Fated Hearts(In Deep Editing)

Chapter Three

Aubrey's POV

Crash! The front door slams as Chris leans through the door. He's been coming in late but never drunk before. I peer out of our bedroom door at my dumb ass boyfriend stumbling down the hall of our apartment.

Spotting me he glares in my direction. "Aubrey. What are you doing up?" He slurs. "I've been waiting on you. Do you need help getting to bed?" Maybe if I'm sweet he'll just go to sleep. I step down the hall slowly towards him. His face hardens. "Oh you're going to help me to bed alright." Something is off tonight. I barely recognized his voice. I'm terrified. My eyes widen as I bolt back to the bedroom, almost shutting the door before its too late.

Just as the door meets the frame, Chris hurls it open, making me fly off of it to the floor. He's out for blood tonight. It's been smacks lately, when i did or said something that displeased him. But tonight? I'm going to be hurt. I know it in my bones and I'll be damned. Thinking of the gun in the bedside table I try to quickly crawl to it. A hand grips my hair harshly and I release a squeal of pain.

He turns me, with a fierce backhand waiting for me. I glare up at him through the spots in my vision, spitting my blood in his face from the split in my lip. If he thinks I'm going to lay over and take it he is dead wrong. "Get the fuck off of me!" I scream up at Chris. I attempt to fight him off but that only earns me a punch in the face. As my vision fades I hear a zipper being released...

I sit straight up in my bed, sweating and clutching my pillow to me.  Just a dream. I run my hands through my curly mess of hair and face. I'm safe, I'm okay, I chant over and over until my pulse slows. I glance at my alarm clock on my bedside table, the red numbers showing it to be eight a.m. I huff laying down under the covers once again.

Its been three weeks since I ran. Though with everything that's happened, it feels like only days ago I escaped that hellhole of an apartment. Riding zig zag across the country, I hope I've lost him. I fling my covers aside, getting out bed. Walking over to the old vanity that came with the room I stare at my reflection. As always I bring my wild mane of hair into a messy bun. Bright green eyes stare back at me with much more life than they had over a month ago.

Sweeping some gloss on my lips and mascara on my lashes, I feel pretty much done. After I left, or ran from, Kane's auto shop yesterday I went to the small boutique in town for warmer clothes, then to the grocery store for food.

Finding the flat above the store pretty much stocked with essential furniture, I felt relieved I wouldn't have to delve into my money stash more than I had to already. I refused to use my cards, in fear Chris would find me somehow. The cash I had was what I pulled out of money left over from Chris's shopping list weeks before I hit the road.

Opening my closet door, I choose a brown long sleeve shirt, dark blue skinny jeans, and my favorite brown ankle boots. My grandmother always told me brown was my color. Dressed, I worked on cleaning the top and inside of the fridge, the microwave and then the stove.

Cleaning was always my outlet, and after my nightmare I needed one. I scrub the oven top with such ferocity and focus I didn't hear the opening of the door. A cough had me jumping so hard I almost slipped on my freshly scrubbed floors. Whirling around my eyes meet the gangly, teenage Jonathan. He reminds me of a walking stick, except for startling blue eyes and a mop of black hair. He doesn't seem like he's a looker now but I bet once hormones hit him, he'll have girls crawling all over him. He eyes the spotless kitchen in wonder.

"Umm... Hi, uh, sorry to scare you. But my aunt wanted me to remind you that your shift starts in one hour." I smile, relaxing. "No, it's okay. I just didn't hear you come in is all." I look down at my outfit. "Is this okay?" I inquire waving at myself. "Pft. Yeah. You should see what Stacy wore to work. You look very pretty." I take it Stacy is the girl on honeymoon. "Thank you." I say softly, moving to grab my satchel from the coat hanger, along with my scarf and white knitted sweater.