Shattered Asylum

Chapter 20

I woke up again with the same nightmare but this time someone was trying to save me. I could hear yelling from a distance telling Daniel to stop.

I had two hours before I needed to leave for school so I decided to look cute for once. I got out of the shower and did my morning routine.

I colored my eyebrows, put on mascara and did simple eyeshadow. I finished my makeup with blush and highlight. I decided to straighten my waist length curly hair before going to my walk-in closet to pick out an outfit.

I decided on a brown knitted long sleeve sweater and paired it with my ripped black jeans and my black converse. I ate breakfast with my grandparents before heading to school.

I head to my locker with a smile on my face. Today is going to be a good day. I open my locker to put the books I don't need away. I look in my little mirror I have on the door of my locker and chant my daily affirmations before shutting it.

I jump out of my skin when I see Grayson leaning on the lockers next to mine. "You freaking scared me!" I put my hand on my racing heart.

"You look pretty today." I look into his brown dilated eyes. "T-Thank you." I feel my cheeks becoming warm. I cough to clear my throat. "You don't look so bad yourself." I feel that fluttering in the pit of my stomach.

"I always look good." I roll my eyes. He is so self-absorbed with an ego bigger than both of us combined. it's annoying.

He looks behind me, his body becoming stiff. Confused, I look to see what's got him so tensed up.

Layla is kissing some guy with his back leaned on the lockers. I guess she isn't the one in that video. They aren't supposed to be down this hall anyway.

I hear Grayson clear his throat "I'll walk you to your class." He touches the small of my back leading me away from my locker.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, it must hurt." I can see some sort of emotion in his eyes. "Let's not go there." He says, his mood instantly changing. I keep my mouth shut, letting him lead me the opposite direction of my class.

~

I was in my last class of the day. Grayson plops down in the chair in front of me. "Do you want to go camping this weekend?"

I look around to see who he was talking to but when I don't see anyone around us. I look at him and see he's already looking at me.

"Uhm. Wouldn't your girlfriend be upset?" I ask. I wouldn't want my boyfriend camping with some girl.

"What girlfriend?" He asks knitting his eyebrows in confusion. I roll my eyes. "The girl in the video." I say, in a duh tone. He chuckles, running his fingers through his hair.

"That video was from three years ago when me and Layla first got together." He says. I feel a weight being lifted from my shoulders.

Pfft, it's not like I really cared that much...Right?

"Is it just us going?" I ask. That would be a very awkward weekend. "No. The whole gang plus Madison and her friend Kristy. We want to go to the lake before winter comes."

I've never gone camping before. "I'll have to ask my grandparents." Do I trust these people enough to go in the woods with them?

~

After practice I get home and eat dinner with my grandparents. "Com'è andata a scuola oggi, tesoro?" (How was school today, Honey?) Grandma asks cutting into her steak.

"È stato bello, sono stato invitato ad andare in campeggio questo fine settimana." (It was good, got invited to go camping this weekend.) I say playing with my mashed potatoes.

"Chi ti ha invitato?" (Who invited you?) Grandpa asks. He stops chewing his food, staring at me.

I clear my throat before talking. "Grayson." I say, my voice small. He hums, getting back to chewing. "Puoi andare, mi piace quel ragazzo" (You can go, I like that boy.) He says, sipping on his wine.

"Domani ti metteremo sotto controllo delle nascite." (We'll put you on birth control tomorrow.) Grandma says, nonchalantly.

I choke on my water, coughing up a lung. "Non so se voglio andare." (I don't know if I want to go.) I say, after catching my breathe.

"Perché?" (Why?) Grandpa asks. "Non so se mi fido abbastanza di loro da restare da solo con loro per due giorni." (I don't know if I trust them enough to be alone with them for two days.) I say.

How can you really know someone's true intentions in such a short amount of time?

"Come potrai mai saperlo se non li lasci entrare?" (How will you ever know if you don't let them in?) Grandma asks, her voice soft.

I shrug, it's hard to let people in after having so many bad things happen to me. Am I ready to let my guard down?

I pondered on grandma's question for the rest of the night. It's so hard to trust someone, believing in what they say is true, opening up to them hoping they won't tell anyone else.

I've trusted a friend once, telling them about my home life. I hoped telling them would make a difference. Instead, they broke my trust and humiliated me in front of everyone. When Joe found out, he beat me until I passed out and locked me in my room for a week.

I never trusted anyone else after that.

I will never put myself in that position again.

Sorry this chapter is short.

How are we liking the book so far?

See you in the next one.