We Accept The Love We Think We Deserve

9

Newt
"Can I help you?" I asked looking up at Gally. He didn't answer, instead he grabbed my arm and pulled me into a spare bedroom. He closed the door and I was suddenly terrified. There's not much he can do to me in public or in front of other people, but alone, who knows what he is capable of. He turned to me with a look of pure hatred.
"What are you doing here?" He growled. I could feel my hands shaking as he took a step closer.
"I-I was invited," I stuttered. My breathing quickened as I felt an overwhelming wave of fear wash over me. I need to get out of here. I made to move around him but he blocked my path and pushed me backwards. I stumbled over my bad leg and fell to the ground.
"L-Let me go," I stuttered feeling hot tears in the corners of my eyes.
"Why?" Gally said harshly, "So you can run off to your new boyfriend!? God you're so pathetic Newt! No wonder I'm the only one who can tolerate your shit." His words hurt but I refused to cry in front of him. I do my best to not cry in front of people, it's kind of like a phobia of mine, crying in front of Thomas earlier was bad enough, yet somehow it was different. He didn't stare at me like I was an extraterrestrial being. He held me and made sure I was okay.
"Please Gally," I said, my voice was small and quiet and choked when it came out. He rolled his eyes and looked at me with loathing.
"You're so damn weak," he spat. Then he turned on his heel and slammed the door shut behind him.
I don't know how long I sat there taking deep breaths trying to calm myself. Surprisingly I didn't cry at all besides a few stray tears from my initial terror of being trapped in a dark room with Gally. When I finally was able to stop shaking I got up and walked to the door. I let out one last shaky breath before opening the door and stepping out into the crowd of people in the house. I walked aimlessly around the house before deciding to just go home. I must have been walking around for a lot longer than I thought because when I looked at my watch it read 11:00. I walked outside and saw Gally with his arms wrapped around Thomas's sister, Theresa's waist. They looked up when I walked out and Gally muttered something in her ear before he started pulling her towards his car.
"Gally you're too drunk to drive," Theresa said.
"No'm not," Gally slurred stumbling to his car. "Come on, don't be a pussy." He tried grabbing her arm and forcing her into the car but she held her ground.
"No!" She yelled, "I will not get into that car with you! And I sure as hell won't let you drive like that! People like you are the reason my little brother is dead!" I was stunned. Little brother? Dead? Oh my God. I took a step forward at the same time Gally raised his hand to slap Theresa. I sprang into action and jumped in between them, taking the hit That was meant for Theresa. Alby had walked out in time to see me get slapped, so he ran over to us and pushed Gally back.
"Newt you okay?!" He asked.
"I'm fine," I said holding my stinging cheek. "He's too drunk to drive, can you take him home?" Alby didn't look to thrilled about the idea but he nodded anyway.
"Yeah," He said, "I'll see you Monday."
"Thank you," I said, "see ya." I turned to Theresa. "Do you need a ride home?" She nodded sadly. "Come on then." We both got in my car and I started driving. We sat in an awkward silence for a long time until Theresa finally spoke.
"Why did you offer to take me home?" She asked with a small voice.
"I know you didn't drink much," I said, "but you still shouldn't be driving in this condition." She nodded.
"But I was going to sleep with your boyfriend," she said, "I wasn't even that drunk and I was going to sleep with your boyfriend. And I knew he was your boyfriend, but I didn't care. How could you be so kind to someone like me?" I sighed.
"Because..." What do I say to that? "Because I don't blame you Theresa. I know that we don't know each other very well, but I'm willing to bet you usually wouldn't sleep with a guy who's in a relationship with someone else. Am I right?" She nodded. "Then what changed?"
"It's stupid," she said, "but I'm jealous of Thomas. When we moved here I had to leave all my friends and my boyfriend back in New York, and then he gets to see his best friend and he just so easily made so many friends that I got jealous and needed someone to make me feel loved-" I cut her off.
"And Gally was the one who was willing to do that." I finished.
"Yeah..." she agreed shamefully. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't be," I said, "Gally's manipulative. He probably convinced you that I didn't care or there was nothing wrong with it. He's cheated on me before and I wouldn't be surprised if he did it again. It's not like he cares about me." I muttered the last part.
"If he doesn't care about you then why are you still with him?" Theresa asked.
"Because if I'm not with Gally," I started, "no one else will want me..."
Theresa didn't even hesitate to answer, "Tom would."