Nobody Likes You When You're 23

Old Friends

"Hello?" I spoke so softly. No answer. "Mom, come on. I have caller I.D. I know it's you, say something."

"Emberly, I have some great news." She chuckled, she loved messing with me. Even though, both of us haven't been with the best of luck lately, I'm glad to to see she's showing a bit of herself now.

"What is this spectacular news that you had to call me for Madre?" I asked, holding my phone to my ear with my shoulder as I opened the fridge to grab a bottle of water.

"Derek's trial is in 5 days, and you will need to testify." She said followed by a slurping noise. She's probably drinking some coffee.

"5 days? I'll need to fly home then." I swallowed hard, I just got here. And with the way things were going, I'd like to get my things so I guess this trip could kill two birds with one stone. But I felt uneasy in a way. Seeing him again, in court, and me being what lies between him and jail. It made me nervous just thinking about it.

"Yeah, but you need your stuff anyway. And maybe I could come home with you and we could do some stuff in LA to take both our minds off this batshit crazy shit, what do you say Emberly?" This is what I meant about my mom, while she could be mothering she could also act like a casual friend and I liked this a lot, now and when I was growing up.

"Yeah, it sounds good ma. Mark has an extra room. I'll get it ready after I tell him about this and of course I'll ask if it's okay for you to come with me." I finally took a sip of this water.

"Are you two, y'know, an item yet?" She paused for emphasis and finally laughed once she got the whole sentence out.

"It's funny you ask, we are, just happened this morning at 6:30." I blushed talking about this it's still so fresh in my mind. And it's so weirdly rolls off the tongue.

I'm Mark Fischbach's girlfriend.

"I honestly thought you'd have him waiting forever, congrats sweetie. He's a great guy. And I know it's hard for you after all the bad men you've seen in your life. Your dad, especially, that dirty bastard. He is what we call a boy, not a man. And I was too dumb to see he was hurting you and whoring around all those years ago, and I am sorry Emberly. I hope you know that." She was letting me just close to her. And I was so happy she was starting to be herself a little more.

"Thanks ma, well, I better get going. I gotta lot of stuff to do." I partially lied but this conversations got me thinking.

"You're welcome Em, I love you. And always remember. If you ever need me, I'm just a phone call away." I heard her sip her coffee again. It made me smile because I knew that coffee made her smile.

"Me too, don't be scared to call any time of the day mom. Over anything, I'll always pick up. I love you too. And apparently I'll be seeing you real soon."

"Goodbye sweetheart!" I could hear the happiness in her voice. I smiled and mentally congratulated myself on keeping in touch with the only family I have left.

"Bye ma." I said, then I heard the click and I put my phone down.

I stared up at the ceiling for awhile, going over what had just happened, over and over again. Would I be able to do this? Would I be able to face the man who fucked up my life to the point where I had to leave my home and move all the way across the country? I had to. I needed justice. He's the reason my sisters dead! He's the reason I spent years of life not living, and until this day, I'm not so sure I'm fully living life. All thanks to Derek. My head hurt just thinking about seeing him again. Those piercing blue eyes. That evil smirk that could change to a look of remorse in seconds of beating me. One tear fell awkwardly, crossing my nose. I closed my eyes. "No, no, you will not cry over him anymore. You've spent too many days and nights, thinking and living in the past. Still thinking he owns you. He did. But now, you're your own person. Put it behind you and prove to him that you are better off without him and his nightly beatings. Show him your mark left on the world will be so much more permanent than the marks he left on you." I spoke, each word seemed to fight tears. And they stopped.