Forever And A Half

9

Week 2:

I heard someone walk past my door and then another door close. I opened mine slightly and saw that Joe was no longer there. I went downstairs and Caspar and Oli were both sitting on the couch talking.

"Oh, hey Adalyn. What happened?" Oli asked,

"I've never sung to anyone before. That's why I asked Joe to turn the camera off but he didn't," I shook my head.

"So you and Joe...?" they trailed off.

"No, I don't think I can trust him anymore," I sighed. They both got up and gave me a group hug,

"It's okay, Adalyn, give it time,"

"I'm Ada to you guys. No more Adalyn," I smiled at them. They looked at each other,

"And to Joe you are...?"

"I'm a guest at his home, nothing more,"

They left a short while later and I went back to my room. I jumped on the bed and decided to check my social media. A notification popped up on my screen.

Joe: Adalyn I'm sorry

Joe: I can cut that part out of the video

Joe: I just won't post the video

Joe: I'm going to your room

I looked up from my screen; he was standing at the door.

"Adalyn..." I shook my head to make him stop talking,

"I should have locked the door," I said before walking past him. He grabbed my arm and when I turned around there was a hurt look in his eyes,

"Please don't leave me Adalyn," I escaped his grasp and left the house.

Night began to fall and it got quite cold. I didn't walk for long when I realised someone was following me. I turned a corner and began running. I went around the block and I could still here the padding of my pursuer. I was at the end of Joe's street when I tripped over a skateboard.

I sat back and cradled my knee as it bled.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, are you okay?" a young boy came up to me,

"Yeah I'm fine, is that your skateboard?" he nodded,

"I'm David, my friend Alex is just over there," he pointed to another boy just exiting a house, "Do you need ice?"

"No, I'm all good. I have to go, there's someone chasing me," I went to get up again but my leg was too sore. I dropped back to the ground. The footsteps grew louder as my chaser rounded the corner. It was too dark to see who it was,

"Oh, hello Suggy," David turned around. Joe came into view and I scowled. He bent over panting,

"Adalyn, we might want to go," he said when he caught his breath. David looked over at me,

"Suggy was your chaser?" I nodded,

"I didn't know at the time though," Joe looked over at me,

"We really should get going, Adalyn," he spoke more urgently. David went over and pushed Joe to the ground,

"Don't boss her around, she's her own person and if she wants to hang with us then she will,"

"David, leave him be," I got up and limped over to Joe. I helped him up, "Come on Joe. Bye David, bye Alex,"

"Bye Adalyn, don't let Joe in your head, he's manipulative!" David called out as I started walking home.

We had gotten a little bit up the street when my knee started aching, I stopped for a bit.

"Adalyn, I'm really sorry about before," he apologised again and again,

"Its fine Joe, can you help me?" he wrapped an arm around my waist and supported me as we walked home. He laid me on the couch,

"Mum, dad, Adalyn's been hurt!" he called out. Graham came down the stairs. He bandaged up my knee and Joe sat with me on the couch. It was silent for a while until I spoke up,

"Thank you for helping me Joe," he smiled at me.

"It's the least I could do after the video," he looked at his hands, "I can edit that part out if you'd like,"

"No, you can put it in just...can we not talk about it. I overreacted, I'm sorry," I leant on his shoulder and he blushed, "Also, next time I leave the house, can you just come with me instead of following me and freaking me out?"

"Okay deal, but I only followed because I was worried," he said.

"I know, thank you," we spoke for a little bit before he helped me up the stairs, "Joe?"

"Yeah Adalyn?" he opened my bedroom door,

"Ada. Can I sleep in your room tonight?"

"Sure, Ada,"