Room 257

Running

1 month after.
"What if he comes back" I asked my best friend of 2 years. She looked over at me and stroked my hair. "He won't, you're safe here". I closed my eyes and sighed. I soon lit a cig and inhaled the living daylights out of it.

   
About a month ago I stayed at this hotel, I was running from my abusive boyfriend. He didn't find me for a few weeks. But, during those few weeks...so many...scary things happened and some romantic...and it didn't feel like weeks, it felt like years of being there at the hotel.

"Don't smoke so much Xena..." Arelin (name pronounce, Ar-E-Lin, but the 'e' as Eh, and 'ar' as 'air' and Xena name pronounced is Ex-en-a but the 'en' is pronounced in, and then just A) said her eyebrows knitted together. I took the cig out of my mouth and looked at her, wanting to snap at her a little, but didn't instead, I threw the cig on the ground and stepped on it, then gave her a dirty look. "Don't catch an attitude with me...you better be grateful you're even staying here instead of being either with your mom and or somewhere else!" She snapped at me. Rude of her to say...she's my best friend. We've had this conversation before with the 'you better be grateful' shit. Tired of it. But she's right, somewhat. And I hated that she was. I should be grateful. But shouldn't I be free to do whatever? I mean, I was basically raised by her parents. So why should she care, and besides that was only my second cig...

"You shouldn't let things like...smoking and drinking control you Xena!" She commented. I turned and looked at her. "What else am I supposed to do? Go to Disney world and eat ice cream and admire all the bushes that they've created into little Disney characters?!". She sighed. Maybe I shouldn't of said that. She's just trying to be a good friend...but really, what else am I suppose to do? How else am I supposed to forget him? "Maybe you SHOULD do that, have some joy in your life instead of sitting there on my bed and staring at the wall thinking about god knows what!" She said picking up her glass of lemonade and taking a sip. "My thoughts ARE my joy..." I mumbled. Arelin looked up from gulping down her lemonade. "What do you even think about?" She asked, tilting her head a little to the side. My eyes widened. We've been best friends for two whole years, she's never asked about what was going on in my mind.

"Well..." I started. She waited until I could find an answer to her question.

"Well...I think about a lot of things...like...why he abused me? And the happy part is me trying to convince myself that...all men aren't bad" I said. "That's where you're wrong honey, a lot of men are bad...they make you feel so special...then they leave you broken hearted. Hurt. Crying at 3am. And you wishing you never even met them" she stated. Was she thinking back to what happened between her and josh? HER ex boyfriend. Surprised by what she said, I tried to ignore it. But couldn't, she was right, once again. And this time. I'm not mad. Some men are nice, well a lot are. But can turn out being real jackass's. Like Michael the one who abused me. He was so nice around family members. And my friends and his. But when it was just us...the slamming against walls, choking, punching and me crying when he wasn't around, started. I hated it. I hated HIM. But I loved him at the same time. Why? Well I don't know how to answer that. That went on for 3 years. Every single day. Unless he was out with the boys. And or I was out with Arelin. Which I tried to do everyday. But I couldn't. He soon caught on. Basically realizing that I was trying to get away from him by hanging out with Arelin all the time. I was told not to go. And if I tried to. I got beat. Badly. So I had to stay home...

But I finally got my chance to run from him...I decided to escape one night. The night he went out with the boys. I climbed out my window. And ran into the woods. Then I soon reached a road, that lead to the city. I walked it. Then after a few days of walking I decided to live in a hotel for a few weeks...but felt like years. Oh, I was so surprised that they let me stay there for the amount of the time that I was there. Of course I had to pay at the end of each week.

"Sorry...just thinking about things" she said after a moment of silence. "No, it's ok..." I said patting her hand. Our moment was soon interrupted by her dog barking. "I'm guessing that might be dad" she chuckled. "Always coming in loud" i added. We laughed then got up to go greet him. "There they are!" He said, excitedly. "Hi dad, how was your day at work?" Arelin asked hugging him. "Do pineapple and pizza taste good together?" He asked. Arelin and I made a face. "No, it taste awful together!" I said trying not to gag. "And that's how my day was at work" he said chuckling and looking at the both of us. He set his bags down and came to hug me. "Now how's my other girl?" He asked smiling at me. "I'm doing better Mr. Keller" I said side smiling. Mr. Keller was like a dad I never had...he's always treated me like his second daughter. And I loved him like he was my actual father. He kissed my cheek a hugged me. "Good to hear" he said, pressing his forehead against mine. He went over and kissed Arelin on the forehead before heading to the TV to watch the daily news. "Girls! Come help me in the kitchen!" Yelled Mrs. Keller. We ran to the kitchen, wondering what she needed. "Can you hand me the whisk?" She asked standing right next to it. Arelin grunted, and went over and grabbed it. Handing it to her and giving her a 'really?' Look. I tried not to laugh. But failed. I let out a little laugh. Arelin looked at me and rolled her eyes and laughed a little bit with me. "Now, now, what's so funny? Do I have powder on my nose?" She asked feeling her nose. We didn't say anything, we just walked out the kitchen laughing more for no reason.

"Pass the salad please dear" said Mrs. Keller holding out her hand. I nodded then passed the salad to Arelin, who passed it to Mr. Keller, who passed it to Mrs. Keller. After getting all of what we wanted on our plates, we folded our hands, ready to pray. "Well, who want to pray?" Asked Mr. Keller. I looked around. Mrs. Keller's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. "Let me!" She said looking over at Mr. Keller. This was her third time praying this week. But, no one seemed to mind. Everyone soon bows their head. And Mrs. Keller started. "God BLESS America!" She cried out. Arelin's eyes popped open. Mine did to. "Oh lord! Thank you for blessing us today, with this wonderful food that I made" she said. Our eyes closed again. I smirked. Mrs. Keller loved the lord. She went all out on her prayers! Even though. Sometimes they didn't make since. "God BLESS America!" She cried out again. "Thank you for guiding Xena through this hard time, and thank you for guiding my husband and please guide him in your ways! And I have NO idea what my little butterfly means when she tells me she has, tea to spill, but will you help me understand what that means Lord!" I heard Arelin sigh and chuckle. "but please guide her in your ways to" she continued. "AMEN!" She said throwing her hands up. My eyes widened. That was interesting...but nice, I suppose. "Amen" the rest of us said.

(Few hours later)

"Don't you ever think about dating again?" Asked Arelin. I turned around and looked at her. "Why the hell would I do that!?" I asked taking my shirt off. Arelin leaned back in the bed. "I don't know sometimes it seems like, you want to start dating again...but you can't find the right one...and that you're scared" she stated. I turned and looked at her. "No shit Sherlock" I said turning back around, and facing the mirror. "I'm serious...and you know it's true". I sighed. It WAS true. I'm tired of getting hurt by people emotionally and physically...but I want someone to love. And I want someone to love me to.

For REAL.

(Authors note)
So what are we thinking about that first chapt? Next chapter will be on Arelins point of view on a lot of this.

And just in case anyone is wondering, Xena is 17 and Arelin is 16. And Arelin is Bisexual. Xena straight. But that might change as we go along.

I hope it's good so far!

Peace! ❤️✌🏼