“Don’t say things like that.”
“Why the hell not?”
“How many women have you had living with you? I couldn’t do it and be kicked out when you’ve had enough.” Tears slid down her cheeks and I tried to reign myself in but I was pissed.
“I haven’t lived with any other women. I’m friggin' nineteen. You are the only woman besides the cleaners and my mother to ever be in my rooms. You will be the only one—ever—to be in there.”
“I just can’t do this.”
I was angry, and Jade wouldn’t even look at me.
“I can’t get attached to you, you’ll break my heart. I haven’t been with anyone. I’m not experienced like you and I don’t have a mansion or even anything close. I have fifty dollars to my name and it isn’t even mine, it’s yours, you snuck it into my bag. Sure, tomorrow I’ll have two hundred in my account thanks to Centerlink, but I bet it isn’t even a quarter of what’s in your account.”
“What on Earth brought all this on? You’re acting crazy.”
“I’m not. I’m being realistic and protecting myself. We can have a relationship like we’ve been having, but I’m just asking you to tone it down, and stop saying things that will hurt me later.”
The insane girl believed what she was saying. How the hell was I supposed to make her see I was serious? I pulled into the pub and drove around to the back.
“Fucking hell, Jade, I don’t want to leave you now my but parents just got home and I said I would spend time with them. I’m thinking I need to tell them I’ll see them later.”
“No. Go home to your parents.”
Turning off the car, I ran my hand over my face. “I don’t know what you want from me. I’ve told you you’re mine, and I’ll never let you go. I’ve told you I want more, and I’m taking it slow for you. What more do you want?” I banged on my steering wheel, anger and frustration flowing through me. I knew if I stayed here we’d continue this argument, one of us would say something we regretted. “Look, go inside. I’m going home to cool off and see my parents. I’ll see you in the morning. Promise me you’ll stay here?” If she went out I’d crack.
“I promise.” She got out of the car and ran up the stairs.
I drove home taking a long detour. I needed to calm down before I saw my family.
*****
Jade
I went to my bedroom and cried. Stephan was getting to me, breaking down my guard, making me rethink that maybe not all men were arseholes. He was slowly convincing me I could have him even though he was way out of my league. I had nothing and trash to his royalty.
When I saw Stephan waiting outside of my classroom today, my heart had missed a beat and a lightness came over me. I knew in that moment he could really hurt me, not like my mother or any of her many boyfriends, but break my heart to pieces kind of hurt. I don’t think I have the strength to survive that kind of hurt. I don’t have much, but what I do have I’m desperate to keep.
I don’t know how long I cried and felt sorry for myself when I heard my grandpa yelling for me. I wiped my tears and went to find him. As usual when he was home, he was on the couch in the lounge room.
“Get here now, girl.” I hesitated for a moment and Grandpa stood, his face was red, his fist clenched at his side and the anger radiating off him. I tried to think what I’d done the last few days that might have pissed him off. Nothing. I went to school, hung out with my friends or Stephan.
He grabbed my arm dragging me to him. Stumbling, I righted myself. “Yes, Grandpa.”
“You don’t listen do you?” He shook me.
I tried to relax so it wouldn’t hurt too bad. When I didn’t answer he slapped me across the face. The sting of his hand brought tears to my eyes and I fought to keep from crying.
“I’m sorry, Grandpa. I don’t know what I did.”
He punched me so hard I fell onto the flat screen TV. The screen smashed and I cried out as the glass cut into my legs. Grandpa dragged me off the TV swearing.
“Look what you did, brat.” He turned me to see the broken TV. “You broke my new TV.” He pushed me to the floor and kicked me over and over. I curled into a fetal position as he yelled, “I told you to stay out of trouble. I warned you I didn’t want any attention on me. You are a stupid, stupid, whore of a girl, running around with a Silverman boy. I have everyone watching now.” He yanked me up by the hair and I couldn’t help but scream from the pain. “Do you realize how many customers I’ve lost in the last couple of days thanks to you and your whoring ways?” He spat in my face with each word, then slapped me and punched me in the stomach. I fell to the floor and vomited, which only made him angrier.