Insecure

Chapter 17

(Song is dedicated to Laura's life until she finds Jayce)) * 

*6 months later....*

Thanksgiving has passed, and tomorrow was officially Jayce's and Laura's 7 month anniversary. They would be lucky if they would have a calm and settling day. They say this because all their anniversaries for the past six months have been disturbed by either Mr. Russell or something else going on. Laura took their anniversaries serious, probably more serious than Jayce did, but she wanted at least one anniversary to be completely about her and Jayce, no one else. She didn't want Mr. Russell, Tommy or more weddings to ruin their anniversary.
Yes, weddings. Her parents got married...again.
Laura was at home with her parents and brother. Carlos and Jayce were out to lunch discussing Christmas plans while Lilly was at home sick. Lilly has been sick for a few days now, and Carlos spent every minute with her even if she was sleeping. Laura thought it was cute, but at the same time she was worried about her best friend.
Hopefully she was better by the time Christmas rolls around because Christmas wasn't supposed to be about sick girls suffering in bed.
Before she could continue her thoughts, her mother walked into the room, sitting down next to her. She ran her hands through her now short straight blonde hair as she looked at her daughter. "Laura, are you sure you don't want to go with your brother to the store?"
"Mom, he's sixteen years old and a new driver. He's perfectly capable of driving to the store," Laura responded, flipping through the channels on the T.V.
"That's not what I meant. You haven't left this house on your own for 6 months. You need to get out and get some fresh air."
"Mother, you know why I can't go on my own," Laura said, gritting her teeth. "Besides, I'm waiting for Jayce to get back with Carlos. We're heading to Lilly's to see how she is, then we're going to Jayce's house, is that okay with you?" Laura said, mocking her tone of voice.
"Laura, knock off the attitude. I'm just worried. You're turning 18 tomorrow, and you're going to be on your own soon. You need to get used to being around people. You were bullied in the past because this isn't a nice neighborhood, and you're too quiet to stand up for yourself. That doesn't mean you're going to get judged in a bad way everywhere."
"Easy for you to say. You were the drama queen who was perfect in school."
She seemed hurt by this. "Laura, I...."
"No. You never understood me! You left me when I was getting bullied and dad was messed up. You left and expect to give me motherly advice now? Where were you? You didn't call, text or Skype. You left me completely alone without a mother. Lilly's mother was my mother," Laura screamed, trying to get her anger under control. "Brandon should be here soon. I'm going to get dressed, so try giving motherly advice to the one child you didn't abandon," Laura said, steaming and running up the stairs.
Laura fell on her bed, tears streaming down her face rapidly. She threw her blankets around looking for her phone. She grabbed it and unlocked it as she saw a missed call from Jayce a minute ago. She took a deep breath, and she dialed his number awaiting for him to answer, wiping her eyes.
"Hello?"
"Jayce? Are you almost done?"
"Yeah, we were just leaving, why?"
"I just need someone to get me out of this house."
"Are you in trouble? Is someone with you?"
"No, I just had a fight with my Mom and she's probably whining to my Dad about it now."
"Thank god...not about your Mom..."
"Got it."
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Thanks."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
They hung up and Laura laid back on her bed, resting her back on the headrest on the back of the bed. She sighed and closed her eyes. She started to fall asleep, so she didn't hear her window slide open with a gust of wind slipping in.

~~~~~

"Dammit! She is such a brat! Why did you raise her like that?"
Bruce turned to his wife. "Me? I didn't raise her. My sister did, well basically. Anyways, you need to be more understanding. She has been through a lot."
"She can't go with excuses her whole life."
"Give her time, please. I want her to be comfortable with the world again, but she has to do that on her own. She will be 18 tomorrow, anyways."
She walked up and hugged him. "I'm just scared, Bruce."
Bruce hugged her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Me too."