Chapter 1
Chapter 1
{Three years ago}
I ran through the woods trying to escape my abusive boyfriend, Treavor Williams.
“Come on out, Babe. I won’t bite, can’t say the same for Max though.” He said chuckling to himself. The wooden bat he had in his right hand dragged on the forest floor. I hid behind a bush and spied on him through the leaves. I hunkered down as low as I could, as if he could smell me.
“Come on, Charlotte! Me and Max just want to have some fun! Come out now, and we won’t hurt you too bad.”
I shifted, but by mistake broke a twig. With the snap, Trevor whirled around to face me with an evil smile of intent on his face. I cursed myself for my mistake, but was frozen in fear.
“Come out. Come out. Wherever you are.” The sound of his steps, and the bat dragging on the forest floor got louder as he came closer.
I stayed silent and prayed for my life. ‘Please, Please, don’t let him find me’ I prayed silently.
The bush’s limbs were pushed back as my boyfriend appeared before me.
“Found, ya.” He said getting in my face. I could smell drugs and alcohol on his breath.
“P-please.” I begged, backing away.
“P-please!” He mocked.
He didn’t even blink before he hit me in the ribs with the wooden bat.
“How do ya like that!” He screamed at me. “That will teach ya not to run away.” I doubled over, tears pricking my eyes from the pain. I cried out when he yanked me by my blond hair brought my face to his. He forced me to kiss him. He moved his lips sloppily drunk. I tried to push away but he yanked my hair harder and shoved me harder into the kiss. After a few minutes he broke the kiss and looked at me with mischief in his eyes. “I don’t know if I’m going to let Max have you tonight. I think I want you all to myself.”
I was crying as I fell down on my knees. “Please!” I sobbed bunching up the fabric of his jeans in my hands. “Trevor your drunk, you don’t want to do these things, you’re not in your right mind. Let me take care of you and get you sobered up.” I Said tears running down my flushed face.
Trevor looked at me with no sympathy of any kind. “You know I love it when you beg, Charlotte.” He said running his long fingers through my hair and then gripped it hard, he yanked it roughly and I was sure it would fall out.
“Come on, we’re going back to the house.” He yelled in my face. I didn’t want to go there. I struggled to get out of his fierce hold. The house that I once loved, and thought I would most likely get married in, had now been turned into a crack head hang out. It smelled of drugs, alcohol, vomit and urine. It also was the last place I wanted to be right now.
I knew Max was there waiting, and as soon as Trevor dragged me inside the wooden threshold, I couldn’t escape their wrath. Trevor had enough of my struggling after a few minutes of me thrashing around screaming, and punched me in the face breaking my nose. Blood poured down my shirt. Trevor then dragged me all the way to the house, by the hair of my head and beat me whenever I struggled, which was every so often. I just wanted to disappear. Max was standing along in the doorway of the house, his girlfriend, Abagail by him, when we arrived. She was just like Trevor and Max but the female slut version.
“What took you so long.” Max asked licking his lips when he saw me. I honestly wanted to vomit.
“She resisted, I got caught up in putting her in her place.” Trevor smiled down at me and placed another forced kiss on me. This time I bit him hard when he tried to stick that fat tongue of his down my throat. “Ow!” he seethed as blood was all over his lip. “You little-!” He took the bat and didn’t think twice before slamming it into my face. I blacked out for a few hours and when I woke up I had bruises all over my body and my clothes were stripped and thrown on the floor around the queen size bed. I didn’t even want to think about what they did when I was knocked out.
Looking around I noticed some pills on the small night stand that had been crushed up. I read the label and noticed that it was pain medication. Taking a closer look I also noticed the room had vomit on the floor in the right corner and smelled like someone didn’t make it to the restroom. The bedding was covered in blood probably from my broken nose and cuts I got from being beaten into the forest floor.
I slipped out of the bed onto the cold floor. Trevor’s clothes were on the floor along with Max’s who’s ripped skinny jeans just keep getting more ripped. I looked over to find Abagail's bra and threw it. I took in the state of the room and sighed, I knew Treavor would expect it all to be cleaned up by the time he got home.
I decided to get dressed for work. I knew I wouldn’t be able to get it all cleaned, although I also know that Trevor only cares about himself. As long as he got the money he needed for the drugs he wanted, he would be somewhat pleased. Treavor and Max were probably at the local pub. I looked in the mirror to see the bruise where the bat hit. It was huge and swollen, I probably had a concussion, but was unable to go to the hospital because it would draw suspicion. I grabbed my concealer and my foundation and layered it on my face and arms, making it where you couldn’t see the intense bruising. I didn’t need people asking questions and making my life harder than it already was.
I soon left the house and was glad to get out of the stuffy environment. I could finally breath in the fresh air that the woods around our home offered. I walked down the small two lane road that really should be one lane and was in desperate need of an update.
Cars aren’t as small as they used to be and have developed bigger motors as time passed on and the once two lane road, now was actually just a one lane, that was called a two lane because that’s what the older people referred to it as. Of course Trevor and I didn’t have a car, I couldn’t afford it I was already paying all the house notes and bills by myself. Trever and I walk everywhere — well I should say I walk everywhere. Treavor, rides in Max’s truck along with Abagail.
They only have one destination anyway, the pub. I worked down the road at a small restaurant called Mamma Edith’s Home Cooking. River Brooke, our town, is a small town of three-thousand. Everyone knows each other here, or they think they do. We’re in a very secluded area deep in the forest, and don’t get any visitors unless they’re family. There are about twenty shops in town and none of them are very big and mostly restaurants, and markets, and the small strip mall that barely sells anything.
