Page 69 of Stray

“Fuck!” I shout, punching the steering wheel before running my hands through my hair, tugging on the strands in frustration. I stare at the small house, my mind racing with what to do. Sighing, I grab my phone and hit Theo’s number.

“What?” she whines.

“Are you at the house?”

“Yeah, I didn’t get out before the–”

“I need you to stay with Ozzy.” I interrupt, my tone giving her no room to argue.

“Alright, I’ll take the four-wheeler over.” Hanging up the phone, I continue to stare at the house. How do I leave? How do I turn my truck on and leave her alone? She’s my whole world. She’s hurting, and I need to protect her. I can’t just… abandon her. I watch as Theo pulls up on the four-wheeler and heads to the door, knocking on it. Ozzy opens it, and I let out a relieved breath when she lets Theo in. Theo is in there for about five minutes before walking back out and coming to my truck. She hops into the passenger seat and shakes the snow off her hat and coat.

“Okay,” she breathes, turning to me. “You need to leave.” My face falls.

“W-what? No!”

“Jackson, I get that you want to help her, but the best thing you can do is go home. I promise I will stay with her and text you updates, but you have to go.” I look at Ozzy’s front door and sigh as I nod.

“Alright.” The word is weak and bitter as it falls out. Theo pats my shoulder.

“I’ll stay with her, I promise.” I nod numbly as Theo exits the truck and heads back inside, leaving me completely alone.

Ozzy

“Brumby,”

“Brumby,”

“Ozzy!” I startle awake and look to see Theo kneeling in front of my couch, worry etched on her face. “Oz, you’re scaring me. I really think I need to call Jack–”

“No,” I snap, sitting up despite the screaming in my head. “I can’t have him here right now.” I stand up to head to the kitchen. God, yesterday was a nightmare. Mr. and Mrs. Kenton were late to her appointment due to the weather, and I told Denise I would stay with her and call after the appointment to have Jackson pick me up in his truck if need be. When the Kentons got to the clinic, and I asked Mr. Kenton to wait outside, he lost his mind, saying that he wasn’t waiting out there while his wife got an IUD secretly implanted. Denise called the police then, but Mr. Kenton grabbed his wife so roughly, and I saw that look in her eyes, pleading for help. So, I did.

I remember tripping him and pulling her out of his grasp, and shoving her behind me when he got in my face. I remember him grabbing my shirt and snapping my necklace off, causing me to slap him across his face. Mrs. Kenton tried to run out the back door of the office, and her husband tried to grab her. I grabbed him by the back of his shirt as he shoved her, and he whirled around on me.

“You dumb fucking whore, you better watch your back because I’m going to make you pay for that.”

He shouted that at me and went to grab me again when Jackson stepped in—my sweet Superman. I’m so embarrassed, not because of what that man said, but because I can’t come down from this panic attack. I’m so on edge, and I just can’t have him sitting here watching me jump or cry, watching me zone out or me flinching at his touch.

“Knock, Knock!” Niamh walks in with a box of pastries and a paper bag. “I come bearing tea and treats!” I watch as she pulls out a teapot.

“What are you doing with that?” I chuckle. “I think I got some cheap tea bags in the cabinet. Just nuke it in the microwave.”

Niamh sets the pot on the stove and turns the burner on before staring at me. “We will not be friends if you ever do something that atrocious again. Now, go sit down, and I’ll make you a proper cuppa.” She rolls her eyes and shakes her head, muttering about the microwave.

Once we have “proper tea” and cookies… biscuits, whatever she wants to call them, we sit on the couch to relax.

“Okay, this is actually amazing,” I say in awe as I drink the hot liquid.

Niamh nods, “Precisely. Americans and their bastardization of the beauty that is tea.” She snorts in dissatisfaction. “Now, I hear you are hiding from Jackson.”

“Oh? And did Theo’s big mouth tell you that?” I glare at the now indigent-looking blonde.

“I didn’t say shit. My lips are sealed tighter than a nun–”

“Really?!” Niamh slaps the snickering girl. “Keep that up, and you’re going straight to hell.”

“Babycakes, I eat pussy. I’m destined to go there.”

“Anyway!” Niamh looks back at me. “No, her lips were, in fact, sealed. But Jackson is outside watching the house.”

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