A Surprise That Changed Her Life

Chapter 31: Twenty Questions

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Violet's POV 

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It was Thursday evening and I was sitting in the living room of my house with Brad who was trying to teach me astronomy. He had been at it since Sunday.

The week had been completely uneventful. When Brad came to tutor me on Sunday afternoon, I told him about what Trevor had done last night. Surprisingly, he told me that I did the right thing to not go inquiring on my own. When I asked how, he simply shook his head and in a duh tone, said that it was better to let them think that I was clueless when in reality I was not. Keeps us one step ahead and gives them a false sense of security, he said.

Oh and before Brad came here, I remember standing in the balcony and looking down in the street. The sight reminded me of my early days in this city. The memory was of the day when Kate and Michael were picking me up and as I walked out of the house, I had seen Isaac in a black car sitting in front of a house opposite mine on the right side. A house that I now recognize as Rachel Henderson's or in other words, Ryan's. The same car was parked in the driveway when I looked from my balcony that morning, but there was no one in or near it. Could it be that Isaac is the secret boyfriend of Ryan? But then again, I've heard a bunch of rumours about how he had heartlessly broken up with his girlfriend just before summer. Surely, he wouldn't have been dating her if he was gay. And Ryan said that they were dating for a year. So maybe he was just visiting Ryan's mother for some reason? I don't know actually.

Monday was agonizingly boring and to my absolute horror, Melissa seemed worse. She was less concerned about her appearance and about letting others see her truth. Her walk didn't look as pained as it did on Friday, but I had a feeling that things are going to get worse.

And my fears were realized when she kept getting less and less concerned about everything around her and her bruises and pained movements started to appear more and more. Moreover none of the people who adored her before, tried to reach out to her. I wanted to, but Brad never let me.

Today, on Thursday, she was absent and I was extremely uneasy about it. What if something happens to her? Worse than what she has already went through? What if he hits her again? What if she did something reckless that might ruin her life further? All these what-ifs are giving me a migraine.

"Violet, are you alright?"

Brad's slightly concerned voice brought me out of my depressing thoughts and I looked up at him startled.

"Er, yeah."

He shook his head and closed the books in front of us, "No, you're not. Come with me."

"What are you doing? Where? Why?"

He stood up and extended an arm to me, "You are asking way too many questions. C'mon." He prompted me to take his hand by motioning to it with his eyes.

Hesitantly, I took it and he yanked me up with enough force to make me go crashing into his chest. I'm sure by now, my cheeks would be sporting a nice dusting of red and pink.

He didn't let go of my hand and escorted me to the door. I stopped him, "Wait, Brad. I need to tell my mother that I'm going out. I'll be back."

And with that I ran upstairs as soon as he released my hand. Mom was in her room and I knocked on the door a few times. Her response was instantaneous, "Yes?"

I turned the knob and pushed the door open. The room was bathed in the late afternoon sunshine, pouring in through the window. She was sitting on the armchair near it with a copy of Pride and Prejudice in her hands. She placed her finger as bookmark, closing it, and turned to eye me, "Something wrong, Violet?"