Better Hollow {Finished}

Chapter 13

Muscle Memory

Ramona laid on her bed, she hadn't talked to James since that night when she got drunk and spilled her guts to Lucy. Mabel was laying next to her, "When are you gonna confront him?" Mabel asked, it was the question she'd been asking all week.

"I don't know," Ramona replied, like she always did.

"Are you ever going to explain to me what happened between you two?" Mabel asked. Ramona still hadn't told her about that day.

"Do you promise not to tell anyone," Ramona asked, sitting up to pet Cooper. Mabel nodded, holding her pinky out for Ramona.

"When I called you, telling you that you were right, it was because he almost punched me. We were arguing, somewhere along the line I ended backed up against the wall. He was in my face, just screaming. James grabbed me, shaking me by my shoulders and then- and then he grabbed me by my neck," Ramona said, recalling the feeling of James hot breath in her face as he screamed at her.

"Ramona, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Mabel asked, her mouth gaping.

"Because you wouldn't get it. I wasn't going to go back to him, but then I found Danny's note. It was James who held me as I cried, I can't leave him after that," Ramona said, tears streaming steadily from her eyes.

"You need to leave him, Ramona. Sometimes it's the burning buildings that feel like home, but they're still a danger," Mabel said, taking Ramona's hand.

"What about Kayla?" Ramona asked, knowing she can't just leave Kayla.

"She'll understand, you'll be setting an example for her. You'll show her that you should only accept the love you deserve," Mabel reassured Ramona. "Maybe, today before the party, you should go over and talk to Kayla."

"Yeah, I think I'll do that," Ramona said, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. "I'll meet you at the party."

"Okay, I'll see you there. You got this," Mabel said, hugging Ramona. The girls stood there embracing, both pondering the change in their friendship over the last six months. Ramona had been the one comforting Mabel, telling her to leave Jeremy. Now it was Mabel comforting Ramona, the only difference was Mabel wasn't beating James' ass.

They both walked downstairs and outside, patting Cooper goodbye as they left and parted ways. Ramona walked over to James' house, glad he was out of the house. Ramona walked inside, feeling nauseous as she went upstairs. She pushed the door open to Kayla's room, watching Kayla mess around from the doorway.

"Hey, Ramona," Kayla said, happy to see her. "James isn't here right now, Mom asked him to go to the store while she cuts the grass."

"Hey, Kayla," Ramona said, unsure of how to start the conversation.

"You seem sad, what's wrong?" Kayla asked, cocking her small head.

"Well," Ramona said, sitting down on the floor next to Kayla, "I might not be around as much."

"Why? Did James do something?" Kayla asked, her eyes searching Ramona. Kayla's little hands grasped Ramona's.

"Yeah. I love your brother very much, but it's come time for me to part ways. He's done some things, and I can't stick around because of them. This has nothing to do with you, okay. We can still hangout, it just will have to be at my house," Ramona said, trying to comfort Kayla.

"It's okay, Ramona. Sometimes you have to leave the people you love," Kayla said, seemingly not saddened.

"I just want you to know that you didn't do anything to influence my decision. Leaving James has been a very tough decision I've had to make. You... you, Kayla, are my rock, and everything your brother did... you made it worth it," Ramona said, squeezing Kayla's tiny hands.