This Is Me Trying

Chapter Twenty-Two

Danielle

"Betty? It's eight thirty. We gotta go kid." I called out sadly.
"Coming." Betty said as she walked to the doorway with her bag.

The three of us got in my car, and I drove us to her grandparents house.
I stopped down the road and put the car in park.
"What are you doing?" Stefania asked.
"We still have five minuets with her. I'm not giving her up any sooner than I have to." I gripped the steering wheel, trying not to cry. I had to be brave for Betty.
"Betty. It's only two weeks. Two weeks, and you'll be home." Stefania turned and faced her.

"I want you to know no matter what happens, we love you so so much. We're going to get a lawyer and fight this, okay?" I reached back and grabbed Betty's hand.
Betty sniffled and nodded.

We sat there for a few minuets, and then I started the car and pulled the car up to her grandparents house.
"I don't want you two to walk me up. I don't think I'll be able to go in if you do." Betty said as she opened her car door.
I nodded and took a deep breath as she shut her door.

Betty knocked on my window, and I rolled it down.
"No matter what anyone says, you're my Mom and Mamma. Got it?" Betty said with tears in her eyes.
"We love you kid." I grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly.

"Come on!" The old man shouted from the porch.
"We love you bambina!" Stefania shouted as Betty walked inside her grandparents house, and the door shut behind her.

I broke down and started bawling in my hands, and Stefania quickly reached over and put her hand on my back.
"We're going to get her back bambina. I'll make sure of it."

Betty

"Uh hi. I'm Betty."
"We know who you are. You're the daughter of the whore our dumb ass son knocked up." The woman scoffed.
I stayed silent, looking down at the ground.
"Are you a junkie like your Dad was?"
"My dad was not a junkie." I told her.

She reached back and slapped me across the face, "Don't you dare talk back to me, you little slut." She growled.
"You work, don't you?" The man asked.
"Uh yeah."
"Give me the money you got on you."
"I only have twenty dollars with me." I reached in my pocket and pulled out the twenty. He snatched it out of my hands and shoved it in his pocket.
"Charlie, don't you think you should show the bitch her bedroom?" The old woman scoffed.
Charlie grabbed my ponytail, and drug me up the stairs.
He threw me into the first bedroom on the right side of the hallway.
"You'll be let out for work and that is it. I better see that next paycheck you get." He slammed the door and I heard it lock behind him.

I sat up, and looked around the room. There was a mattress on the floor, and that was it.
"Fucking hell." I crawled over to the mattress and laid down.

Danielle

I heard my phone ding, and I quickly grabbed it.
"Babe! I got a message from Betty!" I exclaimed.
Stefania came running into the bedroom and jumped on the bed, "Read it to me!"

"Hey Mom and Mamma. I just wanted to let you know that I'm okay and that I love you both so much. I'll see you at work tomorrow. 🌙🔙."
"What does that mean?" Stefania pointed to the last part of her text.
"Something Betty and I say after every conversation. I love you to the moon and back."

I quickly texted her a response, "We love you kid. So much. We can't wait to see you tomorrow. 🌙🔙."

"I really miss her." I sighed as I laid my phone on the bedside table.
"I know. I do too. But we'll see her tomorrow bambina." Stefania opened her arms and I laid my head on her chest.
"I love you." I whispered as I closed my eyes.
"I love you too bella. More than you'll ever know."

Betty
*The next morning*

"Wake up! Get the hell out!"
I felt a blow to my stomach and I doubled over in pain. I looked up from my mattress on the floor and saw my grandmother standing over me.
"Get the hell up. Get out of my house." She growled.
I grabbed my bag and my phone and quickly stood up from the mattress.
"You come straight back here after work. No stops. Understand?"
"Yes ma'am. Work ends at midnight." I muttered as I stared at my feet.
"Then be back here by twelve thirty. Not a minuet later. Do you get paid today?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Bring me that check too. Now get out of my face."

I walked past her and ran down the stairs and out of the house.
I slung my backpack over my shoulder, and opened my phones camera to look at myself.
I had dark circles under my eyes from the lack of sleep last night, and a small bruise on my jaw from where I got slapped.
I sighed and dialed Danielle's number.

"Betty! How are you? Are you okay?" She answered after the first ring.
"I'm okay. Are you at work yet?"
"No. Stefania and I are about to leave. Do you want us to pick you up?"
"Please. Can you meet me at the gas station down the street? I don't want them to know."
"We'll be there in ten minuets. Love you kid."
"I love you too." I whispered as I hung up the phone.

I walked down to the gas station and sat down on the bench, waiting on Stefania and Danielle.

Danielle

"There she is!" I exclaimed as we pulled into the gas station.
I put the car in park and Stefania and I jumped out of the car.
"Betty!" I shouted as she ran over to us.
She wrapped her arms around me and I held her tightly.
"I miss you guys." She sniffled into my chest.
"We miss you too."

She let go of me and wrapped Stefania in a hug.
"Ciao bella." Stefania kissed the top of her head.
"Be honest. Are you okay there?" Stefania lifted her chin up and made her look her in the eye.
"I'm okay. I just didn't get a lot of sleep last night because I missed you guys."
I could tell she was lying.

Stefania nodded and let go of Betty.
I made eye contact with my fiancé and she shook her head no.
"Let's go to work. We have a long day ahead of us."