Lindsey’s P.O.V
After leaving that house I was very confused. I felt like there was so much in my head but at the same time there was nothing at all. I felt terrible. Before going to sleep that night I remember screaming my head off… then I passed out.
I woke up gasping for air. My sister entered my room.
“Lindsey, mom’s dead” she said. I got up and quickly ran to my mom’s room. Her breathing was low and she had bruises all over her.
“Quick, call 911” I yelled. She brought the phone and dialed 911. The ambulance came and took her away. I have a feeling who was the one who did this. My sister and I called our relatives, besides my step dad. We all packed in the hospital. I hugged my sister and we both cried. “It’s okay. It’ll be okay. Just have faith little Jacklyn… have faith”
“I love you, Lindsey”
“I love you too” We were there all day, waiting anxiously. I looked at the time and saw that it was after school. At this moment, Toby must be waiting for me and I’ll never get there. I sighed and held my phone tight in my hands. My sister wanted to go out for ice cream so we ran outside and chased after the ice cream truck. When we finally caught up to it, we were in front of Starbucks. I smiled thinking of Toby.
“I got it!”
“Alright, let’s go” On the way back I got a text from Toby.
Hey Nugget, where are you? I expected you to be here by now… Did something happen? Are you alright?
I pressed reply.
I’m at the hospital…
I waited and waited for news about my mom. I started crying out of agony. I can’t stand waiting like this! My mother can’t die! Even if she doesn’t really care about me, I love her! She’s my mom! She went through labor just to have me! I was a little miracle in her arms…
Suddenly, the hospital doors swung open and there I saw a face I was very familiar with. The same worried look I’ve seen so many times. When he saw me he picked me up and hugged me tightly.
“Thank god you’re okay” I started crying quietly in his arms.
“Toby, you didn’t…” He backed away and kissed me. I was so surprised but I didn’t have the energy to push him away. My phone started ringing so he let go of me and I fell into my chair with a thump! I reached into my bag and answered the call. “Hello?”
“Lindsey, what happened? You didn’t come to school today so it was so depressing. Where are you?”
“Uh…” I kept staring at Toby who was pacing back and forth, pulling his hairs out anxiously. “I’m at the hospital. My mother was beaten and I called an ambulance”
“I want to squeeze you so hard right now! Wait for me!” I heard the dial tone and sighed. I put the phone away and waited.
“Lindsey, about what happened…” Toby grabbed my hand gently and stood me up.
“What about it?”
“I didn’t mean to disrespect you like that. I really didn’t know what I was doing. I’m sorry I misled you like that. I’m s-”
“Hey…” I put my hand on his cheek. “Stop apologizing”
Kameron barged in and when he saw me in Toby’s arms he got angry and sad.
“Lindsey, what are you doing?” I backed away and Toby walked out of there without saying a word. Kameron stood before me. I slowly looked up at him and saw many tears streaming down his face.
“Kameron, it’s not what you think. Like I told you I’m not ready for a relationship. Toby was just trying to make me feel better. Nothing happened” I said calmly. He took a deep breathe.
“I believe you but it still hurts” I stood up.
“Aww, my baby” I said then gave him a hug. I looked out the window and saw Toby with his head down. He looked up at me then left. I backed away from Kameron. “I’ll be back, wait”
I ran out the door and caught him when he was about to start the car. I got inside and sighed.
“Can you get out? Your mother needs you in there” he said softly.
“Toby, you need me. You’re sad and you helped me now it’s my turn to help you” I told him.
“I don’t need you. You’re just a teenage girl who’s using me for a school project. No importance to me” I was shocked.
“Okay, I guess I know where I’m not wanted. If I have your permission I’ll go back to my family”
“Do whatever you want, I don’t care” He wouldn’t look over at me. I opened the door and slowly got out. I quietly shut the door. I heard the car drive off and just felt like I lost someone really essential in my life.
I walked in and Kameron hugged me almost immediately.
“We just got news about your mother. She’s going to be just fine! They say that she can go home tomorrow morning but right now she has to rest. So, why don’t I take you home?”
I sighed and saw a very happy Jacklyn holding my bag, standing behind him.
“Okay, let’s go” We went to the house my sister calls home. I sighed and lied down on the couch about to fall asleep when Kameron gave me a kiss on the cheek.
“Hey sleepy head, you should sleep in your room not here” he picked me up and took me to my bedroom. He lied me down and slowly moved his hand down my body.
“What are you doing?” I asked as I turned to my side.
“Oh, I was just- you know I was- Never mind, good night” he walked out quickly and turned out the lights. I shrugged and fell asleep.
In the morning I woke up in just under wear. I was confused. I took a shower and walked into my room to find Kameron lying on my bed, shirtless.
“Kameron, can you please get out? I need to dress” I told him. He got up and got out with a smile on his face. I got dressed. When I was fixing my hair he walked in and hugged me from behind. My arms were up holding my brush. “What are you doing? We’re going to be late if you-”
He touched me all over and I fell weak to my knees.
“We can be a little late” he continued to move his hands all over my body and I couldn’t feel my arms, I couldn’t stop him. He gave me hickies all over. Thank god my sister knocked on the bathroom door.
