Behind Closed Doors

7 - The Inciting Incident

Sprawled out in my late-night booty shorts and my bare chest in very close proximity to my standing fan, because we couldn't afford an AC unit, the shrill sound of my ringtone blares through the quiet night.

Shit.

Was all I could think as I groggily dragged myself out of sleep and picked up my phone to flash the screen at my still-closed eyes.

Prying them open I see the message that I dreaded.

2 seconds ago

Allison: "Please come over."

The 3 simple words had me bolting out of bed and dragging on my hoodie as I climb out of my bedroom window and race across to Allison's house.

Her whole house, save for the living room, was dark.

Hell, the entire neighbourhood was pitch black, and I was going off pure muscle memory to guide me to where I needed to go.

Around the low-cut shrubbery, I duck under the glowing lights of Allison's living room, where I heard the expected muffled voices fighting to remain contained within.

Connor buying those soundproof paddings for the inside of this house proved to be a worthwhile investment.

Praying no neighbour was somehow awake and looking through his window to see a suspicious figure in a hoodie prowling around and deciding to shoot my ass, I quickly made my way to Allison's bedroom window.

As I'd done many times before, I squat down low, and mentally prepared myself to move swiftly.

3

.

.

.

2

.

.

.

1

.

.

.

I yank open her window.

"YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT-"

I swiftly jumped through the window and slammed it shut behind me before any more sound escaped the house.

If we were lucky, people would only think it was an errant car horn sounding out from a lost driver.

Allison cowered in the corner.

"Oh, Ally...." I breathed out as my heart broke at the sight of her.

"Gah! R-r-ri....." She gasped and hiccuped at the sight of me, not even realizing when I'd suck in.

"Come here," I crawled over her carpeted floor in the dark room towards her outline, and she practically flung herself into my arms.

I held her close in the fiercest bear hug I could muster and shoved ourselves into a corner between her drawer and bedframe.

Trying to shield her from the unending waves of profanities being screamed right now as I covered her head completely in my arms.

"YOU TRAPPED ME IN THIS LOVELESS MARRIAGE AND REFUSE TO LET ME LIVE MY LIFE IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY!!"

"Claire-"

"SHUT UP!!! STOP TRYING TO GASLIGHT ME INTO THINKING I'M THE PROBLEM!!!"

"BUT YOU ARE!!"

I felt my spine shiver at one of the rare moments of Connor yelling back. And Allison's entire body breaking out into uncontrollable shivers also confirmed that fact.