What's the Worst That Could Happen? - Awareness Story

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗

     It was silent for a moment. Even Evi who was trying to avoid the situation had now turned her head up. Abe placed down the mug and pulled out the chair next to his brother, putting a hand on his shoulder before he started talking, comforting him. Bram didn't hold back a lot, as he soon started tearing up and crying. Esme pursed her lips slightly as she stood back up, pushing her coffee aside and going up to her mom.

"...Millie needs me for a school project, would it be fine if I left for a few hours?" she asked, praying her mother would understand and not find leaving the family during a tough time disrespectful.

Anne thought for a moment.

"Sure, of course." she replied, giving her a weak smile. "Have fun."

Esme was quick to stand up once her mother responded, slowly stepping out the kitchen and grabbing her jacket. She draped it over her shoulders, and swung the door open before closing it gently behind her once she was outside. She exhaled and pulled her phone out, texting Millie right away.

"Hey Mills, are you home?"

Around 10 seconds passed before she saw the 'typing...' message pop up.

"Hey social butterfly," she teased, "Yeah, I'm home. Why?"

"I was wondering if it's fine for me to come over? There's a... Situation going at my house and I can't really stay there anymore." Esme wrote and hesitated for a moment before sending it.

"Are you seriously asking? Of course it's fine. You know my house is open whenever. Mi casa es su casa."

"Alright. I'm on my way."

"By the way."

Millie texted after they both stopped for a second.

"???"

"Remember how you told me that I should come out...? To my family, I mean. Including Gabriel."

"Yeah, it wasn't that long ago, I told you I believed it would show Gabriel you're not scared of him anymore... Why are you bringing this up now?"

"I'm doing it."

"What?"

"I'm doing it. Today."

"Wow. Okay, how come?"

"Well, something happened last night and it kind of ignited something in me. Made me rethink the whole 'standing up to Gabriel' thing. I wanna do it."

"What happened?"

"Just Gabriel being a jerk like usual."

Esme decided to not really question it. She just sent a quick reply to end the conversation and put her phone back in her pocket. She was almost there either way.

     "Front door or bedroom window?" she texted Millie, standing a few meters away from her house.

"Bedroom window." Millie was quick to respond.

And so she did. Esme walked quietly around the back of the house and found the bedroom window open. She knocked on it twice, getting Millie's attention who was currently listening to music on her headphones. She thought she'd spare her from the heart attack. Once she had gotten Millie's approval (a nod), she opened the window and headed inside before closing it.

"Is he asleep?" Esme asked.

Millie shook her head.

"Not asleep. And sober as well."

"Oh. Wow, ain't that an improvement?" Esme rolled her eyes slightly.

"Yeah well... This is why I figured I'd tell him today, right now. This is the only way for me to get a mild bad reaction."

"If you even get a bad reaction." Esme murmured, looking at Millie's books.

"I will. I already know that. But I don't really care anymore." Millie shrugged. "I just need him to realise I'm not afraid of him, and this will do the trick."

"Alright. Just be careful." Esme replied, looking at Millie a little anxiously.

"I will, but you'll know if something goes wrong anyways."

"...You were being literal when you said you'll tell him now? Like, right now?"

Millie nodded again.

"Of course. I didn't use all this time practicing today to not do it. Though it is a little unfortunate that you ended up coming over."

"Yeah..."

Esme cleared her throat.

"Do you need me to come down there with you?"

"No, no. No." Millie opened her bedroom door and glanced at Esme over her shoulder, "He doesn't know you're here, it'd make things worse. I also don't want you getting involved in this."

"Alright. Good luck."