She stepped inside laughing softly at my last comment. I don't know why I told her that I had hated her but it felt like it needed to be said. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders now that she knew. A month ago I wanted to kill her, but now...I couldn't hurt her if I tried. I opened my drawing book to the unfinished picture of her. Her eyes were wrong, no amount of time drawing could capture the hope that was forever in her eyes.
I closed the book and pushed it aside.
She would get beaten just for being happy, for having a life. She was working for not her freedom but that of her brother. They are going to pay, I looked down at my clenched fist's and huffed out a frustrated breath. James and I could be home right now, we could have normal lives, but he chose to run away with them and I not only want to take care of my younger brother but my best friends too. I care too much about them to have stayed behind with no contact with any of them.
During our high school years I was the bad boy while James was the jock. Sarah and Josh were the nerds that spoke to nobody but each other and wore long clothing even in the middle of summer.
The day I first saw Sarah was the first and only day she came to school without Josh. She seemed distracted the whole day which was strange for her, I remember this catching my attention but I didn't think anything of it at the time. The end of day Bell rang and she practically ran out of the school, but was stopped by one of the boxing guys. He pushed her around a bit and laughed about how her brother wasn't around to protect her. I stood there frozen for some reason as he shoved her up against a wall. People started gathering around them. He made to swing at her, stopping just before he hit her. She didn't flinch, she didn't even make a sound. He slammed her back into the wall one last time before letting her go. I started making my way over to break the group up.
"Go home so daddy can beat you some more you little slut" he snarled at her as he let her go.
I froze at those words. What the hell?
Suddenly she sprang into action, as if those words had snapped her control, she grabbed his wrist and spun his 6' ft. body towards her 5'1 figure and punched him in the stomach, when he bent down she slammed her fist into his nose.
"Have fun telling aunty...oh wait sorry step mom that you were beaten by me Tristan, also I have stuff to do so you and dad will have to wait" she spat and walked out.
That very moment I knew I wanted to be in her life so the next day I forced my company on her and Josh. It took them awhile but they eventually opened up to me. Josh joined us and we all became best friends. On graduation day Sarah and Josh told us about what was happening at home. They then told us about their plan to escape. It was simple they had both been working part time and saving up the money they made with the money their mom had left them. Now that Sarah had graduated she was going to work full time and Josh was going to continue part time while he finished school. Once he graduated they where going to run. James and I immediately decided to join them when they ran. Sarah and I worked ourselves to the bone that year, working two jobs each...
I was ripped out of the past by the sound of a car crashing. I jumped up from my spot on the floor to see what happened. I couldn't see anything so I slowly slid back to the ground. A few minutes later I heard sirens. I must have fallen asleep after that because the next thing I know Josh was shaking me awake.
"I'm awake, I'm awake. Stop shaking me for Gods sake." I groaned " what happened?"
"Harry, it's James. He disappeared" Josh said
"What? What do you mean?" I asked suddenly awake
"Here" he handed me a piece of paper
Dear Harry
Don't try and find me. I tried to act like the good guy but I'm not. They are coming. Get Josh and Sarah out of there before tonight.
Goodbye
P.S. I'm sorry
"What the hell?" I sat there shocked "does..."
"No she's still asleep"
"We have to tell her, but how without upsetting her more?"
"We take a page out of her book" he smiled
**********************
"What smells so good?" Sarah's voice floated into the kitchen
"We decided to make the breakfast so you could have a sleep in for a change" Josh answered quickly
"Okay now I know that's a lie. What did you do?" She asked us with narrowed eyes
"Nothing, nothing" Josh tried to wave off
"Harry?" She turned to me " tell me now" she demanded
I avoided her eyes by going back to frying the bacon.
"Harry Jacob Bartholomew Smith, you know something now spill" she said grabbing my wrist and switching the stove off with the other
"Bartholomew?" Josh asked
"You said you wouldn't use my full name" I whined
"You two have literally three seconds to tell me what happened before I kick your asses. Tell me. Now!" She sat down as she spoke, saying her words quietly.
"Okay fine...but--" Josh sighed "first eat this...then...uhm...then read this"
"Okkaayy, you're acting weirder than normal" she was frowning
She read the note ignoring Josh's first instruction, her eyes grew big as she read and reread the note
"Excuse me" she jumped up "I have to go"
She ran out the kitchen. We listened to her footsteps going up the stairs
"She needs time" I mumbled
"If James is to be believed we don't have any" Josh said.