Our Own Piece Of Heaven
Promise Me
It's been a month and a half since Jimmy comes to my house every night at 12 am and it’s been a month and a half since I sneak down the rail, go with Jimmy to the park, his house or just hang out with the guys at one of their places.
Also what's surprising it's that Adrian slowed in how often his beatings were, but when he did it, he made sure I would remembered it till it was time for another one. Some days were better than others and every day I tried to avoid the guys from looking at my bruises, but whenever they were on my face, I couldn’t avoid the comments like “Who the fuck did that to you” or “Who will I have to beat his sorry ass” and I just answered with a “I trip and fell” or “I wasn’t looking where I was going”… They gave me this looks of 'I don't believe you'...I knew they were starting to suspect.
I knew it.
Especially Jimmy.
“Gabs…” he called, making pop out of my thoughts “Can I ask you something?”
Right now, we where on the park, my ‘forgot all the bullshit’ place, well this and Jimmy’s house, it wasn't so dark considering it was past midnight, I would say it was 1 am, but I didn’t care, the fact of being just here with Jimmy was my escape from this last months that were turning into a complete nightmare. I seriously couldn’t wait for my birthday, which by the way was in less than a month, I needed to get out from that house I once called home.
“Sure” I answered lying on the grass looking at the stars “Ask away, honeybee”
“How did you get those bruises?” he asked
I had some new bruises, thanks to Adrian, of course. I had a kinda big one on my arm, and there was a cut on my cheek he gave me from hitting me with a ring, his once wedding ring.
I broke my gaze from the stars to see how his eyes were watching my every move, like a hawk.
“I already told you” I shrugged, like it was the most natural thing on the world “I wasn’t—”
“DON’T YOU DARE LYING TO ME!” he yelled turning his hands into fists
I held myself up on my elbows, while he looked torn, like something was bothering him
“Jimmy, what—”
“I-I saw what happened on the driveway a few days” he cut me off
Driveway? Nothing happen—
Oh no.
“YOU USELESS SLUT! YOU CAN’T EVEN DO THAT RIGHT!?” Adrian yelled at me, while I stormed out of the house into the driveway
“I DON’T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING FOR YOU… DAD” I yelled, making sound dad really sarcastic “YOU'RE NOTHING MORE THAN AN ABUSIVE PIECE OF SHI—”
Wrong
He punched me so hard, that he busted my lower lip open and I fall to the ground holding my face, my cheek being specific.
“Listen me well, you fucking whore” he hissed holding my wrist “If you ever pull another shit like that, I will be harder on you…”
I stared at him hardly, not backing down, but when he tightened the hold on my wrist, I winced in pain, making me muttered an “Ok”
“Does Adrian—” Jimmy speak up, breaking my thoughts
“You know why I love being around you guys?” I cut him off, throwing my head back, looking at the sky "Why I sneak around in the nights?"
He didn’t say anything. The only response I got was his heavy breathing
“Because you guys make me feel safe, like if I actually care to someone, I feel safe with you and the guys, being around you...” I sighed “It’s my escape”
“E-Escape?” Jimmy slurred “Escape from wha—”
“Adrian beats me” I closed my eyes, still holding me up on my elbows
Jimmy didn’t move, I couldn’t even dare to look at him anymore, I didn’t even knew how was he feeling or what was he thinking. I knew it was wrong hiding this from him and the guys, but this was just something I thought I could handle and after I became legal that would be it.
[Jimmy’s POV]
“Y-You, he what?” I asked
Maybe I was wrong
Maybe I heard wrong
“Adrian beats me”
I didn’t
She was being abused
And all this time, all the motherfucking bruises, all the lame explanations she was giving and I bought them… But more importantly is who did this to her…
Her fucking DAD did all those bruises in her
HER DAD!!
“I’M GONNA FUCKING KILL HIM!” I yelled standing on my feet
“Jimmy, don’t…” she muttered loud enough for me to hear
I turned around to see her face, eyes closed, breath uneven, like she was thinking hard or trying to contain her emotions, tears forming on the corner of her eyes and I realized that killing his dad, wouldn’t be the best thing right now, so I took a seat next to her and I pulled her to my chest, her heart beating really fast, she was anxious…
“It’s alright, Gabs” I said stroking her hair “Why didn’t you tell me about this, baby, why?”
