She's Kinda Hot tho

Chapter 28:Confessions of a Runaway

LUKE'S POV:

I watched as families ran across the grass at the park. I felt pangs of jealousy, they seemed so perfect and happy.

"Sorry i'm late." Eve said from behind me.

"It's okay." I answered stiffly, scooting over on the bench to make room for her. She sat down and gazed at the ground for a second.

"There's a little story I have to tell you." She began slowly, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. Just like Sheila did when she was nervous.

"Go on." I sighed heavily.

"I was 21 when I fell in love with Gus." Eve started. "We'd met at high school but we hated each other at the time. He was loud and a jock and I was quiet and a book worm. Then when I turned 21, I got a job at a bar back in the states."

She gazed off drearily as if reliving the memory. "He was working there too and next thing I knew, we were madly in love." She bit her lip and closed her eyes tightly.

"Not long after we began to date, I got pregnant." She sighed. "But not with Sheila."

I narrowed my eyes. "Sheila has a sibling?" I asked, slightly excited because I knew how bad she wanted one.

She shook her head slowly. "No.. Gus made me get an abortion."

My skin rose with goosebumps and a new anger had begun to burn inside of me. "No way." My mouth gaped.

She swiped away a stray tear and shook her head. "Not very long after that, I was pregnant again. This time with Sheila."

"So you are her mum." I breathed.

"Yes." She answered. Deep down everything exploded with happiness. Sheila was going to be so happy when she found out. "I hid my pregnancy from Gus. He wasn't going to make me give her up too. He went on a business trip over here to Australia for a few months and I gave birth to Sheila while he was gone."

"Wow.." I said, filled with awe.

"Gus came back a few weeks after she was born and the look on his face when he saw us sitting together on the couch..." Eve visibly shivered. "He wasn't the same Gus that had left."

"What happened?" I prompter, resting my hand on hers.

"That was the first time he hit me." She sighed. "And I should've known it'd only get worse. There were nights I was so scared for Sheila's life. I knew when I gave birth to her that she would see things she wouldn't want too so I named her Sheila which literally means 'blind'."

I thought about that and shook my head sadly.

"The years went by and Gus never got better. He began drinking heavily and I stayed with him because Sheila needed a mother and a father and if I left him, he'd find us both. Then one night, he beat me within an inch of my life." Her eyes clouded. "So I faked my death."

That explains a lot... I thought quietly.

"How'd you do it?" I asked.

"Well, while everyone was sleeping, I wrote a fake suicide note and disappeared." She explained. "I've been following Gus and Sheila around for almost a year now... it's the only way I can see her and watch her grow."

"Why are you telling me this?" I wondered aloud.

"I was going to try to get away from here and away from you, but when you told me your mama was with Gus, I felt responsible for what happens to her. It'd be my fault if she got hurt." She answered, sadness in her eyes.

I nodded slowly. "And that place that you were living at?"

"It a home for woman. All those woman are either ex-criminals, can't afford normal rent, have too many children, can't get a job, etc." She replied.

We sat in silence, watching the kids play. I needed to start heading home. "One more question.." I began slowly.

"Okay?"

"This whole time, you abandoned Sheila with Gus... weren't you ever worried he'd beat her?" I questioned.

"No." She answered instantly. "Gus would never lay a finger on her."

It was depressing how sure she was.

"Eve... I can guarantee you he's abusing her."

Her face paled as she stared at me. "What?" Her voice broke and her eye brows knitted together. "No, Sheila.." She whispered. Then she buried her face in my chest sobbing violently. "My baby girl... i'm so sorry..." She cried. "Mama's sorry baby....."

"She misses you." I whispered, stroking her hair. "Why don't you just go to her? Save her Eve. She relies on you now."

"She- can't kno-ww i'm a-alive." She said between sobs.

"Why not?" I shouted, shoving her upwards to face me.

"Gus will kill us both." She mumbled through her tears. Dammit... she's probably right. "You have to get Sheila to confess to what's going on, it's her best bet."

"She won't do that, I already tried that." I answered.

Eve shook her head. "Then get your mom out of there."

"Okay." I stood up quickly, destination: home. Eve grabbed my hand in hers warmly.

"Luke... I need you to promise me something." She said. I nodded knowingly.

"I'll watch over her." I promised.