haunted || l.h.

15

Luke and I decided not to go to school today. I told him that it would be easier to get the stuff from my house at around 1 or so because that's when my dad usually goes to the bar or to get more alcohol. I don't know why he went at 1 but I don't question it. The other reason was because my makeup was at my house still and I can't go out in public without it. Obviously I didn't tell him that my anxiety wasn't letting me leave the house without makeup, I just told him the first reason for it.

"Hey you ready?" Luke asked from the other side of my door.

"I guess so." I said and let out a shaky breath. I'm nervous that today will be the day he's actually home because that's just my luck.

"It'll be okay, let's go." He said once I opened the door. He could probably tell I was nervous. I feel like it's always easy to tell if a person is nervous about something honestly.

"What if he's home?" I asked and just stood in the doorway.

"He won't be. You say he does this everyday? He won't be home." He said reassuringly but a big part of me didn't believe him. I let out a heavy sigh and put my head in my hands to try and calm myself down. I shouldn't have to be this scared to go home, even if it's for a little while.

"You'll be okay P, I promise." He said softly and slowly put his hands around my wrists and tore my hands away from my face.

"You don't have to flinch whenever I touch you or go to touch you. I'm not going to hurt you ever." He said while looking in my eyes and holding both of my hands.

"I don't mean to." I said and looked away from him and down at our hands. His hands were so soft and so warm compared to my cold ones. It was comforting whenever he touched me, and I've never felt that feeling before. I've never felt the feeling of comfort or security before, and lately he's been giving me those feelings.

"It's okay, I know. Let's go before he gets home." He said and led me out of his huge house.

  The entire ride to my house was stressful and full of anxiety. I couldn't get my hands to stop shaking and I could hardly sit still. Luke and I didn't talk at all but I was kind of grateful for it if I'm honest.

  When we finally got there after almost an eternity I could hardly breathe. His car wasn't in the driveway so I knew he wasn't currently home, but he could come home at any point. If he comes home he'll probably kill me and I mean that quite literally.

"It'll be okay Paisley, he won't come home." Luke said softly as he walked up next to me where I was in front of my steps. I let out a shaky breath and slowly moved my hand towards his that was next to mine. Once I grabbed his pinky he immediately locked our hands together tightly.

  He began stroking my skin to calm me down before he pulled me through my house. I'm glad he did because if he hadn't then I probably wouldn't have gone in.

  The house was empty like I expected it to be. I led Luke up to my room and started packing up all of my important belongings as quickly as I could. Luke stood by my door and just let me run around my room like a chicken with its head cut off.

  After I had gotten all of my stuff I heard a door slam outside. He was here, he was here and now I was probably going to die.

"Go out the window." Luke whispered quickly and pushed me towards the window.

"Luke-" I said anxiously while on the verge of tears from being so scared.

"It's okay I'm right behind you." He said reassuringly and gently tossed my bags on the roof that was out the window.

"If he's in the living room he'll see me, there's a window right there." I whispered nervously.

"We'll be quick. Go, I'm right behind you." He said and practically pushed me out the window.

  When I climbed down from the roof I saw him angrily walking around slamming stuff and cursing. Luke handed me my bags before he jumped down and then when I looked back at the window I saw him looking at me and he was furious.

"Pais come on." Luke whispered and grabbed one of my bags and dragged me out to the front where his car was.

  Right as we got in the car my dad came out of the house looking angrier than ever. Luke quickly locked the doors and pulled out of my driveway, leaving my dad standing there.

  I sat in the seat of Luke's car with my knees up against my chest and my forehead against my knees. I tangled my fingers in my hair out of anxiety and fear and tried to fight the urge to cry.

"You're okay Paisley. He doesn't know where you are he won't find you." Luke said comfortingly and took one of my hands out of my hair and held it tightly.

"He'll find me I know he will. He always does." I said softly and anxiously.

"He won't I promise, and even if he does I'll keep you safe. You're safe when your with me." He said reassuringly and squeezed my hand.

"He could kill you." I deadpanned and stared out the window.

"He won't." He said surely.

"He will if he knows I'm staying with you. Or if you try and argue with him or fight him." I said and looked over at him.

"He won't, I promise." He said while I just sighed and kept looking out the window.