The Best Of Me

Chapter 7

  Harmony

     "I know you drove all the way here to see me but I'm not feeling so good. I don't really feel like going out or having anyone over right now" "Harmony, Mom told me you got into a fight. Was it with Justin did he do that to you?" "No Justin loves me. He would never hurt me. I just got into it with someone at the fair" "I don't believe you. If Justin had nothing to do with it why did dad have to pick you up? You might have them fooled but I know who you went with that night. And while we're on the topic why haven't you told them you're dating anyone?" "I didn't think they'd approve of Justin and you know how badly I hate to do anything to disappoint them." "You're an adult you have to make your own choices. They might be upset but they'll accept it. Oh and they know now and they don't care. As long as you're happy. But if Justin did this to you you need to leave him" "Melody I already told you he didn't but just like you said I'm an adult so stop worrying about me. Go back home to your perfect life with your perfect husband in the city. I'm okay. I don't know why you drove all the way here just because I got into a fight. Let me live my life already." "Harmony I don't even know what to say to you. Just wow. I'll be at mom's for the next couple days if you change your mind and want to talk" Click. I really don't know what was wrong with me.

Justin had his friends help me move all my stuff and by the end of the day all of my belongings were either at his place or in storage until they could be sold. I stood in my empty apartment thinking about the way I'd felt the day I moved in. Happy and care free. I wish I could go back to that day. Justin took my hand and led me out to his car. That night we had a nice romantic dinner and he gave me a diamond bracelet he'd bought me. I took ther next 4 days off work until my face healed enough to cover it up with makeup. The bruises were turning a nasty yellowish color but that meant it was healing. Justin was back to his normal self and it was a really happy time. A week after moving in I finally called my parents and told them that me and Justin were living together. I could tell they weren't really happy but they didn't voice their concerns either. Melody found out through a friend that I had moved and she wasn't at all happy that I hadn't told her. The more secrets I kept and the less I talked to her the more concerned she grew. I didn't mean to but I was pushing her away.

These days I barely left the house unless I was going to the grocery store or work. My face healed but I always had bruises somewhere on my body. I was almost always hurting somewhere. Justin didn't mean anything by it though he was just rough. Sometimes he got drunk and stayed out all night. I'm almost certain he was cheating but I didn't care. If he was with someone else he was leaving me alone. When he did get drunk and come home he'd anger easily and it usually ended in him hurting me in some way. He always apologized the next day and bought me some kind of gift. Like a gift was going to make up for it. Once we had gone an entire month without fighting and we were actually really happy. For my birthday we went out to this fancy expensive restaurant. When we were done eating Justin proposed and I said yes. I called Melody right away.

It was as if the last few months had never even happened and we had never grown apart. Melody and my mom were helping me pick out a dress. We were laughing and having a great time. After I chose the perfect dress we went to lunch before spending the rest of the day planning the wedding. I decided that I was going to go to Atlanta and spend the weekend with Melody. Justin wouldn't be too happy about it but he could deal with it. It would give him more time with his buddys anyway. Justin just had to understand that if we were going to be married I had to have my own time and my own life.

"Hey you've been quiet since we got here. You alright?" "Yeah I just can't believe you've lived here almost a year and I've never visited. I feel like the worst sister ever." "No you're not. You've been busy. It's okay. I understand" "No it's not okay. I'm sorry. For everything." "Don't be. All we can do is move on." I made a promise to myself right then and there to be a better sister. "Justin wants me to quit my job and be a stay at home wife and one day a stay at home mom." "Is that what you want?" "Well I'd have more time to focus on my writing but you know how much I love my job. I mean when we eventually have kids I'd definitely want to stay home. At least until they were in school. And Justin makes more than enough to support us. So yeah I guess I'd be okay with that." "Okay but promise me that you wont become one of those people who never leave the house." "I promise" "I can't wait to see you get married Harmony. You're going to be such a beautiful bride and Justin is such a great guy. I know he still likes to party but I'm sure he'll settle into married life just fine. I mean look at me and Anthony." "Yeah" "And you're going to make the cutest little blonde haired blued eyed babies. When that day comes I just know you are going to be an amazing mommy. Until then you can just practice by being an amzing aunt" "Wait. What? ... You arent? Are you pregnant?" "Yes" "Oh my God. I'm so happy for you Melody. You and Anthony are going to be great parents."

