The New Guy

My Ex

My Ex looked at me.

Michael.

Michael looked over, and did a double take.

"Chelsea?" His voice was deeper, and he looked really good.

He walked over, and smiled at me. I looked down, shy.

"Hey Michael. Uhm, what are you doing here?"

He laughs. "I moved back. Heard you dropped out or something. Family issues or whatever. Right? I hope you're okay."

I shrugged. "Ehh. I was just in the hospital because I cracked my head falling down the stairs."

Michael gasped. "Oh my. Hey Chelsea you wanna go out for coffee? I've changed now. I really hope you can?"

"Oh, uhm. I can't. I'm just picking up some clothes from Hot Topic and my boyfriend is at home waiting."

Michael's face fell. "Oh. Well we can go as friends. Just, uhm, hit me up. Here's my number."

Michael rattled off a series of numbers which I entered into my phone, and left.

Bad memories flooded back to me. 

Flashback

Michael broke down my door as I cowered in the corner, scared.

"What the fuck are you doing bitch?" He screamed.

I looked up at him. He's drunk, and I'm stuck here.

God I'm scared.

"CHELSEA LOOK AT ME YOU CUNT!" His voice raised even louder.

I obeyed him, looking up. He hit me.

He beat me, hard. With a belt, with his fists, with his whole body.

Flashback over

I went home quickly, scared and looking over my shoulder the whole time.

When I got home, I grabbed the vodka and liquor and went up to my room, without Braden or Colby seeing.

I took a drink, and then another, and then another. 

Until I was drunk.

(A/N This next part of the chapter is inspired by hugsaremymeds this is a wonderful author!!! THANK YOUUUU)

I stumbled out my door, and down the stairs, smashed.

"GUYS!!!" I saw the guys on the couch, chilling.

They looked up at me, and smiled. "Hey Chelsea." 

I gasped. "MR BOYFRIEND? YOU LOOK LIKE MY BOYFRIEND! WHOAAAAA!!!"

Braden studied me. "Chelsea, you okay?"

I laughed. "Yea-hhhhhhhh." I hiccuped, words slurred. "I'm grrrrrrrrreeeeaat!"

Stumbling, I made my way over to where they sat, and fell over.

Braden -Mr.boyfriend- jumped up and picked me up.

"Chelsea... are you drunk?"

I laughed loud. "No-ooooo. Whyyyy wouuuldd I Beeee?"

Colby looked at me. "What happened?"

"I saw-" hiccup. "My ex. He-e useed to beeat meee." I laughed, out of my mind.

Braden looked at me. "What?"

"Mr. Boyfriend, I'm sorryyyyy."

Braden's face darkened. "Chelsea, please tell me you're joking."

I shook my head. "Nope."

Colby stood. "Where is this motherfucker. I'm gonna kill him."

"I got his number. You want it? He gave me it." Colby took my phone and texted him.

Colby as me: Meet me at the park near my house.

Michael: Change of heart? Cool when?

Colby as me: now

Michael: see you soon.

Colby tossed me my phone, which I clumsily caught, due to being drunk.

"Let's go. Now."

Braden stood, and left, Colby following, and me behind them.

We walked to the park, and they sat me on the bench.

A few minutes later, Michael walked over.

"These guys bothering you?" He asked.

I had sobered up by then, and I felt better. 

"No. This is my boyfriend and my best friend."

Michael studied Braden. "Wait a second. Is-is Braden Barrie, SayWeCanFly your boyfriend?"

I nodded. "Yeah. And they want to uhm talk to you."

Michael looked to Colby, then Braden.

Colby started. "Hey. So, Chelsea came home and got drunk. I assume she didn't want to tell us but she is a terrible drunk. She said you used to beat her?"

Michael grasped for words. "Uhm..."

Braden. "You were drunk, huh? When you did."

Michael nodded slowly. "I've changed though."

Colby was pissed. "You may have changed, but you hurt her. You left scars and marks, inside and out! You hurt her."

Michael looked at me, but continued to talk to Colby. "I told her I was sorry. I don't know how to make it up to her." Then he looked at me. "You look better Chelsea. I wish i could find a way to make it up to you. You mean a lot to me, and always will." He put a hand out towards me, and i recoiled.

Suddenly, a song lyric of Braden's ran through my head. No meaning or reason why.

'The stars will sing a song, for all the humans that got lost inside themselves, and left the whole wide world to burn in hell'

"Stay away from me." I whispered.

Backing up, I turned and ran.

I ran and ran.

I don't know where I was going, until I made it.

The old bridge where I almost committed suicide, and where I wrote tons of lyrics of Braden's.

All over it was my graffiti, his lyrics. Falling to the ground, all the good and bad memories flooded to me.

I buried my head in my knees, and cried.

Moments later, I heard footsteps.

One set.

"Chelsea?" I looked up to see Braden looking around us. At his words, lyrics. "Was this you?"

I nodded.

"Its beautiful. You're beautiful." he looked around, and chose a lyric to recite. "And the antidote for all the things That tear us up from seam to seam Is the space between our eyes I never would have been here otherwise And I suppose that with our broken wings We'll have to learn to use our feet And maybe we will find a reason for our lives Well, I guess we'll have to try, won't we?"

I sighed. "The Space Between Our Eyes. One of my favorite." 

Braden came over to me, and sat down, not speaking, but only holding me close as tears streamed down my cheeks, staining them.

I closed my eyes.

What if I had died?