Repair Me (7 page)

              Later that afternoon Natalia called and apologized. “Holy shit girl. I am so sorry.” She pleaded into the phone. “I was fucking drunk and passed out on Scott’s bed. Everything okay?”

             
“Yeah, yeah. I fell asleep shortly after you. Davien brought me home this morning.”

             
“This morning?” She stopped “I just assumed he would take you home after we hung out.”

             
“Well you left us and I guess he started drinking. No problem.” We sat on the phone for several minutes later as she promised she wouldn’t do it again.

Chapter 4

              The next few days went by fast, but I felt guilt every time I looked into Anthony’s eyes. He would never cheat on me and I had betrayed his trust. I had actually shared a bed with another man for an entire night. Not just any man but the most amazing man my eyes had ever seen. I didn’t just sleep in his bed, but we had exchanged words of truth. Truth that I would never admit to Anthony. Actually words that I didn't want to believe, but I did. And as we talked, Davien's arm was wrapped securely around my waist.

             
I was off from school for the next few days and I was sleeping in. When I woke up, Anthony was sitting on a chair next to my bedside staring at me. I opened my eyes all of the way, rubbing the sleep from the corners. I heard the sigh from his voice when he saw me woke. He lift my phone in the air. “What the hell is this, Avery?” The words were not a question, he was demanding the truth.

             
“What is what?” He confused me. My heart was racing as I thought of any reason he would be so irate with me. Just waking from my sleep and not knowing what he was talking about, I reached for my phone and he snatched it back.

             
“You went out last weekend didn’t you?” He demanded the honesty.

             
“I went with Avery to watch her boyfriend again.”

             
“Why? When I just told you that you needed grow the hell up. She is dating a damn rock star! I’m going to ask you one more time, is that what you want? You want to be a groupie like your friend?” He released an evil laugh.

             
“No, that’s not what I want. But you leave me and I’m lonely. I don’t understand why I can’t watch a band at a damn bar?”

             
“I don’t leave you, I work to support your fucking tuition and pay for your bullshit.” His powerful arm reached my shoulder within seconds causing me to fall to the floor brutally. “Maybe you should call your Mommy and ask her to pay for the shit.” He walked away from me and laughed as he head down the hallway.

             
I reached for my phone that he had thrown on the floor and searched through my text messages and I immediately saw the text from Natalia that was sent last night.

             
‘
Had an awesome time with you again Friday. Hope you’ll come out again this weekend’

              I lift my sore body from the floor and walked to the kitchen to pour a cup of coffee. A small fall to the floor was painful when Anthony had caused it. His strength was much more powerful that he thought. It wasn't just physical, but mentally he was torturing me. More than anything he could care less, he felt that I deserved it, like I was paying him back.

             
Anthony sat at the table reading the newspaper. “I’ll send a tow truck for your car on Saturday. I don’t have time today.” He only allowed me to drive to school and back, complaining on the cost of gas, but unwillingly to drive me to there his self. So he bought a used car for me when I moved here. Yesterday it died. He knew I didn’t have money to fix it, so I was stuck here today. On my days off from school.

             
“I need to go. I have a meeting in an hour.” And he stood from the table and buttoned his suit jacket. “There’s food in the fridge, don’t make a mess.” He left the house without kissing me good-bye, just walked out. I dropped my head to the table. I so badly wanted to reply 'yes Father... or maybe screw yourself bastard', but instead, I sat shaking my head without actually physically moving it.

             
I took a long shower and cried the entire time. Anthony had promised me the world and he did, but I had to deal with his bullshit on his bad days. I reminded myself that he was a stressed man and I had no other option. Did I really want to live the life my Mom did? Barely able to afford a 2 bedroom crappy apartment then leaving everything for a truck driver? That wasn't what I wanted. Was there such a thing as a perfect life or at least a happy one?

☼

              Natalia called me later that afternoon “Hey, Avery, did you get my message last night? You never text me back.”

             
“Yeah I got it.” I spoke softly. If only she knew the bullshit I had put up with over a single message.

             
“So… yes, no? Are gonna come or what?”

             
“No I really can’t go. Anthony found out about last weekend and he’s pissed.”

             
“You’re a fucking adult, Avery. He’s not your Father!” she yelled back. Natalia knew that Anthony was an ass at times, she knew he was controlling, but she had no idea that he had ever hurt me.... physically.

             
“It’s not worth it, Natalia!” I screamed back. “I need to stay here. I have no family, you’re all I have and you know you can’t let me live with you. He’s my only option.”

             
“But you don’t always have to obey his fucking rules! You need to stand up for yourself every once in awhile. He can’t control your every thoughts.”

             
“Natalia come over, look at my body, then tell me whether or not it’s worth it!” I cried. I looked at my bruised shoulder. I felt the large tender spots on my back. The way he had pushed me off the bed, made me fall hard onto my back half of my body. I was sore and he loved the feeling that he left a reminder to obey his orders. With pain through my body, I could literally hear his voice.

             
“He did what?” She howled into the receiver. “Scott, Anthony hit Avery!” She screamed in the background. Obviously she was with her boyfriend.

             
The voice immediately changed. “Where the fuck is he, Avery?” Davien was on the other line. Of all people I didn't need Davien interfering with my personal life. “Tell me!”

             
“He didn’t hit me.” I defended Anthony. I knew he had hurt me, but I didn’t want anyone to get involved in my life. I looked around the kitchen where I sat, pleading for excuses. “He got mad and pushed me. I simply fell off the bed, okay, are you happy?”

