What About Us?

Chapter 1

TEDDY

I was FINALLY going to see my sister. The thing is, I live in Washington State and she lives in Miami, Florida. We were separated when out parents divorced. I got stuck with my dad. He's horrible. Beats me, yells at me, etc. Boy was I glad to get away! I was driving with some friends from a camp I attend for the abused and forgotten. Turns out there are a lot of us . . .

Melisa: Mom died when she was young, Dad shipped her as far away as possible. She had a terrible nanny named July.

Jacob: Dad was barely around and would beat him at every chance, mom is a drunkard

Jackson: Same as Jacob except his mom died in a car crash, she was, nice.

Angelina (Angela): Lives as an orphan and has an extensive history with foster homes.

Charlie: Dad used to beat him until his mom disowned him, no one knows why

Anyways we were DRIVING from Washington to Florida. The drive would take a few days since we didn't have the money for plane tickets. The week prior had been exam week meaning I got literally NO sleep at all. I was living solely off coffee and energy drinks. We started our trek at dawn and by the time we were out of Washington I was half conscious. I was sitting in the back with Charlie, whom I've had a crush on for a while, Jacob and Melisa in the middle, and Jackson and Angela in the front. I felt half dead as I started to lean away from the window and rest my head on the seat beside me, only . . . that seat was occupied. Before I could think properly I felt strong arms wrap around me and I fell asleep.

<*>

I'm not sure how long I'd been asleep for, but I was woken up by a dream. I was too exhausted to open my eyes and my brain was still in its half-asleep state, but I managed to catch a bit of a conversation.

"Just ask him out!" Someone, sounding like Melisa, hissed

"What if he says no?"

"Oh my god," She groaned, "He's literally using you as a pillow!"

I heard the person above me scoff (aka, Charlie) before falling back asleep.

<*>

"Teddy, Teddy, wake up!" Someone was shaking me

"Stop! 5 more minutes!" I whined

"Teddy, we're here."

"W-what?" I sat up rubbing my eyes and looked out the window. We were parked right outside the front gate, "That was fast."

"It took 3 days." Charlie commented

"I've been asleep for 3 DAYS!"

"Yeah, we couldn't wake you up. Eventually we stopped trying and force fed you apple sauce."

Well, that explained the weird dreams of me eating apple pie.

"Here, eat this." He shoved a cookie into my hand

"Why?"

"You need sugar, eat it and let's get to the house."

"I don't want a cookie."

After a debate that ended with him yelling at he to eat the goddamn cookie. We headed to the house.

The cabin was larger than the ones, with a kitchen, living room, a bathroom, and 3 separate rooms with a giant bed in the center. Melisa and Jacob called one room, while Angela and Jackson passed out in the other. That only left Charlie and me to take that last room.

I hadn't realized how late it was until I pulled out my phone to turn on some music. It was 11:30, Charlie took a shower and I listened to my music while snacking on whatever was in the cooler. When Charlie was done he passed out on the bed he was wearing black basketball shorts and a grey tee-shirt with a sun in the middle. His beach blond hair was wet and spread all over the pillow. I got out of bed to take a shower.

After I took a shower I passed out beside Charlie and fell into a nightmare.

<*>

I was back at my house. My dad towering over me.

"YOU IDIOT YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT!" He yelled waving an empty bottle around

He had come home drunk again, he took a swing at me with the bottle and I ducked, that just made him mad. When he broke that bottle he grabbed a hammer and jumped on me. He pinned me down and raised the hammer above his head ready to strike . . .

<*>

I woke up in a cold sweat breathing heavy, that spot above my eye throbbed. I started to fall into a panic attack as Charlie stirred. I jumped out of bed and raced to the bathroom, slamming the door.