“Because I thought I could handle it, I thought that after my 18th birthday, I wouldn’t have to deal with his shit anymore, I didn’t wanted to pull you down on this pile of shit”
“Baby, you’re my pile of shit” I smirked “I care about you too damn much, I would do anything for you”
She cleaned her tears and laughed a bit. I loved the fact, that I made her smile
“I can’t believe I just tell you this” she sighed
“Well, I’m glad you did, because you’re not going back, to that house” I said
“Of course, I am” she said, getting up from my chest
“Gaby—” I replied
“NO!” she yelled loud enough for me to hear, cutting me off “The only reason I told you, it’s because you saw, what you saw, and I couldn’t really lie to you after that but Jimmy, everything will go on, like it was planned till my birthday”
“Gabrielle, you can’t ask me, to just make an eye blind on this, your dad beats you. He. Beats. You” I said pausing between words, trying to get her understand how serious was the situation, because she didn’t seem to understand
“I know that, Jimmy” she said closing her eyes and sighing deeply
“How long?” I asked
“Wha-What?” she slurred opening her eyes
“How long has this happened?” I repeated
She looked down to her hands and muttered “3 years”
WHAT!?
“Has he ever—” I asked taking deep breaths
“Touched me?” she completed
I nodded
“No, but he tries to feel me up” she said
I felt something deep inside of me, my killer instict maybe, telling to smash this guy's head against the floor.
HARD
REALLY... FUCKING... HARD
“And you are still asking me to let you go back there?” I asked, annoyance written all over my face
“You didn’t knew before, why should I go now?” she replied
“If I knew about this when it started, you wouldn’t be living in there anymore!” I was really getting angry
“Jimmy, is not like he is going to kill me or anything and he is my dad, whether I like it or not, he has my custody… I can’t just leave to any of you guy's places, because you guys will be charged with kidnapping or some bullshit like that and he would claim I’m crazy and that I have, well... I don’t know, Stockholm Syndrome!” she threw her hands in the air
“But we can go to the police and…”
“You think I haven’t thought in that?” she cut me off “He already told me, how I don’t have any family and that if he goes to jail, I will be put in the system to somewhere FAR from here”
I felt panic running through my body, she was right, she would have to leave me us, but I couldn’t let her back there, I couldn’t just do nothing about it…
“Gaby—” I sighed
“Can we walk back please, it’s already 1:45 am and I would like to sleep a little” she cut me off
Again
She seemed to be doing that often this day
I nodded and we started to walk back to her house, I was feeling uneasy due to the fact she wanted to stay there and I wasn't really happy with that idea and when we arrived to the side of the house where her window was, she stopped, her back facing me
“Jims” she spoke “Promise me something”
“Anything” I said resting my arm on around her shoulders
“Don’t tell the boys” she said and I almost choked
She couldn’t be serious
“What?” I asked a little annoyed, removing my arm from her shoulder so I could face her “You can’t seriously be asking me that, Gaby”
“Yes, I am” she said “Look Jimmy, I love you guys, but I already risked too much by telling you, I can’t drag you all into this”
“But Gaby—” I said
“But nothing” she said “Look, it’s already enough you know, and I can’t… I just can’t. My birthday it’s just in 2 weeks and then… Then I will finally be free from this nightmare”
“Gaby—” I sighed
“Jimmy, please” she pleaded “You already promised me”
“Gaby, you can’t just stay another 2 weeks in that fucking house!” I said getting annoyed by her attitude “Stop being so stubborn! Gaby, I can’t—”
“Lose me, I know” she said cutting me off “You won’t. Now I have to go, Jim”
She started to get closer to the rail of her side of the window, and before she started climbing it, I stop her
“Wait, Gabs” I said
I could see her struggling inside, she was right, I didn’t knew before but it was only because she didn’t tell me about it, was I that blind that I swallowed her lies, when I ask her about the bruises. Maybe I knew about it and I pretended not to, but I didn’t … I had no clue. And now, well now, I had to ‘play by her rules’
“Look, I’m sorry” I said “We’ll do things your way, ok?”
