All Roads Lead Home (Book #1)

Chapter 10

"Please pick up the phone... Please Jay... Damn it!" I say as I hit the end button while his voicemail greeting still played.

I look at the clock on the home screen. He should still be awake, unless he passed out early waiting for me to call.

'Jay, you still up?'

'Ya. Was in the shower. Sorry.'

'I really need to talk to you.'

'You can call me now.'

I click on the phone icon next to his name. It rings a few times before he answers. I hear shuffling and a thunk before he says anything.

"Shit! Sorry I dropped the phone. What's wrong baby?" Jay asks.

I smile a little at the fact that he dropped his phone. He's been through so many phones that I've lost count.

"Jay, you need to get me out of here," I say as I pace in the room they gave me. "I can't stay here. Not in this house."

"But you just got there. Did something happen? Did someone hurt you?" Jay asks. I can hear his voice getting his protective tone and I know he's ready to fight whoever may have hurt me.

"They didn't hurt me, at least not today. This woman hurt me ten years ago when she walked out on dad and I," I say as new tears start to fall.

"Wait Krys, are you... The foster parents they found... It's your mom?" Jay asks as he sorts through the information I just dropped on him.

I let out a deep breath. "Yeah, it is. Of all the people in this world I could have been put with, they found my mom. I never thought I'd see her again and then here she is, in the flesh," I say with a sob. I shake my head even though Jay can't see it. "Do you wanna know the best part Jay?"

"What's that baby?" Jay asks, knowing I didn't expect a response from him.

"She doesn't even recognize me!" I cry out through more sobs. "She doesn't even know who I am Jay. Do I tell her? Do I tell anyone?" I ask as I try to figure out my next move.

"I honestly don't know Krys. Maybe you should ask Ethan or Ava what to do," Jay says.

"Maybe I should. They'd at least have some idea of what I should do," I say as sit down on the corner of the bed.

Jay sighs. "Are you gonna be okay Krys? If not, I'll come down there and get you. We can figure something out when you're back here. I could be there..."

"No, it's okay. If you did that, we'd both get in trouble. Just stay up in Cold Brook," I say as I slip my socks off.

Jay let's out a yawn before he tries to cover it with a cough. "Sorry, I think I'm getting sick."

"No, you're not. You're tired. I'll let you go so you can go to sleep babe," I say as he yawns again.

"You sure?"

"Yeah I'm sure. Get some sleep babe. I'll talk to you later. Love you," I say as I make a kiss noise into the phone.

"Love you too," he says as he returns the kiss sounds.

I let out another sigh as the call ends. I hear footsteps coming down the hall towards my door. I get up from the bed to grab my bag as the door opens slightly.

"Are you getting settled in okay?" Madison asks as she pokes her head in the room.

"Yes," I say, irritated. "Listen, I know this is your house and all, but could you knock before opening my door?" I ask, venom dripping off every word.

"I'm sorry. I'm not used to having a teenager in the house. I'll knock next time," she says as she opens the door fully.

"How about next time you want to knock, you just don't. I don't want to talk to you while I'm in my room. Why don't we leave the small talk for the common rooms of the house okay?" I ask as I turn around, arms crossed over my chest.

"Listen, I know you didn't want to come here so soon after burying your father, but that's no reason to be upset with me. I don't even know you. Why don't we try to be civil to each other and maybe get to know each other?" she says as she leans against the door frame.

I scoff. "I think it's a little late for that," I say as I turn back around to fiddle with my bag to distract me.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asks. She really doesn't recognize me.

"You used to know me! We used to read Robinson Crusoe and Treasure Island together! We used to laugh together! Why? Why did you leave?" I yell as I turn back around to face her. "Did you hate me that much? Did having me ruin your life? Why?!?"

"I-I-I don't know who you think I am, but..." she starts.

"Like hell you don't," I say as I turn to grab the wedding picture out of my purse. I throw it at her and she catches it against her chest.

Her hand shakes as she holds the photo face down. She doesn't flip it over to look at it. Doesn't even look at me.

"Look at it!" I yell. She flinches at the anger in my voice.

She turns the photo over and looks at it. Her hand flies to cover her mouth in shock. She looks at me, recognition clouding her eyes.

"Krystah, sweetheart, I..." she starts.

"No! You had ten years to come back to daddy; to come back to me!" I say as the tears start again. "You lost your right to call me sweetheart years ago. Do you know what it's like being known as the girl whose mom doesn't love her? Do you know how it feels? How it feels to know that your mom doesn't love you?" I ask through sobs.

"I did love you. I still do," she says as she takes a step closer.

"Bull shit! If you loved me, you would have stayed. You wouldn't have disappeared without a trace. For ten years I wondered why my mommy didn't love me. 'Where's mommy?' Do you know how many times I asked daddy that? To many, that's how many. I think it was when I was thirteen when I just stopped. I stopped caring about my mommy. She wasn't coming back so I stopped looking. I had my daddy; I had my superhero to make me feel safe," I say through the tears.

"Then when I turned fourteen, I realized I was I was in love with my best friend. I wanted to tell my mom, so I did. I sat on Ava's couch and I told her all about it. I realized at that moment that Ava was more like my mom than you ever could have been or will be," I say as I look at her. She has tears in her eyes.

"Krystah, I..."

"No. I'm done talking to you. I'll stay here until I'm 18, but once I'm gone, don't expect to ever hear from me again. I have my family waiting for me in Cold Brook," I say as I slump back onto the bed.

"Krystah, I'm your family too," she says as she puts the picture on the desk by the door. "Mike is your step-dad..." I cut her off.

"Don't put that word with his name. Not when you're talking to me. He will never be my step-dad. Just leave me alone," I say as I put my headphones on.

She just nods her head and closes the door behind her.

‘I told her. I'm legit shaking right now.’

I sent the text to Jay. I fell asleep waiting for his response that wouldn't come at 1 in the morning.