Gone

19

"I'm smelling fire again..." Kelsey announced, waking the rest of us up. Some of us ignored it, but this was one of the numerous times Kelsey has smelled it bright and early in the morning.

"I'm sorry about Justin, Taylor," I lamented.

Taylor responded, even though it was evident she didn't want to. "It's okay. I'm okay." I knew she wasn't okay though. Not even close.

"What's your favorite memory we've had together?" Kelsey asked us. Chloe answered first.

"Probably Bennet's party Sophomore Year. I know we weren't exactly together all at once, but it was pretty great."

"Oh my god! That was fun," Kelsey added.

"Yeah, it got pretty crazy. But the events afterward weren't as fun," Chloe confessed. We all knew what Chloe meant straight away.

I eventually broke up with Destin after that night of him getting physical with me. But he harassed me and begged for me back during a four-day period. So, I did what my heart wanted. We got back together from spring break and throughout the summer, leading into Sophomore year. In early June, he went on an expensive family trip that I could not attend. The day before he left, we hung out together. Nothing changed with Destin though. He continued to say things that he had no reason to say and was constantly on his phone.

While Destin was busy with his phone, I decided to text in a group chat that I hadn't heard from either three girls in a couple of months.

"Guys, I think I need help with something," I texted.

"With what?" Chloe replied.

"What's going on? Are you okay?" Kelsey questioned protectively.

I then told them everything about how Destin changed into a completely different person. Yet, I kept the strangulation incidents to myself. The four of us decided to meet up the next day at my house. Once Destin left town the next day, the girls came over.

"What do you want to do about this?" Kelsey asked me.

"I broke up with him around Spring break, but he harassed me to get back with him. So here I am, scared to leave the relationship," I explained. Being in an abusive relationship is not always the easiest thing to leave behind. For me, I was most terrified that Destin would spread things about me around school, and do everything he could possibly do to destroy my life in general. The girls ended up spending the night, which my sister insisted on being included in our necessary talk. By 7 pm, my sister gave up and headed to her room. The four of us were in a circle on the floor in my bedroom. Taylor to my left, Chloe to my right, and Kelsey across from me.

"We should prank call!" Chloe insisted while grinning.

"Who though?" Taylor asked unfocused.

"Destin, duh," Kelsey answered.

"Uh, I'm not talking, I hope you know that," I stated, raising my hands up. Kelsey and Chloe began laughing.

"You won't be, give me his number," Kelsey said, reaching out for my phone. She typed in his number and let it ring. On the last ring, Destin answered.

Kelsey began speaking using an unrecognizable voice. Taylor, Chloe, and I laughed at it for the first few times, until she continued calling and calling. On the last call Kelsey made, she began to take things too far.

"Destin, I know where you live man, I swear to god things will be getting worse from here."

"Just leave me alone or I'm calling the cops," Destin warned.