I wake up to screaming in the middle of the night. I open my eyes and realize corbyns having another bad dream. "Shhh, it's okay." I said as I rub his head. He continues to scream. I have such a headache and I still feel nauseous but not as much as earlier. "Corbyn, shhh." I said as I shake him and my head pounds. He jumps awake and sits up really fast. "It's okay." I said. He tries to catch his breath and realize that it was only a bad dream. I give him a really long hug. I can feel him shaking with fear. "You're okay. It was just a bad dream." I said as I rub his back. He starts to calm down and we stop hugging. "Sorry, I woke you up." He said. "It's okay." I said. "Are you feeling any better?" He asked me. "A little." I said. "Do you want me to get you water or crackers or something?" He asked. "No, it's okay. I'm just gonna go back to sleep." I said. "Me too." He said. I lay back down and pull the covers over me. Corbyn puts his arm over me and cuddles with me like the big spoon. I hold his hand as I fall asleep.
I wake up in the same position as I fell asleep in last night. I let go of corbyns hand and sit up. I feel a bit nauseous but the headache went away. I get out of bed and walk to the bathroom. I look in the mirror. My face is still really pale but I feel a little better so that's a good sign. I use the bathroom and then walk into the living room. I see that Jenna, Jonah's mom, and corbyns mom are all awake. "Hey, you're up early. How you feeling?" Jonah's mom asked me. "A little better." I said. "You look horrible." Jenna said to me. "Gee thanks." I said. "I mean, you look really sick." She said. "I'll be fine." I said. "Do you want something to eat?" Corbyns mom asked. "I'll start with water." I said. "Okay." She said. I look at the time and see that it's 9:00AM. Damn, I almost never wake up that early. The boys and Ashely aren't even awake yet. "I heard Corbyn having another nightmare last night. Was he okay? Did he have a panic attack?" Corbyns mom asked. "I woke him up and he had to catch his breath but he was fine after that. He asked me if I was okay." I said. She laughs. "That's my boy." She said. I grin a little as she hands me water. "Thanks." I said. "So, the jail called." Jenna said. I look at her and my heart starts beating. "Jenna, I told you to wait until she was better." Jonah's mom said. "I know but we might be going home soon and I wanna do it with her." Jenna said. "Do what with me?" I asked her, scared. "The jail told us that mom wanted me and you to visit her. She misses us." She said. I look at Jonah's mom and back at Jenna. "Are you fucking kidding me right now?" I asked, mad and shocked. "What?" Jenna asked. "You really wanna visit someone who kidnapped me and the boys? She shot me and corbyn and you're asking me to go with? If that's what you're asking...shame on you." I said. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you would react like that." She said. "You know what...just, do what you want. But don't drag me into it." I said. "Fine. I will." She said. She stands up all mad and walks out of the room. I roll my eyes. "You guys shouldn't be fighting." Jonah's mom said. "She started it. I can't believe she would say something that stupid to me." I said. "I know. But she might be leaving soon so you better make up with her." She said. "Later." I said as I watch tv.
