Beautifully Destroyed (10 page)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Toria

We held each other until our breathing became normal. He slowly pulled out and I gasped. “Toria, I think you were a virgin.”

I looked down at the blood beneath us. “Oh no. I am so sorry.”

He kissed my forehead. “Don’t be sorry. I will grab a towel. We keep some in the storage closet.”

I watched him go to the closet, and then the pain set in. It hurt, but also felt so good. I began to shake.

“Hey babe, why are you shaking?”

I smiled at him. “It’s the withdrawals. My body is trying to detox.”

He started to wipe me up, and once he was done, I stood up and I got really dizzy. “Whoa, take it easy.”

I sat in the chair. “I get like this all the time. I start sweating and sometimes I get so irritated. Like last night. I got mad at my mom for no reason.”

He ran his hands through his hair. “It will take some time to get over this. And with the help of me and your sister, we will get you to remember.”

“I hope it’s sooner. I think my parents did something bad to me, because my room is like a seventeen year old lives in there. I was told I’m twenty, almost twenty-one.”

“I wish I could tell you, trust me. But right now, I just want you to get better.”

“Oh, and today I am telling my parents to back off. I want to be with you. And to be honest, I feel way more comfortable with you than I do with them. They just give me a bad vibe, you know.”

“Good, because after what we just did, there is no way I am letting you go.”

I smiled at him. “Well, I hate to have sex with you and leave.” I laughed. “But I promised I would be back, and I don’t want Brianna to get in trouble.”

There was a knock on the door, and a guy walked in. I looked at him and something about him seemed familiar.  “Hey Jeb. I am taking off for the day. Oh hey Toria.” The way this guy said my name made my skin crawl.

“Thanks Sean. I will see you tomorrow.”

As he walked out of the room, he winked at me.

“Jeb, who was that guy? Do I know him? Because something about him seems very familiar.”

“Yes, you know Sean; you knew him a couple of years ago.”

I stood and fixed my dress. “Well, I got a bad vibe about him.”

We started to walk toward the elevator, when an older man and woman stepped off. “Son, there you are,” the woman said, coming up to Jeb and giving him a hug.

“Mother, Father, this is Toria. Toria, these are my parents.”

I held out my hand and shook both of their hands. “Hello dear. How are you feeling?”

His mother seemed very kind. “I have my days, but I am trying to get better. I just wish I could remember my life.”

She squeezed my shoulder and smiled at me. “It will come in time, my dear. What are your plans for tomorrow evening?”

“I have no plans, ma’am.”

She looked at Jeb, and then to her husband. “Now you do. We are having a small gathering at the museum downtown for some local artists. Would you like to join us?”

I looked at Jeb, and he nodded. “I would love that, Mrs. Turner.”

After talking to his parents, we headed to my house. We discussed what I would wear and what a gala was. It sounded like an event for stuck up rich people. But this was for Jeb.

Once we pulled into my driveway, I saw that both of my parents were home. “Great.”

“You will do good, babe. I will be here tomorrow to pick you up. Oh, hold on.”

He opened the glove box and got out a cell phone. “This is for you. My number is stored in there. If you need anything, please text me or call.”

I smiled at him and leaned in to kiss him. He placed both hands on my face and kissed me back. I had no idea how long we were kissing, but I felt like crying out in protest when he pulled away. “Mrs. Jacobs, if we don’t stop, I am going to want to make love to you in this car.”

I giggled. “I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

“Bye Toria.”

I got out of the car and headed up to the house. I was on cloud nine, but when I walked into the house, my mother got off the couch and started to yell at me. “I told you to stay away from that man.”

“Mom, I am old enough to see who I want.”

She tried to grab my arm, and I pulled it away from her in one swift movement. “You are under my roof; you listen to me.”

“Well, maybe I will go live with him. At least he wants me to remember my life. Unlike you two. God, what was so horrible that you don’t want me to remember?”

“You heard what the doctor said. You were a drug addict. We don’t want you to remember that.”

I sighed. “Mom, I am trying to get better, but I highly doubt that Jeb was the reason I was an addict. He is good to me. I think I love him.”

“I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

I went to sit on the couch. “Mom, Dad, you have to let me grow up. Let me make my choices. Let me remember.”

My dad spoke up. “What if what you remember destroys you again?”

“I will not let that happen. I might have liked being high, but these withdrawals from the drugs suck. I sweat and shake all the time. It feels as if my insides are being ripped about. Dad, I promise you, I don’t want this anymore. I want to turn my life around.”

He pulled me into a hug. “I love you, baby. I just don’t want to lose you again.”

“I promise you that you will not lose me… unless you keep me away from Jeb. That I would not be able to forgive you for.” Both of their faces fell, and I felt horrible, but it was my life and I should be able to make my own choices, my own mistakes, my own everything. My parents raised me, but as an adult, I needed to finish life by my own standards and my own decisions. I might have made the wrong ones the first time, based on what I had been allowed to know, but everyone should get at least one second chance. “Now,” I continued, “his parents invited me to a gala of some sort, and I am going to go.”

My mother walked out of the room, but my father spoke up. “Okay, baby girl. I want you to be able to have fun.”

“What about Mom?”

“I will talk to her.”

After talking to my dad for a bit, I went upstairs to my room. I went to my closet, to scour my clothes for the gala. I ended up finding a black velvet strapless dress that had a note on it.

