Chapter 8.

So Aiden thought he might have seen Luis. He started freaking out and just had to call Owen, whose always been our greatest help, in everything.

Owen is my God-father and both mom's best friend and first love.

Yep, the two were so in love that when a simple misunderstanding happened, the split caused them to make drastic decisions, leading to consequences.

My mom soon married and had Aiden, who had a good childhood, until he lost his dad when he was just 5. Mom then found someone new, even though her love was still strong for Aiden's dad and her heart belonged to Owen, she still stuck by her decision of getting married again to Luis, therefore, producing me.

At first, Luis seemed like a nice guy as I've been told the story, he was even good to all of us, raising me, but because mom gave him too much freedom, his whole attitude changed. He started yelling, being angry all the time until it all resulted to both physical and verbal abuse. Mom tried running with us, but he always caught us. The one time we ran and hid, hiding well, we thought we were free.

Mom was in a divorce process, finally finding herself and being a single mother. A start to a new life, only for it to end so badly when mom suddenly died from a heart attack, me being present. We lost an angel and that's when we started running, and we haven't stopped running ever since.

Instead of leaving us alone, Luis has been hunting us down, because of money and some unexplainable obsession he has towards me. He should have left us alone but no, he wants the money that our mom has left for both Aiden and me.

I can remember the screams, the shouting, the physical pain. He'd sometimes go overboard when Aiden stood up for me, Luis always wanted to get a hold of me. At first, he could manipulate me, since he knew how much I longed to have a father. It was always better when Owen came around to see us, we were always close, we had a very tight bond and I trusted both him and Aiden with my life.

Laying on my back while staring up at the ceiling, I thought of my life here.  This town wasn't so bad and maybe that's because I've had things to do for the past two weeks. Everything no doubt, being because of Wesley.

These past two weeks have been of Wesley pestering me, me spending more time with him then with Callie. His presence has surely occupied my life and now it's almost impossible to ignore him.

He is just there, I guess.

A knock on my bedroom door diverts my attention.

" Come in, " I say, sitting upright.

The door opens and in enters Owen, whose lips twitch into a small soft smile when he sees me.

We stare at each other for a bit.

He sighs as he comes over to sit on the edge of my bed.

" Are you leaving now?" I ask.

" I'll stay."

" You will?" I perk up.

" Yes, but only for two days and then I'll go back home."

" But we're your family." I tell him, feeling down at the thought of him leaving.

We only ever see him after a few months, because of safety purposes and I surely do miss him.

" Yes you are, " he pats my cheek, smiling at me.

And by smiling, I mean a small smile because Owen doesn't really smile. It's like he's allergic to it.

" So tell me about your time here, do you like it?"

" It's okay, just a pity that we'll have to move again and I have to start over."

" You don't have to do anything, it's too soon to tell -----------"

" What if it's the only sign we'll ever get, we can't have another run in with him ever again." I gulp at the thought.

Gosh, if he ever found us, we're surely done for this time.

" Hey, hey, don't think too much about it."

I give him the ' really ' look.

" I have always done my best to keep you guys safe. I would never let him near you, now trust in my word."

All I do is stare at him.

" Have I ever misled you?"

" No."

" So trust in me, okay." He says, his eyes for some reason, this time, determined in the plea being heard.

I take his big hand in both my own.

" I trust you with my life, you know you're my best friend and like the father I never had." He swallows and nods, before pulling me for a bear hug.

Because he's not a big hugger, he pulls back and coughs awkwardly, rising to his feet.

" Right, go to bed."

" It's still early."

" Not on my watch, now off to bed young lady, " he pats my bed before coming over to kiss my forehead, leaving right after.

I roll my eyes at his retreating back, lying on my back again, this time with no intention to stare at the ceiling but to read a book.

 

                      **********

He's not here today. He's absent.

I mean, it should not even bother me but he usually doesn't miss school. I hope he didn't get suspended. Maybe he is and that's what he would have told me yesterday, if he hadn't stormed off. Now I'll have to wait for him to show up to tell me about what happened, after I left the principal's office.

So it's Friday and the last day of my detention period, finally. I won't be late home and I'll get back to my old routine. Tonight, Owen is taking us out for dinner and I am looking forward to it, it's been a while since we all went out to eat and try catch up.

Today, I was more calmer and at ease with the idea of us still safe, that Aiden had mistaken someone for Luis and just freaked out for no reason.

This used to happen to us, we'd believe that we saw him and overreact, thus making us truly paranoid, it was a nightmare. I hated the feeling and living like that, the constant looking over the shoulder, the nightmares, and the fear of the unknown.

Oh it was exhausting and daunting.

Not to mention the painful memories, which replayed in mind.

I liked where we were now, more calmer and a somewhat normal life we were feeling.

Detention was finally over and I was walking out of class, bag slung lazily on my shoulder. I pretty much had a lot of time in my hands and maybe I'd even get a small nap before dinner tonight.

Heading out of the school building, I pause on the stairway when I notice a beat up truck, right outside the school.

My heart picks up at that.

What if it is Luis? What if he found me?

I take one step back, with intention of going back, I will either hide and wait till the truck is gone or literally ask Mr Lankosky for a lift.

Forget the embarrassment, safety comes first.

Before I can take another step, the truck door opens and out comes, not Luis but Wesley.

I sigh out in relief, in seeing him.

" Stop getting paranoid." I mumble to myself.

