Camryn Quinn is finally getting what she wants...sort of. Moving into a dorm and away from her not so supportive father is a good first step, but like everything with him-it comes with strings. She must attend the college of his choosing for at leas...
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I somehow teleported to my dorm, packed a bag and then teleported to the bus stop because when I look down, I'm seated on a blue bench underneath an awning waiting for a Greyhound bus. I don't remember leaving Taylor, I don't remember if I saw Alyssa in our room, or if I walked here or took an Uber. All I can feel is the hurt in my chest. I can't even feel my cheeks to know if the tears are still falling. If they are, they aren't because of what my father and brother have done. I've come to expect that from them. They've always made me out to be a pawn in their games, forever their weakest link to be sacrificed at every advance.
I can't figure out what Taylor's end game is in all of this. The shame I feel because of him is unmatched to anything I've ever experienced. But aside from giving him my body, I gave him my soul too. Which is worse in my mind. I gave him every single ounce of myself and mistook his kindness, and gentle heart, his warm eyes and touches, his questions and answers as him relinquishing the same to me. I should have known. I did know. I knew that someone like him was only capable of hurting. He's confirmed that he's the type of guy to give his love long enough to take it away when it doesn't fit them any longer. Or in my case to pretend to give it, only when it serves them.
My eyes are swollen and hurt to open, so I've been resting my eyes for what feels like three hours. I look at the clock on the wall. The hands point to two twenty seven, meaning my eyes have been closed for approximately twenty minutes. I had to turn my phone off. It wouldn't stop vibrating with calls and texts from my father, Cal, and Taylor. I only read the ones from Taylor, but had to stop reading them after the last one.
Taylor Reed: Camryn it wasn't a lie. Just please let me come to you. Let me explain.
As if he deserves even a second of my time to explain to me how it wasn't a lie. As if there is any universe where taking money in exchange for me laying myself down bare for him in more ways than one doesn't equate to one big fucking lie wrapped in a money colored bow.
I turn my phone back on long enough to make one phone call. She answers on the first ring, and the tears immediately begin to flow again. Between Gabi shushing me, the entire story falls from my lips at a pace so fast, I'm not even sure she hears it. She does however confirm what I was hoping, that she's home and that she can pick me up from the bus stop in Nashville when I arrive eight hours from now.
After eight hours, one bus transfer, and a fitful sleep I'm awoken by the driver announcing his last stop of the evening. It's ten pm local time. Other passengers file their way off, but I wait until the very end. I don't want to move at a faster pace. I'm not even sure that I can at this point. A two tiered bus with stained felt seats that smells like a thrift store wasn't my ideal way to travel, but there were no direct flights from Columbus to Nashville until tomorrow. Miles and distance was the one thing I needed. I needed to create an actual divide between myself and that place. Giving no chance for anyone to come find me. I'm not ready to hear explanations. I have absolutely no energy to have that battle yet. I gather my duffle bag from under the bus and thank the driver before slinging the black strap over my shoulder and walking down the street.
