We Could've Been Fine | On Hold, Lovelies

04 | Part 01

Annmarie nodded a farewell to the taller girl as they were let out from the 20 minute session, shrugging her backpack up her shoulder. Taylor didn't have to come, in fact no one did, it was just a gym class meeting, never anything important. Taylor looked down at the redhead, "I'll see you tomorrow, Annie." She displayed a small smile as the shorter girl left the school's main building.

The redhead silently admitted to herself she'd liked the nickname she earned but also argued internally over how she got it. Why was Taylor all of a sudden nice? What the hell happened today that made the 'bad bitch' a softie around the redhead? Annie groaned to herself as she tightened her backpack strings, lost in thought as she made her way down the block. The redhead stopped at the the crosswalk that would take her to her side of the road, a quick flashback playing in her head. Her history teacher had called her dad during her lunch period and now she'd have to deal with him.

What would he do? Would he hit her? Scream at her? Would he let it slide and tell her to fix her grades? Would he get her mother involved? Frightening questions clouded her thoughts as she stared at the street name fitted underneath the stop sign. What was going to happen when she got home?

She inhaled sharply as she made her way across the street. What even was the worse that could happen? She wasn't a stranger to beatings so why would it scare her? Sure, if her mother got involved in everything would be worse but when was the last time her parents had an actual conversation about her? Everything was about them now. Annmarie was a speck of dust stuck in the vent to them. That's what scared her. Her parents hated her, or at least that's what she'd come to figure.

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The redhead quietly opened the front door and shuffled in, closing it just as quiet. She knew her father would be in his office right now, probably jotting down notes for his next meeting. Her mother wouldn't bother to show until later tonight. "ANNMARIE RENÉE-" She heard her name boom through the entry hall.

How- She stared at the door to her father's office on the other side of the family room. It was in fact opened and he was staring directly at her, from her angle he almost looked like Satan himself, dressed in a black suit, dark brown hair combed down either side of his head. She gulped as she placed her backpack down against the wall, her father getting up from his chair, "Care to explain how the hell you've got an F in your history class!?" He shouted as he made his way beside the couch.

"I- I- these kids-" She stuttered before losing her entire train of thought. "Save it." The older man growled as he closed a few feet between him and the short redhead, "You are to go to bed without dinner, and I expect you to deal with your own chores until you have at least a B in that class! In fact! In all your classes!" He continued as he stood statue like, towering over his daughter.

She nodded, attempting to hold eye contact with her hell of a father. Eye contact is power and power is strength, She reminded herself, a few tears starting to form in her brown orbs. The older man took a step back and looked towards the stairway, "Go. Now." His voice was full of hostility as the younger girl quickly made her way to the flight of cherry oak stairs, practically sprinting to her bedroom near the end of the balcony.

–

Saturday morning came all too quickly.

Taylor Rose sat up in the gray fluffy sheets of her Queen sized bed. She let out a yawn as she stretched, her one size too big Pink Floyd tee riding up her stomach. She stood up as a knock from her door echoed through the decent sized bedroom. "I know! I'm taking my skateboard today!" She shouted, a voice on the other end responded with a small Okay.

The raven haired girl put on a playlist from her phone as she walked to her closet, turning the volume up as she did so. She hummed a few lyrics here and there as she changed into a fresh set of clothes, pulling her hair up into a bun from a scrunchie formally around her wrist. She really didn't bother to care about her appearance as she wouldn't be seeing any of her friends today. She'd only be seeing Annmarie. The redhead that caught her eye as she ran into her douchebag of an ex boyfriend yesterday.

She walked back out to her bedroom and sat on the ottoman at the front of her bed, lazily pulling on a pair of calm yellow military boots. There was another knock on her bedroom door. "You can come in, Gabe."

A taller boy opened her bedroom door, he was only wearing pajama pants and a pair of triangular prism patterned socks. Like brother like sister. "Love your socks, doofus." She stood in front of her older brother, "So I'm guessing mom already left?" Gabriel nodded, "Mhm. Dad'll be back in a few hours, had to chase a client." He rolled his eyes. Taylor chuckled, "It's fine, I'm actually gonna go hang with some friends for the day. If dad wants to know where I am tell him I'm with Kayli and Austin, alright?"

"Got it, shortie." The boy smirked at his younger sister, putting his hand on her shoulder, "And don't worry, I won't let them know about your detention." With that, he turned around and left. Taylor groaned at the fact he'd somehow found out but was still grateful for her brother who didn't seem to mind letting her detentions slide.

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Part 1/2 of Chapter 4 :)

*Unedited*