You Saved Me

Chapter 3

We arrive in Baltimore after a 4 hour drive. We pull up infront of what I assume is Alex's house. The guys get out, help carry in my things and set them down in what looks like the living room. After they put my stuff down, Alex brings in his bags and sets them down. “End of the tour?” I ask looking at how big his house is. “Uh, not exactly, but we are going to cancel the last 3 shows and make it up the fans somehow. I need to focus on you right now.” Alex says smiling at me. “Alex, you don't have to cancel shows because of me. I don't want to be a burden to you.”

He quickly looks at me and walks towards me. I cower as he raises his hand to me. “DON'T HIT ME! PLEASE!” I scream through my instantaneous tears. “Oh my gosh. Joey, I'm sorry. I'm not going to hit you. I promise. I never will.” he says hugging me close. “You're not a burden to us. We like helping others. Now come on, I want to show you to your new room.” He says looking at me. I wipe my tears and grab a tub, as does Alex, and follow him up a small set of stairs. We stop infront of this red door. He opens it up to reveal a red and black themed room with white carpet and a giant mirror across from the giant full size bed. It has a boucany, chandaleir lights, and a closet. I put my tub down and look around the room. “Welcome home.” Alex says. Home. That's a place I havn't been in a LONG time. I walk back out and carry my tubs up to my new room. I have maybe 6 tubs. After Alex and I put down the last tub, he looks at me and says, “Well, I'll leave you to unpack, then around say, 6:30 or so, I'll take you out to dinner. How does that sound?” I smile and nod at him. He closes the door behind him.

I walk into the closet and see that it is HUGE! Hangers and mirrors and drawers. I take all my clothes into the closet and organize them. I take the pictures and arrange them on the little dresser infront of the giant mirror. I look at the picture of me and my brother at the Marine Corps Ball 3 years ago. He got deployed after the ball, and he never came back alive. He died in action. I miss him a lot, and I cherish this photo. I look at the pictures of me and my biological mom, dad and sister. I straighten a few things out then make up my bed with my teddy bears and pillows that were special to me.

I walk out of the room and wonder down the hallway a bit more to find Alex's room. I knock on the door and open it to find a short, blonde and brown highlighted haired girl. She spins around. “Hi! I'm Lisa. I'm Alex's girlfriend. He told me about you. Welcome home.” I say, “Uh, hi Lisa. I'm Joey. I'm sorry to burden you all with me, but thank you.” That's the first time in 5 years I was able to say thank you willingly. She walks over to me and says, “Don't mention it.” She turns off the TV and calls the 2 dogs out. Her and I talk all the way out into the living room. “Good! You met Lisa.” Alex says walking over to me and Lisa, hugging her from the side. “Yeah. I'm glad to say that I'll be like her bigger sister.” Lisa says with a smile. Alex looks at me, standing alone and pulls me into a hug. He whispers to me, ”Loosen up. We're your family now. You're life starts today.” I smile and he pulls back. “So, how about a buffet? I'm starving!” Lisa says patting her stomach.

We all go out to dinner, and after we get our food, I get to spill about my life. “Tell us about yourself a little bit Joey.” Alex says between bites. “Well, I'm Joey Morris, 17, born December 14, 1992, I lived with my “foster” mom, if that's what you can call it, and I'm a senior in highschool. My brother died 3 years ago in the war. He was a marine. My biological dad and mom both died in a shooting when I was 10, and my older sister moved to England.” They both look at each other and smile. “Your birthday Is the 14th?” Alex says smiling after taking a drink. I nod and he says, “That's my birthday too! We could have like, a double party. A teen party, then an adult party after you went to bed.” He says. “I know you drink. I don't mind it, just don't get too crazy while I'm awake. Get loose, but not loose like a wet noodle.” They both laugh at my reference. “Alright. Fair enough.” Lisa says. “We're glad your here.” They both say at the same time. I smile down at my food.

