Lacey

I was thirteen years old when my parents split. I was also thirteen years old when I learned the harsh reality of life. Not everyone was going to love you. No, some people only existed to use and abuse you. My stepfather being the latter unfortunately. Something I would sadly learn very quickly. After my parents split it didn’t take long for them to re-marry. My mother stayed put in the one-horse town that I had grown up in and my father moved to the city where his business flourished, marrying into a wealthy family. I didn’t know much, if anything, about his new family as I had chosen to stay with my mother. I did know however, that I now had a stepbrother who was the same age as me. Which was kind of weird. I also had two new stepsisters from my mother’s recent marriage, they were both younger than me. They were twins whose mother had sadly passed away twelve months ago, cancer from what I could gather from the small snippets of conversation I had caught between my mother and stepfather. Both girls were small for their age, and they didn’t really talk much, I didn’t blame them really after what they had gone through. Their father was an alcoholic and my mother was currently unemployed so even though I was not much older than them I tried my hardest to help make sure that they were at least fed and clothed. Sometimes our parents forgot to make dinner, like a lot, or wash our school uniforms, so I learnt from a young age to be self sufficient and to help those less fortunate. Like my new step siblings. Not one to complain though, I made do with the hand that I was dealt and made sure I did everything in my power to help and protect the twins.

By the time I was sixteen I pleaded desperately with my absent father to let me live with him. Even though I had not seen him since my parent’s divorce, I would take a new stepbrother over my stepfather any day. If I had to live in this house a minute longer, I didn’t think I would survive. At this point in my life I wasn’t even living, I was barely surviving. In fear. Fear for my safety and sanity. There was no way I could stand another day living with the nightly, drunken visits of my stepfather or his buddy Jase. My incessant, desperate pleading is how I came to live with my father, his new family and become the new student starting at a fancy high school halfway through the year. My new stepbrother had thankfully been staying at his friends place the weekend I had arrived, so I had had ample time to process and settle into living in a mansion on the outskirts of the city. A far cry from the two-bedroom shit hole my mother called home. The place was like a freaking palace. No joke, it was set on several landscaped acres with a long, winding driveway lined with the most stunning flowering trees I had ever seen. My father had certainly done well for himself in the years since I had seen him last. It kind of stung that my step-brother lived here with my father, happy, safe and wanting for nothing in life while I had been through hell and back, living in absolute poverty. I desperately wanted to hate my father. Hate his new family. But I couldn’t. The decision had been mine to stay with my mother and shame had eaten away at me after the first time my new daddy dearest had put his hands on me. I felt dirty and ashamed for the obvious mistake I had made. The thought of my stepfather made my stomach lurch with disgust, the horrible memories trying to consume me. Eat me alive. Scolding myself for getting stuck in my own head I squared my shoulders as I stepped out of the limo that had been sent to collect me from the airport. My stepmother, Megan, was supposed to pick me up but apparently had a last-minute engagement that she could not miss. What a shame. Not the sarcasm. I was relieved once more to be let down. The chance to explore my fathers fancy new life alone seemed the best option available to me. Feeling like trailer trash already, I didn’t need an audience when I knew my jaw was going to be embarrassingly on the floor as I took in the opulence of their home. I would need time to put my mask of indifference on before meeting my new stepfamily.

Not going to lie, it still hurt that both my father and Megan were apparently far too busy to bother collecting me from the airport. Despite the initial letdown, I tried not to dwell on it as I was grateful that they had even agreed for me to come and live with them at all. Reluctantly leaving the relative safety of the limo I cautiously wandered up to the front steps of the grand house, marveling at its sheer size when suddenly the door opened, startling me and a well-dressed, elderly male stepped out. “Good afternoon, Miss Silverton” he said politely while motioning for me to come inside. Hastily taking my shoes off I replied “Please, call me Lacey”. “As you wish Miss Lacey. Mr and Mrs Silverton are still out on business and Master Fairchild isn’t due home until tomorrow. Afternoon tea is waiting for you in the kitchen and then I have been instructed to show you to your room so that you may unpack your belongings” At that he eyed the small backpack that I had slung over my shoulders with an arched eyebrow. “Umm, this is all I brought with me” I reply, a blush creeping over my face as I realise just how utterly pathetic my life must seem to others. I didn’t really have much in the way of possessions, I was not someone who needed to possess things to feel happy. Besides, there wasn’t much in my life to be happy about I thought sadly as I subtly check out my surroundings.

