They quickly got in the car, Paige dropping Austin's shoes onto the passengers' seat as he climbed in. She started the car and drove as fast as she could to her mother's house; she took note of Derek's car parked on the other side of the road. Austin had opted to stay in the car, not wanting to cause any trouble and Paige understood. The blonde woman walked into her mother's house without knocking, she could hear arguing and followed it.
"Monica, come here." Derek's voice said in a soft voice, Paige entered the room to see Monica hiding in the corner of the room and her mother standing in front of her. What was going on? Paige thought. There was a struggle on her daughter's face, like she wanted to go to Derek but was afraid too.
"She is not going with you!" Her mother's voice growled out.
"Why not mother?" Paige asked, getting her mother's attention. She watched as the expression went from anger to a false sense of hurt.
"You need to break up with Derek. He is just going to tell you lies about me."
"Mum, what are you talking about? You picked him out for me, now you hate him?" Paige asked, raising an eyebrow towards her mother before she bent down and beckoned for Monica to come to her and the little girl came running towards her. She picked her up before passing her over to Derek. As she did, Monica's shirt raised and there was a new bruise. A frown formed on the blonde's lips, when the male had a good grip on her daughter she lifted up to see it better.
"Monica sweetie, how did you get this?" She asked in a soft voice, but was met with silence from her daughter who buried her head into Derek's neck. "Derek?"
"It wasn't by accident, ask your mother." Was his reply, his eyes glaring daggers into her mother.
"Take Monica to my car, she'll be fine in there, her father is in the car too." Paige said, giving a quick smirk to her mother as she turned to face her. Derek left with Monica while her mother stood there slack jawed. "Now mother, why does my daughter have a bruise upon her body?"
"She fell."
"How? And where?"
"She was bouncing on the couch." Her mother crossed her arms against her chest. Like she was trying to say challenge me.
"Then why was the bruise on the side of her, and her arm is perfectly okay? Mum, did you, or did you not inflect that bruise upon your own grandchild?" The dancer asked.
"I did not. And how can you let her near Austin! That filthy, addict that's all he will ever be."
"No, mum, don't bullshit me. Is that what you thought about dad?" Paige mused, waiting for her mother's answer.
Austin was sitting in the car; he could feel the drugs starting to wear off completely. If these were the jeans from last night, a small bag should be in it… but he couldn't… but the feeling and urge was growing with every second that the drug was starting its way out. At the bar, he had taken a few pills before Paige found him and it was wearing out, making him itch. He clenched his fist, unclenching them when he noticed a guy come out of the house towards the car, holding Monica. Austin just watched as he opened up the back door to help Monica in the car. His face looked familiar; almost like the bartender from last night… wait it was him. Did he call Paige to get him?
"Hey, I'm Derek; I'm one of Eliza's friends." He spoke to Austin, turning his head towards the blond with a small smile before turning his attention back to Monica as he finished getting her into her seat.
"I'm Austin." Was what he could manage to get out before scratching at his arm, hard.
"Austin… You're withdrawing; do you have any of what you take on you?" Derek asked, making Austin do a double take. Why would he ask that? And he now can't take it; Monica is in the car, now he defiantly can't. "For the safety of everyone when she drives you to the centre, take it. I don't want her to end up crashing."
"That won't happen. I can't take it; there is a kid in the car. No way. I want to get clean."
Derek took in a deep breath and let it out. "Trust me, you withdrawing like this is going to get worse and it's what? A half hour drive there, please, just so you can all arrive there safely. Because my sister was withdrawing like this while my mother took her to the centre, they didn't make it to the centre."
"H…How?"
"Some of the things her body did caused my mother to worry badly and they crashed because she tried to take care of her while she was driving. I don't want that to happen. I want you guys to be a good family. I can keep Monica distracted for a few minutes." He said before speaking to Monica, getting her attention and starting a hand game. Austin took a deep breath and pulled out the bag, there were a few pills. Popping them into his mouth he closed his eyes and swallowed them dry. Hoping the effects kick in quick enough. Minutes passed into half an hour before Paige came out, her mother on her tail.
"Screw you mother, I'm filing for a restraining order." Paige yelled to her mother as she opened up the driver's side. Austin sliding down on the seat, trying to hid himself.
"Good, while you're at it, file one for Derek too." Her mother shot back, glaring at Austin in the passenger's side and towards Derek who closed the door to the backseat.
"No, not against them, it's against you mother. You will never lay a hand on Monica ever again, nor will you ever speak to us again. You deserve to be alone, and when are you going to admit to yourself that Jake killed himself, he didn't die abusing. He died because he chose too." Paige said, slamming her door shut as she got in and started up the car. Paige gave a quick hello to Monica before driving away.
Note: I swear the next chapter is going to be better
