How To Love

Chapter 2

"Hello Andy. I never thought I would see you because your supposed to be a work, but let's go," he tried to grab my hand my I jerked it away.

"Let them go now before I call the police!" I screamed at him.

"You can't do that then they will take you away from them and will be sent to separate foster homes," he chuckled. "Plus the kids would love to be with their father. Right kids?"

"No! I don't want to be with you! I want to be with Andy!" Maya said starting to cry.

"Let them go Cliff!" I yelled as I went up and kicked him where the sun doesn't shine. He doubled over and fell to the ground.

"Maya, Mason look at me," I said crouching down to their size. They looked up and I could see the pain inside their eyes.

"Listen you need to go with my friend Josh over here ok? He is a good guy. He wouldn't hurt you ok?" they just nodded in response.

"Josh please put them in your car and can I have your phone number. Call me when you get somewhere safe ok?" I handed him my phone.

"What? No I am not leaving you here with that maniac!" he said taking my hands in his.

"Please Josh! You have to! Oh and if I don't call you please don't come look for me and don't call the police. Can you please take them to Ridgeway Elementary School tomorrow they have school? Please Josh," I said begging him.

"I promise, but please be careful," he whispered to me while wrapping me in a hug. I hesitated before wrapping my arms around him in return.

"I'll try," I replied not knowing what's going to happen. "Can you put your number in my phone?"

"Of course," he said typing in some numbers before handing it back to me.

All of a sudden, I heard someone behind me. I turned around and saw Cliff getting up off the ground. I turned back to Josh.

"Go please," I begged.

"Please just let me help you," he whispered in my ear while sending shivers down my spine.

I pushed him away from me and towards the car just before I got tackled to the ground by Cliff.

He smacked me in the face and I could see Josh tense.

"Go Josh!"

Josh looked at me, anger and sadness clear on his face, and ran to the car and drove away.

"You little bitch!" Cliff spat on me and slapped me again. "I can't believe you let them get away from their father!"

"You are not our father! You will never be our father!" I screamed. He slammed his hand and my mouth to muffle my screaming.

"Shut the fuck up!" he roared. "You know what you need? A little punishment." He put a white cloth up on my face and I blacked out.

Josh's POV

I saw him slap her on the face and my eyes burned with anger. My hands balled up into fists and was walking towards them.

"Go Josh!" she said pleading. I looked at him with anger and her with sadness, I turned around and ran to my car. I started the car and pulled away from the apartments.

I could not feel more worse each second my car got down the road. I just left her to defend for herself with a man that could easily beat the shit out of her. My fists started clenching and unclenching on the wheel. I look down at my hands and my knuckles were white.

All of a sudden I remembered that I had two little kids in my backseat and they were crying.

"Hey kids, I'm Josh, Andy's friend. Are you guys hungry? We can go to McDonalds and we can get to know each other more?" I offered.

They just nodded and I pulled into McDonalds. We went in and we all got Happy Meals. We sat down and started talking to the kids.

"Can you tell me what your names are?" I asked.

"I'm Mason and this is my sister Maya," said the little boy in return.

"How old are you both?"

"We are 5," they said at the same time.

"Cool."

"What can you tell us about yourself?" Maya said in her sweet little voice.

I chuckled and then replied.

"My name is Joshua Ethan Carter..."

I explained pretty much everything about myself to two five year olds, but I was doing it for a good reason. After we ate, we got in the car and drove to my house.

I let the kids sleep in my guest bedroom; while I went to my room. I laid down and couldn't go to sleep all night long thinking about if Andy would be alright.