After devouring the lunch prepared for me by a personal chef, holy fuck I had been living with the wrong parent that shit was delicious, I was escorted up a flight of stairs and down a long hallway where I was shown to my room. As soon as I entered the bedroom my mouth went slack, this can’t be right. The room was bigger than my entire house. Maybe even twice as big. “If you need anything just dial 1 on the phone in your room” the butler who had welcomed me earlier said warmly as he gently closed the door behind me. Walking slowly around my new room I was awestruck by the canopy king sized bed in the middle that was tastefully adorned with silky pillows in all different shades of grey and blue, thankful that it wasn’t some gaudy pink or purple. It seemed my stepmother had taste at least. Being so used to sleeping on a single mattress on the floor with no sheets and a scratchy blanket I couldn’t help but run my fingers over the decadent bedding. I couldn’t imagine ever being able to afford such quality bedding nor could I wait to curl up in it. It felt like a soft cloud beneath my fingers and I suddenly wished it was bed time.

Spying the doors off to the left-hand side of the bed I decided to explore my room a little, trying to kill some time. Pulling open the first door I gasped in shock as it opened to reveal a large walk-in closet that was absolutely bursting with shoes and clothes. Hesitantly walking inside the closet, I ran my hands lightly over the hundreds of clothes hangers checking out the impressive colour coordination and shaking my head at the price tags that were still attached. Someone had been busy preparing for my arrival it would seem. It was all too much. No one had ever bothered to buy me clothes before let alone an entire collection that must have cost a small fortune. Feeling insecure at the thoughtfulness of whoever had supplied new clothing for me I hurried back out, tears streaming down my face as I closed the closet door behind me with the soft click echoing in the massive room. Slowly making my way to the second door, I inhaled sharply. Opening it with a slightly shaky hand revealed a bathroom that looked straight out of some fancy ass movie. Not only was it over the top extravagant, but it was huge. It seemed that I had my own toilet, bath, twin shower heads along with double sinks. Not that I would complain about being able to have my own privacy and a bathroom that had an actual lock on the door. No more people accidently walking in on me while I shower. I am of course being sarcastic; they were never accidents. Inching closer to the bath I realised that it is a spa bath, something I had only ever seen in movies and never actually experienced in my life. Feeling sorry for myself I press the button on the side of it and watch in wonder as it starts to fill with water instantly. Grabbing the expensive looking lavender bubble bath from the shelf I pour a generous amount in, instantly relaxing as the aroma mixes with the steam, instantly calming my tears. Hastily shedding my clothes, I step into the enormous tub and allow myself to slip beneath the luxurious bubbles, my tight muscles easing with every minute that passes.

Waking up in the bath sometime later I realise with a start that I must have fallen asleep as the water was now cold and my fingers wrinkly, the bubbles long gone. Grabbing a fluffy robe, I head back into my room and flop down onto the comfy bed. Searching through my meager possessions in my back pack I find my mobile phone and power it on, wondering if my mother has even missed me at all now that I was gone. Seconds later my phone lit up with text alerts, unlocking it I notice two missed calls from my best friend Dane and several messages from him. Not one from my mother, not that it should shock me really. She was never going to win a mother of the year award. No, they were reserved for mothers who gave a shit about their children. Sighing, I scroll through the texts.

