A Series Of Inconvenient Events And How I Survived Them

chapter four

 The moment his face registered in my mind, I couldn't hold myself up. Memories flooded my mind. Him. This asshole had the audacity come to my house and call me sweetheart. That assholes name was Ricky Lee.

-

Ricky Lee had been Jace's best friend for ten years before he started dating me. They met in school and were stuck like glue ever since. Jace had a few girlfriends but they didn't last long because of the stress of school. When he met me, we were both old enough to date well and manage work. We saw each other almost everyday and became inseparable ourselves. Ricky wasn't very fond of that and invited me to his house to hangout. I thought it was weird, since we weren't very close in the first place. The second I arrived he attacked me. Locking the door to muffle my screams, my cries for help. He hit me repeatedly yelling vicious things. The main theme of his thoughtless screaming was that I stole Jace from him. I wanted to tell Jace, but despite my common sense, I kept quiet to keep Jace happy. We had only dated for 5 months, but I cared for him enough to save their relationship. I tried to save myself, crawling to the door, but it was no use. I was and still am very weak so attempting to win him was asking for him to hit me more. I eventually blacked out. When I woke up, my blood was wiped and I had new clothes on. You couldn't see any of the marks he left, and I wondered if I had dreamed. Until I spotted the decor in the room. He had covered everything. He stepped out and motioned toward the door as if nothing happened. I stood up with difficulty and opened the door. My vision was blurry so I couldn't see, but a tall boy with black hair backed away and bowed to me. He must have been guarding the door. I vowed to find him and make him pay. Every time after I got beat I saw him. A fuzzy smile and bow acting as if I hadn't been abused.

It went on for weeks until our sixth month anniversary. He kissed me and grabbed my waist. I screamed in pain. At the time I hated myself because I knew he would get mad at Ricky. But now I'm so glad I did that. He took me home angrily and scanned me before lifting my shirt and seeing the bruises. It took a lot to get Ricky's name from me. He even threatened to break up before I admitted. I don't know exactly what happened, but from the yelling, it was something about Jace believing me so easily over their ten years of friendship. Jace and I made the pact about telling the truth no matter what and trusting each other enough to leave our phones alone because there would be no secrets.

-

I shivered as he stepped closer and his eyes softened for a second until he laughed. He straightened himself up,

" Miss me that much? Damn I missed you too but it's only been a few years, not a century, Princess."

I tried to close the door on him, but his strength was how I remembered it. Overpowering and full of hatred. He held it open, his eyes hardened but still smiling. I tried to back up, but that only gave him the invitation to come in. I backed up until I fell back and had to slide backwards instead. He walked up, his boots clicking on the floor until he kneeled to me.

" Wanna hang out while Jace is gone? I think it'll be fun. Don't you?" Ricky whispered forcing my head up and down into a yes, laughing. A tear rolled down my cheek. From the view over his shoulder, I saw a head peeking from next door. Christian? Would he help? I stared at him, hoping he would get the message, and he seemed to, coming from the door. At the same time, Jace's voice sounded from the hallway.

" Get your fucking dirty hands off of my girlfriend." His voice was calm, but deep and threatening at the same time. I myself was scared. Ricky turned his head to see him and smiled. As if everything was normal, he went to give him a hug, but Jace threw him a punch instead of returning. Even on the floor, Ricky laughed wiping the blood from his lip.

I stood up and hid behind Jace. Anywhere else in the room, and I would be vulnerable to Ricky. He held my hand and smiled at me. Jace's eyes reverted to the angry expression and they stood staring for what seemed like forever. I felt his hand loosen and I turned to tell me something.

" Babe, go somewhere. It's not safe right now." He whispered. I wanted to go. I did, but I knew if I left without doing something, he would be dead. I shook my head refusing to go. He nodded for now, but I knew he would make me sooner or later.

" Awww. Cute. I guess your relationship was strong enough to stand even after he blatantly cheated." Ricky cooed. I scoffed and Jace held my hand again to silence me.

" What the hell do you want Ricky." He sighed. Again, he laughed. It was almost sinister. Ricky knew exactly what he did. That was when Jace let go of my hand, grabbing my jacket and purse, then opening the door for me. His eyes pleaded for me to go. I felt uneasy, but left anyways.

I reluctantly went down the steps, the cold of winter hitting me as I descended. Everything happened so quickly I couldn't even begin to comprehend it all. It felt like a dream. In a span of two days, years of painful memories, and a new burning one had been relayed in my mind so many times, I had no sense of memory at all. I finally saw the light at the bottom of the steps and tried to shake Jace and Ricky being in the same room together off. Ricky wouldn't hurt Jace, right? From what I remember before he started abusing me, he had quite the hot head. He once punched a guy for taking his drink on accident and "saying sorry in the incorrect tone." But when Jace hit him he laughed. He didn't hit back. He had too much of a soft spot for him. Even after Jace had beat him to a pulp years back, he texted Jace to see if he was injured and if he needed money for the hospital bill. Ricky was obsessed.

I shook my head again, wanting to forget and trust in Jace. I was calm for a few seconds until I heard an almost too familiar voice.

" MY BABY I'M HERE ARE YOU HUNGRY?"