There are three school’s. Elementary, middle, and high school, and they’re all separate buildings that are located in the middle of town by the hundred year old, church everyone attends. There are about five-hundred kids altogether in town, though only two hundred of them are high schoolers, not to mention almost everyone is homeschooled. Which is agitating to know they could be making more friends by attending actual schools. Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against home schooling, It's just most of the people at school are jerks. I walked until I reached my destination. It was hot outside and I was grateful that I put on deodorant today.
“Hey, Charlotte, could you get table three please?” Bella asked. I picked up the sticky pad that was used for taking orders, and walked over to the table. "May, I take your order."
“Two waters and two plates of the house salad please.” A man said. I looked up when the man’s eyes lit up. “Your, Charlotte right?” He asked.
“Yeah, what’s it to you?” I answered. I know it sounded rude, but I knew what he was going to say next.
“We go to the same high school. You the one dating Trevor Williams right?” I wanted to vomit at my boyfriends name but I reminded myself I had to keep up the happy girlfriend act. People always did this. Trevor, always gets everyone’s attention because he’s popular or so people around here think, but to me he’s a popular pain in the butt.
“That’s me.” I answered yet again.
“Cool, could you ask him if he wants to come to a party next weekend? You can come to if you want.” He said. This is what I thought he’d ask. Trevor gets all the attention while I’m left in the dirt.
“I’ll let him know.” I said giving him the fakest smile I could muster without feeling sore from where the bat hit. I soon was on my way to taking more order’s and collecting dirty dishes like I do every shift, while letting my mind wander.
The only reason I stay with Treavor, or don’t kill myself is because I believe he could change if he got off drugs. He was so gentle before but now he is a monster. All the times we cuddled on the couch, made fun our teacher’s mustache, and walked down the hall holding hands, seemed like a distant memory of what Trevor used to be. Now Trevor beats me brings druggys around the house and let’s almost anyone have me if they ask.
I finished up my Saturday shift and decided to head home. I knew what waited for me there but maybe if I hide Trevor won’t find me, or even better what if Treavor is too drunk off his ass to make it home.
As I walked down the two way street I got a text from Bella about tomorrow nights shift.
Bella:
Hey, I’m sorry but tomorrow night I can’t do my shift. I want you to know you will be alone with Ben at the restaurant. I looked at the chart and your the only waitress on duty. Again I’m really sorry, my little brother is sick, and my mom has day and night shift at the hospital.
Me:
It’s fine. I was looking to make a few extra bucks anyway.
Bella:
Your Awesome, Charlotte don’t let anyone tell you different. Bye
Me:
Bye.
I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going, because I was looking at my phone when I ran into a man. I was going to fall onto the concrete, before he caught me and helped me balance myself out.
“S-sorry,” I stuttered. “I glanced at my phone and wasn’t paying attention.” I rambled, before looking up into the most striking blue eyes I had ever seen. The man had dark brown curly hair, with striking ice blue eyes. His face was chiseled to perfection and he had a soft nose. My eyes raked down his face until I they met his full, pink lips that looked softer than, Trevor’s chapped alcoholic lips.
“I’m Damean, by the way.” He said rubbing his neck nervously and outstretching a hand. he had a thick English accent and was clearly not from around here.
“Charlotte.” I said shaking his hand firmly. “Thank you, for not letting me fall. Even though I ran into you.”
“It’s fine. You don’t have to thank me. I should have been looking where I was going as well.” He answered.
I really didn’t want to go home and I felt the need to thank him so maybe, he would like to eat with me, I thought to myself. “Actually I was just going to grab a bite to eat. would you like to accompany me? I want to thank you for your kindness so, my tab.”
“Are you asking me out on a date with you, Charlotte?” Damean asked.
“It can be whatever you want, good sir. I am simply getting some food.” I said playing it off. I thought Damean was really handsome but I still cared for Trevor. Even if Trevor didn’t care for me. I wasn’t ready to let go just yet.
“I would love to go to dinner with you.” He said pulling me out of my thoughts.
I smiled. “Let’s go then.”
We soon reached Cassy and Liam’s Diner where we got a table. The waiter brought out our drinks and took our orders and made his way to us.
“So, tell me something about yourself, Damean?” “I have an older brother. We’re not really close, in fact we don’t get along at all. The reason I’m in town is because I need to talk to him. I honestly don’t know how long I’m staying?”
“I don’t have any siblings. I was adopted. When I was younger I just read to myself for company.” I said taking a sip of my drink.
“I know how you feel. I spent most of my time by myself when I was young. Like I said, I didn’t get along with my brother, still don’t.” He looked sad and his eyes were glassed over. I put my hand on top of his to comfort him.
“Hey, if your lonely, you can always talk to me. I know we just met, but my Aunt Clare always did say “the best person you can talk to is someone who doesn’t know you. They can’t truly judge.” she would say while she waved her hands around dramatically.” I said doing an impression of her waving her hands around. Damean laughed at my impression. His laugh was like music, beautiful.
The waiter came with our food and I payed as well. The waiter soon left to go back to work. After eating, I was going to leave when Damean stopped me.
“Wait, I know this may sound silly, but I really like talking to you today. Can I have your number?” He asked.
“Sure, it’s not silly, though I really enjoy spending time with you too.” I took out my phone and we swapped numbers.
“See you soon, bye.” I said leaving.
“Bye, Charlotte.” He called back, making me smile.
To be continued.....
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How to Pronounce...
Dame-e-an
Didn’t want to confuse you guys.
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