Daughter ✯ Kellic

Chapter Fourteen

☢ tw // abuse ☢

Kellin had left a little over a month ago. Not much had happened since then, but I do know that he graduated from high school somewhere in that time period. He didn't attend graduation -- something I only knew because I was there for Mike's own diploma. Yet all of Kellin's friends that I could recognize were there, which was rather confusing. Mike told me not to worry about it, then applying for a job shortly thereafter. I have since been back at the daycare center earning my living once again. Somehow, I had never felt more alone.

Jaime and I are slowly going more steady instead of keeping things at a ridiculous one night stand. He told me that my escapade with Kellin was likely just a phase and that I truly missed being with Jaime all along, and I have to admit that I don't not believe him. He's proven that we've both changed, and thus I'm happier than we were before. Mike hates every second he sees Jaime, swearing to me that no good could possibly come of this rekindling, but it isn't anything Mike would have any knowledge on.

The closest he's ever gotten to getting back together with a past lover is when he and Tony patched up their rocky friendship, followed by me catching them making out in Mike's room. Not that I really cared, I just wish he told me he and Tony shared those feelings. Tony was his good friend for a long while, so maybe I'm just blind, but they seem happy and I can't stop Mike from doing whatever it is he wants to do. Including when he threatens Jaime or "warns" me about all or the bad things that are apparently in store for my future. 

I was glad to have Jaime back, and I don't think Mike thoroughly understands that fact. Genuinely, my spirits lift when I'm around him and I feel like I'm in love again. He knows more about me and has been more intimate with than Kellin had ever been. I know comparing the two is a low blow, but, damn, I can't sit around and ignore the dumb things I've done. Yet if there's anything I've learned from simply being alive is that life has odd ways of working itself out. Sure, Kellin and I had a sweet run and I think about Copeland every day, but maybe he just wasn't destined to be the one.

Or so I thought.

Jaime was over one day, lounging on the couch while Mike stayed hidden away in his room to avoid the man he seemed to dread so much. I was putting away dishes when one slipped from my grip and crashed into a bunch of porcelain pieces on the floor. Jaime came wandering in, questioning what the sound was before locating the shattered plate on the floor. "The hell did you do?" he questioned as I knelt down to pick up the pieces and toss them in the garbage.

"I dropped a plate. It isn't a big deal," I reasoned with a small smile. I was oblivious to the rage boiling in Jaime, at least until he cleared his throat to regain my attention.

"How hard is it to put away a damn plate?" I looked up to him with furrowed eyebrows, a piece of porcelain between my index finger and thumb. "Well?"

"Excuse me?" I replied, standing and tossing the useless piece of dish into the sink for the time being. "What's your issue?" Jaime chuckled and stepped closer, backing me against the sink, my hands holding onto the counter to stop me from falling back onto it. I could see the anger plainly on his face now, the way his eyes were squinted and his breathing was heavy. I had made a mistake.

"You are such an idiot." I attempted to push him off, but he retaliated by grabbing my wrists and twisting them slightly. I ignored the pain for a moment, taking a deep breath, but it became too overwhelming the tighter he gripped. I finally yelped, hoping he would release me if he knew he was hurting me. He stopped twisting but still help me tightly as a way to keep me from escaping his rage. "I can't believe you would ever think I would treat you any different than the pathetic idiot you are." I didn't even bother trying to wiggle out of his grip this time around, instead closing my eyes to avoid seeing him at all.

"Mike!" I shouted as loud as I possibly could muster; "Mike, please come out here!"

Jaime gripped my throat to silence me before releasing and slapping his hand against my cheek. I was sure there was a red mark quickly raising, but I was instead focusing on the sound of Mike storming out of his room. He immediately noticed what was happening, reaching for a butcher's knife and holding it close to Jaime and me. "Get the hell out of our house, you ingrate!" Mike yelled angrily. When clearly ignored, he repeated himself a bit more loudly until Jaime backed away slightly.

I nearly fell against the counter when I was finally free, tears beginning to stream down my face as I turned to Mike. I didn't want him to hurt Jaime, only because of the possible negative outcome that could come about if anyone was injured. Mike silently understood, lowering the knife but refusing to loosen his grip on the weapon. "You've got five minutes to leave before I call the police on your pathetic ass," Mike threatened calmly.

"You don't know what you're missing, Vic. You know I'm the best thing to ever walk into your life," Jaime rebuttled.

"Just leave!" I screamed covering my face with my hands and sinking down to the floor with my back sliding against the counter. When I opened my eyes again, Jaime was gone, and I let out a breath of relief. I knew the "I told you so"s from Mike would be coming soon, but for now it was quiet. I had never appreciated silence more in my life.

Mike reached out and hand and helped me up with a sigh, eyeing the broken plate on the floor. "I'll take care of that," he offered quietly. "You should go get some rest or something." I nodded, slowly trekking up the stairs to what was now only my room with an empty nursery beside it. I felt a pang of loneliness in my chest. Where the hell did I go wrong? Why did I ever let Kellin go?

It was definitely not worth it, something I hadn't realized until that very moment. I had feelings for Jaime again, I felt like a lost dog with no one but it's abusive owner. I kept coming back because I had no one else to run to, and, damn, it sucked. Kellin wouldn't do this to me, and I hate the fact that I never even considered how amazing he was once he was gone.

Now I need him back.