The Lawyer

Chapter 2:

Today is the day that we leave for the beach house. I am still dreading it as much as I have this entire time, but I'm trying to ease my mind. Maybe it is naive of me to hope that it won't be as bad as I presume, however, I want to stay positive. It's the only way I'm going to make it through this week.

I hear a honk outside and take that as my cue to gather my things together. I grab my bags and head to my parents' bedroom to say goodbye to them. Neither of them are quite awake yet, so I just whispered a goodbye and left.

I hurry out to Bradley's car, in hopes that I haven't taken too long and made him angry. I quickly open the passenger door and am appalled when I see a blonde girl sitting where I should be.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" I ask, not caring that I sound rude.

"Babe, she's just a friend, hop in the back," Brad says as if it's no big deal. My mouth is literally hanging open and I'm sure outside of the circumstances it would be a funny sight.

"Oh, and by the way babe," Brad adds matter-of-factly, "next time, move a little quicker."

Excuse me? I cannot believe what I am witnessing right now. It feels like I am with a complete stranger. This is not the man that I started a relationship with.

The entire way to the beach house I had my ear buds in so that I could drown myself in other people's stories. Because the one that I am currently living in is less than favorable.

It's official. I hate my own boyfriend.

I hate this blonde chick too, but maybe she's a nice person outside of this situation. It wouldn't bother me that she was all over him if he wasn't doing all of this on purpose.

After a lot of emotional songs in my playlist, we finally arrive and I just want to lay on the beach, far away from everyone else. Even more than that, I'd rather drive my happy ass back home and leave these two bastards here without a car.

I quickly get out of the car not wanting to be in there any longer than I have to. Another hour or so in there and I wouldn't have made it.

The beach house looks very nice from the outside and I finally feel a little excited for this week. Maybe, I'll be distracted by this paradise and I won't have to worry about Brad and his friends. I know, completely unrealistic. I suppose that's more of me being naive.

I wait at the front door of the house waiting for Brad since he has the key. He takes his precious time, laughing with the blonde the whole way. I choose not to watch, as that would only fuel the fire.

As he unlocks the door he doesn't even take the time to glance at me or notice that I'm there. He lets himself in with the girl following him, walking away as I make my way towards the entrance.

What the hell happened to my boyfriend? Should I take this as a sign that he also wants to end things?

As soon as I enter the house, I'm in shock. It's somehow even more captivating than the outside. It's modern and elegant with an entire wall of glass on the back half of the house that frames the beautiful view of the beach. God, I wish I could spend some time here with people who enjoy my company.

Brad and whatever her name is, are in the kitchen. They only continue to surprise me. Blondie is sitting up on the counter with Brad practically between her legs, which are spread wide open. Yet again, my jaw is hanging so far open it's practically unhinged.

I can't even believe this. This cannot be happening.

Just as I was about to open my mouth, Brad notices my presence continuing to look completely casual. I'm glad he's not even flustered that his girlfriend just caught him cheating.

"Up the stairs, first room on the right," he says, confusing me further. I just continue to stare at him blankly. "It's your room," he says in a condescending tone.

Without much time to think or much control my voice erupts out of me. "Fuck you! We are done! I am sick and tired of you treating me like everything I do is wrong and then you go and do this? Cheat on me with some random girl right in front of my face?". I can feel how red my face is as I watch his face grow even more red. Oops.

"You bitch. You don't EVER talk to me like that, do you understand me?" he said in a low growl.

He turned to the girl that was still sitting on the counter. She looked a little scared but seemed to be hiding it pretty well. "Maddie, go wait for me on the beach," Brad spoke to this stranger of a girl so softly, like he was trying to be delicate with her so he wouldn't hurt her.

After 'Maddie' left the house to Brad and I, a new surge of fear shot through my body. I had never seen Brad this angry. Would he get physical? Surely not, just cause he's angry doesn't mean he's violent. Or so I thought.

My inner conversation was interrupted by a sharp sting across my face. Did he really just slap me?

My hand instantly went to cover my cheek where it still stung from his touch. "What the hell Bradley!" I yelled despite my fear to speak.

He stepped closer and closer towards me until I was backed up against a wall and his face was inches away from mine. "Don't you ever threaten to end this relationship again" he said, in the same low growl he used minutes ago.

"Why does it matter? Clearly you don't love me anymore, if you're with what's her face" I spat back.

" I don't think you quite understand what I am saying, Danielle." Then what exactly are you saying, I wondered to myself. "You are mine".

The three words sent shivers down my spine. Was he threatening me?

"You will always be mine. You will never leave my grasp." My heart started racing and I felt like I was going to cry. I pushed him away from me and ran up to a random room that I hoped was supposed to be mine.

After making sure that he had not followed me up the stairs, I quickly dialed my mother's number.

All I uttered was "Mom" and tears practically poured out of me. I couldn't stop stuttering and I'm sure my mom was confused and probably slightly scared.

"Honey, what is it?" The worry was evident in her rapid response. "Just come pick me up," I said crying between each word. "I'll send you my location". I hung up the phone and immediately texted her the address of the beach house.

I slowly pushed myself off of the bed that I had been sitting on and walked over to the window that looked out onto the beach.

I'm not sure what I was expecting, exactly, but it wasn't what I saw. Brad and Maddie were frollicking on the beach as if nothing had even happened. At this point, Brad's actions did not surprise me. However, it hurt that Maddie witnessed his anger and had not done anything to stand up for me. Even though we're strangers, you'd think it would be common courtesy.

I stayed in that bedroom with the door locked and my knees clutched in my arms until I knew that my mom was there. I quickly ran to the window to make sure Brad and his new toy were in their same spots. Wishing I hadn't looked, I saw her laying on top of him while they made out, heavily.

I angrily grabbed my things and opened the front door to my freedom. Three girls came barrelling through the doorway with alcohol in their hands. They laughed and looked at me with confusion and judgement on their faces.

"Where's Brad?" One of them said in a valley voice while giggling and looking me up and down.

"On the beach," I said as I started to walk out the door. Feeling angry and feisty, I turned back over my shoulder and said, "Unless you plan on having a four way, he's busy." Despite my hopes, saying that did not make me feel any sort of closure to the situation. Instead, each word I said stung more and more.

Feeling tears begin to form in my eyes, I slammed the door and quickly got in my mom's car where I began to sob, again. Once I finally calmed down, my mom said that she and my dad would do everything that they could to keep Bradley away from me. And as far as they were concerned, I was absolutely single, regardless of the threats he made.

I wanted to feel free. To feel relieved that I didn't have to deal with him anymore. But part of me felt like things weren't over. Like I wasn't done with him. Or rather, he wasn't done with me.