Broken Innocence

14. A gift to the devil.

The more time Mia spent at the Knight house, the more Roger had spoke to her. She wasn't sure why he suddenly had an interest in her.

At first she thought his simple questions were creepy. Why did he care how her day was? After a while she found herself actually engaging in the conversation more.

Roger would be unusually nice to Mia, asking her how she is, about her mother, school. He always reminded her that if she needed anything, he could help. He was a 'resourceful man'.

Mia would never ask anyone for help. Even when she needed it most. Currently she was at risk of loosing everything. Her mother usually spent the little money she had left on alcohol. They knew they were going under. It was a slow but surely struggle ever since Mia's dad left them all those years ago.

After one night of dreadful shouts and cries between Amelia and her mother, she had stuffed as much as she possible into one bag and made her way out of her childhood home. Going the only place she could think of.

"Amelia" Roger opened the door to see the girl in a state. Her mascara ran down her face and the rain left her hair dripping around her. "Come in"

Once she had thanked the man and he had let her inside he told her neither of his children were there but would be home soon. Mia decided to wait as she had no where else to go.

"Do you plan on staying?" The man questioned, directing his eyes to the bag beside her
"If that's okay. My uh, my mum. She..." Amelia didn't really know what to say or how to explain the situation. Roger clearly caught on to that.

"It's fine. You know I see you as my own daughter Amelia, whatever you need, you say" his voice was firm. Strong. His hand placed firmly on her leg.

He's just trying to comfort me, right? He knows I'm upset.
No! This is creepy! Leave!
It's fine. I've known his for years. I suppose he is like a dad?
He is a horrible person Mia get a grip!
Reece will be back soon. It's fine.

Her thoughts battled each other in her head.

Do I move?
I can't move.
What do I do?
Do I say something?
Do I tell him to get off me?
Fuck sake Mia get a grip he's an old man!
He's creepy.
He's trying to be nice.
Oh my god where is Reece?!
He'll be back soon, right?
What if he's not?
This is uncomfortable.
No, he's like a dad.
He can't even parent his own kids.
He's a bad person.
He's the only one that's here. What can I do?
He's the closest thing I have to a dad.
I want my real dad.
He left me. He left me here with no one.
I just want a dad. To protect me.
That's what they are meant to do, right?
Dads are supposed to look after you.
Roger is trying to look after me.
Is he though?

"Mia?" The worried voice snapped Mia right back out of her thoughts. She hadn't even noticed that Reece and Autumn returned and Roger had left the room.

"Reecey" the girls instantly stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck, "I'm sorry I didn't know where to go and I couldn't stay there, I'm so sorry Reecey" she sniffled through the tears.

"It's okay, you're okay" he pulled her in for another hug when Autumn walked into the room,
"Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, yeah It's fine" Mia smiled, "where were you guys anyway?"

"Just on a walk, Reece was boring me with something about the starts"
"Hey! It's not boring!" The three burst into laughter.

...

"So what's happened with your mum this time?" Reece asks. He knew if Mia wanted to talk about it, she would bring it up. But it had been hours since he got home to find her there and not one mention of it since.

Autumn took her to get cleaned up and after the three had watched movies and ordered food. Autumn had fallen asleep a bit ago and Reece just watched as Mia watched the movie with the younger's head on her lap.

"She's drinking us both dry" the girls sighed, "we're gonna loose everything Reecey. The bills are overdue and she doesn't even care. I'm either gonna get shoved into care or I can leave myself. I can't do it anymore Reecey. It's hell there" Reece listened intently. It wasn't often that Mia opened up to anyone any more.

"She's been a mess since dad left. But he didn't just leave her. He left me too. It should be her looking after me not the other way round" Mia began to run her fingers through Autumn's brunette locks.

Autumn was everything Mia wanted to be, bar the shitty parents. That she already had. She wanted her patience. Her innocence. No matter what she went through she was still innocent in it all. She was beautiful inside and out. Mia was just... messed up.

"You can stay here. However long. I don't care what my dad says" Mia smiled at her boyfriend and rested her head gently on his shoulder
"Thank you Reecey"

While the three teens were silently enjoying each other's comfort, the devil himself watched over them. Worse than the devil.

He stood behind the door as Amelia let out her secrets. What seemed like hell to her was really his gift. It was exactly what he needed to know.

If only Amelia knew how bad things could really get.