Love You More

chapter seven - baby

Alice had been grappling with her decision for a week and some days. She had tried her very best to keep herself inside and away from the outside world as much as possible until she was sure John had left the county, at the very least.

She stared at her ceiling, laying back on her bed as a chilled, damp wipe removed the remnants of the makeup she had worn to school the day before. It was Saturday, a day she could waste on sulking without feeling too bad.

Grace and Charlotte had made an effort to invite Alice to their homes many times between their little altercation and the present day, but she was denying their offers for the time being.

She would walk past the girls in the hallways while giving a soft smile. She felt betrayed by them.

She never thought her best friends would pressure her into drinking alcohol, and she didn't want to be around them outside of school and their casual walks home until she knew exactly how to confront the situation.

The day she had ended her relationship with John, she had cried to her mother about what led her to her decision. Telling her how mean he was, and how he wanted her to do sexual things with him.

Alice's mother comforted her little girl, and assured her that she made the right decision. She should never have stayed in a relationship where she wasn't being treated correctly.

Though Alice's mother was slightly nervous about talking to John's mother about the situation, she did not plan to back down.

She would defend her daughter, because she knew that Alice was right to distance herself from a boy who was introducing her to verbal abuse and sin!

Alice tossed her makeup wipe in the direction of a pastel pink garbage bin by her vanity, hoping it landed in the bag within it but not having the motivation to truly check.

She was not regretting her decision to break up with John, but she was sad that something had changed in her life.

She was a girl who thrived on a routine, and having to force herself to stop texting John in the morning and before bed was excruciating. She felt lost.

She sighed, reaching for her phone as she felt the low vibration of a text message against her bed's blanket.

Her glazed eyes lit up like fireworks when she realized that the name on her phone was not of Grace, Charlotte, or John, but of Vincent.

She opened the text and allowed its full contents to display on the screen.

How are you doing, love? I've been thinking about you a lot since last week, wondering if you're handling everything alright?

He had heard through the grapevine of his office building, which employed both Alice and John's fathers, that the two teenagers had ended their relationship.

He wasn't sure if it had been John or Alice to do the official breaking up, but he knew that it would be hard on the little girl either way.

She needed structure, and such a large shift in her day to day life would be difficult for her, he thought.

Alice was so excited to respond, hoping Vincent would be proud of her for breaking up with John.

I'm doing good, Vince! I broke things off with John, since you said I deserved better! I think so too <3

Vincent couldn't help but smirk when he saw her name pop up on his phone screen mere moments after he had texted her. She was so eager to respond.

That was very smart of you, honey! I'm so proud of you!