Our Little Secret//lh

34 • i need to get out of here

Meredith's p.o.v
*        *        *        *

My eyes flutter open slowly before I quickly close them, the burning sensation being too much for me to bare so early in the morning.

I sniffle before pulling the covers off of my body. I slip my slippers on and head over to my vanity. I stare back at myself in the mirror—knowing fully well how broken the girl in the mirror looked—not just because she lost her support system, but the one person who could pull her back from the edge—and that was her brother.

I couldn't recognize myself with the messy hair and puffy, red eyes. They were bloodshot from all the crying that had been done, but I had no more tears left to cry.

I shut my phone off for a good 2 days, trying to block out every text and every call from Calum, Mikey, Mason and most importantly—Luke.

I quietly open my bedroom door and shuffle out of my room, down the dark hallway. I turn into the kitchen and pour myself a cup of coffee—the sight of my phone sitting on the charger intriguing me to turn it on.

I take a sip of my coffee and wait for the screen to light up, knowing fully well I turned the device off, but part of me wished it could defy the laws of technology and light up anyway with Ashton's name across the screen—the goofy picture of him sticking his tongue out with his eyes crossed to go along with it.

It sucked knowing your best friend hated you and it sucked even more knowing you couldn't continue to be with the other one.

I sigh and reach for my phone, holding the lock button until the screen turns on and begins to boot up.

I hesitantly type in the passcode and watch as it unlocks. 243 text messages  and 30 missed calls.

Mason:
hey bbg. doing okay? x

Mikey:
I know we aren't the type of friends who get serious, but call one of us soon, okay?

Luke:
You have no clue how sorry I am..

Luke:
I love you so much.

Luke:
please call me soon

Calum:
everything's going to be okay.

Mason:
we love you.

Gwen:
hey girl, how you doin?:)

I sigh and text Gwen back, since she has no clue whats going on in my crazy, plot twisted love affair with my brother best friend.

Meredith:
feeling like I need to get out of here.

Tears well in my eyes as I sip on my coffee, and my chest begins to feel heavy. I needed to leave Australia soon. 3 more weeks wasn't cutting it for me—I needed out now.

My phone vibrates and Gwen's name pops up.

Gwen:
oh no—I don't know what's going on, but you can come stay with me here if you want.

Meredith:
find any new places? I'm ready to move soon.

Gwen:
oh seriously? did you like any of the ones I sent you?

Meredith:
The apartment with the nice view next to my future employer was nice. bahaha.

Gwen:
lol...well why don't you fly to my house in Cali and we'll go from there. I can get the guest room set up for you <3

Meredith:
I'll leave tomorrow morning.

Gwen:
I'll see you then pretty x

I sniffle and sip my coffee again before dialing Mason's number and holding the phone to my ear. It rings a few times before Mason picks up, "Hey, Mere. I was worried sick about you. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, thanks." I say quietly, swirling my coffee in my mug.

"You don't sound fine."

"How's Ashton?" I ask.

Mason's quiet for a moment, and when she takes to long to answer, I huff, "Well?"

"He's fine. He's been hanging out with Daisy a lot."

"Oh."

So he just really doesn't care, huh? About me, at least. No missed texts, no missed calls from him and only him.

"Mere?"

"I'm gonna go catch up on laundry. Talk to you later."

"Wait, Mere—"

I hang up before she can continue and I quickly hold the lock button in to turn my phone off again, though, I shouldn't have turned it on to begin with.

The tears begin to fall slowly down my cheeks. I wipe them quickly, trying my damn near hardest to keep myself from breaking down again.

I head into my room and begin to gather my dirty clothes to wash and pack them up into my suitcase. The last thing I needed was to stay here any longer when clearly the fun was over. I didn't do the right thing and this was my punishment.

But the sound of a knock on the front door and the squeaking of it opening makes me shake, praying it wasn't Luke coming to fix things. It was only going to make my cry even more.

"Mere? Are you here?"

My heart sinks in my chest and I slowly walk towards my bedroom door. I open it and make my way down the hallway, emerging from the darkness.

"Hi, Ash."

*         *         *        *