Trapped

Selfish or Not?

Whether or not they would ever admit it out loud, I knew it wasn't exactly easy for my parents to have me around under the circumstances and the situations I put them in. I didn't want them to feel that way. I didn't want to be a burden on the people who raised me, so I did my best to make it easier for them. I cleaned up around the house, did the dishes, washed clothes, and even took out the trash; all the things I begged to get out of doing when I was a kid. This time, I didn't mind. No, this time it gave me something to do instead of sitting around bored all the time.

One day on a warm summer morning in June, I overheard my parents getting the shopping list together so my mom could go to the store. Wanting to help as much as possible, I told them I'd go for them. When they heard me, they were more than skeptical of the idea, but my dad was the only one to voice this emotion by asking me if I was sure. Anyone on the outside looking in probably thought the question was one from a dad being cautious, but I knew otherwise. Behind those three words was a whole other load of underlying questions that I was almost positive my parents tried to tip-toe around. One of the most obvious ones was, "What about TJ?" But they'd never come out and say it because they saw me as one would see a Christmas ornament; fragile and easily broken.

I chose to ignore the underlying questions and instead told them that I was sure. This caused my dad to shrug and toss me the all too familiar keys to one of the vehicles in the garage. While my mother got the shopping list together, I went upstairs to change out of my sweats and into a pair of jeans that I paired with a simple top and a thin cardigan. Finishing the look off with a pair of converse for shoes, I headed back downstairs to find my parents cuddled up on the couch together.

My mother smiled and pointed me in the direction of the kitchen, where I found the grocery list and what looked like my dad's cell phone.

Armed with a long list of groceries and a cell phone courtesy of my father in my back pocket, I was more than ready to get this shopping done. I grabbed a metal shopping cart and took off to get the warm stuff first. I would get the cold items near the end of my trip, so nothing would melt or get hot. I knew we needed paper towels and toilet paper, both of which were at the top of the list, so I headed in that direction while it was on my mind.

It wasn't until I was halfway through the list that I found myself face to face with someone I never wanted to see; Dalton Neil Harrison. He was TJ's right-hand man and creepy as all get out.

"Well, look who it is!" He grinned, almost sarcastically. "You know TJ's looking for you, right? He says he wants you back so he can show you real pain." He laughed almost manically. "No one will be able to recognize you when he's through with you, baby."

"You're sick," I hissed at him, repulsed at the fact that he found his words funny.

I turned to push my cart in the other direction, trying to get away from the creep before me, but he grabbed me from behind before I could. "Let go of me!"

"Why should I?" He snickered. "You wouldn't dare scream. Would you, Kymmie?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You wanna bet?"

"Oh ho ho," He chuckled. "Little Stevens has balls," He moved his mouth closer to my ear, his breath hitting my neck and shoulder in repulsive waves. "I dare you to do it, Kymber." He chuckled. "I dare you to draw attention to us because when you do, everyone will see just how pathetic you truly are."

"Screw you!" I huffed.

"Oh, honey," He murmured. "That sounds like fun, but I don't think your boyfriend would allow it. TJ isn't very good at sharing his things!"

"He's not my boyfriend! And I'm not a thing!" I huffed. "Now, let go of me!"

"Then, what are you, babe?"