Making my way to him, I'm surprised to see his head uncovered. His wavy dark hair much longer. I stand just a few feet, staring at him, but he's got his head hung low, staring down at his feet.

Why won't he look at me?

" Mind if we take a drive?" He says, still not looking at me.

Something's not right here.

" Sure." I say.

He pushes off the car and opens the door for me, letting me in, where I place my bag at the back.  I don't say anything about the plastic bag full of beer cans, but just lean against the seat, letting him drive us out of there without another word.

The drive is silent and for some unknown reason, intense. He hasn't spoken a word to me , only ever looking ahead. My brows only ever pull together when the route leads us to the beginning, where our paths crossed, the bridge.

The minute he stops, I look at him, noticing his hands gripping the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white.

" Wes ---------" he opens the door and gets out, the slamming of the door making me flinch in surprise.

What is up with him?

I follow his every move with my eyes, watching him pace up and down in front of the car.

He looks so frustrated.

He stops pacing and leans on the hood of the car, his hands planted on it while his head is hung low.

I silently watch him, not even sure of what to do next, or his next move.

I'm so not good in situations like these.

I notice his one hand clench into a fist, small hits with his fist begins on the hood and I quickly get out of the car, approaching him.

" Wesley stop." I pull at his arm, wanting him to stop hurting himself.

" Why should I?"

" Because you're hurting yourself." I finally get him to stop.

He whips around to face me. " I should hurt, I should -----------" he starts pacing again, pulling back his hoodie in frustration, revealing his dark hair.

" What's the matter Wesley, what happened?"

" What happened is, I almost did it again, I almost - I'm such a horrible person, no wonder he blames me." He mumbles the last part, though I'm able to catch it.

" You're not making any sense. Just tell me ----------"

" What difference would it make, huh?" He throws a glare my way.

He's like a whirl of emotions, nothing is settled with him.

" It'll make all the difference, because then I'd understand what --------"

" You won't understand shit?!"  He shouts. " I don't even know why I brought you here, you don't care. You've never cared, so just leave!"

He must be out of his freaking mind, dragging me all the way here, only to demand I leave.

" I'm not going anywhere." I say cheekily.

" Why not? I've already given you a way out, leave now?!"

" You have been pestering me, wanting me to hear what you have to say, to listen, and try understand and now that I'm here, you shut down and demand I leave. You can't do that, so just bloody say or shout what you have to say!"

" You wouldn't understand!" He says in frustration.

" Then bloody try make me understand!" I respond with the same amount of frustration.

Emotions flicker on his face, until it goes hard apart from his eyes, which are wild with both frustration and anger.

" You want to understand huh?!" In long stride, he closes the distance, surprising me when he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder.

You think he'd stop there but no,  he storms off away from the car and towards the edge of the bridge.

" What are you doing?" My heart quickens.

No, he wouldn't. He wouldn't do what I think he's capable of not doing.

" Wesley, put me down!" I start to panic when he ignores me, continuing on and holding me tight in place, restraining me and my efforts to wiggle out of his hold.

I gasp when I'm placed on my feet, but on the other side, the edge. In the midst of losing my balance, I'm held back from falling by my arms.

" You want to understand, fine. I'm a messed up person who only hurts people who cross my path, I'm confused and I don't know where my life is headed. I destroy everything!!"

" You're not a bad person Wesley, " the sound of water hitting rock, almost drowns out my words.

The clouds are heavy and darker, meaning one thing, it'll rain, anytime soon.

" How could you say that?! I've got you hanging by a thread. I could let go anytime!" His eyes are pleading for me to see him as a bad person, he wants me to agree desperately.

" But you won't let go." I glance by my peripheral view on the distance down, gulping when I realize how far down it is. " You're not a bad person, you're confused and consumed by so much. You want to breathe, you need to let go."

His eyes connect with mine and we stare at each other.

" I believe in you, I believe you won't let me fall." I say, heart at my throat.

Please don't drop me.

I try one last time. " I w-will listen."

Without another word, I'm pulled close and then up and onto the other side, his side, the safe side.

I take a step away from him, leaning down with my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath.

I can't believe that just happened. I was hanging off on the other side, I almost lost my life.

I glance up at him, where he's looking at his opened hands. He looks dazed.

I don't know what takes over me, I feel upset all of a sudden and that's when I launch myself at him.

" You." Shove. " Will." Shove. " Never." Shove. " Do." Shove, " that to me again! "

He keeps silent.

" How would you feel if I....." I try calm myself. " I want to punch you so hard, argh!!!" I scream, breathing hard.

My chest moves up and down so hard.

" Do you know - you know what? Take me home." I storm off towards the car.

I just can't believe this happened.

I bang the door closed, my hands clenching into fists as I wait silently but impatiently for him to get a move on.

I watch him head over to the car, with careful eyes, till he enters.

From the corner of my eye, I see him lean his head on the steering wheel. " You should have pushed me over."

I look away, glancing at the window.

Again with silence we travel, none of us saying a word, we are both dealing with our own things.

I'm more relieved as we enter into the main road, believing I'll be home soon, all for the hope to diminish when the truck starts coughing up.

The truck shakes and makes weird sounds.

" What's happening?" I glance at Wesley.

" Shit," he mumbles under his breath.

The car suddenly stops and just like that, we have encountered a breakdown.

Why now?

I slump in my seat.

It's going to be a long way home.