Enemy Basis | COMPLETE

10| the storm

The rest of the week passed quickly.

I went to school even though I didn't want to. I was so mentally and physically exhausted that I couldn't concentrate or put much effort into lessons or dance practice. My mind was a blank slate, and I had completely checked out. The only reason I attended was to ensure my mother was off my back and I wouldn't lose my place in the dance team.

I had seen Maia around several times but she didn't even acknowledge me. The girl, usually filled with so much attitude, had become an emotionless and energy barren person. The contrast was so shocking, it almost felt like two different people. It was weird to think I preferred bitchy Maia. I had never felt guilt when she was around.

The guilt had changed my perception and made me question whether staying at East Bridge was the right idea. Though, I doubt I would ever be able to change my mother's mind. Worst case, I only had to last a couple more months and I'd be gone from East Bridge, out of everyone's hair once and for all. That was the only silver lining in all of this.

• • •

On Thursday evening, I returned home from school and buried myself in a mountain of pillows on my bed, hoping to find comfort and focus so I could get some homework done. The week was winding down, but it felt like everything was piling up on me. My mind was racing, overwhelmed by a sense of unease. After ten minutes of fruitless effort, I could no longer ignore my restless body and racing thoughts. With so many people seemingly against me, and an unusual period of silence from all fronts, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was brewing.

My mother hadn't spoken to me in what felt like weeks, I hadn't seen or heard from my stalker since the day he came to my house, there were no new text messages or calls from the unwanted number that kept asking me to call him back and I had not seen the boys since last week.

Quiet like this was disturbing because it made me feel as if something was coming, an attack that I wouldn't be prepared for. What made it worse was that I didn't know who to expect the attack from or what it would be. All I knew was that this mystery was quiet and felt calm but it wouldn't be long before the storm hit. Too occupied in my thoughts, I decided to utterly scrap my homework. What was the point when I couldn't even make sense of the questions?

It was then that a notification alert sounded in my room, coming from my phone that was underneath my incomplete assignment. I grabbed my phone to check and when I did, dread like no other piled up inside me until it felt hard to breathe.

Unknown:

You better think twice about blowing me off. I'm your father, and you'll respect me. Don't test my patience.

I read over the words and reread them about ten times before throwing my phone onto my bed. A scream made out of pure frustration ripped out of my throat as I threw my history textbook at the wall. Why couldn't he leave me the fuck alone? I didn't want to speak to the man and I didn't want to see him at all. Couldn't he get the message? The angry bite to the text message showed that he was catching on and he wasn't very happy.

But guess what? I didn't bloody care. I was sick and tired and he could be as rude and demanding as he wanted to be. That still wouldn't mean I'd speak or see him ever. After he had been taken away all those years ago, I'd promised myself that I'd never think of that monster ever again. He had stopped being my father a long time ago.

My skin was getting hot and flustered. I knew that if I continued to sit here and think, it would only get worse and I didn't want that. Grabbing my phone again, I sent a quick message to Lennox, asking him if he wanted to do something. If anyone could take my mind off things, it would be him.