We continue to eat. After we finish the main courses, Lisa volunteers to go get a montage of desserts. Alex looks at me and says, “We'll go up to Dulaney tomorrow and enroll you there. The kids are really welcoming. Everyone is actually really similar to you. It's in Townson, which is 10 minutes from here, but it's still a good school.” I look up from my drink and smile. “You have no idea how much I thank you for all of this. I'm pretty sure no other fan can say that Alex Gaskarth saved their life, literally.” I say smiling. “You're a fan?” he asks looking at me contentely. “Yep. Been one since 03. You guys are awesome.” He just sits back and says, “Huh. That's awesome.” Just then, Lisa comes back and we all talk for a little while longer. After we finish eating, we go back home.

In the car, I say, “I'm glad to have an older brother and sister figure to look up to.” Lisa says, “Wait until you get to know the other's more.” We all laugh as we pull up infront of the house. We all get out and go inside. I stretch and say, “Well, I'm going to go to bed. Been a long day. Goodnight you guys. Thank you.” Alex and Lisa agree and Alex walks over to me and says, “Goodnight.” He kisses my forehead, then I'm off to my room. I close the door and crawl into the bed. I quickly fall asleep. What a crazy, yet great ending to a shitty day.

ALEX POV
I feel so bad for Joey. All those things those kids said to her, all the scars she has, her mom abusing her, I just feel so awful. “Lisa, you don't think it was a bad idea to bring Joey here, do you?” I ask Lisa looking over at her on her laptop. “Babe, I think she really neded this. With her history, I don't think she woulda lasted. You made the right choice.” she says closing her laptop and snuggling into my bicep. “I guess your right. In a little bit, I'm going to go check on her. Make sure she's okay sleeping in her new room.” I say putting my arm around her. I hope it WAS the right choice.

JOEY POV
“No. No please! Don't!” I scream as Alex comes closer to me with a knife. I scream as Lisa runs over to him to stop him. He spins around, pushes her to the ground, stabs her, then turns towards me. “Your turn.” he says with a devilish grin. “Oh god please help me.” He walks closer to me, grabs my arm and pins me against the fridge. I feel a sharp pain in my lower back. I turn to look and see the knife in my back, being twisted around. “Alex, Please! STOP!!!!” I scream. He stabs the knife in numerous other times all across my lower back. I continue to scream, hoping someone would hear me.

I continue to scream as I sit up. I hear footsteps running to my room and the door flings open. “Are you okay?” Alex says sitting down on the bed. I begin to shake and cry. He pulls me close to him and craddles me. “You're safe. No one is going to hurt you.” I look up at him and say, “S-S-sorry I w-woke you. I-I had a b-bad dream.” Lisa comes in and sits down on the bed with a glass of milk and crackers. Alex loosens up on his grip of me and I cower away a bit due to what my dream was about. “Wanna explain it to us?” Lisa says putting her arm around me. “I will, but I need you to take your arms off from around me.” I say looking at Alex. He glares at me then takes his arms off. “Nothing personal, it's just, my dream.” he nods and I take a sip of milk.

“Well, I was getting up to get some food, and Alex came after me. I turned around and he had a knife. I screamed at him, and you came in. He spun around, stabbed you, then pinned me to the fridge saying, 'Your turn.' He stabbed me in my lower back, and as I was screaming, I woke up.” I say looking down at my hands. “Joey, I would never hurt you. Ever.” Alex says looking at me. “I may get angry and throw some stuff around, but I would NEVER hurt you or Lisa.” He says taking my hand. “Yeah. He wants to help. Not harm.” Lisa says. “I know. I guess it was just my inner fears coming in. I'm sorry for waking you guys.” I say scooting up on my bed and covering myself up. “It's fine. Go on back to sleep. If you'd like, I can sleep in here with you.” Lisa says smiling. I nod and say, “I'd like that.” She nods and her and Alex go into their room. Lisa returns with a blanket and pillow. “You don't have to sleep in the chair. You can sleep with me.” I say. “The beds big enough.” Lisa nods then climbs in the bed with me. She turns to me and says, “Everything will be okay. Goodnight Jo.” She kisses my forehead, the way my dad would before I went to sleep, then turned out the light. She rolled over, as did I, and we both went to sleep.