Dane: Are you there yet babe

Dane: I miss you so much already

Dane: Love you xx

Dane: Come home

Me: I made it in one piece, love and miss you too Dane. You know why I can’t come home xx

Dane was the only one, apart from my stepfather and his buddy, who knew what was truly going on in my life. When I told him he understandably wanted to kill my stepfather. It took a lot to convince him to let the slimeball and what he had been doing to me go, that one day I would repay him for what he did to me myself. It was a promise that I intended to keep. It was only Dane’s love for me that he begrudgingly agreed. Dane and I had been best friends since we were ten years old. We had recently crossed the imaginary best friend line and become friends with benefits, it broke my heart to move so far away from him. My heart already ached with longing but I knew I had to be strong, I had to do this for me before I became nothing but an empty, abused shell. I made him swear that he wouldn’t wait for me, to find himself a girlfriend and be happy. Since I had known him, he had never dated. It kind of made me sad that I couldn’t be more for him. That my life was so fucked up that I had to leave the one and only person I trusted in this world. My phone pinged almost instantly with another message from Dane, making me feel guilty for not texting back as soon as I had arrived.

Dane: (dick pic)

Me: DANE!! I reply in mock horror

Dane: What?! I just wanted to remind you what you are missing babe *winky face

Letting my ridiculously soft and fluffy robe fall open I take a quick snap and send it to him, two can play at this game I laugh as I hit send. Within seconds Dane is face timing me. As soon as I answer he groans “Babe, you can’t do that to me. I am going to need to have a cold shower now”. “Serves you right Dane” I snicker in reply as I make a show of tying the sash on my robe so that I am fully covered once more. “Argh. You play dirty” he replies, taking a long drag of his cigarette. “I miss you so much Dane” I reply, openly checking him out. Dane is gorgeous. 6’2, tanned, tattooed, with the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen. Clearer than the ocean. His dark hair is clipped short making his strong jaw and nose more mouthwatering. Wait a second. What is that on his face. “Hold up Dane, is that a new tattoo above you left eyebrow” I ask, brining my phone closer to my face as if that will help me to see it better. “Ummmm yeah, I got it today” Dane says a little sheepishly as he scrubs his hand over the stubble on his jaw. “Well, aren’t you going to show me” I implore. Dane doesn’t say anything he just moves his face closer to the screen so that I can get a better look. “DANE” I squeal “Doe that say what I think it says” I ask in surprise because from here it sure as shit looks like he has my name tattooed on his face in some sort of fancy running writing! “Yep” he hastily replies, a cute blush creeping up his cheeks. “Why” I ask, shaking my head in absolute disbelief. “Because you are mine and I love you Lacey” he replies casually, like it is normal freaking thing to do. “Besides, don’t you have mine on your ass cheek” Dane continues with a huge grin on his face. And let me tell you, that grin makes my panties soaked. He is so beautiful it isn’t fair. “Only because you put it there when I was passed out. You asshole” I laugh. “I may be an asshole Lacey, but I am YOUR asshole. Always”. His words have a fuzzy feeling growing inside of me. God, I miss him so much. We have never been apart, and it feels like I am missing half of my soul. Suddenly feeling awkward at all the feelings swirling through me, I tell Dane that I have to go and hang up on him without waiting for goodbye. Mere moments later my phone buzzes in my hand.

Dane: Don’t be like that babe

Me: Like what? I reply, knowing fully well that I have just blown him and his feelings towards me off.

Dane: Never mind. Just remember that I love you Lacey and that I always will

Me: That’s the problem Dane, I can’t expect you to wait for me. I want you to find happiness with someone else. I don’t know when I will be back, if ever

Dane: Then I will work harder, save all my money and come to you Lacey xx

Gah, exasperating man. A selfish part of me loved how much Dane loved and wanted me but the rational part know that I couldn’t hold onto him, no matter how much I wanted to. And I did. Dearly. Sighing, I don’t bother replying to the latest message, so I toss my phone into the deep pile of pillows and then go in search of something to sleep in. I was in no mood to explore my new home on my own. Stepping into the walk-in robe once more I rifle through the draws until I find a silk nightie and matching panties. The feeling of the material was foreign against my skin but thoroughly welcomed. A girl could get used to such comforts. Climbing back onto the bed I pull out my crinkled photo of my stepsisters and myself, instantly regretting the decision as tears spill from my eyes once more. Today could get fucked, I have never cried so much as I have today. I would allow one day for self-pity and then I would put my mask back on and steel my heart. Turning on the side lamp I give myself permission to cry myself to sleep and pray that tomorrow will be a better day.