Vesper sat in her room, recounting the events of the day to Mia.
"Can you believe Julian showed up at my house, claiming his father asked him to check up on me?" Vesper asked, exasperation etched on her face. "A Godfather I haven't seen in years?"
Mia's eyes widened. "That's wild. Do you think he's telling the truth?"
Vesper shook her head. "I don't know. Something doesn't feel right."
Just then, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation.
"Hey girls, can I join?" Vesper's mom asked.
"Sure, Mom," Vesper replied.
Her mom settled beside Vesper on the bed. "I know you're uneasy about Julian staying with us."
Vesper's frustration boiled over. "He's not family, why is he really here? What about what he said? His dad asking to check up on me?"
Her mom dismissed Vesper's concerns. "Oh, that? Just a formality. Don't worry about it."
Vesper's anxiety spiked. "Mom, it's my life we're talking about. You know my situation."
Her mom's expression softened. "Julian is just like family."
Vesper's voice rose. "There's no such thing as 'just like family.' My dad was family, and look what he did."
Her mom's eyes clouded. "Vesper, we won't be talking about this."
Vesper's words cut deep. "You always say that, but it doesn't make it go away."
Her mom stood, her face strained. "Let's just...drop it, okay?"
The conversation ended abruptly as her mom left the room.
Vesper sighed, feeling frustrated.
Mia stood up. "I should get going."
Vesper nodded. "Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow."
Later that night, Vesper's unease lingered. She heard a sound downstairs and decided to investigate.
As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she spotted Julian.
"Hey," Julian said softly, his eyes locking onto hers.
Vesper's instincts screamed warning. "What are you doing here?"
Julian moved closer, his smile faltering. "Just getting water."
Vesper took a step back, her heart racing.
"I noticed you don't like close contact with people," Julian said, his voice low.
Vesper's defenses rose. "None of your business."
Julian's gaze lingered "okay then"
"Why are you really here?" Vesper demanded.
Julian's smile returned."Didn't I just tell you, I'm here for water"
"I'm being serious with you and you are taking me for a fool what are you doing at my house"
" Oh that didn't your mom already tell you I'm here for a fresh start"
"Fresh start you say, why exactly?" Vesper asked raising a brow
"I won't be telling you that yet" Julian said with a smile
"Yet?" Vesper's skepticism grew. "What about what you said about your dad asking you to check up on me?"
Julian chuckled. "Oh, dad? I was just kidding."
Vesper's eyes narrowed. "You're not kidding. Tell me why you're really here."
Julian's laughter faded. "V, come—"
"Don't call me V," Vesper snapped. "My name is Vesper."
Julian's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Sorry, Vesper. I respect your boundaries."
He turned to leave.
"Wait," Vesper called out.
Julian turned back
Vesper's voice firm. "I don't trust you."
Julian's smile returned. "You will"
The next day Vesper navigated the school hallways, her anxiety simmering. Memories of her father's abuse and past traumas swirled in her mind.
As she turned a corner, she almost collided with Ethan. "Watch your way," Ethan snapped.
"Sorry," Vesper apologized swiftly taking some steps back.
"Don't apologize when you did it on purpose," Ethan retorted harshly.
Mia intervened, "Hey, watch your mouth."
Ethan glared, "And what does this have to do with you?"
Julian appeared, his voice calm, "Don't talk to her like that."
Vesper walked away, leaving the confrontation behind, her emotions raw.
In class, Vesper's anxiety overwhelmed her. She gathered her belongings and fled the classroom.
Vesper found a quiet corner and collapsed onto a bench, holding her breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
Ethan walked by, noticing Vesper's distraught state, and sat beside her. "Hey, about earlier...I wasn't in a good mood. Sorry for taking it out on you."
Vesper's anxiety spiked, her gaze dropping, heart racing.
Ethan's voice was calm, soothing, "what's wrong?"
But vesper's mind was elsewhere, trapped in memories of her father. The sound of his voice, the feel of his grip, the smell of his cologne, the way he treated her mom. Her phobia for men triggered, panic set in, her breath quickened, heart pounding, vision blurring, she felt herself drifting away.
Ethan's voice grew distant
"Hey, you okay?" he asked confused
But vesper was gone, lost in her trauma, flashes of memories terrified her, her father's angry face, her mother's pain, her personal fear, their helplessness.
Her mind screamed. Get away
Run!
Hide!
But her body froze, paralyzed, Ethan's touch on her shoulder shattered her trance.
Vesper's eyes snapped open, she shoved Ethan away
"No! Don't touch me!" She screamed
Ethan eyes widened
"Hey, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you."
Vesper's chest heaved, tears streamed down her face, she couldn't breath, the world closed in, everything went black.
When vesper came to, Ethan was shaking her gently.
"Hey! Wake up!"
"Mia... Mia....mom..."
Vision blurry, her heart still racing.
Ethan and Mia were rushing her to the school nurse.
"We need to get her to the hospital immediately," the nurse said urgently. "She's having a panic attack."
Vesper's world narrowed to the sound of sirens and the feeling of chaos closing in.
End of chapter two 😉💗