There All Along

Chapter Eight

I tiptoe downstairs and into the living room. I put on Mamma Mia and drink a glass of cool water. My phone pings so I look at it.

Mum:I'm free to call now

It's a pity that Emma will miss mum's call but she can see her tomorrow morning.

I ring mum.

"Hello?" mum asks. I feel so relieved and happy to hear her soothing voice. The voice I have fallen in love with and have heard my whole life.

"Hello mum. How has your day at work been so far?" I ask her.

Mum sighs, "tiring! I can't wait to get home and relax."

"Shall I put a bath on for you just before eleven?" I suggest.

"Thank you. That would be nice."

I could tell by my mum's voice that she was knackered so I wanted to be nice to her, (not that I never am, but I meant even nicer) .

"Anyway, how has Emma been?" Mum asks me.

"She's been an angel! We have done so much today. But I'll let Emma tell you tomorrow. She's been missing you a lot and so have I. We both can't wait to see you."

"I miss you both too," mum says. "I'll see you when I get home. I love you."

"I love you too, mum."

"Goodbye for now." She makes a kissing sound before hanging up. I turn off my phone and lean my head back on the sofa. I feel so exhausted! Spending a whole day with Emma is actually so tiring I don't know how mum does it.

Just then the door knocks. I open it to find Josh standing there.

"Josh?" I ask. "What are you doing here?"

"Have you forgotten? I told you earlier I would be back to check up on you."

"I couldn't remember because I was.....we had just......I had just been......" I pause because I realise what I was about to say and can't think of anything else to say. "Come in."

Josh kisses my cheek and walks in the house. I close the door behind him.

"Please be quiet because Emma is in her bed asleep," I explain to him. He walks into the living room with his muddy shoes on, leaving muddy footprints all over the carpet. I so desperately want to tell him to take them off incase I get a row from my mum, but it's better getting a row from my mum than Josh. Mum is weaker and softer on me than Josh is.

Josh sits down on the space I was sitting on before I answered the door. I yawn and ask him if he wants anything.

"My god Anna you are so lazy!" he says. I suddenly feel wide awake after that. I don't feel tired at all. It's as if my body is scared to get another punch. I could feel a bruise form on my eye, the one that Josh had punched earlier and I could feel my cheek was hot and sore from where he had slapped me.

"And yes. Have you got any chocolate biscuits?"

I knew that I had binged earlier today on chocolate biscuits so I hadn't any left. But I felt so ashamed to tell Josh. I just shook my head. "I don't think so. They're my mum's favourite." I had to lie because I know that he wouldn't slag my mum off for eating too much, only me.

"Oh ok. As long as you don't eat them. You're fat enough! Fat pig you are. Stop stuffing your face!" Josh bosses me. I bite my tears back. How could he be so cruel? I do everything for him and this is how he repays me?!

"I won't have anything then. Or I might but later," he says.

"How long will you be staying here?" I ask him.

"God Anna are you wanting rid of me already?! I practically just got here!" Josh shouts.

"Sh, Josh! Emma's sleeping!" I plead him to be quieter. He sort of listens. He does quieten down but not to the point where she can't hear him. I have a feeling that Emma wakes up from his noise but she is scared so pretends to stay asleep upstairs anyway.

At one point when we are watching some disturbing, racist and sexual movie that Josh insisted we watch, (more like force because he hates Mamma Mia) he turns to me and says, "come here. Gimme a kiss".

I could tell that he had been drunk this whole time. He must have had a few drinks before coming up here. I could smell the beer on him. It's disgusting!

"Josh what are you talking about?" I ask him. He holds my arms and pouts his lips out towards me. I couldn't help but kiss his lips back. He had been kissing me more on the lips today and I loved it! I just get so caught up in the moment when he kisses me. My whole body warms up and I feel sparks shooting inside my stomach. He takes off my top again. I just let him. Then he tries to take my bra off but I pull back.

"Josh no. Not again."

He doesn't stop there. So I stand up and back away. "Josh!"

He stands up and heads towards me so without thinking the only thing I could do was slap him right across his face. The noise of my hand and his cheek making contact echoed which made the moment and hit more surreal. I gasp and my hands cover my mouth. "Oh no. Josh I am so sorry!"

Josh covers where I'd hit him with his hands. "You bitch!" he shouts. "What did you do that for?"

At this moment Emma staying asleep was not my first priority. It was her safety. But since she was safe upstairs it was now time for my safety.

"I'm so sorry, Josh. I wasn't thinking properly. I've had a busy day with Emma today so......"

But before I could finish he slaps me right across my face. I don't give him a reaction. I deserve this. I deserve more than this.

He grabs my cheek and kisses me on the lips again. He slides his tongue in my mouth this time and we are making out. I put my arms around his neck and tilt my head to the side to make the kissing more intense. A few minutes later he pulls back and I stare at his gorgeous face. I forgot all about the bad stuff that he had done to me because that make out session made up for it! He could do anything he wanted to me any day.

"What's the matter?" I ask him. "Why did you stop?"

"Didn't you say your mum would be back around eight?"

"Or nine. But she's not. On weekends she's staying at work until eleven. Her boss says," I explain. Josh has a wide smirk on his face and it makes him look hot. I fear him and fall in love with him all in the same second.

"Do you want to have round two?" he asks me. My heart starts racing. I know I thought earlier I would let him do anything to me, but not now. Not again. I regret saying that.