reasons why I love you

Reason 1: greatful

I looked around in the misty environment, confused. Yet self-aware of my surroundings. I heard familiar voices murmuring around me, circling my brain, I hugged my knees to my chest and laid my head between them. "go away, go away go away" I whispered.

"you can't get rid of me Isla..."

A whispery voice said in my ear." go away, go away, FUCK OFF!" I yelled, I opened my eyes and looked around, I was in my bedroom.

"oh thank fuck."

I said, sighing, as I let myself fall back, feeling the back of my head hit my pillow. I heard my phone buzz on my nightstand.

New text from "Mazie<3":
You up?

Mazie? This late? She's never up this late.

Isla: yeah, why?

Mazie: Idk, js can't sleep:/

Isla: I feel you.

I turn off my phone and put it back on my nightstand. I grab my headphones. I need to sleep. Bad.

Isla: I should head to bed though, it's late

Mazie: alright, sleep well.

Isla: you too.

I plugged my headphones on and played my playlist. I tried to get comfortable but I just couldn't. Finally, I got my body to relax.
But soon after...

*BEEP BEEP BEEP*

"Fuck!"

I said, turning off my alarm. I groaned deeply and sat up in bed for a moment, my mom opened the door.

"oh good! You're awake. I didn't have to yell at you to wake up."

She gave me a passive-aggressive smile as she closed the door. I grab my pillow and buried my face in it as I screamed.

"here you go!"

My mom said, placing a plate in front of me of scrambled eggs and the dryest toast I've ever seen.

"Thanks.."

"I guess..."

I mumbled as I ate slowly. I finished eating and chugged my juice, and ran to my bedroom to get ready. As I brushed my teeth. I thought about my nightmare. I've never had anything respond when I say something before. It was weirdly familiar. It reminded me of... My dad. A shiver went up my spine thinking about him. He was arrested for-

"ISLA, HURRY UP!"

"Oh, shit!"

I spit out my toothpaste and ran to the front door where my mom was and stopped. Panting.

"you...okay?"

"y-*huff*yeah just give me a minute..."

"Okay then..."

We walked out the door and I jumped in the car.

"Can we pick up Mazie"

I asked, my mom, sighed heavily,

"Oh...I don't know."

'Please?"

My mom paused and started the car.

"well that's the first time I've heard you asking nicely in forever so, I guess we could"

"yes!"

I whispered. I texted Mazie

Isla: Need a ride?

Mazie: Yes!! Please!!

She sounded very desperate. I was a little nervous. After Mazie's mom died, her dad started to abuse her. So, we often picked up her just to get her away from him.

Isla: Mk cool, omw

Mazie: Thanks!

I put my headphones on and played music as we made our way down the street to Mazie's house. I started to get worried something was wrong. Horribly, Horribly. Wrong. I texted Mazie.

Isla: everything okay?

Mazie: yeah, great!

Isla: are you sure? You know you can tell me.

...
No response. I started to panic as we pulled up to her house. I walked up to the front door and knocked. Her father answered.

"hey... Isla! What's up?"

"just here to pick up Mazie...!"

I started to shake, Mazie knew how much power he had over us.
He scoffed.

"that's a nice offer sweetie, but I'll take her."

Ugh, he's disgusting.

"oh! Well, I'm already here, we might as well!"

He looked at me with an offended look.

"MAZIE, GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE"

"I-I'm coming!"

Her voice was more frightened than usual. Her face was light pale like she had just seen a ghost. I looked at her, wide-eyed. She gave me a reassuring face, I pretended I wasn't concerned but I could, something was off. He pushed Mazie towards me. I caught her in my arms.

"faggots..."

I heard him whisper. I held Mazie's hand and walked to the car. We both jumped into the back seat of the car.

"Everything alright?"

"Yeah just... alittle on egde I guess."

She looked away from me. Was it something I did? Or her dad.. its probably her dad.. I'm just over thinking. Right?