Gold Rush

the birds and the bees

:* ୨୧ Gracelyn ୨୧ :*

April 29, 2005

"Do you love Johnny?" Adeline asked, her blonde hair blowing in the breeze.

"Do you love Gibsie?" I fired right back.

"Of course," she smiled. "He's the nicest boy ever and my second bestest friend."

"I guess I love Johnny," I shrugged.

"Ew! You love my brother," she shrieked.

"Yes! It will make us sisters if we ever get married," I laughed, earning a smile from my best friend.

The memory faded away, taking my sanity with it. I was seated at my kitchen table as my parents tore me a new one for dating the type of guy that 'attacks grown adults'.

I was holding back laughter and a whole lot of words. The conversation churned my stomach. My mam happened to be married to a guy who attacks children. That was worse. That was evil.

In times like these my mind went to Addy. My best friend and the overall best person in my life. Maybe I should've been thinking about Johnny, but Addy was my rock. She'd been there through every step of my life—the good, the bad and the hideous.

"What are you doing with him, Gracelyn?" Mam shook her head in disapproval.

"What are you doing with him?" I rolled my eyes, glaring at my father.

I was met with a slap to the cheek, courtesy of my father. I let out a strangled laugh, fighting the tears that pricked my eyes.

"You're okay dating a lad that attacks your father?" Dad hissed, his eyes darkening.

"Mam's okay dating a lad that attacks me," I scoffed. "It's in my genes."

"Watch it, girl," dad sneered.

They were hell bent on charging Johnny with assault but I was quick to put a stop to that. I threatened going to the Gardi myself and telling them about the abuse I was facing. That of course shut them both up and allowed Johnny to walk away unscathed.

"I hate you both," I shrieked, shoving my chair backwards and sprinting to the safety of my bedroom.

I slammed my door shut and flicked the lock. I then yanked my phone out of my pocket and dialled the number I knew by heart.

The phone rang two times before the line clicked and the voice I loved most spoke.

"Gracie? Are you okay?" He blurted out, not even greeting me with a hello.

"Can you come pick me up?" I pleaded, running a shaky hand through my hair.

"I'm on my way," he replied, the sound of his keys jingling in the background.

I didn't need to explain, he was already jumping in his car and speeding to me. Johnny knew I wasn't one to talk about my feelings and I appreciated that more than anything.

I hung up the phone, stuffing my feet into a pair of Uggs. I dropped onto my bed and waited for my boyfriend to jailbreak me out of this fucked up house. The past two days were full of arguments and screaming matches over this 'attack'. I'd pretty much been chained to this house, unable to leave.