Live Simply

Chapter 41

* quote from 'The Polar Express' *

This is one of my favorite Christmas movies. You should go and see it.

"The bell only rings for those who believe."
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Hey guys,

Sorry for all these little things before the chapter, but I just wanted to thank you guys for 3k reads!

It means a lot

Stay beautiful 💋🙊😘

- Hailey

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Matt's POV

Flashback ( 5 years, hailey -11 Matt -13)

"Matt. Want to come make cookies with me?" Hailey asked.

"Sure." I said standing up and following Hailey to the kitchen.

"What kind of cookies do you want to make?" I asked her.

"Sugar!" She yelled. We gathered the flour, sprinkles, eggs, sugar, brown sugar, milk and oil.

We got out a large bowl and out the ingredients in. I turned around and Hailey threw a handful of flour at me.

"Oh it's on." I said grabbing the flour from her hand. I threw the bag at her flour flew around the kitchen.

She bent down and picked up some flour and threw it at me. I grabbed her and threw her to the ground. I pinned her down, both of us laughing.

"I'm still stronger than you." I said.

"You always will be." She said. Her smile fell from her face. I looked over my shoulder and saw my mother standing in the door way with an empty beer bottle in hand.

"What the fuck is this mess?" She yelled. We both jumped up.

"Hailey come with me." She said setting her bottle down. "Matthew clean up this fucking mess." She said. I got the broom and started sweeping when I heard my mother yelling at Hailey.

"What makes you think you can do that?" She yelled. I didn't hear s response.

"Answer me you piece of shit!" She yelled.

"I'm sorry mom." I heard Hailey say in between breaths, indicating she was crying.

"Why can't you be a perfect child!?" She yelled. I heard a slapping sound. I ran around the corner and saw my mom hitting Hailey.

She was in the floor crying.

"Maybe next time you won't be so stupid." She said lightly kicking her. She looked up and saw me standing there.

"Matthew..." She said. I looked at her and shook my head.

"Why?" I asked. I was holding back tears.

"She was being stupid. Why can't she be like you?" She asked pushing my hair out of my face. I pulled away.

"Don't touch me." I said. She looked at me and hardened her eyes.

"Fine." She said turning to walk away. She kicked Hailey as she passed. I ran up behind her and grabbed her shirt.

I threw her to the ground and kicked her in her gut. I bent down next to Hailey.

"Matt." She croaked. I looked down at her and a tear fell from my face. I picked her up and carried her to my bedroom. I needed to protect her. From this day forward, I'd do anything to keep her safe.

Haileys POV

I woke up in Matts bed, he was sitting in a chair next to the bed watching me.

"What are you doing?" I asked him. He shook his head and kissed my forehead.

"I will always protect you." He said I sat up and swung my legs out of bed.

"Where mom?" I asked him. He shook his head again.

"She left." He said. What? She left an 11 and 13 year old alone.

"What do you mean she left?" I asked tearing up. I looked at him starting to cry.

"I woke in the middle of the night. She was gone. Her suitcase and clothes were gone." He said not removing his eyes from the door.

"What are we going to do Matt?" I asked sitting down on his lap. He shook his head. I buried my face in his shoulder and cried.

"I don't know Hails. I don't know. But what I do know is that I will protect you."