Weeks went by of her and Joseph sneaking around. Lying to her family and her friends of where she was going and who she was seeing. Skipping classes to be with him. Sneaking into his room to avoid seeing his mother and having to explain it all. She had to admit, it was kind of thrilling. She was happy again, until she wasn't. He slowly started to blame her for things again, calling her names, but she tried not to care.
A live country event was just around the corner and her friend Brittney had invited her, but Joseph didn't trust her going without him so he convinced her to take him. The day of the event, Brittney's eyes turned red with rage at the site of the bastard that had tormented her friend for so long.
"Addy, what the hell is he doing here?"
"We're trying things out again. Please be nice, for me?"
".....for you!" She said as she glared in Joseph's direction.
The rest of the night passed without a hitch. Joseph held Adaline as she pounded her boots on the dusty arena floor to the tempo of the band's drum. He watched as she sang every lyric of every song that every band played. 10 bands played that night and they stayed for every one. She was happy, he could feel it.
"I love you." He whispered in her ear. Adaline froze and turned to him. He loved her? Did he really? All night, she wasn't just singing to the songs, she was listening to the lyrics. Loving words in every country song played. How she longed to be spoken to like that, to be loved like that. She realized, he would never love her like that. He would never change. He'd love her now, but how easily had he said he never loved her before. How simple it was for him to find ways to hurt her for his amusement. She grabbed his hand and led him out of the arena to where the bathrooms were.
"I can't do this anymore Joseph."
"Are you fucking me right now?"
"I told my parents I've been seeing you behind their backs. I can't see you anymore. It's causing me panic attacks and I'm losing sleep. My grades are slipping from all the skipping class! We're no good for each other. I'm done."
"Seriously Addy? Just run away with me. You said your parents saved money for you for college right? And it's yours? And you haven't touched it because you've been on academic scholarships? Get that money. Leave home and elope with me. Just leave. They can't control your life forever."
"But what about my brother? I can't just leave him. We've never been apart."
"Who gives a shit? You're an adult, you can do what you want! Just run away with me."
She looked at his pleading eyes, her heart starting to melt. She thought maybe she could. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. She began to imagine her life with him: a tiny storage container converted into a home (because that was his dream), never being able to speak to her parents because she essentially stole their money to run away with her abusive boyfriend, having to quit school and being a stay-at-home mom with three kids while feeling like a prisoner at home. No. She didn't want that. She knew he'd never change. He hadn't hit her yet, but he'd gotten very close, and one day he would. She pictured her parents picking up the phone only to hear an officer tell them that their precious daughter had been beaten to death by her boyfriend. A chill ran down her spine.
"No! No! I can't do that! Just.....leave me alone...we're done!" She ran to her car and left in tears. 'This is the last time I'll let him make me cry. I swear it.'
——————————————
*ping*
Adaline picked up her phone. It was almost 4 am. Who could be messaging her this late?
She read the name on her screen. 'Brittney?'
"I thought you'd want to see this. I hate him btw!" She read her message and opened the attached image. It was a screenshot from Joseph's Facebook page. He had posted a photo of himself at the event and wrote, "Had an amazing night. I hope to have more amazing nights again someday." It was a message to her. He was telling everyone that knew that he missed her and she broke him again. 'That bastard!'
*ping*
'Another message? Nel? Why would she message me?' Nel was Joseph's niece and she had gone to the same high school as Adaline. They were in the same grade.
"Stay away from my uncle. You only bring him pain and you are messing with his head. Leave him alone. You're no good for him and I won't let you keep hurting him!"
'ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!' Her hurting HIM? He was the one that told her she looked like a man without makeup and like a prostitute with it on! He was the one who slammed the steering wheel so hard while yelling at her that she cowered in the passenger seat. He was the one that threw the remote control to the wall near her head because she wouldn't stop crying after he had insulted her for hours. He was the one that had stalked her for weeks after the break up and tried to convince her to abandon her family and rob from them. How was she the bad one? She couldn't believe what she had just read, and simply replied.
"I'm not sure what Joseph has been saying, but we both are at fault for different things in the relationship. Please don't comment on something you know only half the story about. Ask your uncle for the full story and then decide." She blocked her right away, knowing that Nel was not one to accept things easily. She threw her phone on the nightstand and fought back the hot tears that threatened to spill over. She knew the truth, and she would not let anyone tell her otherwise.