A few hours later, zach, Jack, Daniel, and Jonah all walk out of their rooms. "Hey. Are you okay?" Daniel asked as he sits next to me on the couch. "Yeah. I'm fine." I said. He gives me a hug. "You scared me so much last night." He said. I hug him back tighter. "I'm sorry. I'm okay." I said. "I'll be right back." I said as I get off the couch and walk into the guest room. I see Jenna laying down on her bed and playing on her phone. "Hey. I'm sorry I yelled at you." I said. "It's fine." She said, not even looking at me. "You can go visit her if you want. I just got scared and triggered." I said. "No it's fine. I'm not gonna do it if you won't." She said. "Why do you wanna do it anyways?" I asked. "Because I want...I need closure." She said. I sigh. "Fine." I said. She looks at me and smiles. "You'll come with?!" She asked, happily. "Yeah." I said, not wanting to go at all. I'm doing it for Jenna. "When is it?" I asked. "Tomorrow." She said. "Tomorrow. Okay." I said, not knowing if I'll be ready. She tried to kill me and my friends and she wants to visit me? Why does she want to visit me? Ugh whatever. I'm not gonna think about it today. I walk out of the room and into the living room. I sit down on the couch, feeling nauseous again. I'm scared for tomorrow. I lay my head back and close my eyes. "Are you okay?" I hear. I open my eyes and see corbyn walking over to me. His hair is a mess because he just woke up. "Yeah. I'm fine." I said as he sits next to me. He gives me a kiss and I lay my head on his shoulder. He feels my forehead. "You're burning up." He said. "Yeah. I am really hot." I said, fanning myself with my hand. "Wanna eat something?" Corbyn asked me. I shake my head, no. He looks at me. "Somethings up with you." He said. "Nothings wrong." I said. "Are you sure?" He asked. "Yes, corbyn. Now stop asking. Please." I said, getting a little aggravated. "Okay. Sorry." He said. "No, I'm sorry. I'm really irritated for some reason. I think I'm gonna go for a walk." I said. "Don't go too far, okay? Your heart can't take it yet." Jonah's mom said. I nod and walk out of the house. I walk down the street and breathe in the fresh air. I'm just really overwhelmed. Everything that happened with my mom kidnapping me and shooting me is coming back to me more and more. And the fact that I have to face her tomorrow is making me sick to my stomach. I thought Jenna would understand that I never want to see my mom again but I guess not. She wasn't there that day. Fortunately, she doesn't understand what I'm going through. As I'm walking, I start feeling really tired and out of breath. I've only been walking for like 5 minutes. I take a deep breath and turn around, starting to walk back to corbyns house. I'm so out of breathing tired that I feel like I'm gonna faint. I continue to walk until I get back to the house. I open the door and take off my shoes. "You're back already?" Zach asked. "Yeah. I think I'm gonna go take a nap." I said as I catch my breath. "Was it too much for you?" Corbyn asked. I nod as I walk into his room. He follows me and I lay down on the bed. "You shouldn't push yourself that hard." He said as he pulls the covers over me. "I shouldn't do a lot of things." I said. "What does that mean?" He asked. I sigh. "I wasn't gonna tell you because I didn't want you to worry but...me and Jenna are gonna see my mom tomorrow." I said. Corbyn looks shocked. "What? H-how-" he said before I cut him off. "Trust me, I don't want to go. But Jenna really wants to go and she wants me to go with." I said. "Who gives a fuck what she wants. She wasn't there. She can't tell you how you feel." Corbyn said, getting heated. "I know. That's how I reacted at first, too. But it doesn't do anything. So just stay calm, okay?" I said. He nods. "I know I don't have to go but Jenna is leaving to go back to Minnesota soon and she really wants to do this." I said. He nods again. "Okay." He said as he strokes my hair. He gives me a kiss and I close my eyes. "Love you, baby." He said as he's about to walk out the door. "Love you more." I said. "Not possible." He said. Then he walks out of the room. I smile as I'm almost half asleep.
I wake up to the door opening and the hall light shining in my face. I open my eyes and squint because the light is too bright. "Hey. Are you up?" Corbyn asked as he walks into the room. I nod and rub my eyes. He sits on the bed next to me and I sit up. "I have to tell you something." He said. Oh no. It sounds bad. "What is it?" I asked, nervous. "It's about your mom." He said. My heart starts pounding. "What did she do?" I asked. He's silent for a second, hesitant to tell me what happened. He grabs my hand. "Riley...your mother escaped from jail." He said. My heart stops. I try to speak but I can't. I start shaking and I feel the tears coming. "I know." He said, knowing what I'm thinking. "She's gonna come find me isnt she?" I said with a shaky voice. "I think she might try." He said. "No, I can't be here. We have to leave. We have to leave tonight." I said, about to cry. I'm so scared she might find us and hurt us. Corbyn grabs my hands. "I tried to book a flight back to LA but all the planes are full until tomorrow morning." He said. "Oh no. This isn't good. She's gonna find me." I said. "We'll watch out for you tonight. No ones gonna hurt you." He said. I lay down and put my hands over my face. My heart starts beating so fast that it hurts. "Fuck, my heart." I said. "You need to calm down, okay?" Corbyn said as he strokes my hair. I nod and close my eyes. I take a deep breath and open them, looking into his eyes. "I can't take this anymore." I said. "What?" He asked. "The constant fear that something bad is gonna happen. It's ruining my life." I said. He just looks at me, not knowing what to say. "Just...get out." I said as I turn over and close my eyes. "Are you sure?" He asked. "Yes." I said. "I won't talk, I'll just sit here." He said. "Corbyn, I'm begging you. Please leave me alone." I said, trying not to get mad. "Okay. Sorry." He said as he walks out of the room. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to fall asleep so I don't have to deal with all of this.
