I opened the apartment door and walked in, locking the door behind me. It was only about 10:15, but my curfew was of course the unreasonable time of ten. My step-dad stood up from the couch.
"Where the hell have you been?" He grunted at me.
"I was just at Isabel's," I put my bag down, "The subway broke down and I had to wait twenty minutes for them to fix it,"
He stood up and walked closer to me, "Then why didn't you call?"
"You know how cell reception is underground." I tried to get him to calm down. I was only fifteen minutes late, that's better than my usual forty-five minutes to an hour late.
"Gabriella look at me when I'm talking to you!", Brian's hand slapped across my face one more time, pushing me back. His face was red and his dark brown eyes filled with utter hate. He yelled more words at me and pushed me into the dining table.
"Gabriella, your mother and I are so fucking done with your sneaking around and bitching!" He punched me again, starting a nose bleed.
"Jesus Christ Brian! You knew where I was and Mom did to! If anyone is fucking done it me!" I stood up and made my way up to my room. Finally letting my tears out, I collapsed onto my bed. Any minute now he would come back up and hit me some more. Even though I'm used to it, my step-dad's abuse still hurts more and more each time. What makes it worse is that my mother doesn't even know about it. I can't be the one to break her heart and tell her about what Brian does. Especially now that my little brother was born.
After about an hour of listening to music and hiding from the world in my room there was a knock at my door.
"H-Hello?" I stuttered.
"Bri?" My mom, Julia, opened the door and sat on my bed next to me, "Brian and I have been thinking, why don't you stay with your Dad and your sister for your junior year? We're going to be busy with the baby and I don't want you to feel ignored."
Mom, so naive to everything that is going on in this house, "I think that be a good idea," I said, "I haven't seen them for two years and I miss them,"
"Well that's great," Julia smiled, "It's not like you had much of a choice anyway. I already called him."
She told me that I'd be leaving next week, and starting school in Albuquerque in two.
I started to pack right away. I didn't want to pack everything, but I could've needed everything. I threw all my books and notebooks and makeup and clothes into moving boxes and brought them downstairs. One by one they piled up in the corner of our living room. There were so many I helped Cole, my brother, make a little fort out of it.
My last week in New York was the most peaceful week I've ever had there. Brian was away in Boston for business and Mom had to work so it was just Cole and I. I really love my younger brother, it's just a shame he has to be half Brian's. Cole didn't look like him at all, where Brian's short black hair was is Julia's beautiful, blonde curly hair. He had my Mom's dimples and smile to, but he did have Brian dark eyes.
I feel really bad for Cole though. He'd have to grow up with Brian no matter what. Even if they get divorced he'd have to see him weekends or summer vacations like I did. But I could escape from Brian's tormenting. I can live with my Dad for an extra year and then never have to see my step dad. But Cole wouldn't have that choice ever.
When my Mom would come home she would stay with Cole and then I could go out. My mom didn't care much about my curfew, so she raised it to midnight, not that I would stay out in the city that late.
The day before I left I had lunch with my best friends Isabel and Eric at our favorite diner.
"I really can't believe you're leaving Bri," Isabel sipped her coffee, "Who will do my homework now?"
"Hmm, how about you? It's your junior year Bel, you have to take things more seriously," Eric said to her laughing. In return he got an 'I'll try' and a kiss on the cheek.
"Can you please save the PDA until after I finish?" I groaned. Even though they've been dating for about a year, I would never get over it.
"Oh just wait until all those New Mexico guys get a load of you. Innocent, sweet, and virgin you." Isabel giggled into her mug.
"It's not my fault I don't want to bang every guy in Manhattan," I defended hopelessly. Isabel was right and we all knew it. The farthest I've ever gone with a guy spin the bottle in the eighth grade with Teddy Carmichael, which wasn't exactly something to brag about.
"Well I'm just saying they will be all over you. And besides I don't want to bang every guy, I'm taken," She kissed Eric again.
Eric was nice enough to pay for all of us, which is something he never does. We walked around to find something to do. Isabel had the idea of going to Times Square and laugh at all the tourists. We told them the wrong directions and addresses to "restaurants" (strip clubs).
I'm going to miss my friends when I leave. They're always there for me and are my favorite people. They take my mind off of things like Brian.
They walked me down to the subway and we said our goodbyes. I promised to call when I got there. I was walking away when Eric called me back over. "One last picture before you go?"
We all smiled and he took the picture. I am really going to miss them.
-Oh God I know this story is kinda sucky. But hey, it's my first one! I'll update soon! xx
-AnnaliseCait