             
“I asked where the fuck he’s at, Avery.” He screamed again. I could hear the anger in the few words that Davien demanded.

             
“You don’t understand, Davien, it’s not like that. Just leave it alone” I hung the phone up with embarrassment.

☼

             
The next day Natalia came to the house unannounced, as she knew that Anthony would be gone. “C’mon, you’re coming out tonight.” She pulled at my arm.

             
“No, I’m not.” I yanked back. I was just getting out of bed. Thankfully this morning was without a plunge to the floor. I stood at the doorstep wearing only pajama bottoms and a pink tank top.

             
Natalia was tiny and petite but she was feisty and held my arm. “Lock the door.”

             
“I can’t leave.” I was sobbing knowing that if I left with Natalia, Anthony would never forgive me. He was already mad and he didn’t even know half of the facts from the previous weekend. “You don’t know what I’ll come home to.”

             
“You’re not. You're not coming back” She pulled me in the driveway. Scott was sitting in his Jeep behind the wheel. She opened the backdoor and pushed me up until I had no choice but to go. “Where is your purse, Avery?”

             
I couldn’t even think my head was spinning in confusion. I was crying harder than I ever imagined that I could. “Where’s your stuff?” Scott asked quietly. He reached through the front seat and grabbed my hand, rubbing the top softly. “Where’s your purse, Avery?” He whispered words with comfort as he tried to calm me.

             
“On the kitchen counter. My keys are sitting in the bowl next to the front door.” I watched Natalia as she walked inside the house with no fear. I was blessed that she knew Anthony was gone. If he was home it would have turned into world war 3 and I knew Natalia well enough that she wouldn't give up on the fight. My head dropped to my lap and I sobbed over and over. I tried to catch my breath but fear took over my body.

             
Scott moved to his knees and bent over the front seat, he reached towards my back and rubbed my back in comfort. “Everything is going to be okay, Avery.”

             
I immediately sat up in order to snap back at him. “No it’s not. You have no fucking clue to what I’ll be coming home to.” I cried out. “I have no where to go to. My whole life depends on this man. My school, I have no car until he fixes it tomorrow, I have no house, please, just let me go back inside. I'm not ready for this, Please!”

             
“That’s not an option honey.” Big hearted Scott would never let me get hurt, but he had no idea that Anthony was all I had. He didn’t understand. More that anything he didn’t know what Anthony was capable of.
             

             
Natalia came out and was carrying my purse and a few changes of clothes. She locked the front door as if nothing had ever happened and hopped back in the Jeep. “Here.” She reached over the passenger seat and held out a pile of clothes. “This is enough for a few days. That’s all you need.”

             
I sat up and screamed as Scott put the vehicle in reverse. “You have no fucking idea, Natalia. Where am I supposed to go? Where? I’m a homeless woman with nothing now and three outfits to change into.”

             
“No honey,” Scott added “you’re a brave woman that has an awesome friend. Some stuff can be replaced, but you can’t stay there. We’ll figure out something. Come out with us, get the bullshit off your mind and we’ll get some clothes in the morning.”

             
We went back to Scott and Davien’s place and Natalia finally calmed me enough to take a shower and get dressed to follow the two to CJ’s. I had no choice since Scott was performing and I couldn’t hold Natalia back.

☼

             
I never saw Davien the entire day until we arrived at CJ’s. The place didn’t have as large of a crowd this night but I immediately noticed Davien in the corner surrounded by every female in the house. He sat on a stool and even had one girl’s arms wrapped around his neck. He made no attempt to push her off.

             
When he saw us, he gently pushed the girls to the side and made his way to the 3 of us. My heart was racing and my stomach was flipping in nervous knots. What would he say? Would he bring up our conversation from last weekend? Would he pretend the words never came out of our mouths? Even worse, what would I say? The thought of Davien laying in his bed a week ago today.

             
Now seeing him surrounded in a pile of whores, made me sick! What made me even sicker is that he enjoyed every minute of it. He loved the attention that the girls were more than willing to offer! I felt embarrassed especially after spilling my guts to this man. “Hey, Scott, Natalia… how’s things going?” Scott nodded his head with approval. He never looked my way, never spoke my name. He intentionally ignored me and I was immediately ready to leave. What the hell did I do to him? I knew if I left soon I had good chances of making it to my house before Anthony could ask many questions. I sat on the chair next to me as I debated over my choices. “What do you want to drink?” Davien asked us as a group, not directed to any certain person.

             
I paid no attention as he walked off to the bar. I looked at my phone, realizing Anthony had made it home by now and saw the line of missed calls. I immediately wished tonight had never happened. I wanted to be home in my house. My home, not a hotel or a friends house. My fucking home, my fucking bed with Anthony. Instead I sat watching Natalia smiling with Scott and Mr. gorgeous flirting with every woman in the building except for me.

             
Davien returned to the table with 4 beers and sat each in our directions. I sipped on mine as I waited for the guys to hit the stage “The Pits will be on stage in the next few minutes, so grab your drink and let’s get the show started.” The normal voice came through the speakers.

             
“Show time” Energetic Davien jumped from his seat and the other band members followed.

             
“What’s wrong, Avery? Everything is gonna be okay.” She rubbed my back. I felt guilty for ruining her night. I knew that Natalia looked forward to Friday evenings at Scott's shows. They didn't spend as much time during the week since Scott worked full time and she attended school and was also a waitress part-time. “They say it gets worse before it gets better. But we’re gonna help you in the mean time. Okay?”

             
“I know, I appreciate everything but I’m not sure this is the right thing.” I tipped my bottle further, letting the beer hit my empty stomach.