The Devil You Know

Chapter 41: The Next Day

It was the next morning, Brendan and Tess stayed over and none of slept. We all stayed up all night, talking, and partying. Naomi was already drunk long before any of us were. I knew grandma was getting bad and it was really getting to her. It was hurting her and Joel. I couldn't do much to help, we all knew it would come some day. It hurt me too, grandma had taken me in almost as her own.

My thoughts went to Tommy and Ma and my fists clenched at the thought of them. I missed my mom so much. I missed Tommy too, but he fucking left me here. Tommy and Brendan didn't even tell me they were planning on leaving. I didn't know until it was too late. It really hurt that he didn't even bother to call for my birthday. A part of me really wanted him to come back but I knew he wouldn't. He was gone, and that was it.

Brendan shot me a concerned look, he could probably tell I was angry. He opened his mouth to say something but there was a knock at the front door. "I'll get it" I say, getting up and going to the door quickly. I opened it and it was Joe. I walked outside and spoke quietly, "Joe what are you doing here?" I asked. "I came to celebrate your birthday. I was busy all day yesterday" He spoke, his voice menacing. "Doing what, fucking other girls and selling drugs?!" I say, raising my voice a bit. A big part of me didn't care if he fucked other girls. I didn't feel anything like that towards him. He was always just a friend and now here we are. He grabbed arm roughly and pulled me towards him. "Don't fucking talk back to me" He said angrily before letting me go. "I'll be back to pick you up and we can be together" He said, smiling and walking back to his car.

I sat outside for a minute to gather myself before I went inside. He made me so fucking angry. I don't know how I allow myself to be hurt like this again. I didn't really have a choice. He said he'd hurt me and my family if I tried to leave. He was a dangerous drug dealer. I usually got my drugs from him for free and if I disobeyed him he'd usually beat me up and make me pay for my drugs.

I pull down the sleeves of my sweatshirt and pull out a cigarette, lighting it, inhaling the smoke. I bit my lip holding back tears of anger. I finished my cigarette and went back inside. Naomi and gave me a look of concern, almost like she knew what had happened. I couldn't tell for sure. I shook my head at her, as if to tell her not to say anything. I sat next to Brendan and put the best smile I could on my face. "So I want to start training more and more. Do you think you could help me out when you can?" I asked Brendan. He nodded, "Of course, anything for my sister" He said, smiling, punching me on the arm playfully.