~ Traitor ~

Chapter Three

Rae's POV

I wasn't getting much sleep. I was emotionally drained on top of working all the hours possible to try and keep the house. When we got paid, after paying all the bills, I was left with £100 for the entire month, for food and other smaller necessities.

I'm just not coping. I'm starting to run lower on the food for Marley, but I'll happily spend for him, it's not his fault. Because it's nearing the end of the month, I had pretty much nothing left in my bank and the cupboards were pretty much bare.

"Rae?" Jordan asks as I answer my phone.
"Hi." I smile, stroking Marley.
"You busy?"
"No why?"
"Me, Trent, Virgil and Alex are going for food. Wanna join? I'll swing by and pick you up."
"I'm good, thank you. I'm a little bit skint, it being the end of the month. I appreciate-"
"Get ready I'm coming for you anyway."
"But I can't-"
"I'll buy you some food."
"Are you sure?"
"I wouldn't say it if I wasn't."
"What if your friends think-"
"Rae man. Stop stressing. I'll see you in fifteen."

I tie my hair into braids. I pull on a pale pink hoodie, some black jeans and some white trainers. I put on what remaining make up I had left and just as Jordan knocks on the door, I was feeding Marley.

"Come in!" I shout and Marley looks up, but continues eating when he realises. "Hey.. I just need to grab my phone and I'll be back."
"Take you time, I just need to send an email." He tells me.

I rush up the stairs and grab my battered and broken phone. I'd had to sell the one Joel bought me. We needed food. What else could I have done? But as I walk down the stairs and reach the bottom, I start to feel incredibly dizzy and sit quickly on the stairs.

"Jordan?!" I call out, pulling my jumper off, also feeling too warm.
"What's wrong?" He asks as Marley follows him.
"My head spinning.. I feel like I'm gonna pass out."
"Have you eaten today?" He asks, kneeling in front of me.
"No.."
"Have you had a drink?"
"No.."

He shakes his head and walks off. He comes back with a glass of water and gets out his phone.
"I'm calling an ambulance. This isn't normal."
"No you're not." I reply, pulling the phone out of his hand. "I'll be fine in a minute."
"Are you serious?"
"Perfectly." I reply, starting to feel better. "See?"
"I tried to find you some food... but you've got not a lot in.."
"Like I said, I'm skint, it's the end of the month."
"You should have said something." He replies as I stand up.
"Why?"
"You're the most frustrating person in the world." He tells me as we say bye to Marley. "Because. It looks to me like you've hardly any food in the house for you. Connect the dots Rae."
"I understand. But what comes of me telling anyone about it? Pity?"
"No one at all would pity you. When we get back, we're gonna order you a food shop."
"With what money?" I ask quietly, picking at my jeans.
"I'll pay for it."
"I can't let you."
"Why's that?"
"Mum and dad always said I was a burden.... I don't want you or your friends to think that, or that I'm using you."
"No one needs to know anything. Okay?"
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Thank you.."
"You don't need to. You should have said something, much much sooner."

I decide to stay quiet, knowing deep down he was right. I also knew I couldn't carry on like this. I've lost so much weight, I'm not sleeping because I'm working so much and because of the bills aspect, I'm not able to afford much food.

We head into the Nando's they'd selected and I sit closest to the window, next to Jordan.
"What's everyone having?" Trent asks. "I'm literally starving."
"Eager beaver." Virgil replies and everyone laughs.
"Alex, or Ox as most people refer him to, this is Rae. Rae, Ox." Jordan says to the both of us and I smile.
"Hi."
"Hi!" He replies.

I order the cheapest thing on the menu, but enough so he wouldn't question it. We'd been there a good two hours, before we finish up. Alex, Trent and Virgil came together, so me and Jordan head home in his car.
"Will you stay with me tonight?" He asks as he stops at a traffic light.
"Why?" I ask.
"That little dizzy spell earlier. I just want to keep an eye on you."
"What about Marley?"
"We'll pick him up on the way."
"Okay." I reply, knowing I wasn't going to win if I even think about attempting to argue.

We get into Jordan's and Marley settles down after a while. We'd been watching Netflix for a few hours, when I started to feel unwell again. I walk into the kitchen for a water, but as soon as I come out, everything goes black.

_________________

I wince as I open my eyes. The bright and white lights were blinding and I heard the steady beeping. He'd brought me to the hospital. Great.
I look to my right and there he was, out like a light. That's when I notice the time ~ 4.47am.

"Jord?" I mumble, shaking his arm.
"Good lord, Rae you scared me." He hugs me and I start to panic - realising Marley was on his own.
"Marley is fine. Trent is looking after him and he's gonna pick us up when you're allowed to go."
"Why did you bring me here?"
"You're winding me up right now aren't you?" He asks.
"No..."
"You fainted, right out on my living room floor and wouldn't wake up. I think that's reasonable to call an ambulance."
"But they're just going to give me grief about everything.."
"With good reason!"
"You should go home. You have training don't you?"
"And? I'm definitely not going anywhere today. Plus, you're staying with me for a few days so I know you're getting a good meal and rest."
"I have work tonight."
"You're not going."
"You can't decide that."
"Need I repeat what happened?"
"No. But do you not understand? I have Zero money! I need to get as much as I can through out the month and that includes any overtime offered."
"I'll give you it. I don't care. You're not working. It is illegal the level of work they're making you do Rae!"
"I just-"
"Listen, we can talk about it later. Get some sleep and I'm sure we can sort it out."

Hours later, I'm eventually allowed to go "home". Trent drops us off. I hug him and obviously thank him for taking care of Marley.
"If you need anything, just let me know okay?" He tells me and I nod.
"Thank you."

I walk inside and curl up next to Marley. Jordan throws a duvet over the both of us. I was tired, extremely tired. I just wanted to sleep for an eternity, but I knew I needed to work out a more stable, long term plan. I know I can't carry on like this, but how else can I keep a roof over our heads?

All the thoughts are running through my head at about a million miles an hour - making the anxiety a whole lot worse. Whilst trying to calm myself down and before I can stop him, Marley goes over to Jordan and starts to bar - which is his main use of letting someone know what was going on.

"Are you okay?" He asks, while Marley tries to help me calm down.
"Yeah.. I'm just trying to work out a normal, workable plan. But if I drop hours, I either lose the house or not be able to afford any food."
"I'm working on that."
"What?"
"I've got an idea. I'll ring you tomorrow from training if it all works out."
"Okay." I reply, laughing at his weird ways.

With that, I head off to bed. Front the says events and in over all, I was just exhausted. I can't wait oof
See what the future holds, but more importantly, I need to work out something - soon. Before I lose the house or die from starvation. As dramatic as it sounds, that's genuinely the way it's heading. I climb into the bed and Marley lies at the side of me, closest to the door. I don't know whether he's trying to protect me, but he's done it ever since the attack. I set an alarm for around 11am.
My head barley even touches the pillow before I'm out cold.

I'd started to feel a lot safer. I was in a house where no one knew where me or Marley were, apart from the occupants. We had food, water and any other necessities. My only hope is soon, our home will be exactly the same. Warm, safe and a nice place to just relax and destress from the days events.