Not Your Expectation (#Wattys2015)

26. The Wait

Adam's POV

"Where are you going?" Aunt Sharon called out, as I walked out of the house. 

I ignored her and kept on walking. 

"Adam, where are you going?" Aunt Sharon called out again, more sternly. 

I turned back "Why do you want to know?" I replied insolently. I was sick of her insulting Lisa, so I didn't want to tell her that I was going. Also I was sick of her fake concern towards my activities. I knew she didn't care for me but she had some weird sort of sadistic pleasure in seeing me in pain and she also got some weird pleasure in showing off that she could control me. "Only a few months more." I reminded myself.

Aunt Sharon turned red "How dare you speak like that to me?" 

I stared at her with a bored face "What do you want?" 

Aunt Sharon came towards me until we were only a few centimetres apart, I stood my ground. I didn't want to move backwards even though I felt uncomfortable because she was in my personal space. 

"What I want is," Aunt Sharon moved her face closer and a strange smile came upon it, I resisted wiping that smile off her face, "what I want is, you breaking up with that good for nothing bitch." 

I saw red, no one, absolutely no one calls my Lisa, a bitch. I restrained myself from doing something I regret. My face was neutral, not showing the rising anger in me. "Why did you think I would listen to you?" 

Aunt Sharon was still smiling. She didn't turn red or blue in anger, rather she was calm and had a strange smile on her face. "Because you have no other choice."

I raised an eyebrow, gesturing her to continue. What new reason did Aunt Sharon have?

"You, Adam dear, have no other choice than to break up with that Lisa because if you want her and her family to be alive and well, you got to break up with her." Aunt Sharon said in calm voice, turning my blood cold.

What did Aunt Sharon mean?

Sensing my confusion and curiosity, she continued "I've got my people to follow Lisa and her family. I've hired some people to watch over her house. If you two decide to do something to me, one word and the whole Brooks family will be 6ft under."

"You cannot be serious!" I nearly shouted. 

Aunt Sharon gave me a fake pitying look "Oh, but sadly I am serious." She said in a sweet tone, then her calm look turned into one of anger "Just break up with her and stop trying to dig through my skeletons." 

I stared at her, breathing heavily. 

Aunt Sharon kept her hand on my shoulder, I fought the urge to shrug it off. She bent closer to my ear and whispered "Stop all contact with Lisa or you can start preparing for her funeral. Good luck!" and saying so, she winked at me and walked inside the house. Whilst I stood there frozen in fear. My blood ran cold. I didn't want anything to happen to Lisa, but how could I let her go?

Lisa's POV 

Adam was late, I asked him to come and meet me at the library. Mrs. Rader had agreed to take up Adam's case. Adam, after much persuasion agreed to this. So far, everything was good, we had Adam's verbal proof of the abuse, we had pictures of the abuse, we had medical reports of Adam's malnutrition and health issues due to neglect and abuse; Mrs. Rader was just in the process of finding more proof on Sharon so we could have a strong case which she won't be able to escape from. I looked at the time, Adam was an hour late. Was there something wrong? I was feeling anxious as the minutes passed by. 

I called him, just like the times before, it went straight to voice mail. Adam couldn't be reached

"Where are you, Adam Henderson?" I asked myself, frustrated.

I sent him a text on WhatsApp, it was just single ticked. I texted our friends checking if he was with them or if they knew his whereabouts. He wasn't with any of them and none of them knew his whereabouts. I ran my hand through my hair. Did something happen to him? Is he in danger? Where did he go? Did Sharon do something to him? I was brought out of my musings by the clear, steely voice of the librarian.

"This is a library, please stop your drumming. You are disturbing others." 

That's when I realised that I had been drumming my fingers on the table, it was an unconscious habit of mine whenever I was impatient or anxious. I looked at her apologetically. "I'm sorry Ma'am." 

I balled my fingers into a fist to resist drumming against the table. I had to resist my feet from tapping the ground too. I checked the time again, 4.35pm. He was supposed to be here by 3pm. Usually Adam tells me if he is coming late, but today I haven't heard from him since morning. I stared at my watch, looking at the minute hand slowly move. It felt like an eternity when the minute hand moved to 4.40pm. I called him again, it yet again went to voice mail. I decided to keep one.

"Hey Adam, it's me Lisa. I hope you are okay. Where are you now? You were supposed to meet me at the City Library at 3. I'm waiting for you. Please come soon or at least let me now where you are." 

I looked around the library, hoping to see a shock of dirty blonde hair. Seeing none, I decide to read a book to pass the time. I went to the YA section and selected a random book. I wasn't planning to do any serious reading or to drown in the book. I just wanted to keep myself busy until he comes, or I'm pretty sure the librarian would throw me out because my drumming would intensify with the intensifying anxiety within me. 

I was just a few pages into the story when my phone beeped, my heart leaped. I looked at my phone excitedly only to get my spirits dampened. It was some offer message from Starbucks. I cursed under my breath. I looked at the time 4.55pm. I thought I'd stay here for only 5 mins more. I called Adam again, as expected it went straight to voicemail.

"Adam, where the hell are you? CAN YOU PLEASE CALL ME BACK, I AM FREAKING WORRIED ABOUT YOU! Anyways, I am staying here for another 5 minutes and then I am leaving. You are nearly 2 hours late, Henderson. You better have a good excuse or you'll need a nose job after I'm done punching your pretty face." I nearly screamed into the phone. I was keeping my voice down because it was a library but I was pretty mad. 

I nearly threw my phone across the table and let out an angry sigh. I turned my attention towards the book, angry tears prickling at my eyes. When I get pretty mad, I start tearing up. I angrily wiped my tears, I didn't want to cry inside the library, I didn't like people seeing me cry. 

He'll come. 

My heart kept pacifying me. I read a few pages, keeping my eyes on the watch. As soon as the hour hand moved, I kept the book back in the shelf, gathered the file I had brought to show Adam. I put it in my backpack. I checked my phone for one last time and called Adam again, waiting for it to go to voicemail.

"I am leaving now. Bye. Call me when you listen to this." 

I stared at the phone for a few seconds hopefully and put it in my pocket. I took my backpack, slung it over my shoulder and walked out of the library, tears prickling my eyes, my heart growing heavier with each step. As soon as I let the library door shut behind me, I let the tears fall. I took off running to mine and Adam's secret place. 

Dear Readers,

So how was this chapter? Any guesses to why Adam was late? 

2 more days for 2019 to end! I am going to try to end this...wish me luck!

Link is to Ed Sheeran's song- Photograph, which I was listening to as I wrote this. 

Love,

GirlzSparkle

Instagram: ofpsarklesandwords