I woke up to a text from Justin at 3 a.m. "Hope you're having a great time with your sister. Sorry to text so late. I love you. See you Sunday night." I typed out a reply but fell asleep witout hitting send. When I woke up I had 25 texts from Justin. 25 texts consisiting of him asking what the hell I was doing that I couldn't reply to him. I text back "I was sleeping. Stop being an ass." and a few seconds later he replied "Watch the way you talk to me" I turned my phone off and enjoyed the rest of the weekend with my sister. I was barely in the door when Justin was in my face. "Where were you? Who were you with? Why didn't you answer your phone?" "You already know the answer to all those questions. Stop acting crazy." I tried walking past him to put my things away and he grabbed my arm. One of these days you're going to learn not to back talk me.

I had to call off work the next morning because I could barely move. When I did I was told that when I came in the next day the boss wanted to see me. I just knew I was going to be fired because of how often I'd called off in the last few months or so. I knew I had to get out but I didn't know how and I really did love Justin. When I went out to the kitchen around noon for something to eat there was a note and a gift box on the table. I picked both up and dropped them into the trash. Then I picked up the phone and called Melody. An hour later her and Anthony were at the house and two hours later I was safely with my parents at their house. I had taken everything from Justin's place and I was planning on hiding out for a few weeks but he would know where to find me if I stayed. My dad called his brother in Jefferson who said I could stay there for awhile. Justin had never met uncle Ben so I should be pretty safe there. I grabbed only what I needed and drove to my uncle's house a half hour away. My mom wanted me to go to the police but I needed to get out of town before Justin realized I was gone.

"You've been here for a week Harmony. He's not going to find you. You're safe now. Maybe it's time to leave the house. Why don't we go out for dinner tonight?" "Thanks Uncle Ben but I really just wanna stay in today. I was thinking I could explore the woods behind the house a bit. I havent been back there since I was a kid." "It's not good to not get out. I know you're upset but it might do you some good getting out and seeing other people." "Maybe tomorrow" "You said that yesterday" "I know" "I'm going into town to pick up a few things do you need anything?" "No thanks" I waited until I heard Uncle Ben's truck pull out of the driveway to get off the couch. I wrapped a blanket around me and sat on the back porch. It was 70 degrees outside but lately I was always cold.

"Hey Harmony. I didn't realize you were staying here" I jumped at the unexpected sound of my cousin Leann's voice. If Uncle Ben knew his only daughter was coming by today he hadn't mentioned it. "Yeah. I hope you don't mind I'm stayng in your room." "No problem. We can just share the room while I'm here. I don't mind sleeping on the floor. It's actually better for your back to sleep on a firm surface." "If you say so. We could always share the bed like when we were kids." "That will work, too" "So what are you doing here Leann?" "Just needed a week away from my busy life. What about you?" So I told her everything. And I cried while she held me. She didn't judge me or question me about my choices she just listened. By the time Uncle Ben got home we were laughing and joking like nothing ever happened. Like I didn't have a huge cloud hanging over my head.

When I woke up the next morning I heard a male's voice coming from the other room. It definitely wasn't my uncles and for a moment I froze until I realized it wasn't Justin. There was another male voice and then Leann was laughing at something he'd said. Then my uncle said something and they were all laughing. I got up and went to the doorway of the bedroom. I stood there unnoticed by the 4 people sitting at the kitchen table for about 30 seconds. Uncle Ben turned and saw me there and smiling told me that Leann had made breakfast and I should really come eat before it got cold. I was starting to feel dizzy almost like I had drank last night even though I didn't. I could only see the backs of the two guys sitting at the table but something seemed vaguely familiar about them both. Especially their voices. I had heard both of those voices before. When my uncle talked to me they both turned in my direction. Brantley and Kolby. I was almost certain I was dreaming and I'd wake up in just a few minutes. Just then the smell of coffee and bacon hit me and I turned to run to the bathroom as I started to get sick.

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