Saved || Jesse Rutherford ||

On The Road

I sighed, heart beating fast.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I didn't sleep much after Jesse left. I was too busy contemplating, thinking.

I woke up that morning with a tremendous headache. My eyes were red and puffy, hair matted and tangled.

I sighed and hopped out of bed. I padded across the room, and twisted the doorknob. As I touched the knob, I couldn't help but glance down. I felt around the small metal piece. It had deep gashes under it from the many nights I had barricaded it with the chair.

I never really dwelled on the mess that I called life, for it would bring me nothing but depression. But, today of all days I felt the need to evaluate my life, or what is left of it. A life that is not even mine, a life I should not be living. A life a girl named Ava should be living, not me. All of it seemed unfair, and confusing.

I finally found the courage to open the door. I stepped over the threshold and listened for some sign of Jesse, or anybody.

I found none, so I decided to make my way to the kitchen.

I got to the living room and skimmed over the remainders of last night. I looked at all the broken and half empty bottles and felt lightheaded all of a sudden. Just the stench of liquor was enough to make me hurl...I've seen what it can do to people...And the ones around them.

I started speed-walking. No need for reminiscing.

I got to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.

"Nothing...Of course", I mumbled under my breath.

I rubbed my temples. "Kevin has to eat...But my...his parents aren't here...I have to get a job..."

This was all too much.

I began pondering which stores in town that could be offering job positions.

A sudden thud snapped me out of thoughts. I stayed immobilised for a few seconds, then glanced around for some sort of weapon.

I grabbed the nearest thing; a broken bottle, and advanced towards the intruder.

The noise seemed to be coming from the living room. I made sure not to announce my presence and tip-toed past all the broken glasses on the floor.

I peered around the corridor that connected the kitchen to the living room. I couldn't see the person's face, but the man was wearing a black thermal and a black leather jacket. Jesse...

I began trembling. I don't know why I was suddenly afraid of him, but his presence terrified me. I accidentally made a wrong move and stepped on a piece of glass that was on the floor. The glass sank deep into my skin, which caused me to gasp.

I quickly duck behind the kitchen wall that separated the corridor. I glanced around for a place to hide. I couldn't fight and win against Jesse if we ever got into an altercation... I eventually found out that there was no place to hide, no place to run.

I heard footsteps coming closer. I clasped my hand against my mouth, afraid of making even the tiniest of sounds.

The footsteps eventually stopped. I sighed.

This was where the mistake was made. Jesse must have heard my sigh because the footsteps began getting closer.

They got closer until I saw the figure coming across the threshold.

I turned sharply to face Jesse, my broken bottle outstretched.

Once he saw me, his eyes widened. He glanced down at me, then towards the bottle, then towards me again.

His eyes were surprisingly even redder then mine. It appeared as if he popped some sort of vessel, or the excessive drinking had taken its toll on him.

I skimmed his face and saw that he had a fresh, jagged scar near his jawline. Probably from some sort of altercation he had gotten into last night after he left.

He began slowly approaching me and I began backing up on my bleeding foot. I winced at the pressure that was being out on it.

Jesse looked down at it, eyebrows raised. Once he saw the trail of blood flowing from it, his eyebrows scrunched.

"Come here", he said dominantly, his voice raspier than usual.

My breath and heart quickened, my hand trembling faster. I gulped.

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He looked slightly annoyed.

"You're bleeding. You look terrible. I've had a long night, and apparently so have you. Shit happened. Now just make this easier on all of us, and just come here."

Tears of fear and confusion began to form at the corners of my eyes.

"N-no...", I said trembling.

He ran a hand over his face. I looked up at his eyes. They were dangerously dark. He held my gaze for a few moments. But I was defiant. I was afraid.

"Fine." And with that he left the room. I still held the bottle upright, confusion clouding my brain.

I decided to follow his trail, and limped to the living room.

Jesse was bent over, consumed in whatever he was doing. I stepped closer and saw that he was packing all his belongings into the backpack he brought with him.