Gaby jumped from the rail and hugged me tightly.
“I know this looks like me being selfish, but Jimmy I am so close to getting out from this in a 'clean' way and I don’t want you guys involved, so it was better for me to pretend that I was just really sloppy”
“I know, I’m sorry, it’s just… I'm worried about you and now I think that’s the only thing I’ll be doing” I said kissing her temple “Worrying about you”
“Don't be, I'll be fine... I... should better get going” she said smiling “It’s already late and I’m sleepy” she said turning her back to me and facing once again the rail
“Wait, is he—” I was asking her if he was here
“Yeah” she replied, without turning back
“Promise me, you’ll be safe, okay?” I begged her
“I will” she answered
“Wait, one more thing” I said
“Shoot” she nodded
“When is the next time, he will leave the house?” I asked her
“In about a week, why?” she cocked an eyebrow at me
“I want you to stay with me, it's that okay?” I asked “Well you know, until he comes back”
She nodded with an “Okay”
I hugged her tightly, not wanting to let her go, I didn’t knew how could I leave her, but in a week, I would have her alone and maybe I could convince her of leaving the house, I needed to at least try it. After I let her go, she finally made her way up to her window and I stayed there, until she closed it and the lights went out. I walked home thinking on what the fuck did just happen.
Gaby, my best friend, was being battered by her fucking dad and she didn’t want me to tell the guys, AND I kinda promised to her that I wouldn’t, but I wasn’t sure anymore if I could maintain that promise. I wasn’t going to lose Gaby, I know I said I was going to play by her rules, but this could blow up in any minute and now that I knew this I had to come up with a plan, even if her birthday was 2 weeks away, I had to do something before shit blew off
I took my phone out and dialed Brian’s number, I waited to the singular ‘beep’ and after a while he finally picked up
“Hey Rev, what’s up man?” he greeted
“We need to talk. Now” I said “Call everyone”
I was going to break my promise, but it was for a good reason. I was going to get her out of there, even if it cost me jail or some shit like that.
After all she was worth it
[End Jimmy’s POV]
Also what's surprising it's that Adrian slowed in how often his beatings were, but when he did it, he made sure I would remembered it till it was time for another one. Some days were better than others and every day I tried to avoid the guys from looking at my bruises, but whenever they were on my face, I couldn’t avoid the comments like “Who the fuck did that to you” or “Who will I have to beat his sorry ass” and I just answered with a “I trip and fell” or “I wasn’t looking where I was going”… They gave me this looks of 'I don't believe you'...I knew they were starting to suspect.
I knew it.
Especially Jimmy.
“Gabs…” he called, making pop out of my thoughts “Can I ask you something?”
Right now, we where on the park, my ‘forgot all the bullshit’ place, well this and Jimmy’s house, it wasn't so dark considering it was past midnight, I would say it was 1 am, but I didn’t care, the fact of being just here with Jimmy was my escape from this last months that were turning into a complete nightmare. I seriously couldn’t wait for my birthday, which by the way was in less than a month, I needed to get out from that house I once called home.
“Sure” I answered lying on the grass looking at the stars “Ask away, honeybee”
“How did you get those bruises?” he asked
I had some new bruises, thanks to Adrian, of course. I had a kinda big one on my arm, and there was a cut on my cheek he gave me from hitting me with a ring, his once wedding ring.
I broke my gaze from the stars to see how his eyes were watching my every move, like a hawk.
“I already told you” I shrugged, like it was the most natural thing on the world “I wasn’t—”
“DON’T YOU DARE LYING TO ME!” he yelled turning his hands into fists
I held myself up on my elbows, while he looked torn, like something was bothering him
“Jimmy, what—”
“I-I saw what happened on the driveway a few days” he cut me off
Driveway? Nothing happen—
Oh no.