I jump awake to a scream so loud that it sounds like someone's dying. It sounds like Jenna. I race out of bed and down the hall, bursting through the door to Jenna's room. I see someone standing over her while she's frozen with fear. I turn on the light and see my mother. I knew it. I knew she would find us. "Get the fuck out of here!" I scream. Then I hear the boys walk up behind me. She turns around and looks at me. "I'm not gonna hurt you guys." She said. "It's too late for that." I said as I take out my phone and dial 911. I tell them that she's here. She sighs. "I just wanted to make you love me again." She said. "Again? I never have! You're the worst mother ever!" I scream. She starts to cry. "Oh come on. Are you fucking serious?" I said. "Riley, just calm down." Corbyn said as he puts his hand on my shoulder. I push him off. "Please, Riley. Please forgive me." She said. "Forgive you? You shot me!" I yelled. All of a sudden, I hear police outside. "No, please. Please don't let them take me." She said to me. "I forgive you, mom." Jenna said. I look at her, shocked. "You what?" I asked. "I forgive her for going to jail and shooting you and corbyn." She said. "I swear to god, I'm gonna kill you." I said, walking over to her with my hands out, ready to choke her. Not actually but I'll smack her for saying that. "Hey, hey, hey. No." Jonah said pulling me back, away from Jenna. I hear the door open and people walk into the house. "I'm sorry, Jenna. I love you so much." My mom said as she hugs her. "I love you too." Jenna said. That just makes me enraged. The police push past me and grab my mother, putting her in hand cuffs. She looks at me as they take her out of the room and outside to the police car. My heart is beating so fast and I'm breathing so heavily because I'm so mad. "I can't believe she would just come in here and try to apologize!" I said. "She wasn't trying to do anything." Jenna said to me. "Are you serious right now?!" I said to her. "You're just being mean! She's our mom and you're choosing not to forgive her!" Jenna yelled at me. "SHE SHOT ME!" I screamed. Jenna rolls her eyes. "I never wanna see you again! You're the worst sister ever!" She said. "I spent my whole life taking care of you and making sure you were safe! And now you're taking the side of the person who would hit you everyday! You're so fucking ungrateful and selfish!" I yell. "I hate you!" She yelled. I get closer to her. "WELL, I HATE YOU! I'VE DONE EVERYTHING FOR YOU AND I GET NOTHING IN RETURN! YOU JUST DON'T GET HOW MUCH I'VE WASTED MY LIFE ON RAISING AND TAKING CARE OF YOU!" I screamed at the top of my lungs in her face. Tears fall down her face and Jonah's mom hugs her from behind as she cries. "Oh shut up!" I said, annoyed. I swear my face is as red as a tomato and my face is super hot. I'm shaking from how mad I am. "Okay, Riley. That's enough." Zach said, putting his hand on my shoulder. I turn around and punch him in the face. He falls to the ground as blood comes out of his nose. "Riley! Why would you do that?" Daniel said to me. I look around at everyone staring at me and realize what I had done. "Zach, I'm sorry." I said. He doesn't say anything. I fucked up.