For my senior prom

It still had a tag on it. I wondered why I didn’t wear it to prom. Maybe I wore another dress. I shook off the thought. After getting stuff together for the gala, I went to eat dinner. The table was quiet, and my mother didn’t even look at me once. Brianna was talking to Dad about school. After we ate, I went up to my room and looked through more of my stuff. I didn’t find anything that triggered my memory. I looked at the clock and noticed it was almost eleven. I went to bed. I couldn’t get comfortable, and I got the urge to go sleep outside. I had no idea why, but I got my pillow and blanket and went downstairs. I quietly went out the door and made my bed on the front porch. I found being outside more appealing and comfortable. I fell asleep fast.

***

“Toria, what are you doing outside? Did you sleep out here?”

I was woken up by Brianna. I slowly opened my eyes and saw it was daylight. I sat up, and nodded as I rubbed my eyes.

She looked at me, confused. “Why?”

“I have no idea. I felt the need to sleep outside.”

She helped me get up, and we started to walk into the house. I heard my parents arguing in the kitchen. Brianna and I walked over to listen. “Why on earth would she sleep outside?” My mother sounded pissed.

“Maybe it makes her feel a connection. Maybe it will help her remember.”

“Why would you want her to remember? When she does, she will hate me, hate both of us. Hell, even hate Bri. Do you really want that?”

He didn’t answer right away. “To be honest, I’d rather her hate me. I just want her to remember. She will hate us, but at least she would have her life back.”

I turned to look at Brianna, and she had tears rolling down her cheeks. She mouthed ‘I’m sorry’, and I went up to my room and shut the door. I started to cry. I got the urge to take something, but I told myself to stay strong. I could do this. I balled up on my bed and just cried. I didn’t want this to ruin my day. That night, I was going to go to a special gala with Jeb and his family. I sat up and decided I needed to start getting ready. The rest could wait.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Jeb

It was time to pick up the tuxedo for that night’s event. Good thing they had my size available and they didn’t have to spend a lot of time altering it. Once I was done there, I went to get a haircut. I wanted to look great for Toria. I was hoping she would want to come home with me after the gala. I really wished she would come home with me every night. Once I was done, I headed back to the condo to get ready. Once I was dressed, it was time to go and pick up Toria. I was nervous on how her parents were going to react to her going with me.

I parked the car and got out. Brianna opened the door with a smile. “Wait until you see her. She is beautiful. Oh, my parents decided to leave, so you don’t have to deal with them. They are mad. More my mom than my dad, but at least you have a reprieve from their anger. Anyway, are you ready to see her?” I nodded. “Toria, come on down!” she yelled as if she were calling a contestant on
The Price is Right.

I turned toward the stairs, and when I saw her, my heart started to race. She was wearing a beautiful black, velvet dress with a pair of red high heels. Her hair was done up in a high, slick ponytail. She was absolutely beautiful, and all I wanted to do was take off her clothes. I shook the thought from my head. She made it down the stairs and stopped in front of me.

“Wow, you look beautiful.”

She smiled and grabbed my arm. “You don’t look bad yourself. I like the new haircut.”

“Why, thank you Miss Jacobs.”

She turned to her sister. “I don’t think I will make it home tonight. So please tell our parents that they don’t need to worry.”

The way she said our parents was unusual and bitter.

They hugged each other. “You have fun, Toria.”

We walked out to the car and I held the door while she got in. I was curious on what happened yesterday after I dropped her off. “Hey, are you okay?”

Looking down at her hands, she let out a sigh. “My mother is being a royal bitch. I guess she really doesn’t want me to remember my old life.”

“Yeah, she wasn’t very friendly in the hospital either.”

“Jeb, why would I sleep outside?”

I looked at her, confused. “What do you mean?”

“Last night, I wanted to sleep outside, so I got my things and went and slept on the porch.”

She looked away, ashamed. “I am not sure why, Toria. Hopefully, you find out soon.” I knew why she did that, but I didn’t want to tell her. Not just yet. “Hey, let’s just go to this gala and have fun.”

“Good, I am excited about this. I look all fancy.”

She let out a laugh, and I joined in. Once we got to the museum, we got out. I could tell she was really nervous. I squeezed her hand to reassure her she was safe with me.

“Toria and Jeb, over here!” Mother called as we stepped inside.

I looked at Toria, and she smiled at me. We headed over toward my mother.

“Wow, Toria, you’re breathtaking.”

I could see that her face was turning a little red. “Thank you, ma’am. This place is lovely. May I walk around?”

“Of course, dear.”

“Do you want me to walk with you, hon?”

She looked up to me with her bright brown eyes and smiled.

“No, please stay and talk to your family.”

I gave her a quick peck on the cheek and she walked off.

“She is very lovely; a lot classier than Barb.”

“She is. I just want her to hurry up and remember.”

I ran my hands through my hair.

“Give her time. She has been through so much. Oh, and your father dropped her father as his lawyer. I guess there was some sort of issue. He hasn’t told me anything yet.”

“Wow, he has been Father’s lawyer for years.”

“Yes, he has, but trust is a big factor.”

I agreed with her. I looked over to Toria looking at all the paintings. She looked as if she was having a blast.

“Jeb, my man.”

Sean walked over to me, and Maddie was on his arm.

I gave Maddie a hug. “I didn’t expect you to show up.”

“Your mother invited us. So, where is that Toria girl?”

I look over toward her, and she caught my eyes and smiled. She turned back to the painting.

“She is over there.”

“So are you and Barb really over?” Maddie asked with sarcasm in her voice.

“Yes, we are. I didn’t love her. She was only after my money.”

“That’s too bad. I liked her. Maybe I could get to know this Toria girl, though.”

Sean kissed her on the cheek and watched Maddie walk away. Something about the way Maddie said ‘this Toria girl’ had me on edge. I turned back to talk to Sean.