Wake Up, You're Different

Chapter 11

She rolled over and didn't even kiss me goodnight. I went to try and cuddle with her and she moved away. Later in the night I heard her crying. I saw her on her phone.
"Syd what's wrong?"
She handed me her phone. Death threats. How did I not figure it out sooner? Someone woke up and was plotting his revenge. I took her phone and shut it down.
"Wait give it back."
"Not tonight, just sleep and I'll deal with him in the morning."
She curled up in my arms and started crying again. I knew she'd be okay, she always was. I held her tight until she fell asleep.

I couldn't sleep. Can't he just leave us alone? I knew her nightmare was getting worse because she squeezed me so tight to thought I was going to die. I woke up with her wrapped around me crying.
"Syd it's okay, he can't hurt you."
"Yes he can, he could have hurt me last time."
"Let's take this to the police, they can handle it."
We got dressed and left for the station. She held my hand really tightly and kept looking around.
"Syd it's okay. I've got you."
I put my arm around her waist and kissed her cheek.
When we finally got there she didn't want to talk. She was too scared to say anything. I took her phone and explained everything to the cops.
"Aren't you girls a little young to be engaged?"
"16. People get married at 14 and have already had kids by our age."
"Also you are too young to figure out if you are gay or not."
"ARE YOU HERE TO LECTURE US ON OUR LIFE CHOICES? SHE COULD BE KILLED AND YOU CARE ABOUT HER SEXUAL ORIENTATION? WHAT THE HELL CANT YOU JUST HELP US?"
Syd came over and held my hand and tried to calm me down, I was starting to rage. I rage a little too much.
"We will talk to him."
"Did I mention that he's already on probation for beating the shit out of her?"
"We can talk to him but I don't think we can press charges."
"Hate crimes? Death threats? I think you can."
I filed a report and left. When I got home Syd finally said something.
"Thanks, I love you."
I kissed her.
"I would do anything for you."
I rolled my sleeves up, forgetting about my cuts.
"You promised."
She started crying again, I tried to comfort her but she pushed me away. Realizing she only made it worse, she pulled me close to her, crying into my shoulder.
"Syd it's okay."
"P you promised."
"I know, I'm sorry. Just when you got mad at me it made me really upset."
"I'm sorry."
"I don't feel good."
She felt my head, warm. Of course I was getting sick. I always get sick at the worst times.
I was curled up in bed watching Christmas movies, it was only a month away. We gave up on Thanksgiving because our families don't care about us. Syd came up and brought me food. She stayed to watch the rest of the movie with me, not caring if she got sick.
"Syd?"
"Yeah?"
"I want to get our own place."
"We are only in high school."
"Yeah but my parents don't care about us and you basically live here. My parents said they would pay for half if your family pays for half, I could get a job and so could you. Then we can do whatever we want whenever we want."
"Anything?"
She gave me THAT look.
"Yes that's what I mean."
"I mean if you want to, I wouldn't mind the idea."
Syd leaned over to kiss me.
"I'm sick"
"I don't care"
She pulled me in and kissed me. After a while I pulled away.
"Now I have to rewind the movie"
"I looooove you"
"Whatever"

I woke up screaming.
"Paisley what's wrong?"
"Sorry, nightmares still."
"It's okay, what happened."
"You left me and he came after me. He tried to kill me and killed you."
"I love you, I would never leave you and I think I've said this enough times for you to believe."
"You have but I'm still afraid he's going to kill you."
"He won't and if he comes after me again, I will beat him before he can touch us."
"I love you."
"I love you too."