Promise

chapter 77

"you are not staying here for much longer but whilst you are here I suggest you improve your behaviour" she snapped and I rolled my eyes "dad isn't getting rid of me" I say and she laughs "he loves me, he's with me by choice. He has no choice with you, you're just some mistake" her words stung and I found myself believing there was some truth in it. "You have caused nothing but trouble, it's going to be easy to get rid of you"  she continued. "I doubt that, you're just some bitch" I tell her. Wrong move.
She raises her hand and seconds later I feel her hand connect with my cheek, which gets followed by punches and kicks. Fuck her. I was not going to let her treat me like that so I fought back.

As I raised my hand to hit her a second time I heard Elijah. His voice was beyond deadly.
"What the fuck is going on here"
"I tried talking with her and she Got angry. I'm so sorry Avery, and Eli I was only trying to defend myself I might have hurt her" Jess cried and I watched as he comforted her.
"It's ok Jess, Avery apologize now"
"Why should I apologise, Jess hurt me" I say refusing to apologize. ."only in self defense.this is so much different to you and Maisey because I witnessed it"  he said with a glare. "I don't feel safe around her" Jess cut in. Fuck you Jess. "I know it's always been you and Elijah but I really would like a chance" she continued. "Fuck you" I mumble but unfortunately Elijah hears and he went to next level angry. "Apologize now" he demanded. "No. I'm going out" I push past him. I couldn't be in the same house as them. "I swear to god Avery if you walk out that door you will be in big trouble"  he caught me up quickly. I ignored his threat and opened the door. Only when I did, he slammed it shut.
My heartbeat increased and he grabbed my wrist and turned me around. It wouldn't have hurt me normally but he had grabbed the part Jess always grabbed me by. "Listen Avery, I am the adult, you are the child. You will do as I say unless you want strict discipline" he warned. "So you mean if I don't do as you say, you will abuse me" I ask and regret it instantly, the look on his face was nothing but sadness. However it quickly dissapearred and anger replaced the sadness, before he could say anything though Jess spoke. "If she continues maybe we could consider boarding school" I watched Elijah for a reaction but he hid it well as his face was neutral. "My daughter isn't going to boarding school" that was a relief. At least he was not fully done with me. "I know you don't want to leave her but she's been like this for a few weeks now, if we don't do anything she will become a spoilt brat, she needs discipline " Jess didn't know when to stop and Elijah looked to be thinking. "you're right. Avery you need discipline therefore..." I cut him off after hearing that by backing away and repeating the word 'no'. He reached out but I flinched. He wouldn't.
"No Friday films and no ice-cream" he declared and I nodded just greatful I he wasn't going to hurt me. "I'll be in my room. I apologize for my actions" I say not wanting to be screwed further.

Elijah
Did I overreact? Probably. I didn't know Avery had that side of her until today. Was it too much to ask that she apologize.  "She isn't a violent person, why did she attack you" I question wanting to get to the bottom of her outburst.
I had asked Avery the other week if she and Jess were getting along. Avery had told me everything was fine, they were getting along well and she liked Jess. She would tell me if something was up, wouldn't she?

I probably seem like a dick for the way I just treated her, I just don't accept violent behaviour from her. I wanted her to be better then me. I wanted her to go to university, get a good job and have a normal life, no violence involved.

"She's been quite bitchy lately, I don't want to tell you how to parent but Elijah honey, I think you're letting her get away with too much"  Jess said as she led me into the living room, where the food was. "She's a good kid, I don't let her get away with anything"  I say but It was a semi lie.
Good kid. Yes
Not letting her get away with things. No

"I'm going to give her some food" I say knowing she probably won't want to come back down.
"Ok I'll get ours sorted" Jess said and kissed my cheek "I love you Eli"
"Ok, I should go make sure Avery is ok"
I quickly walk out with her food.
I was not ready to tell her I loved her. We had been together around a month now and I still couldn't say it. The only girls I could say anything that too would be my mum, sister,Maisey but most importantly Avery. 

I knock on the door, hoping she will let me in. "Avery can I come in" I ask, it's silent for a minute before she replies "1 minute" she says and I smile knowing she was still talking to me.
A minute later she opens the door. I noticed her eyes were red and I instantly but the food on the side cabinet and pull her into a hug. I didn't expect her to hug me back but she did. "Avery what has gotten into you" I say and we go into her room. "Don't send me away" she immediately says and I feel my heart shatter. "Never, you're stuck with me. Even if you did go to boarding school, it would be term time and I'd visit every weekend" I say. It probably didn't help but truth was I was considering it. "I brought you some good,I presumed you wouldn't want to eat with us. You are more than welcome to come downstairs and eat with us though" I explain and she nods "I rather stay here" I sigh. My little girl didn't want to spend time with me. But I couldn't blame her for the way I treated her. I was a terrible father, she deserved so much better.
"What you said about me abusing you, I hope it was just out of anger and you don't actually believe that" I say hoping she knew I wouldn't. "Just anger I'm sorry"
I smile knowing she didn't think that I would, I was about to leave when I remembered tommorow.

"We are going for a family meal tommorow, to introduce Jess to my parents"