
“Matt, I think your c
ar’s been stolen…” I say, turning toward him with a confused expression on my face.
Something feels off here…
“No, it hasn’t been stolen. I had to help a friend move down here, so we rented a van.”
My throat is too dry for me to talk, so I just nod my head.
“Come on, then. Let’s get you home.”
I get into the passenger seat stiffly. Why am I getting in when I feel like something’s wrong? I look toward Matt warily. He just smiles at me, again with the same smile that I used to love seeing every day. That smile used to reassure me that everything was okay. It settles my nerves some. Matt would never hurt me. Well, not physically anyway.
We drive off in silence.
I breathe a sigh of relief when the dorms come into view. I’m nearly home, where I can rest and try to slowly mend my broken heart.
That relief is short lived when he drives straight past them. “Where are we going? The dorms are back there,” I tell him, pointing behind me.
“I have something I want to show you.” He doesn’t take his eyes off of the road when he says this. What could he possibly want to show me at this time of the night? Plus, he doesn’t even know the area.
“Matt, what could you possibly want to show me at this time of the night?” I ask, voicing my thoughts.
“You will have to wait and see.” He finally turns to look at me, giving me another sweet smile, just like he used to give me. It makes me feel sad. This is just like old times. Matt wasn’t always controlling and a cheater. Once upon a time, he was so sweet, and I truly thought I loved him. But times have changed since then. I’ve met Jesse, who I love with my whole heart and, even though I feel sad about what’s happened between Matt and I, I wouldn’t change it for the world. His actions caused me to meet Jesse, and even though he’s broken my heart to the point of no return, I will always be thankful that I met him.
A little while later, we park near an abandoned building. I look up at it, confused as hell. “What are we doing here?”
“There’s something that I want to show you inside,” he says, turning toward me.
“Erm, I’m not sure, Matt. It’s pretty late, and I’m tired. Can we do this tomorrow?” There’s no way that I’m coming back here tomorrow, though.