Lonely Life #2
Honestly, that sounded like fun. Lux would tell me do it. Hell, we’d have done it together once upon a time. At least, I think we would have. Ok, I was little the last time I saw him but he was my best friend back then. Lux would absolutely tell me to do this.
I found myself admitting, “No, my mom doesn’t pay for anything. The rent is usually paid by her boyfriend of the month. Sometimes her boyfriend’s pay everything so I nor the landlord bother them. My mom thinks I try to steal her boyfriends, but I don’t. They’re creepy.”
Anger colored Melanie’s every feature. She gripped the steering wheel grounding out, “Yeah, my aunt’s husband is a creep…
which is the nicest word to describe him…
. so I get it. How old are you?” I sincerely said, “Thank you for saving me. I didn’t say it back there, but thanks.
As for my age, I just turned sixteen last week. ”
My first few days as a sixteen year old sucked and I spent it in that place.
I’d recently broken up with Luke. Well, not officially but he’d gotten violent on my birthday and locked me up instead of talking to me.
He was missing in action now, but I’d sent him an email when I got to my new place about our breakup. We were done as far as I was concerned.
So all that happened and now I’d been kidnapped.
Sixteen was clearly a bad age for me. Melanie replied, “Anytime. I teach self-defense classes. You should… stop by.” Everything in me perked up.
Luke wouldn’t have been able to hurt me if I knew self-defense.
Those people who didn’t talk to me, and just kept shooting me up with drugs, could’ve gotten theirs.
Whoa now, Odette. They were helping you. Sure they were rude, but they were doctors. Maybe. No, they had to be. It was definitely a facility of some kind. Maybe the Demon guys were taking people that had been in that facility. I shivered, still refusing to think about it.
I was doing this with Melanie. I was going to train with her because I had suffered too many times at the hands of my mom’s boyfriends. Granted no one had done more than touch but knowing how to fight meant they’d never get past that.
I asked, “Really? Where?” Melanie parked the car in front of a hotel, turned to me, then instructed, “Don’t go back to your apartment. I’ll get it shut down for some reason and set you up with a new place. Ok, Adair?”
The anger and irritation I felt at her saying that name could not accurately be described. I’d never met anyone who caused me to itch and feel irritated, by calling me by the wrong name. I found myself saying, “Odette. My real name is Odette.”
Melanie was clearly delighted as she complimented, “That’s a beautiful name. What’s your last name?” The question was normal, but it stung. I admitted, “I don’t have one that I know of. My mom is super paranoid about someone taking me from her.”
Which was absurd since she didn’t like me, but Lux being taken from her made her paranoid. Melanie asked, “Why would she be?” I explained, “My older brother’s dad took him from her. My brother didn’t like her though, so I don’t think his dad took him so much as he willingly left. I miss him.”
Melanie offered, “I could help you find him.” Part of me wanted to take her up on it, but something in me kept me from accepting. I probably just needed to do it myself. I shrugged that off, “Thanks. I’m looking for him though. I’ll find him.” Eventually.
Melanie said, “If you change your mind, I’ll help you.” Melanie was too nice for someone who rescued people and killed kidnappers. Melanie asked, “So is your mom scared your dad will take you too?” Which didn’t make sense either.
I admitted, “She says so. All I know about my dad is he gave me some blood disorder and doesn’t want me. So, I don’t know why she’s worried he’ll take me.” Who takes someone they don’t want? Literally no one.
Melanie questioned, “Do you move a lot?” She certainly asked a lot of questions.
I answered though, “Oh yeah. Ever since my brother was taken out of our lives, my mom shuffles us from one place to the next following some guy. They eventually break up with her or she does them. When they end it she has a few days of wallowing with ice cream and wine, then we move onto the next city and guy.”
Melanie didn’t like that answer and looked like she had a puzzle to figure out. Melanie handed me the nicest phone that I’d ever had in my possession. Along with it came a slip of paper with an address and a gym name.
This was clearly where she taught self-defense. I’d seen other teenagers with this phone now in my hands, but I’d never had anything this nice. Tears pricked my eyes, but I practically swallowed them back down.
Melanie told me, “If you ever need me, call. If I don’t see you Thursday for self-defense classes… well… then I’ll come looking for you. Your new apartment address and keys will be delivered to you tomorrow… and don’t worry…the hotel is paid for.” What?!
