Forever Bound

0.4

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Chapter Four

" you never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice "

- Bob Marley

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The next morning I awoke to the sound of screaming, crying and loud whacking noises. At first I had thought I was still at home and quickly sat up to investigate who the intruders were, but once I saw the large, luxurious bedroom I was in (which was probably bigger than my kitchen and living room combined) I realized I had never left the Taylor household the night before.

I slid out of bed, slipping my phone into the back pocket of the jeans I had worn the night before, and began making my way through the halls of the grand house. Finding my friends was surprisingly easy, for all I had to do was listen to the racket and turn in the direction that was loudest.

"I can't believe you ate it right in front of my face!" Gemma shrieked as she chased Mason around the couch, smacking him with a pillow every time she got close to him.

I looked around for Jackson, knowing he would explain what was going on only to see him a bit preoccupied with laughing hysterically in the corner of the room. When a pillow thrown by Gemma whooshed past my head, I decided it would probably be safest to hide out in a different room.

I ventured through a white swinging door, and I was immediately engulfed by the delicious aroma of Tasha's cooking.

"Good morning Erin!" Tasha greeted with a warm smile "Sorry about those two, no matter how many times I tell them to stop fighting they just keep going at it. I've learned to tune them out."

"Oh it's alright, I don't mind" I said, taking a seat next to Noah. Tasha hummed a tune as she pulled a tray of sweets out of the oven, "So how is your arm?"

I shrugged, "Better I guess, but it still hurts quite a bit."

"I expected that much, It's going to take a while to heal," she nodded, "but as long as you're taking good care of yourself, it shouldn't take too long."

With that, Tasha turned and occupied herself with some more baking while I turned to Noah. The bubble blonde was already staring at me, a dopey smile on his face as he slowly lifted a piece of bacon until it was level with my eyes, "See this, Crispy? This is properly cooked bacon."

I rolled my eyes and scowled.

"Tasha cooked this. Maybe you could ask her for lessons? Or better yet, leave the cooking to her," he said while shoving the bacon in his mouth, "we can't have you mixing up bacon and flesh again now can we?"

"You are an insufferable human being."

"Aw, thank you!" he gushed before shoving some more food in his mouth. As he yet again grabbed a slice of bacon to mock me, I shot up from my chair and left the room to join the others in the living room. A furious Gemma was still chasing Mason around the room, but Jackson had calmed himself down a lot.

"What's going on?" I asked him quietly, standing next to the couch.

"Mason stole Gemma's bacon and ate it all right in front of her."

I threw my hands up in the air, huffing as I said "Why does everything have to be about bacon?"

Jackson raised an eyebrow with an amused smirk on his face, "Let me guess, you had a talk with Noah?"

"Like he'd let me get away without one"

"That's true," Jackson laughed right before he was hit square in the face with a pillow.

Suddenly everything was quiet and still. Gemma stopped chasing Mason and was instead frozen in her spot staring at Jackson with an uneasy expression. Mason was smirking as if he knew what was about to happen and finally, Jackson was still sitting next to me with a stone cold expression of his face.

Slowly, he stood from the couch and turned to Gemma. She dropped the pillow she was holding with a horror-struck face and began to run as Jackson wailed a battle cry, charging at her. They continued to run around the house and outside until Gemma finally gave up and apologized.

It was only until the sun began to fall did I realize I had spent the whole day here. In other words: I was absent from home all day.

"Oh! Look at the time, I should probably head home," I said, grabbing my phone and the bag containing my bloody clothes, "thanks for letting me borrow some of your clothes, Gemma. I'll give them back Monday."

"Here, let me drive yo-" Jackson began to speak, slowly lifting himself from the couch.

"No!" I say immediately.

He narrows his eyes, his lips parting slightly before he questions, "Why not?"

"Because... because I need to stop at the grocery store and my Dad is just going to pick me up there- bye now!" I shouted while rushing out the door. As soon as I knew I was out of sight, I sprinted down the street as fast as I could.

I could only hope that Robert got bored of waiting for me and went to bed. Perhaps if he had fallen asleep, he would barely remember my absence the next day and my beating would be the same as usual. Yet some small part of me knew he was too stubborn to give up that easily.

By the time I reached my house the sun had already fallen and the moon took its place. I quietly hopped up the steps and slowly opened the door to avoid any creaking. I slid inside, silently shutting it behind me. A small sigh of relief passed through my lips as I was instantly enveloped with darkness, Robert turned the lights off, meaning he must have gone to sleep.

At that moment, I couldn't have been happier. I had most likely just gotten away with not being here all day to cook his meals and act as his punching bag while he vented about his "filthy, disgusting co-workers" on his one day off of the week.

I placed the plastic bag with my clothes at my feet and reached for the light switch, flicking it on so I could silently make my way into my room.

What I saw next made my heart drop.

There he was, leaning up against the wall with his arms crossed.

And in that moment, I was completely certain of one thing - and that was that Robert was absolutely furious.

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