Chasing Love?

Chapter 5

Note: Be advised that this chapter has a bit of violence and includes a bit of a backstory of Anna's character.
Other than that enjoy!
Anna's POV

Flashback:

"You think you can make it there alone?" His cold green eyes were burning through my head. "YES Rick! I can do anything I want, and I'm not going to keep letting you control my life." Rick had taken me in when my dad died when I was 17. He was my highschool sweetheart and I thought he really liked me for me instead of all the other kids calling me a wanna be boy.

I didn't have much of a woman influence except for my Nana who passed away when I was 12. My "mom" left my dad and I when I was 3. She wasn't the best mom in fact she wasn't a mom at all. My dad was a U.S Marine so when I was born he tried being a stay at home dad but we both knew he was better at providing than being at home. I was only 5 when he decided to go back into the Marines.

Rick was 7 at that time and his mom had offered to take care of me when my dad was on his tours. I missed my dad whenever he was gone but when he was home those were the best memories of my life until 2 weeks before my birthday when he was shot by men. I later learned he owed money to a group of men in return for a full protective service for me since he knew people who'd try to hurt me in order to hurt him.

Rick and his mom took me in and his mom was very sweet and Rick was funny. They both knew how much of an influence my dad was to me so they tried everything they could to make me happy. After a month of living with Rick who was 19 asked me on date when no one asked me to the homecoming dance. And having no friends didn't make it better. He said to look nice and we went to my homecoming dance. Rick wasn't an ugly guy, infact most girls were jumping into his arms waiting for him to give them any sly  attention. All the girls at my school kept staring at us while we were dancing.

We started dating for a couple of months until I learned who Rick really was. He was jealous and for every little thing I'd do. While going with his mom to the grocery store we went to a checkline were a male was. Rick had called me hearing the guy talking to his mom. "Who's that?!" He asked. "That's some store clerk"

"Oh so we're lying now??" He said in a scorn. What the hell is his problem?? Why couldn't he believe me?

"What? Rick calm down your mom is talking to him not me, we're at the market."

"Whatever Ann, if this is how you wanna play then go ahead. This is what happens when I deal with you."

What the hell was his problem, I was pissed. Guessing Mary (Rick's mom) got the idea and she took me to the mall and bought me a very nice scarf. I wasn't into expensive things but I did love looking classy every once in a while. The only way to do that was to put things together. I didn't like Mary buying me things, I worked at a local pharmacy and whatever extra money I had I'd buy my clothes at the thrift shop or GoodWill.

We pulled up to the house and when we walked in, the place was a mess. I went to Rick's room hoping he wasn't still being dramatic and still mad. I knocked and walked in to find a blonde bitch on top of Rick.

"What the fuck is this?!" I was petrified.

"Get the fuck out Ann!"

I couldn't believe what I had seen. Rick and another girl together. I knew now what he was. After all the jealousy and cheating I had had enough. Within the next few months I tried to avoid him. He apologized every time he had the opportunity. After a while I took him back only so he'd get off my back. And every Friday when he was going to go "study" I knew he was going to some girl's house. I stopped caring.

Senior year was coming up and I had to worry about what I was going to do after high school. I didn't go to prom or any of my senior activities because there was no use. I had no friends and Rick would just be pissed if I went with anyone but him. I volunteered at the library, reading and writing was my escape from reality.

After a month of volunteering there Jack, the guy who owned the place offered me an opportunity of a lifetime. Jack was in his 60's and a bookstore in London was asking Jack if he knew any talented writers and artists who'd be able to showcase their art every beginning of the month and work 5 hours a day with full tuition paid at the Kings London College. Jack offered me to apply, I agreed and I got in.

I told Mary my plan and she was thrilled for me. Later that evening I told Rick. We were in my room alone and he was furious when I told him. "You think you can make it there alone?" His cold green eyes were burning through my head. "YES Rick! I can do anything I want, and I'm not going to keep letting you control my life." He kept staring at me and slapped me across my face. "You never talk to me like that do you understand?!" I was angry and hurt that Rick, the guy that protected me from my bullies had become my bully. But I was more mad at myself for allowing this guy to keep pushing me around. So I yelled at him. " I talk to you whatever the way I want to! You think you can hit me and I'll start crying, for you? You've got something coming if that's what you think. You can say whatever you want but I'm going!" He got up and pushed me on the floor pulling the scarf Mary had gave me, he knocked me out cold and all I could hear was Mary yelling in the background begging him to stop.

I woke up in the hospital and Mary was the first person I saw. "Where am I?" I asked her feeling my stomach ache from talking.

"Shh it's ok honey, no one's going to hurt you" I could see from her puffy eyes that she'd been crying. "Wher- whe- where's" I was scared to ask where Rick was thinking he'd come back to finish me off. "The police took him away sweety." I knew that it must of been hard for her to see her son being taken away from the cops. "Don't worry, they said he'd be charged for assaulting a minor."

I was worried for Mary. She shouldn't be going through this. But i was glad he was gone. Within the next month I had found an apartment somewhere close to Downtown. I was happy to be living on my own. And Rick was gone to prison for 10 years for assaulting a minor and under the influence. It turned out he was running away from the cops when his mother called.

I found out that the dog my dad worked with in the marines was retiring. Something in me picked up the phone and asked information about him. Bruno was waiting to see if anyone would adopt him. I told them my situation and asked if i could adopt him, they were happy to and within a week Bruno was living with me in my home. I was doing my generals at Santa Monica for two years, waiting to be transferred to King London College. I was so scared to go. I had gotten so close with Bruno, he became my best friend and I didn't want to leave him behind. I managed to organize Bruno to fly out a month after I've moved into my new apartment. It was still hard to leave without him and was close to just stay until he comes. But my neighbor Mary said I should go. I promised I wasn't going to worry about my image for others and I definitely won't be worried about boys.

This day next week will be the start of my new life. I got a text from an unknown number. I looked over my phone and read the text.

(000) 000-0000: I can't wait to see you.

Who the fuck is this?

This was a chapter about Anna's backstory before she came to London. I thought it would be good to give the reader some idea who Anastasia is. Chapter 6 is in progress and much longer :)
- Elise

P.S: If you enjoyed please let me know. And do you think I should include back stories to all characters?