I asked, “Why are you helping me?” Melanie answered, “Helping people is what I do. My family abandoned me too… but I’ve made new friends. They’ve practically become my family. You can do the same.”
The pain in her voice talking about her family nearly made me wince. The broken pieces of me that shattered when Lux was gone felt like they matched hers. Melanie continued talking, “The front clerk will just give you a key.”
“Call if you need anything… seriously… I’ll send someone… or come myself. It depends on what’s going on.” I nearly said for example if you are out killing and rescuing more people you’ll send someone else? I didn’t say it but now I was wondering if Nashville was a big trafficking site.
I walked in and without saying anything I was handed a card and continued on to the elevator.
I gaped at the instructions. The penthouse?
! I used the card, thinking this was a joke.
It worked though and the doors opened to another set of double doors.
I tried the key and nearly squealed when it turned green.
I walked in the hotel and gasped. It really was a penthouse.
There was a tray of every single food the hotel probably had waiting.
A woman waved, “Compliments of the room. Please Enjoy your stay.” I gaped at her then attacked the food.
Maybe meeting Melanie was the universes way of apologizing for my sixteenth year of life starting off horribly.
Flashback Ends
Mom brought me back to the present. She’d raised her hand and I changed my stance with my eyebrow raised. I could stop her this time then mom would never hit me again. Mom looked stunned, slowly lowering her hand.
To my surprise, mom began to move away. She’d never leave without a parting jab. Then I heard her mutter, “You’re just like your father.” My heart skipped a beat. How did I hear that? I didn’t bother asking though. I knew my mom would just become angrier if I asked about my father.
We’d had that fight a lot. Mom would end up shouting he didn’t want me. I was just a burden to her and he certainly didn’t want me. I should be grateful that she wanted me and didn’t leave me on the front steps of a church or firehouse. If not for knowing Lux, I’d wish she had.
I heard the fridge door slam and knew what was coming. Mom stormed back into the room, “Pizza? Really, Odette? You have left over pizza in the fridge? No wonder Luke said you’d gained too much weight. I have you on a strict diet for a reason. How dare you disobey my wishes.”
I told her, “I haven’t seen or talked to Luke in months. I sent him an email saying we were over after what he did. The man didn’t bother to reply, so I doubt he cares. The fact remains I haven’t seen him, so he has no reason to comment on my weight.”
Mom snorted, “Who do you think called me to inform me of your move to this place?” I countered, “I emailed you about moving, mom. I don’t have your number or I would have called.” Mom’s eyes narrowed, “You don’t have a phone.”
I retorted, “Ashley gave me one.” I held it up and she took it from me.
I reasoned, “Mom, everyone has a phone.” Mom hissed, “You don’t.
” My blood was pounding in my ears. I yelled, “Give that back. It was given to me, not you. I live alone, and I was kidnapped. Obviously, I need a phone for safety reasons.”
Mom didn’t reply. I shouted, “You don’t even care!
All you care about is the stupid leftover pizza!
It’s store bought, cheap pizza. I can’t buy the expensive foods on your list. I don’t make enough money to cover it.
I don’t know why Luke came into town, but he didn’t talk to me. Honestly, I'm glad he didn’t.”
Normally that rant was true. The fact was Melanie had me on a grocery service so if I wanted to buy the things my mom told me to, I could.
I just didn’t like them, and she’d left me here to rot.
I did get some nicer foods, and more often; however, my habits to pick cheap things were what they were. I normally had bills to worry about.
Mom said, “Luke couldn’t get into this building for some reason, and then you were being shadowed.
” I smiled knowing that Melanie had people looking out for me.
That was sweet. I shrugged, “Shouldn’t that make you happy?
People are looking out for me, so you don’t have to worry. I’m just a burden to you anyway.”
Mom gasped, “Who is filling your head with such lies? We are leaving immediately. These new friends are a bad influence. All you need is me and Luke.” I yanked my arm away from her staring at her in utter shock.
I yelled, “Those are your words, mom. I heard you tell your boyfriend before you left that I was a burden. You’ve said it to my face many times.
I don’t even bother you that much, and you still feel that way.
You don’t even leave a reliable way for me to contact you, yet Luke has your number!
Do you even know what he’s like? He’s abusive, mom. ”