“Come on Lindsey, we’ll be late to school”
“Sweetie, take the bus today. I- I’m afraid I have things to do so g- go on without me” I said as he gripped me tightly.
“Good girl, good girl” he whispered.
“Okay, are you sure?” she asked.
“Positive, just go” She ran off. I heard her little footsteps run down the wooden stairs.
“Should we continue? I was having fun” Tears were burning my eyes.
“Please, stop. I don’t want you to keep going. I- I need to go” I told him. He threw me against the wall.
“Whatever. I’ll come get you after school. Just stay where you are” he threatened then left. I gasped and gasped as I cried. I reached for the doorknob.
“Toby… Toby… I need-” I said then passed out. I woke up an hour later. I quickly got up and grabbed my phone. I couldn’t breathe and I was sweating like crazy.
“Hello?”
“T- Toby I- I need y- you- your help. P- Please I- I’m begging y- you”
“Tell me where you are, I’ll be right over”
“I- I’ll t- text you m- my address. But Toby, hurry” I said then hung up. I shakily sent him my address then lied down. I screamed as loud as I could while squeezing my head then passed out.
I woke up in Toby’s lap, in his arms. I looked at him very weary.
“Toby,” he looked at me and smiled. I couldn’t really see him, everything was blurry.
“You awoke finally, who did this to you? Why’d they leave you like this?” he asked. I looked down and saw I was still in my bra and undies, how embarrassing!
“I- I- Toby, it was horrible!” I gripped onto him tightly and he rubbed my head.
“Shh, you poor thing; what you’ve been through”
After crying my heart out for the millionth time in my life I looked at him and smiled. This whole time he cradled me in his arms. He smiled at me and I shook my head.
“I think I need to change into something more appropriate…”
“Yeah, I think so too. Listen, I’ll be waiting for you downstairs and you can tell me everything that happened” He put me down and walked out of the room. I put on sweat pants, a green shirt and a blue hoodie because it was cold. I ran downstairs and found him on his phone, stretched out on the couch.
“What bad manners, Mr. Turner” He quickly sat up and I giggled. He laughed and motioned me over. I sat on his lap.
“Now, tell me all that happened, from start to finish. If you start crying, I’m right here” I nodded and told him everything from last night to this morning. I didn’t cry, I almost did but no tears were shed.
“Ever since I broke up with Joseph, nothing has been the same as before. Everyone hates me and the guys mistreat me. I have no right to tell people what to do but I do wish they’d be a little nicer”
“Lindsey, you’re too much of a saint to realize that some people are just like that and it takes an assertive attitude to lead them in the right direction. You’re ex, Joseph; did you have any sexual interaction with him?”
“He-” I chocked on my words and he patted my back. I gasped. “He abused me many times in a dark alley behind the school. He tied me up, and threatened me not to say anything!”
I looked at him and saw that he couldn’t believe anything I said.
“Lindsey, I don’t know what to say. That’s terrible! I- I’m sorry that happened to you. You don’t seem like the kind of person that would experience that sort of stuff” I nodded as my heart beat quickly and my head spun in circles. “Oh, I see what happened…”
“You do…”
“Yes, your ex-boyfriend was so angry that you two broke up that he told everyone he had sex with you and called you a slut and all that crap so now everyone’s after you” I cried and he covered his mouth. “I’m so sorry, that was way too blunt”
He hugged me tightly. We were there until my stomach growled. I wrapped my arms around my stomach and turned red out of embarrassment.
“You haven’t eaten have you?” he asked. I shook my head. “No wonder you look so pale. Here, I’ll make you breakfast. Stay here”
He picked me up and sat me down.
“Toby, you d-”
“Uh, uh… No arguing” I closed my mouth and sat patiently. He went over to the kitchen and soon I heard the sizzling of eggs on a pan. I smiled and waited. Soon, he came back with bacon, eggs, toast and coffee.
“Aw, thanks” I said. I got to eating and he just watched T.V. When I was done I took my plates to the sink then sat on the couch wrapped up in a blanket.
“Hey Lindsey, what are you going to do about school? I’m obviously not letting you go with him around but you need an education of some sort”
I looked at him and smiled. He really cares for complete strangers.
“I don’t know. I really want to go back, but if I do I won’t be able to speak with anyone except maybe Vanessa but if I tell her what happened she’ll tell the authorities”
“Why are you worried she will? It’s something I’d advise you to do. I mean, if I was your parent I’d surely transfer you to another school. No child of mine is going to go through that kind of abuse everyday” I was so touched. “But you’re not my child so…”
I shook my head.
“Thank you for the kind words” I said sarcastically.
“No, but seriously what are you going to do?”
“I have to go back Toby, like you said if people didn’t face their fears this world would be more chaotic than it already is”
“No, that doesn’t apply to this because I won’t let you” I stood in front of him and bent down to have my face in front of his.
“I’m going because it’s best. I know you don’t like it but everything will be fine. I’ll tell the cops, get rid of my problems, stand up for myself and be assertive just like you said… No one will ever treat me in such a way ever again because I won’t let them, I promise”