New York, New York - Mike Faist

TWENTY-THREE

*jocelyn*

Mike and I were pulling into my Moms place, which was deep in the forest. The house was reserved but big. I mean, Moms a defense attorney and dad was a high-ranking military personal so we got off pretty well. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else, until I got to New York. It was a big change from living where we were miles from any other houses, to New York City!

"Mike?"

"Yeah." He parked the car

"I'm nervous."

"Why?"

"It's the first time my mother is officially meeting you. And I haven't seen her since Dad."

"Hey, it's going to be fine. I'll be here the entire time."

This lifted my worries slightly but, they were immediately more heightened as I knocked on the door. My arm was around Mikes and my head was leaned on his arm. Mom answered the door and a smile graced my face.

"Mom!" I let go of Mike arm but he held onto me until the last possible second

"My baby girl is home!" She pulled me into a lung-crushing mom hug

I laughed and pulled back. She invited us into the house and we stepped in and into the living room. The living room was large and was connected to the kitchen. One wall was a full mirror looking out into the woods. Two leather couches sat in front of the television which hung in between two book shelves.

"Andy! You're sisters here!" Mom called down the basement and a few seconds later Andrew came up

"Jocelyn. My little Tony award winner. I missed you baby sis!" He pulled me into a hug.

What was going on? Andrew is never this sweet to me. Something must be going on. And once he released me I saw what. A new figure entered from the basement and my blood ran cold. I reached around for Mikes hand and he looked down at me confused.

"Andy, what's going on?" I whispered to my brother.

Mother left the room to who knows where luckily. Andy shot me an apologetic look as the figure stepped into the light. James. He was here. He was in my mothers house. He was standing across from me. Tears pricked my eyes as we made eye contact.

"I need to leave. Excuse us." I pulled Mike up the stairs and into my old room.

I sat on the bed and tried to regain my cool. I mean, my whole world just turned upside down for all the wrong reasons. Mike sat next to me and grabbed my hand.

"Joss, what's wrong?"

"That was James."

"Who's James?"

"This is going to be a long story." I moved to sit at the top of my bed leaning back on the headboard.

Mike followed and took my hand once again. I took a deep breath and began my story. It all started my senior year of high school.

THIS SECTION WILL INCLUDE SENSITIVE TOPICS. SUCH AS SE*UAL ASSAULT. IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE PLEASE SKIP OVER THIS.

"Kaitlyn, I am telling you, you are a shoo-in for valedictorian!" I laughed linking arms with my best friend

"Whatever, I think that Justin is going to miraculously pull through and steal it from me."

"If that happens, you'll still get salutatorian! Let's look on the upside?"

"I guess. Hey, I'm going to stop in here." She pointed at a store and unlinked our arms

"Alright, I'm gonna head to the bathroom real quick."