Hidden in the Night

Chapter 9 - Empty Hands

"Forget about me already Paisley?"

My mind was spinning, and so was the room around me. I placed my free hand against the wall, trying to steady myself. I would not let myself fall, not right now.

"Ignoring me?" she questioned, a knowing smirk on her face as she reached into my purse and grabbed my apartment keys. Taking the key she fumbled to unlock the door and entered at a slow pace, dragging her feet slightly; definitely buzzed.

"N-no, no I'm not. Sorry, I'm sorry," I stuttered out quickly, following her inside of my apartment door. I hesitated once I got inside, not wanting to close the door, not when it felt like leaving it open was the only safety I had at the moment. I sat down the grocery bags hanging from my arms and hands onto the floor slowly.

"Close the damn door," she bit out, tossing herself onto my couch. I shut the door.

"Quite the setup you've got here," she chuckled sarcastically, looking around my obviously run down apartment. My cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.

"I- um, I know it's not much but I like it. I can, um maybe show you around if-"

"Pretty sure I can see it all from right here," she snipped as she picked up the paperback book I had recently gotten from the library, bending it carelessly. I nodded in response. I took a moment to take her in, finding that she hadn't changed much since I had last seen her. Pale skin clinging to her frail frame that looked anything but healthy, knowing it was her destructive habits and lifestyle that was destroying her body. Her hair was thin and her face gaunt, but her green eyes stayed the same. Always hard, always cold.

"I don't plan on staying, I'm pretty sure you know why I'm here," she said nonchalantly, tossing the book from one hand to another as she stared at nothing in particular. I honestly had no idea what she was talking about. I had seen her a few times since I moved out, most of the time just to make sure she was okay, but she had never made the effort to come to my apartment. That little spark of hope formed in my chest as I thought that maybe she just wanted to come see me, see the small life I had built for myself here.

"Damn, you're still that dumb. I'm here for my money," she spat out, suddenly standing from the couch with an aggressiveness that wasn't present a moment ago. The spark burnt out.

"Oh, um- I already sent it to you," I forced out, trying to explain without disrespecting her.

"No you didn't. Don't be so selfish, you're lucky I don't demand for more than what you give me," she bit out as she stalked towards me, my entire body tensing in reaction.

"I-I promise, I sent it. I swear to you," I tried to defend myself. She glared at me intently for a moment before speaking again.

"Your father would be ashamed to have such a greedy liar as a daughter," she snarled, smirking viciously as she spoke of papa. I felt my eyes begin to brim with tears. He was the best person I had ever known, all I ever tried to be was someone that was good enough in his eyes. If I couldn't be that person, then I didn't know who I was. And even though my parents had fought and argued, the woman before me would always be the woman he married. The person he had fallen in love with, shared his life with; the person that knew him best. So if anyone would have known if he was disappointed in me, it would be her.

I could have done more. Could have worked more shifts, taken less classes, not bought as many things for myself. There was no excuse, there was always more money to be made, more things I could have done for her.

"Well...I don't have all day," she snipped, looking at me expectantly. I wanted to help her, I wanted to help her so badly, because I knew that she needed it. But I had empty hands and nothing that I could offer to her. Rolling her eyes she let out a string of agitated curses underneath her breath before reaching up to backhand me across the face, the familiar sting causing the tears that were brimming to escape. I grabbed my face softly as I tried to force myself to stop crying. She grabbed my chin roughly, forcing me to look her in the eyes.