Theodore |Book 1|

I'm Sorry

I opened my eyes groggily. I am still laying on the floor after I passed out. I don't know if it was from the hits or the shocking news. I don't even know what day it is.

Tears brim in my eyes as I recall the events of the day.

Roe is my mother. Roe is a killer. Roe killed my fake parents.

No they are my real parents. They are the ones who actually cared about me. They took care of me and then Roe ended their lives.

Roe set that house on fire. She killed my happiness only to bring me to hell.

If she really loved me, she wouldn't have done that. Roe would have let me live with the people I grew up believing were my parents.

How dare she take that from me. How dare she take away my happiness. She is a sick person, literally. She is a murderer.

She said she loved me. How could she even say that she loved me when she neglected me for so many years.

I sit up and wrap my arms around my legs and let out a sob. I feel so nauseous. The bile rises in the back of my throat.

"Look who's up." I hear Chad call.

"You are going to be late for school. Cover yourself and then get out." Roe said and pushed me to my room.

I stumble to my room and get the jar of concealer. I cover the bruises and then change into some old clothes that I left here when I moved to Theo's. The clothes were ratty and didn't fit me right.

I pulled on the long sleeve black hoodie and my blue jeans. I let my hair fall down to help cover myself better.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked like I did a few months ago. The same scarred and scared little girl. I resented this part of me. It was back to this life until I could get away again.

I walked out to the living room to see Chad drinking a beer and Roe watching TV. I grabbed my bag and before I could walk out the door, Roe called, "If you tell anyone, I'll kill you. I've done it before and I'll do it again."

I gasped slightly and then opened the door. I walked out to the lobby and out into the humid California air.

"Paige!"

I turn and see Theo jogging down the street. I pull the hood up and walk quickly down the street.

I don't want to lose Theo, but I cant deal with him right now. He knows and if Roe finds out she'll kill me. The thought is sickening.

"Paige, please!"

As I knew, he would catch up to me. He grabbed my arm and twisted me around.

"Theo, I cant do this right now." I said and looked up to the building I now lived in.

"I cant just let them do this to you."

"Theo-,"

"No! Paige. Please." He begged. I don't know what he begged for but it made my heart break at the sight of him and what I've put him through. Tears surfaced again as I tried to hold them back.

One traitor tear slipped down my cheek and he wiped it away. He pulled me in for a bone crushing hug. I winced and tried to pull out of it. His eyes widened in panic.

"Let me see."

"Theo, we are in public." 

I will kill you. I rang in my ears as I pushed him away. She is ruining my life.

"Let me see it, Paige."

"I don't know what you are talking about." I said and then started to walk to school again. He grasped my arm again.

I ripped it from his grasp and the look of hurt that flashed across his face almost made me fall to my knees. I didn't like to see him like this.

"I'm sorry, Theo." With that I turned around to walk to school again. I didn't look back because I knew he was still standing there and if I looked I would surely go back to him and tell him everything, even if it kills me.

I sigh in relief when I see the school in the distance. "Thank goodness." I say to myself. I go to my locker and grab my books. Closing my locker I see Dylan behind it. I don't jump because its become normal.

"Good morning." He slung his arm around my shoulders. "Where's Theo?" He asked looking around the hallway.

"I'm not sure." I said truthfully. I left him on the street with a shocked expression. It still hurts to see him like that. I love him and I don't want to hurt him. That's the last thing I want to do, but my life is on the line.

If Roe finds out that Theo knows about the situation she'll not only hurt me but she'll hurt Theo and I cant let that happen. I keep telling myself that it's better this way.

Walking into Economics I see that Theo isn't in his seat. He probably isn't coming in today. I sit in my normal seat with Dylan on my left and Theo's empty seat on my right.

Class seems to draw on. I can barely keep my eyes open. I lay my head down on the table and wait for the bell to ring.

Finally it does ring and I bolt out of the room and to my next class. I'm just trying to make it to lunch without much human contact.

Once lunch comes I sneak out to the football field. I don't want to explain what is everything to Cole and Dallas. I also don't want to explain things to Hailey.

I lay on the bleachers and look up at the sky. The clouds are white and puffy. The sky is a bright blue and the sun is kissing my cheeks. It's too bad that the world is this beautiful and I cant even enjoy it because of all the problems.

I get my books out of my bag and go over some homework. Ever since I lived with Theo, my grades have been going downhill and Roe wont except that.

I jump when I hear my name being called out. I slam the book closed and turn to see Theo. A gasp escapes my mouth when I see his knuckles bloody and his face torn. I throw my book to the side and run to him.

"What the hell happened?" I asked taking his hand into mine, inspecting the wounds. I look up to meet his eyes and see the cuts and bruises on his face.

"What did you do?" I ask. He looks down at the ground, his eyes not meeting mine. I grab his face and make him look at me but his eyes are still on the ground.

"Theo?" I call out to him. He finally looks at me and I see an emotion float through them. 

"What did you do?" I asked a final time and then a see a small smile cross his lips but as soon as it's there, it's gone again.

"I was fighting for you. That's what I told you before, that I would fight for you.....because I love you."

Tears brimmed in my eyes as I pulled him into my arms. I didn't know what else to do. Tears poured out my eyes as I whispered back, "I love you, too."

***

A/N

Very short chapter but I needed to update. I've been working on another book and that is taking up some of my time. Also, crew has started and that is very time consuming so I'm trying to update when I can.

You should check out my other book because that would mean a lot to me. It's called I Might Be Crazy. There is only three chapters up but I update regularly.

I promise the next chapter of Drowning In Chaos will be longer.

I feel so bad for Theo and Paige but don't worry, it gets better for them.

I have made a trailer for this book and I will post it with it's own chapter.

Anyway, thank you for reading. Please Vote and Comment. Motivation is key.

-Kate