Consumed

Chapter 14: Meri

I stare at my reflection in the mirror. Mrs. Servson insisted on taking me shopping for clothes when she saw what I brought back from my house. Just as well. My clothes don't fit any more. The time spent here, though relatively short, has been enough to bring me back up to a healthier weight. It's been roughly four weeks since I moved in with Milan, and one since I went to see my mother. She met me at the coffee shop yesterday.

There isn't much to tell about in that area. She got mad and refused to go to rehab. I expected that. We tried to reason with her. She yelled. I pleaded. She solidly refused and said she wasn't going to speak to me until I found some common sense. After that, she handed me her new address and told me that when I was smarter, I could come home.

I went home to Milan in tears.

Dejection sinks through my whole body, starting from the lump in my throat and trickling down to my toes. Tears push past my lashes as I continue to stare at myself in the full-length mirror. Everything here would be perfect if it weren't for the looming shadow my mother and step-father present.

Apparently, my mom made at least one right move. She married money. You wouldn't know it to look at Petre, but he's very well-off. Well enough off to afford a lawyer good enough to get the charges and warrant dropped and expunged. Unfortunately, this means that he's now free to come after me.

Well, he won't be able to make me do anything in a week. He probably knows that, which is why it's imperative that I stay hidden from his sight if he comes looking. It's imperative that I'm not here when he comes knocking. Because if I am, he'll be able to haul me away with him. Legally, he has jurisdiction, and I can't deny him because I'm still a minor.

He's gotten all of the abuse and harassment charges dropped, so he can do it again if anyone intervenes. I don't even believe in the protection of the legal system anymore. They're too corrupted to help me. I'm just one girl in the scheme of things, so why should they care?

I straighten up, brushing away the tears, and smooth down the dress I'm wearing. It's a light baby blue with white lace and little swirls of bling on it to emulate snow and ice. Trying to smile, I remember that this is a good day. After today, I only have to evade my step-dad for six days. School's out now, so that's going to be harder, but the Servsons will protect me.

"You look beautiful," Milan whispers, coming up behind me in the hallway.

I turn to look at him. "You think so?"

"I know so. My brother's really excited to meet you, and so is his fiancée."

I stare at the floor, a blush creeping over my cheeks. "What if they don't like me?" I mumble.

"They will!" Milan touches my arm lightly with an encouraging smile. "You're too sweet to dislike, Meri. They're waiting downstairs, and they couldn't be more excited about this. I promise. Anyway, I'm going to be right there with you."

Smiling, I give him a tentative hug. "Thanks."

He takes my hand when I move away, and we walk downstairs together.

***

"Milan's told us so much about you," Milan's brother says with a smile.

I duck my head and move closer to Milan. "Has he?" My cheeks grow hot again.

"Sorry... I should introduce myself. I'm Min." He extends his hand to me.

Shyly, I shake his hand and go back to hiding behind Milan.

He nudges me with his shoulder. "Min's not going to hurt you," he mumbles as we go into the living room where Min's fiancée is sitting.

"Is this Meri, Milan?" the young woman asks.