Afterlight ✔️

chapter forty-eight

— Chloe Romano

So baby packed up all she had,
Promised to never come back,
She left me alone and without,
Skin I could study about,
Tiles get colder to touch,
Wood splinters, metal will rust,
But baby, she had all my trust,
And I guess that was never enough

Deafening music resounded through the car as the back of my seat juddered against my spine. I folded my arms in defeat, throwing a glance in Justin's direction as I studied him carefully. His light brown hair was cut short to the scalp, but a longer, lighter mess on the top. He seemed to had dyed it blonde. He was wearing light blue skinny jeans, a plain white t-shirt, rocking it with a black leather jacket and sneakers. I swallowed hard, thinking about what just happened to me.

Did I really get kidnapped by my ex boyfriend, then got dragged into his car and then catch myself gawking at him?

"Enjoying the view?" A smile appeared on Justin's face as he quirked an eyebrow devilishly.

Not thinking, I blurted out. "You're a motherfucker." How could he act all cocky, right after he was dramatically dragging me into his car? He was so bipolar, it wasn't even funny anymore. In fact, it was never funny.

"I've been told." He replied with no care in the world, like he didn't give a shit I was fighting for my life just a few moments ago.

"You're going to revert back to your nasty ways?"

Ignoring me, Justin ran his long fingers through his already mussed hair, his focus on the road. I decided to stay silent, too. I couldn't believe after everything we have been through, after building everything up, it was shattered by one thing. Thoughts and flashbacks came unbidden into my mind, and I got angry and frustrated again. I needed to go home and never see him again.

This isn't healthy, it isn't right.

Justin was toxic, and toxic people will pollute everything around them. I should've known better. I kept telling myself to leave those toxic people and things behind me, to never look back again.

I am allowed to walk away from people who hurt me. I am allowed to be angry, selfish and unforgiving. I am allowed to shut the world out and just be left alone to myself. I don't have to make room for people who cause pain and trouble. I can't say I didn't have fun with Justin, because I did– I really did. It was probably the most beautiful time of my life. Justin made me feel free, and alive. But it reached the point where this relationship did no good to me. I trusted someone I shouldn't.

Love is indeed blind, it makes you see qualities in a person that don't even exist.

Beaten, kidnapped, physically and emotionally abused.

There wasn't one thing that didn't happen to me ever since I left California. I've been to hell and back because of the Bieber brothers, and I finally needed to get my shit together. I surely didn't deserve to live like this forever, I deserved peace– This has to be brought to an end.

"Take me home, Justin. I've had enough. I don't know why you're doing this, but I'm so sick of your little games." I snapped suddenly, fury searing through me. I couldn't just sit here and let him take me wherever he wants.

"I'm trying to protect you." His eyes narrowed dangerously. "So cut me some slack. You know I always tried to protect you, and you throwing some insults around won't stop me."

Protecting me?

From what, himself?

I was getting angrier by the second. He had some nerves. "By protecting me you mean kidnapping and driving me as far as possible from my gang? Really clever of you. Sorry to break it to you, but I'm able to protect myself. I don't need your protection, and most importantly, I don't even want it."