“YOU USELESS SLUT! YOU CAN’T EVEN DO THAT RIGHT!?” Adrian yelled at me, while I stormed out of the house into the driveway
“I DON’T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING FOR YOU… DAD” I yelled, making sound dad really sarcastic “YOU'RE NOTHING MORE THAN AN ABUSIVE PIECE OF SHI—”
Wrong
He punched me so hard, that he busted my lower lip open and I fall to the ground holding my face, my cheek being specific.
“Listen me well, you fucking whore” he hissed holding my wrist “If you ever pull another shit like that, I will be harder on you…”
I stared at him hardly, not backing down, but when he tightened the hold on my wrist, I winced in pain, making me muttered an “Ok”
“Does Adrian—” Jimmy speak up, breaking my thoughts
“You know why I love being around you guys?” I cut him off, throwing my head back, looking at the sky "Why I sneak around in the nights?"
He didn’t say anything. The only response I got was his heavy breathing
“Because you guys make me feel safe, like if I actually care to someone, I feel safe with you and the guys, being around you...” I sighed “It’s my escape”
“E-Escape?” Jimmy slurred “Escape from wha—”
“Adrian beats me” I closed my eyes, still holding me up on my elbows
Jimmy didn’t move, I couldn’t even dare to look at him anymore, I didn’t even knew how was he feeling or what was he thinking. I knew it was wrong hiding this from him and the guys, but this was just something I thought I could handle and after I became legal that would be it.
[Jimmy’s POV]
“Y-You, he what?” I asked
Maybe I was wrong
Maybe I heard wrong
“Adrian beats me”
I didn’t
She was being abused
And all this time, all the motherfucking bruises, all the lame explanations she was giving and I bought them… But more importantly is who did this to her…
Her fucking DAD did all those bruises in her
HER DAD!!
“I’M GONNA FUCKING KILL HIM!” I yelled standing on my feet
“Jimmy, don’t…” she muttered loud enough for me to hear
I turned around to see her face, eyes closed, breath uneven, like she was thinking hard or trying to contain her emotions, tears forming on the corner of her eyes and I realized that killing his dad, wouldn’t be the best thing right now, so I took a seat next to her and I pulled her to my chest, her heart beating really fast, she was anxious…
“It’s alright, Gabs” I said stroking her hair “Why didn’t you tell me about this, baby, why?”
“Because I thought I could handle it, I thought that after my 18th birthday, I wouldn’t have to deal with his shit anymore, I didn’t wanted to pull you down on this pile of shit”
“Baby, you’re my pile of shit” I smirked “I care about you too damn much, I would do anything for you”
She cleaned her tears and laughed a bit. I loved the fact, that I made her smile
“I can’t believe I just tell you this” she sighed
“Well, I’m glad you did, because you’re not going back, to that house” I said
“Of course, I am” she said, getting up from my chest
“Gaby—” I replied
“NO!” she yelled loud enough for me to hear, cutting me off “The only reason I told you, it’s because you saw, what you saw, and I couldn’t really lie to you after that but Jimmy, everything will go on, like it was planned till my birthday”
“Gabrielle, you can’t ask me, to just make an eye blind on this, your dad beats you. He. Beats. You” I said pausing between words, trying to get her understand how serious was the situation, because she didn’t seem to understand
“I know that, Jimmy” she said closing her eyes and sighing deeply
“How long?” I asked
“Wha-What?” she slurred opening her eyes
“How long has this happened?” I repeated
She looked down to her hands and muttered “3 years”
WHAT!?
“Has he ever—” I asked taking deep breaths
“Touched me?” she completed
I nodded
“No, but he tries to feel me up” she said
I felt something deep inside of me, my killer instict maybe, telling to smash this guy's head against the floor.
