Chapter 24

24

I was a total chicken shit! I'd circled the parking lot of my apartment building twice to check for my mother's car before I parked. It was Sunday. Valentine had to work so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to run back to my place, grab a few more things, and talk to Hayden about moving out. Part of my plan changed when I didn't see Hayden's car. I'd have to call him and ask to meet somewhere. Which was probably the safer thing to do if my mother was coming to the apartment. The less time I spent there the better.

I knew I needed to deal with my mother but I had important things to see to with Valentine, and moving, and work. However, I'd come to some realizations about her and our relationship and I needed to talk that out with her. I just didn't want to do that today or tomorrow. Maybe sometime next week and she should know that. I needed to stop being childish and unblock my mom and send her a text. I was being unfair. Before I could enforce the new boundaries of our relationship she at least needed to know what those were. Then if she overstepped or didn't respect them and I limited communication she'd know why.

Those were my thoughts as I was gathering stuff out of the bathroom. However, by the time I was folding jeans into a suitcase I'd talked myself out of unblocking my mother. I didn't want anything negative screwing with my happiness. I'd text her after I was moved in and settled. Hayden was today's priority.

I didn't have a single concern about his reaction to me moving in with Valentine. Our lease was up in three months, I'd continue to pay my half of the bills, and he'd be free to do his own thing. I would never tell this to Hayden, because I knew he loved me and it would piss him off, but there were times when I'd felt guilty for holding him back. I knew he stayed my roommate so I didn't live alone. I knew he stayed even though he had the means to buy a house and start building his future. I knew there'd been times he'd canceled plans to stay home and binge shit TV so I wouldn't be sitting home on a Saturday night by myself like a loser. Beyond all of that I knew he'd be happy for me.

And that was what I needed—my best friend's excitement and encouragement, not my mother's misgivings.

Happiness.

I was finally happy. Truly happy with every part of my life and I wasn't allowing anyone to steal my joy .

So, I'd deal with my mother later—much later.

I shoved the last of what I needed in my suitcase. The rest would wait until after I talked to Hayden—it would be totally uncool for him to come home and see my room cleaned before I had a chance to tell him.

As I zipped up the case there was a knock at the door.

My insides immediately twisted.

Shit on a shingle . I should've waited, told Hayden what was happening, then begged him to pack my stuff and move it to Valentine's for me. Or better yet asked Valentine to do it. I loved my BFF but I didn't want him packing my undies.

Another knock came, this one louder.

Just in case it wasn't my mother, I tiptoed out of my room, down the hall, and as quietly as I could, made my way to the door. I chanced a look through the peephole. Not my mother. Worse.

It was Khloe.

I debated not answering. When she knocked again, she was staring at the peephole like she could see me.

Creepy!

Whatever, I could handle Khloe. I'd tell her Hayden wasn't here and she'd leave.

Easy-peasy.

I opened the door prepared to do that, when she stepped right in, forcing me to stand back or get run over.

Blueberry muffins were immediately forgotten and I was back to thinking she was a total cow.

"God, it's like you don't even live here," she seethed as she walked past me.

Um. What?

I closed the door and followed her into the apartment.

"Hayden's not here," I informed her.

For some reason I took in her appearance. Maybe because she looked so very different from all the other times I'd seen her with her hair and makeup perfect, cute outfit, and sandaled feet. Today her hair was in a messy ponytail, and she wore jeans, a t-shirt, sneakers, no makeup.

"I'm not here for Hayden."

Maybe that's why she wasn't dressed to impress.

Oh, shit, did he break up with her?

Yippy!

"I see that makes you happy," she snapped.

I guess I hadn't covered my elation at the thought my friend kicked her to the curb well enough.

"Khloe, you and Hayden aren't my business. I was simply telling you he's not here and if you're not here for him then why are you here?"

"We need to talk."

Oh, no, we didn't.

"We don't have anything to talk about. I told you, you and Hayden aren't my business."

"You just couldn't make this easy, could you?" she fumed.

I didn't understand the fury behind her statement and I didn't have time to contemplate the pure hatred she had for me before she attacked.

I landed on my back, Khloe on top of me, pain licking up my back and hip. One second I was blinking in confusion the next instinct took over and I clawed at her neck and face while lifting my hips to buck her off. Her hand fisted my hair at my forehead my scalp screamed in pain then my head slammed onto the floor. I bucked again, twisted, grabbed at her clothes, arms, any place I could reach to get her off me. With her full body weight she pinned me, struggling underneath her. I finally got my hand wrapped around her ponytail and got ready to introduce her to the agony of a scalping. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to rip her hair out by the roots. I felt something stab me in the neck. I let go of her hair to cover my neck.

My hand didn't make it before it felt too heavy to lift and dropped to the floor beside me.

"Stupid bitch," Khloe grumbled. "I tried to do this the easy way."

She rolled off me. My brain screamed at me to move, to yell for help, to crawl into my room and get my phone. Nothing worked. I was numb. Awake but unable to get my body to do what I wanted.

"Be back."

I saw her stand but as soon as she moved I lost sight of her.

Think, Sophie.

Move .

Move.

Move .

I willed and begged my legs to get with the program.

Move, dammit .

I didn't move. What I did do was feel terror.

So much of it, I was having a hard time breathing.

Fear so immense my vision blurred.

"Good. You didn't move." I heard Khloe laugh.

Suddenly I was jostled, moved, lifted, and finally plopped upright. Throughout all of this Khloe huffed and puffed and bitched. During which I did not move.

My head lulled forward and I saw the small front wheels of a wheelchair. Khloe came into view when she shoved the footrest down and placed my foot on it.

Kick her in the face, Sophie!

I didn't kick her. I sat motionless. Neither did I move when she repeated the process with my other leg.

I didn't do the first damn thing to help myself as Khloe wheeled me out of the apartment.

If I hadn't been scared out of my brain I would've felt bad for Hayden, he was going to blame himself for this. I would've been thinking about how I should've called my mother; now our last words to each other were angry and not nice.

But I wasn't scared enough to know I had one regret—I didn't get a chance to tell Valentine I loved him.