Page 22 of Meant to Be

Once I’m home, I feel lost. I flop on my bed and look up at the ceiling. Grabbing the scatter cushion from my bed I hug it to my chest. Loud footsteps bang up the stairs, and my door flings open banging on the wall.

“Hi, Mum.” I smile sweetly, her face is like thunder.

“Where have you been?” Mum asks in a sharp tone.

“Addy’s.” gulping hard, I lie through my teeth.

“No, you haven’t, I checked at eight this morning.”

“Why were you checking up on me? Don’t you trust me?” I turn it around on her.

“I was right not to, wasn’t I?”

“Why don’t you trust me?” I ask sternly. “I’ve never done anything for you not to.” My voice takes on a high-pitched screech.

“It’s not you I don’t trust.”

“Then why check up on me? You have a funny way of showing it. If it was me you trusted, you’d wait for me to come back and ask where I’d been without shouting at me.”

“It’s that boy you’re seeing, making you like this.” Her head shaking in disappointment.

“Like what, mum? I’m sixteen, I’m allowed a life, surely.”

“Not until you’ve done exams you’re not.” She lays down the law bluntly.

“They’re months away. This isn’t fair…”

“No Shelby. What isn’t fair is you lying to me about where you’re staying.”

“I didn’t lie, I was supposed to stay there, but something came up.”

“Then you should’ve come home. You’re grounded for lying to me.”

“Oh, whatever. Just cause' you have no life doesn’t mean I don’t get to have one.” I stand up from the bed and stand my ground. “I might be sixteen, but I’m not a child, mum.”

“Don’t talk to me like that. I’m your mother and while you live here you abide by my rules.” She shouts.

“Fine. I’ll go to school, pass my exams and get a job I hate and become just like you. How’s that?” I sneer

I hear the slap echo around the room before I actually feel it. As soon as her palm connects with skin, my cheek is left feeling numb. Covering my face with my palm, I cut my eyes to her and turn away. My cheek begins to sting bringing water to my eyes. Biting down I push back the pain and lie down with my back facing her.

“Shelby?” My mum calls out.

“I want you to leave.”

“Shelby?”

“I mean it, mum. Leave.”

I refuse to let her see my tears, I won’t let her see how much she’s hurt me. I keep my eyes fixed to my wallpaper until I hear her loud huff, the door slamming shut behind her. I release the breath I’ve been holding, I grab my phone and type a text out sending it to both Addison and Jax telling them I’m grounded.

Jaxon

My phone wakes me with the loud tone of a message. Tapping the bed, I find it and bring it up to my face and attempt to look through my squinting eyes. I didn’t feel Shelby leave, when I look at the time, though, I see it's almost midday, maybe she didn’t want to disturb me. Opening the message up I see it’s Shelby, I feel the smile stretch across my face.

Shelby: Hey I know you’re sleeping and sorry to leave like I did but I needed to get back. Also, my mum found out I didn’t sleep at Addison’s. She’s grounded me for lying so I’ll maybe see you in about seven or eight months... maybe. Unless you can be my knight in shining armour and come and rescue me from the witches tower, she’s keeping me locked in?

See you soon and thanks again. Miss you already

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