Escaping Love (Rewrite) [Book #1]

Chapter 47

|| CHARLOTTE ||

|| Wednesday, March 4th ||

Jackie and I drove back to the apartment. I contacted Principal Simpson and told him that I could return to work tomorrow. Jackie and I got ready for bed. She turned to me and held my hands.

I told her about the conversation with my mother that she realized how damaged our family was. Jackie remembered the first day of the new year when my mother finally spoke out after my father's criticism. I want to think of all the good when she does divorce Ethan, but... when I set all the abuse aside, I couldn't help but think about the father-figure I was going to lose after twenty-five years.

Am I supposed to feel like this? Especially after how hard I tried not to despise him when I came out. I helped him after he got punched, and he only pushed me away further. If I tried explaining myself, it's always been yelling and bickering that my mother consistently dealt with.

I don't know how to feel. One minute I'm thinking of peace, the next minute revolves with worrying about what will happen to my mother when Ethan comes home.

I ran my hand through my hair after the rambling. Jackie sat here listening. I felt her hands rubbing across my skin every few minutes to comfort me when I became enraged with my emotions.

I wasn't expecting Jackie to respond with anything. The only thing I need is for her to help me through my emotional states. Looking down at her thumbs, I realized I've been so worried, and in my thoughts that I haven't been able to appreciate all the comfort that Jackie's provided me in the past three days.

I brought her fingers up to my lips and kissed her knuckles, then I pulled her into a hug, and I felt her hold me back.

Our foreheads leaned together, "Are you okay?" I heard Jackie whisper.

I smiled, "Yeah. Thank you."

"I'm always here for you."

~~~<>~~~<>~~~<>~~~

|| JACKIE ||

|| Friday, March 6th ||

Amber and I were at the apartment painting in the office. Charlotte is out with Madison, Tiffany, and Jessy to celebrate Jessy's birthday. I promised Amber that I'd work with her on this art project.

"So, tell me why you haven't knocked this person out, yet?" Amber asked.

"Because she's a teacher," I sighed.

"Did you tell Charlotte?"

"No. Charlotte had so much going on with Ethan and her parents' divorce. I didn't want to make the school another place for her worries. She finally stopped panicking when she heard the sound of the door. I don't want to trigger her more, especially since the staff has been so supportive of her," I said, setting my pencil down. "I'll tell her this weekend."

Amber agreed, "You better. She's lost so much trust this week. Please, don't hurt her any more than she already is."

I smiled, "I promise. But is it just me that's noticed a change in Carmen?"

"I don't know. I never had Carmen as a teacher. Plus, I barely see her in the math hall," Amber said as she packed her things up.

"Okay. I found it weird that Carmen's acting like this? Like she's super protective of Charlotte now. It's nice to have another person who cares for you, but I think this crosses some boundaries? Right?"

The door opened, and I heard footsteps coming in. Amber walked closer to me, "I'm sorry, I don't know Carmen well enough to answer it. Talk to Charlotte this weekend; maybe she has noticed something."