HARD
REALLY... FUCKING... HARD
“And you are still asking me to let you go back there?” I asked, annoyance written all over my face
“You didn’t knew before, why should I go now?” she replied
“If I knew about this when it started, you wouldn’t be living in there anymore!” I was really getting angry
“Jimmy, is not like he is going to kill me or anything and he is my dad, whether I like it or not, he has my custody… I can’t just leave to any of you guy's places, because you guys will be charged with kidnapping or some bullshit like that and he would claim I’m crazy and that I have, well... I don’t know, Stockholm Syndrome!” she threw her hands in the air
“But we can go to the police and…”
“You think I haven’t thought in that?” she cut me off “He already told me, how I don’t have any family and that if he goes to jail, I will be put in the system to somewhere FAR from here”
I felt panic running through my body, she was right, she would have to leave me us, but I couldn’t let her back there, I couldn’t just do nothing about it…
“Gaby—” I sighed
“Can we walk back please, it’s already 1:45 am and I would like to sleep a little” she cut me off
Again
She seemed to be doing that often this day
I nodded and we started to walk back to her house, I was feeling uneasy due to the fact she wanted to stay there and I wasn't really happy with that idea and when we arrived to the side of the house where her window was, she stopped, her back facing me
“Jims” she spoke “Promise me something”
“Anything” I said resting my arm on around her shoulders
“Don’t tell the boys” she said and I almost choked
She couldn’t be serious
“What?” I asked a little annoyed, removing my arm from her shoulder so I could face her “You can’t seriously be asking me that, Gaby”
“Yes, I am” she said “Look Jimmy, I love you guys, but I already risked too much by telling you, I can’t drag you all into this”
“But Gaby—” I said
“But nothing” she said “Look, it’s already enough you know, and I can’t… I just can’t. My birthday it’s just in 2 weeks and then… Then I will finally be free from this nightmare”
“Gaby—” I sighed
“Jimmy, please” she pleaded “You already promised me”
“Gaby, you can’t just stay another 2 weeks in that fucking house!” I said getting annoyed by her attitude “Stop being so stubborn! Gaby, I can’t—”
“Lose me, I know” she said cutting me off “You won’t. Now I have to go, Jim”
She started to get closer to the rail of her side of the window, and before she started climbing it, I stop her
“Wait, Gabs” I said
I could see her struggling inside, she was right, I didn’t knew before but it was only because she didn’t tell me about it, was I that blind that I swallowed her lies, when I ask her about the bruises. Maybe I knew about it and I pretended not to, but I didn’t … I had no clue. And now, well now, I had to ‘play by her rules’
“Look, I’m sorry” I said “We’ll do things your way, ok?”
Gaby jumped from the rail and hugged me tightly.
“I know this looks like me being selfish, but Jimmy I am so close to getting out from this in a 'clean' way and I don’t want you guys involved, so it was better for me to pretend that I was just really sloppy”
“I know, I’m sorry, it’s just… I'm worried about you and now I think that’s the only thing I’ll be doing” I said kissing her temple “Worrying about you”
“Don't be, I'll be fine... I... should better get going” she said smiling “It’s already late and I’m sleepy” she said turning her back to me and facing once again the rail
“Wait, is he—” I was asking her if he was here
“Yeah” she replied, without turning back
“Promise me, you’ll be safe, okay?” I begged her
“I will” she answered
“Wait, one more thing” I said
“Shoot” she nodded
“When is the next time, he will leave the house?” I asked her
“In about a week, why?” she cocked an eyebrow at me
“I want you to stay with me, it's that okay?” I asked “Well you know, until he comes back”
She nodded with an “Okay”
I hugged her tightly, not wanting to let her go, I didn’t knew how could I leave her, but in a week, I would have her alone and maybe I could convince her of leaving the house, I needed to at least try it. After I let her go, she finally made her way up to her window and I stayed there, until she closed it and the lights went out. I walked home thinking on what the fuck did just happen.
Gaby, my best friend, was being battered by her fucking dad and she didn’t want me to tell the guys, AND I kinda promised to her that I wouldn’t, but I wasn’t sure anymore if I could maintain that promise. I wasn’t going to lose Gaby, I know I said I was going to play by her rules, but this could blow up in any minute and now that I knew this I had to come up with a plan, even if her birthday was 2 weeks away, I had to do something before shit blew off
I took my phone out and dialed Brian’s number, I waited to the singular ‘beep’ and after a while he finally picked up
“Hey Rev, what’s up man?” he greeted
“We need to talk. Now” I said “Call everyone”
I was going to break my promise, but it was for a good reason. I was going to get her out of there, even if it cost me jail or some shit like that.
After all she was worth it
[End Jimmy’s POV]
7/30/13