I Was Made For Loving You

Because of You....

(Time Skip _ 1 year)

The past year seems to have gone by so quickly. It's hard to believe that we are all seniors now and that in several month's time, we will be graduating from High School and, then who knows what will happen.

Brendon and I are still going strong, much to my parents' disapproval. My home life is still shit, mom's still drinking, and my step dad still buries himself in his work. Most of my time is spent between my shifts at the Coffee Bean and Brendon's place.

This afternoon, I am doing an extra shift at work when Brendn comes in.
"Hey, beautiful." He grins, striding towards me gently placing a kiss on me.
"Hey B, do you want something, or are you just passing?"
"Well, I was just popping in to see my gorgeous girlfriend, but seeing as you're asking. Can l get a double mocha latte with an extra shot, please?
"I don't think you're girlfriend's around, but I can make you your order." I tease him.
"Carlyn," he sighs. "Will you please stop doing that?"
"Doing what?" I ask slightly agitated.
"Putting yourself down. You know you're gorgeous." He states, grabbing my hand.
"I wasn't B, I was only joking with you." I state, but he can see right through me.
"No, you weren't."
"Look," I sigh. "It's hard to be so confident like you when you've spent most of your life being told you're a disappointment, blamed for your your dad leaving and your mom telling you she wishes you'd never been born..."
"Hey, you know that's all shit spouted by your mom who's a drunk and a bitter woman. Has something happened? Normally, you can brush that shit off?" he asks as I hand him his coffee.
"Just the usual argument, but I swear B, I can't wait till high school is over, then I can leave.
"Babe, you know you can move in with me anytime."
"One of these days, I might just take you up on that.." I smile at him.
"Just do it. Why be miserable there when you can be happy living with me?" He asks, staring at me, waiting for my reply.
"I'll think about it."I tell him kissing him quickly, "but right now, I need to get back to work. I'll see you later, at Dennys, for dinner, ok?
"Sure, I'll see you then." He replies as he leaves the store. The rest of my shift remains uneventful, the usual customers come and go, and in-between times, I manage to catch up on some school work. By the time 6 pm comes around, I am more than ready to end my shift and grab some food. I make my way down the strip to Dennys to meet Brendon. He's already there with Shauna, Spencer, Brent and Ryan. John is working tonight.
"Hey guys," I greet them, sliding myself into the booth beside Brendon. We all place our orders with our server and catch up on each other's day.
"Carlyn, I was deadly serious earlier..." Brendon tells me as everyone looks towards us.
"I know you were, I just don't want to ruin what we have...."
"Have we missed something," Spencer asks quizically. Brendon and I both answered at the same time.
"No, not really..."
"I asked Carlyn to move in with me ...."
Everyone is looking at us, their jaws open in Surprise.
"Things are getting worse at home, and Brendon said I could move in with him."
"What's stopping you?" asks Spencer.
"I don't want to risk ruining what we have. Living with someone is completely different from dating and spending the occasional night at theirs."
"Occasional night?? Carlyn, you more or less live there already." states Shauna.
"She's right," Brendon agrees, "so why not just move in permanently?"
"It's a big decision. B." I sigh."What if we end up getting on each other's nerves and end up fighting and hating each other."
"Carly, you worry far too much. Let's just live a little, move in with me." Everyone is waiting expectantly for my answer,
"Brendon, are you sure about this? I mean, have you actually thought this through? It's not just another one of your spur of the moment decisions..."
"Carlyn, I HAVE thought it through. It makes perfect sense. We spend most of our time together. I hate seeing you so miserable, plus you'd get to wake up to this every morning." He jokes, pointing at himself."What is there to even think about?"
"Ok, ok. Let's do it." I agree as everyone cheers. "I guess I'm moving in, babe." I laugh watching as his goofy grin lights up his face.

By the time I get home, it's 10.30pm, my mom is nursing a large drink, and my stepdad is in his office. I'm barely inside the house when I can sense the atmosphere. Another fight is brewing.
"Carlyn, get your ass in here!" she shouts to me. I know I've not done anything to upset her, christ. I've barely been in the house.
"What?" I ask, waiting patiently for her reply.
"Don't use that tone with me! Where have you been? Your shift was meant to finish 2 hours ago?"
"I met up with Shauna, Spencer, Brendon, and the others for some food after my shift. Why were you actually worried about me for once?" I ask, feigning shock. She ignores my question.
"I needed you home to run some errands for me....."
"To run errands for you?? I repeated astonished. "In case you forgot MOM. I've been aschool all day, then did a shift at the Coffee Bean whilst you've lay about the house all day, no doubt losing yourself in a bottle. You DON'T work, there was nothing stopping you doing them." I retort angrily.
"Listen, young lady, whilst you live under MY roof, you will do as I ask!" She shouts at me as she attempts to get off of her chair, and my step dad comes out of his office to see what all the commotion is.
"I am so done with this shit." I tell her walking away.
"Carlyn, where are you going? Do.Not.Walk.Away.From Me."
"I'm leaving." I sate matter of fact lying as I turn to face her. "I can't do this anymore. You've made my life hell, and you've made it perfectly clear that you wished you'd never had me, so I'm leaving."
"Where are you gonna go?" asks my step dad.
"I'm moving in with Brendon..."
"Over my dead body, young lady!" He retorts. "You are not moving in with him."
"I am, and you can't stop me. I'm 18, and I can make my own decisions." I tell them as I head up to my bedroom and grab some essentials. Storming back downstairs, I grab my car keys and begin to head out the door.
"Carlyn, he will break your heart. His reputation is notorious." he warns me.
"He won't, he loves me. Which is more than I can say for her!"
"Well, don't crying to me when he gets you pregnant then fucks off" she sneers at me. "I've already raised one bastard child, I'm certainly not doing it again," I feel like she has literally punched me.
"Trish!!" My stepdad shouts shocked. "You are way out of line. Carlyn, she didn't mean it."
"Oh, she did. She's always made how she feels about me pretty clear. Don't worry
Trish, if ever I do have children, I wouldn't inflict you on them. No one deserves to have someone as bitter, twisted, and self obsessed in their lives. If I were you Joe, I'd leave as well. I don't know ow how you've put up with her for so long. I didn't have a choice, she gave birth to me, but you, you chose HER. God knows what you saw in her, but if you have any sense, you'll leave before she drives you away!" I tell them both.
"Get out you little bitch!" She screams at me.
"Don't worry. I'm gone," and with that, I slam the door behind me, finally feeling free for the first time ever.