Page 2 of Girl Like Me

“I know, but I hope they can forgive me. Make sure you give them the letter in a week.”

I walk back to my mustang and Bristol helps me get our bags from the boot of my car. I packed light and I bought a couple of outfits to get her through. We can always buy her more when we settle. I made sure to withdraw small amounts of cash over the last month while we were planning this to support us for the time being. We also have fake identities, they won’t get us out of the country but they will get us jobs somewhere.

“Thank you for doing this.” Bristol says to Cindy.

“I didn’t do it for you.” Cindy snipes before getting in the mustang and driving off, dust and gravel flicking up, a cloud of dust trails behind her.

When we get into the shorty, we have one more stop to make before leaving this place behind. I found a shitty motel close to Mumma B’s. I need to see them all one last time, I haven’t gone longer than a day without the guys and a week seeing Mumma B in ten years. We plan to leave when it’s late, even though the staff at the psych ward won’t notice she is missing until morning. I paid off the night staff, the guy was a total sleaze bag and happy to take my money.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own for an hour or two?” I ask as we pull into the dingy place I booked.

“Yes, you’re giving up your whole life for me. I can handle a couple hours while you say goodbye.” I haven’t told her I love her yet, we haven’t defined our relationship either and yet we plan to get married. I don’t want to rush her, the guys in her life are dicks and I want us to come together naturally without everything hanging over her head.

“It’s only six months. I can repeat year twelve but I don’t even need to finish. I hate the money and the lifestyle, it brings nothing but bullshit. I can get an apprenticeship and be happy.”

“The wife of a happy man, sounds like a good life.” She laughs, I love seeing her happy.

Once I get her settled, she almost forces me out the door. I wave and blow her a kiss, and much to my surprise, she mouths I love you. I almost run back and forget about going to dinner but I push on, I know what I need to do even if it kills me to leave them for so long.

***

Court this morning went as well as could be expected, my lawyer got me out for now. The orders also went through this morning. I have to stay away from Bristoland I’m not the only one, the guys won’t be happy when they find out.

I roll my eyes as my father and his whore make an appearance, nice of him to give a shit and come to my rescue. One of my parents had to be present and well my mother isn’t allowed out of the psych ward until they think she isn’t crazy, but I swear she just does this for my father’s attention.

“Son, that went well.” He pats me on the shoulder. I shrug my arm from his touch.

“If you say so. They think I kidnapped the girl I love and now I can’t even see her, so I would say it didn’t go well.”

“He is right hunny.” Puke the way she says honey, as if she thinks she is special.

“Thanks Chelsea, you’re close to my age so you would understand.” The idiot giggles, not realising I was having a dig at my father. Something catches my eye walking up the stairs: Rocky, Mercer, Levi and Maximus, I expected them to steer clear of me. They all come and stand next to my father.

“Boys.” He says with a nod. They all murmur their hellos, not once taking their eyes off me. “Dinner at the house tonight Rory. Be there and bring your friends if you want, but be there at seven.” With that he leaves as Chelsea wiggles her fingers at the guys.

“We need to talk.” Levi demands, he isn’t asking me, he is telling me, and I know they deserve the truth.

“Let’s take a walk down to the beach.” The courthouse is about five hundred metres from the water. We all walk in silence until we find a deserted table on a grassy area just before the sand starts.

Mercer is the first to make a move, I see him coming and do nothing to stop him as he lands a nice right hook straight in my eye. It could have been harder, I know he held back for the sake of our friendship. “I want to hurt you so bad, right now.” Mercer says breaking the silence.

“I’m confused. Lissa told us you were being charged with kidnapping JD… Bristol, is it true?” Rocky asks as the others look at me waiting for me to talk.

“No, I didn’t kidnap her.”

“Then what, you at least knew who she was the whole time.” Maximus looks hurt.

“Yes.” I see Mercer's fists clench. Rocky gets up and starts pacing. “It’s not as simple as you think.”

I didn’t expect it, but Maximus runs for me, taking me down and we both hit the ground with a thud. He may not be the most athletic of us all but damn the kid is strong. He straddles me, ready to take his pain out on me. I know I could fight him off but he has anger to release and I deserve worse, even though I did it to protect everyone. He lands a few punches; my face will be feeling that tomorrow. Levi drags him from me, even though he looks reluctant to do so. I look up at him, blood dripping from my eyebrow. I can see the turmoil in his eyes, he hates violence, but he also loves JD and I can’t blame him for that, I feel the exact same way. The others may not love her, but we do and I understand what he is feeling right now.

“Fill us in, because I don’t see how keeping secrets from us makes sense, I’m struggling to get my head around that.” Levi, always the voice of reason.

I fill them in on everything that happened, from how I met her to the last time I saw her before she wound up on the beach. None of them interrupt me, they listen with rapt attention.

“I still don’t know why you didn’t tell us.” Of course Levi doesn’t understand, everything is always so black and white for him. I have loved her for months; I didn’t want to involve them and it may sound selfish that I didn’t tell them about her or about leaving but we share everything and while they don’t think they treat me differently, they do. I have no triggers and don’t need that kind of support. I may bottle shit up but what kind of asshole would lay all their inconsequential bullshit out to their friends who have been through so much and don’t need my added stress. And for once I wanted to be the hero, how stupid is that.

“Because, I just wanted to be the one who saved her, okay. For ten years I have struggled to feel part of this group, you are all bonded by your past, I’m the poor rich kid.” Maximus reacts first to my words, his face red which happens a lot when he gets angry.

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