Promise

21.

Michael
I freaking loved Sunday's, it was the only day i was able to sleep in late. When i got downstairs to the kitchen i was confused to see absolutely nobody there. Then i remembered that Luke and Calum had to meet with their lawyer early in the morning. After grabbing a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee i walked to the living room were i found Ashton sitting on the couch watching tv. "Where's Lucy?" I asked him as i sat down next to him.
"In her room taking a shower."
I nodded and took the remote from him so i could watch something else. "I am going to pick up Lucy's stuff at her uncle's with her today. Do you want come with us?" He asked me.

"Of course i want to join. When are you leaving?"

"In about an hour."

Lucy

I sighed as i saw my own reflection in the bathroom mirror. I never liked what i saw staring back, it just wasn't me. To get rid of this uncomfortable feeling i covered the mirror with a towel. I brushed my teeth and tried to fix the mess that was my hair. After trying a few different hairstyles i decided to just let it lose, it would dry quicker that way anyways. I walked out of the bathroom and grabbed the only clothes that i had left out of my backpack. It was an old sweater with a few holes in it and it came to my knees. I just wore my black leggings underneath because i didn't have anything else.

I picked up my jacket and put my phone in it. I was ready to visit the horrible place that i used to call home. Ashton said that i would never have to go back to that place after today because this would now be my new forever home. But i just couldn't help but to feel sad about it. Besides all the bad memories i had in that house there were also a lot of good ones. I was scared that leaving that place behind me would also mean that i would forget the good memories and only remember the extremely bad ones that had traumatized me.

I cleared my head of all these thoughts and walked downstairs into the living room. Michael amd Ashton were sitting on the couch together all dressed and ready to leave. Ashton looked up from his phone "Ready to go?" He asked.
I nodded at him and went to put on my shoes.

Michael ran out the door to car yelling "Shotgun". I didn't argue with that, there was no way i was sitting in the front seat today. Ashton laughed at Michael "What an gentleman are you." Michael flipped him off and turned to me "Unless you want to sit in the front?"
My heart started to beat faster "No i don't mind, I'd rather sit in the back." I said to him with a weak voice.

He gave me a suspicious look but didn't say anything else. We all got into the car and i said the adress of the house to Ashton so that he would be able to find the way. As we drove away from the big house Michael turned himself to me. "Are you afraid of cars?" He asked me.

I bounched my knee "Only if i sit in the frontseat."

"Why only if you sit in the front?"

I didn't want to answer that question but mabye they deserved to know the answer. If i was going to live with them they deserve to know the things that happend in my past so that they would be able to help me. I would have to conquer my fears one day.

"Only if you feel comfortable telling us that right now of course." He said after i stayed silent for a second.

"No, it's okay. I want to conquer my fears and talking about it is the first step. "

Michael now fully turned his body around in the front seat. Very unsafe if you would ask me but atleast he was listening to what i had to say.

I took a breath and started speaking. "I don't like sitting in front because it brings up bad memories. About 3 years ago when my uncle just started drinking he wasn't able do drive my brother and i to school anymore. So he would often calls one of his friend's to drive us. We could easily walk to school but he wouldn't let us. He might've been drunk but he still wanted to take somewhat care of us. Most of the time his friends were nice but sometimes they weren't, especially when my brother wouldn't be there. One of his friends named George i think ,would drive us the most. But he wasn't a nice guy. When i would sit in the front (which was almost always because my brother refused to sit in the front and i was too scared to argue with him) he would place his hands on my thighs. It made me very uncomfortable but didn't really think that it was a big deal. But as time passed on his hand moved to more private areas and when i tried to stop him he would hit me. I didn't tell anyone, i thought that i would be able to take care of it myself. Everytime my brother wasn't there i tried to sit in the back but most of time when my there would be so much stuff in the backseat that i had no choice but to sit in front. "

I stopped for a second to control my breathing. My anxiety was increasing the more i was was talking. But it decided to continue. "One day he had to pump gas, i felt safe because my brother was in car with me. But as soon as we stopped at the gas station he forced my brother the fill the tank and then go inside to pay for it with his card. My brother didn't argue because my uncle had taught us manners. I wanted to join my brother but he had locked my door, I was trapped. He..he tried to force me to go down on him but my brother was able to stop him. He ripped the door open and pulled him out the car. I'm pretty sure he broke his nose. We walked to school everyday after that."

My voice broke when i ended the story, old memories still hurt like fresh wounds. With wet eyes i looked up to Michael who was slowly rubbing my knee, trying to comfort. "I'm so sorry that happend to you. I will make sure that something like that will never happen again." He said to me

I could tell that he wanted to hug me but he wasn't able to do that because he was sitting in the front seat and i in the back.
The story had also made him emotional, he probably felt guilty even though he couldn't have done anything. But to give him some comfort i grabbed his hand and looked him the eyes. "I know you will and i am grateful for that. I trust you."