A Dead Girl

Chapter 21 Getting Emancipated

Today is Tuesday, the day me and Jamie get married.

I put on a semi formal dress while he put on a suit and tie. We got to the court house and waited in the lobby. Our names were called, we went in and signed a paper legally making us husband and wife.

On our way out we both looked at each other and smiled.

"I can't believe we're married"

"Me neither, let's celebrate!"

We changed into regular attire and went out to this really fancy spot for dinner, afterwards we went ring shopping and picked out our rings. We're gonna pick them up tomorrow. We went home and cracked open a bottle of champagne (props to Jamie's friend) and drank and talked and had a great night

The next morning we were both hung over and sore but very happy. We laid in bed for about an hour since we both had the next week off work.

"I'm gonna go pick up our rings"

"Ok I'll see you later" I kissed him goodbye and he was out the door.

He's handling this all so well, how the hell did I find a boy so perfect and loving? For me and my sisters. I'm so lucky to have him.
**********************
Saturday

"Hey Scarlett"

"Hi"

She looked down at my hand and saw a diamond ring. Small, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

"You got married?!?"

"Yep! Me and Jamie are now officially husband and wife. And I'm also now legally an adult.

"Did you not hear what I told you last week? I'm done"

"Just because your done doesn't mean I am"

"Avery, your not thinking straight, I know you wanna help us but there nothing you can do"

"Just you wait and see"

She looked down and sighed. That's when I noticed something really off. I saw what looked like the start of a large bruise on her wrist. I think she saw me staring because she quickly pulled down her sleeves.

"Scarlett, what was that?"

"Nothing...ok?"

I stood up and headed to the kitchen motioning for her to follow me. She got up and headed towards the kitchen with her head down. There wasn't a rule that said we had to stay in the living room.

"Scarlett what is that?"

"There's nothing there"

"Lift up your sleeve"

"No, now would you just quit it"

"Scarlett is someone hurting you?"

"No, it's nothing like that" She said keeping her head down.

"So there is something going on"

"Would you just mind your own business"

"Would you please just let me see"

Then the counselor came around the corner and said 20 minutes until dinner.

"Do you swear not to overreact like you and Amy always do?"

"Just show me"

"Swear?"

"Ok fine, I won't overreact"

"Ok then"

She slowly rolled up her sleeves to revealing large purple bruises all over her arms. After I saw she quickly rolled her sleeves back down.

"Scarlett, you need to tell me what's going on"

"You won't drop this will you?"

"No."

She told me to follow her and we went upstairs to her room.
When we got up there she closed the door and sat on the floor and silently started crying. I sat down with her and hugged her and asked what's been going on.

"I know how good this place seems, but there are so many terrible things going on"

"How did you get those bruises?"

"It's, kinda like an initiation thing..all the girls beat you with a belt, but for whatever reason they decided to use their fists with me"

"I'm so sorry" I hugged her tighter.

"No!" She pushed me off of her

"I deserve this. This is what I get for fucking up everyone's lives"

"Scarlett, we all make mistakes and sometimes those mistakes hurt people, and that's ok because we're never going anywhere. You'll always have us. That's the beauty of having a family"

"I'm so sorry"

Then she fell onto her knees and started crying. I quickly came up to her and hugged her. We sat there for a minute until the counselor said that dinner was ready.

"You know I've missed you"

"I've missed you too, you were right. It's hard not having Amy with me"

"We'll try an fix that. Just promise me you won't try anything, promise that you'll stay strong and that you'll wait for me to get you out of this hellhole"

"I promise"

We sat there for a minute before getting up to go to dinner. Before we got all the way down the stares Scarlett grabbed my arm and said she wasn't in an eating mood. She makes been going through a lot and the last thing I wanna do is make it worse.

So we both grab a plate an sit in the living room, neither of us eat and we just talk. Before I knew it, it was time to go. Before I headed out the door I said

"Stay strong Scarlett"

She gave me a sad smile in return and I headed out.
***************
When I got home Jamie was there watching tv on the couch. I slumped next to him and started talking.

"Kids are awful these days"

"Tell me about it"

We sat there and watched tv for awhile before heading to bed.

"You know...I'm really happy we got married" I said

"Me too"

Then we both fell asleep.
********************************************
Hope you all enjoyed this one, ik it was a lil shorter than usual but I hope it cool.😅 So ye!