Page 54 of Molly: Part One
“Yeah, some of my granddad’s friends just left. We’ve been chatting about him for ages.”
“Aw that’s nice, I bet they had some great memories.”
“Yeah they did. I’ve come to let you know dinner is ready. I’ve told mum to be nice, so it’s safe!” Yeah like that will shut her up.
To my surprise dinner wasn’t as dramatic as I was expecting. Mrs Evans didn't even look in my direction, which was fine by me. Everyone else was lovely though and spent the meal catching up on each other’s lives. I once again excused myself after dinner and continued working just to keep myself busy. Ryan has come up a few times to try to convince me to come down but I keep making excuses.
I am once again laid in his bed staring at the ceiling. I’ve heard Abbi and Liv come to bed and I’m pretty sure Dave has as well.
I’ve been dying for a drink for ages but have been trying to wait until everyone has come up before I venture out but I cave in the end, get up and head downstairs. I come to a stop halfway down when I hear my name mentioned. I bend down to look through the balustrade and into the kitchen where the voices are coming from. I can see Ryan sat opposite his mum with his back to me.
“I just don’t understand why you are still friends with her. She was only about because of Hannah why is she still clinging to you, hasn’t she got any other friends?”
“Mu-”
“She is the kind of girl you always said you didn’t want. You want a nice sweet girl to settle down with, like Hannah, god rest her soul. Molly has been around the block a few times to say the least from what I’ve heard.” I feel my mouth drop open at this, how fucking dare she? “You need to be out there finding a nice girl who will make a good wife and mother to your children not the local bike who will most probably screw you over with someone else.”
“I know. I’m struggling with this enough, I don’t need you on my case too.”
I feel tears sting my eyes, how can he say that? How can he not fight for me? He told me not so long ago he would always fight for me.
I make a snap decision. I quietly but quickly make my way back upstairs, shove everything into my bag and put one of Ryan’s hoodies on over my pyjamas. I double check I’ve got everything, write a note to leave on his pillow, sneak back downstairs and out the front door as quietly as I possibly can. I can hear them still talking and my name mentioned again but I’m too angry and upset to stop and listen his time, I’ve heard enough. I throw my stuff in the car, start the engine and tear off the drive like a bat out of hell.
After stopping for a coffee and to set the satnav around the corner from their house I start my long drive home. Alone.
It’s not until about an hour in to the journey that I feel the tears start to dry up. I’m so hurt by the fact Ryan didn’t defend me. His mum was making me out to be a right tramp. Yes, I know I’m not the world’s most innocent person but I’ve had my reasons and Ryan knows damn well what they are. He could have said anything other than ‘I know’ like he was just agreeing with her.
I take myself back to the office again because I can’t stand being in Ryan’s house at the moment. I let myself in and go straight to the sofa that I’ve become very friendly with recently and lie down. When I think about what happened I can’t help breaking into tears again.
“You said you would always fight for me you bastard. Why didn’t you f-fight f-f-for m-m-m-me.” I shout in to the empty office. I think eventually I cry myself to sleep.
Ryan
I don’t know how many times I’ve got to defend Molly to my mum. We’ve been through all of this shit numerous times over the years and almost every time I’ve spoken to her since Hannah died and we stayed friends. I’m getting to the point where I just agree to get it over with because I feel like a fucking parrot constantly repeating the same conversation and answers to her questions.
“Mum, that’s it I’ve had enough, every time we talk you have something to say about her, you’re constantly putting her down and I’m sick to my back teeth of it. Molly is my best friend, without her I don’t know how I would have got through this year. Quite frankly I don’t care what you think because you don’t have to be her friend, you just have to be nice to her because she means so much to me.
“Is she my normal type? No. Is she everything I’ve always said I wanted? No. But I had those things with Hannah and look how that turned out. She is an amazing person and she makes me happy when I’m around her. We might never be anything but friends but if something else does happen then quite frankly it’s none of your fucking business mother. Who I spend time with is up to me, not you, I am an adult and can make my own decisions.”
I slam my palms down on the table and force my chair out behind me as I stand to leave. My mum just stares at me like I’ve grown two heads. I’ve never lost my temper with her before and I very rarely swear around her either. I stand and look at her for a few more seconds before striding out of the room. All I can think is how much I want to see the person who is asleep upstairs.
It’s dark when I enter the room so don’t pay much attention to my surroundings. I do as I did last night, take my clothes off then walk over to Molly only in my boxers to kiss her goodnight. When I get to the bed I see it’s empty.
“Molly?” I whisper into the room, but nothing. I go out to check the bathroom but it’s empty. I feel myself start to panic as I walk towards the hall window to look at the driveway. There is an empty space.
“Shit,” I mutter as I run my hands through my hair in frustration. Fuck, what if she heard us talking about her? Shit, why am I asking what if, of course she heard. She’s fucking left, of course she heard. It sounded like I wasn’t defending her until I snapped at the end. I storm back into my room putting the light on this time, pull my clothes back on and stuff my things in to my bag before turning to leave the room. It’s then I notice a note on my pillow.
You said you would always fight for me.
“FUUUUUCK,” I shout as I take off running down the stairs. Mum is tidying the kitchen when I round the corner.
“Where are your car keys?” I shout, startling her.
“What?” she questions as she spins around.
“Where are your fucking car keys?” I spit at her.
“Ryan, what’s happened?”
