Escape // Jacob Sartorius

"Where Have You Two Been?"

"I'm sorry, your mother's dead."

The words hit me like a hurricane. I suddenly can't breathe again. I had been harboring a secret hope that maybe Mom would be able to be saved, and maybe she was just in a coma. But hearing the words out loud makes my heart sink.

"Meredith?" Jacob asks quietly. The officer turns away from me, and I begin to cry again. Jacob shushes me, and I sob into his shoulder.

It takes some time before I finally calm down. It takes so long, in fact, that the officers have interviewed me and left. I don't even know what the officers asked me about, but next thing I know Jacob is dragging me down the street.

As we walk down the street in silence, me gripping his arm so I don't fall, we pass a girl with waist-length white blonde hair and bright green eyes. Her skin is sunkissed and contrasts against her white lacy romper that she paired with a floral kimono and black sandals. A colorful flower crown is tucked into her blonde waves, and her face turns to pure anger when she spots Jacob.

"Hey, Jacob, I saw those cops down the street. Tell me, did they find the person who stole your eyebrows?" she asks, seemingly sweet but the insult is clear and backhanded.

"Not the time, Jasmine," Jacob says through gritted teeth, grabbing my arm and leading me away.

"Who's your girlfriend? Are you going to cheat on her, too?" Jasmine calls from behind us. I don't know what possesses me, but I yank my arm out of Jacob's grip and march down the street towards the bitch who's insulting Jacob.

"You bitch! My mom just died, and you need to shut up!" I yell, standing right in front of her face. Jasmine scowls at me.

"Standing up for your boyfriend, I see? I didn't insult you, BTW, I insulted Jacob the Player here," she glares at me.

I slap her in the face. I've never gotten into a fight, so this is definitely a new feeling. I'm still numb from what just happened, so I don't feel much emotion. But her horrified expression leaves me satisfied, so I start to swing again, but she grabs my hand and stops me.

"You swung first," Jasmine reminds me, before slapping me.

I stagger backwards. I've never really been hit before, so this is way more painful than it should be. Then there's the fact that Jasmine's long nails dragged across my face, scratching the skin and leaving me with a mark.

"You two, stop!" Jacob yells from the sidewalk. I feel his hand wrap around my arm and drag me onto the sidewalk beside.

"Feisty. I like her," Jasmine approves. I roll my eyes. Jacob snorts.

"Gee, Jasmine. First you fight someone, then you want to be friends? Classic fake bitch move," he retorts.

"Hey, she swung first. I just did what was right and hit back. Anyways, what's your name, Feisty Girl?" Jasmine replies, turning to face me.

"It's Meredith. If you'll excuse me, my mom and brother are both dead, so I'd appreciate if you'd leave me alone," I answer. Even though I'm wishing I won't cry, I feel tears spring to my eyes.

"Hey, don't cry. I get it; it's a fresh wound. What's your number? I'll text you later," Jasmine says, slightly softer. I blink away the tears enough to roll my eyes again, but nonetheless I take Jasmine's phone from her hand and enter in my number.

"Here. C'mon Jacob, I wanna go home," I say, handing Jasmine her phone.

"See ya, Feisty One. Text me later," Jasmine says, turning in a way that makes her long hair swish. I turn around and follow Jacob home in silence.

Once we enter the house, Mrs. Sartorius is standing in the entrance.

"Where have you two been? I heard the sirens and thought you got killed or something!" she scolds.

"My mom killed herself, you bitch!" I yell, breaking away from Jacob and running up the stairs. Unfortunately, once I get to the top step, I lose my balance and tumble the rest of the way down. Ow. I have no will to get back up again, so I just lie there, sprawled at the bottom of the stairs. My thoughts are clouded, but I hear Mrs. Sartorius in the background, crying. 

I feel strong, muscular arms lift me from the floor. I realize my eyes were closed and open them to see Jacob carrying me. He's breathing heavily, but I don't actually weigh that much so maybe he's just really weak.

He drops me off on my bed, and I lay there, sobbing. Jacob pats me sympathetically and then exits the room. 

It feels like forever I've been laying here forever when I hear a knock at the door. 

"Come in," I call miserably. The door opens to Mrs. Sartorius.

"Meredith, honey? I spoke to the police. I'm so sorry. You know, your mom was my best friend too. I'm hurting just as much as you are. Just know that right now, while we're figuring everything out, Jacob and I are both here for you," she says, sitting at the edge of my bed. I'm slightly uncomfortable because I barely know her, but she's Jacob's mom, so whatever.

"Thanks. But trust me, you don't feel as bad as I do. I guess you're all I have right now though," I reply sullenly. She pats my shoulder, and I sigh.

"Do you care if I take a shower?" I ask. Mrs. Sartorius nods.

"Of course, sweetie. You share a bathroom with Jacob, and it's just right in this door," she replies. I stand up slowly.

"Thanks," I say, before opening the door that leads to the bathroom and stepping inside. The shower is glass and has one of the doors that open it, which is a huge step up from the tiny bathroom I had at my old house.

I had just thrown my toiletries in the bathroom earlier and I hadn't looked around. Now, I grab my shampoo, conditioner, and body wash from the bag and set them on a ledge in the shower.

As I shower, I'm suddenly hit with the realization that I'm all alone. My dad's a psychopath, my brother's been murdered, my mom killed herself, I'm far away from home, and I'm living in a family I barely know. The shock of it all comes on all at once,and the next thing I know, the world goes black.

JACOB'S POV

How was Meredith doing it? Her entire life is basically falling apart, and she's holding together really well.

As I sit on my phone, scrolling absentmindedly through Instagram, I hear a crashing noise coming from the bathroom I now share with Meredith. I heard her taking a shower, but I'm suddenly really concerned.

"Meredith?" I yell. No reply.

"Meredith! Are you okay?" I shout again. Still no reply.

Finally, I open my door and yell for my mom to come upstairs. I'm not sure what happens next, except that Meredith apparently passed out and is now laying on her bed.

MEREDITH'S POV

I lying in my bed, wearing my pink bathrobe. Mrs. Sartorius stands over me,  looking concerned.

"What happened?" I ask groggily. 

"Honey, you passed out in the shower. I brought you in here," she replies, squeezing my arm.

"Oh, um, sorry," I say, blushing. But I don't have much time to be embarrassed because as soon as I say it, the doorbell rings.

"I'll go get it. Be right back," Mrs. Sartorius says, leaving my room. Just moments later, though, I hear her call my name from downstairs.

I stand up slowly, making sure I don't pass out again, and make my way downstairs. What I see, though, shocks me.

"Aunt Mindy?" I gasp.

"Why, hello, child!"

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a/n: ayy! new chapter! this one was kinda long and dramatic, but the next chapter's going to be funny hopefully :)