Jimmy

The first thing I did after waking, even before opening my eyes, was reach for Avery. My hands found nothing but cold sheets. Frowning, I sat up and reached for my glasses. They were perched on top of a folded sheet of paper.

The words scribbled on the paper hit me like a punch to the gut. I’m sorry -A

That could only mean one thing: She was gone. I was out of bed and dressed in record time, grabbing my keys I ran to my car and hopped inside. Maybe I could catch her. I had no real idea of where to look for her so I went with my gut and sped towards the train station.

I turned into the parking lot quickly, nearly going up on two wheels and screeched the brakes as I suddenly stopped in a parking spot. I was taking up two spaces but I couldn’t care less. I was only worried about Avery.

“Have you seen her?” I asked the lady at the ticket booth. I held out my phone with a picture of Avery displayed on the screen.

“She purchased a ticket from me an hour ago.”

My heart leaped. An hour wasn’t that long maybe she was still here. “Where to? What time?”

“I’m not supposed to give that information.”

“Please!” I cried desperately. “I’m pretty sure she’s the love of my life and if I can’t find her now I may never see her again.”

She sighed and quickly looked around, checking to see if anyone was listening to our conversation. “I’m sorry sir but her train left ten minutes ago.”

For the second time that day I felt like I’d been punched. She was really gone and there was nothing I could do about it. I made my way over to the first bench I came to and sank down on it, letting my head fall into my hands. Tears stung my eyes, threatening to fall at any moment. I didn’t want to accept the fact that she was gone.

“Jimmy?” a voice I’d recognize anywhere spoke from behind me. I shot up from the bench and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“You scared the shit out of me, Avery. I thought I’d never see you again. Don’t ever fucking do that again.”

“I’m sorry,” she muttered.

“She told me your train left ten minutes ago. I thought you were gone.”

“I had the ticket in my hand and was ready to go, but I couldn’t get on that train. I couldn’t bring myself to leave you like that. As afraid as I am of Trevor I don’t want to run anymore. The life I’ve started building here is too amazing for me to let him spoil. I decided it’s time to show him he’s not in control of my life anymore.”

“Let’s make this official. Be my girlfriend, Avery.” The words came out of nowhere. I wasn’t planning it, but nothing had ever felt more right.

She paused for a moment then looked up at me, a smile creeping up on her lips. “Okay,” she whispered. That was all I needed to hear, I pulled her to me a little rougher than necessary in my excitement and kissed her. What was almost a really bad day turned into my favorite day ever.

Avery

“What are we going to do about Trevor?” I asked quietly. Jimmy dropped his hand from the ignition and turned slightly so he was facing me.

“Apart from me kicking his ass? We’re going to tell Brian everything and he’ll kick him out.”

“Can we go now? The sooner he’s gone the better.”

“Of course we can.” He brushed a thumb across my cheek then started the car.

The drive to Brian’s house passed in silence. I stared out of the window, too keyed up to make conversation. It was all I could do to keep my hands from shaking. What if Trevor was there? I couldn’t face him again.

Brian’s car was the only one parked in his driveway and I breathed a sigh of relief. Trevor wasn’t here. We trudged up to the door and Jimmy rang the doorbell five times in quick succession.

“Man what the fuck?” Brian grumbled when he opened the door. He wore only a pair of black boxers and ran a hand through already messy bedhead. He had clearly just rolled out of bed.

“We need to talk.” He looked like he wanted to slam the door, but then he noticed me and I guess my face showed that this was important. He sighed and pushed the door open further to allow us inside.

“Sit. I’ll go put clothes on.” I sank down onto the couch, clenching my hands into fist to hide the shaking.

“This is about Trevor,” Jimmy said as soon as Brian reappeared.

“Damn what’s with faces? He try to steal your girl or something? He’s notorious for that.” My body stiffened and Jimmy placed a reassuring hand on my knee.

“He’s Avery’s ex. They lived together for a while. He was abusive to the point that she ran away. The fact that he’s here can only mean he has come for her. We can’t let that happen.”

“That can’t be true. Trevor is a good guy, he wouldn’t do something like that.” This was going exactly like I’d feared.

“Why would she make this up?”

“Okay no offense but we’ve barely known her a month. I’ve known Trevor for my entire life. I think I’m a pretty good judge of his character.”

“She’s not lying.” Jimmy persisted, but I knew this couldn’t be settled with words. There was only one way to do this.

I got to my feet slowly and yanked my shirt off. “This is where he burned me with cigarettes because I wouldn’t let him fuck me after he’d slapped me across the face-” I traced the circular burns scars on my lower abdomen. “This is where he cut me with a knife after I burned dinner one night-” I traced the thin line across the top of my collarbone. I turned around so he could see my back. “Those marks are from him whipping me with a belt because some guy smiled at me in the grocery store. Do I need to go on?”

“Okay. Fuck! I’ll make him leave. I’m so sorry Avery.” I held up a hand to stop him.

“I don’t need your apologies, I just need you to get him out of here.” He nodded.

Jimmy handed me my shirt and I pulled it on. I needed fresh air so I walked outside without another word. Jimmy followed me out a few seconds later and we climbed into the car.

“It will all be okay now.” I nodded, finally daring to believe him. Maybe this was finally the end.

Neither of us noticed the truck that pulled onto the road behind us and followed us all the way to the street Jimmy lived on.

Notes

Sorry for the wait guys! I had a few really busy days then I was sick, but I should be updating more frequently now!