Sorry about the last chapter, it'll get better soon.. ish. I wrote this chapter then when I read over it, I didn't remember writing half of it. Ooops.
Maura opened her eyes slowly as a beam of sunlight shot through the slight crack in the curtains. She pushed herself upright and leaned her back against the small table beside the water bed that she was supposed to sleep on. She must have cried herself to sleep there on the floor the previous night.
Then it all came flooding back to her.
They had left the house in Boston.
Her father and Nate had dragged her to the middle of nowhere to live in what could only be described as a shack where the cuisine was stale bread and the beds were inflatable.
He was going to pull her out of the only school she had come close to liking, where her life was bearable.
And she had had to leave behind the only person she had ever truly fallen in love with.
Oh God, Jane..
Maura dug around in her bag and grabbed her mobile, frantically dialling Jane's number. It was only 8 o'clock, she wouldn't be at school yet. She closed her eyes and prayed for an answer.
'Hello?'
'Jane, it's me..'
'Maura, hey. Where have you been?'
'Jane.. I..' Maura found her vocal chords closing up and tears threatened to spill from her eyes.
'Maura? Sweetie, what's wrong? Is everything okay?'
'No.. Jane, nothing's okay.. I.. My Dad..'
'What about him? God, he's not..?'
'He's not dead. He.. He got in trouble.. He woke me up.. Got me out of the house..'
'What? Well, where are you?'
'Staying with one of his friends. Jane, I.. He says I'm not allowed to come back..'
There was a pause before Jane replied. 'You're leaving?'
'We've left. We're gone. He said he couldn't talk to you but I had to say goodbye-'
'Goodbye?' Jane spluttered. 'But I just found you.. We just.. I..'
'I know.'
'You said you loved me.'
Maura's heart dropped into her stomach. 'I do, Jane. You know I do.'
'Then let me come and get you. I'll come pick you up. Just tell me where you are.'
'I can't, Jane. He says it's for my benefit. I could be a target and so could you be if they find out.'
'Well, then we'll go away. We'll skip town, get a place of our own, get jobs, go to college. We'll make a life for ourselves, Maura, just like you always wanted.'
'Dad said-'
'I don't give a damn what he said. It's your life, not his. Forget about what your dad wants. What do you want?'
Maura swallowed. 'I want you, Jane. I want everything that you've just mentioned. And as much as I wish I could have all of that, I can't. I'm sorry-'
'Yeah, I bet you are.' Jane growled down the phone. 'Guess this is goodbye then. Call me if you change your mind. Have a nice life, Maura. Bye.'
'Jane, no!'
But she had already hung up. Maura sighed and sat down onto the water bed, steadying herself. She knew she had completely messed that up. Out of frustration, she picked up the book on the floor and, using all her force, flung it at the wall opposite her. She rested her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands, trying desperately not to cry.
'Maura?'
'Dad, this really isn't a good time...'
'I want to talk to you, kiddo.' Paddy crouched beside her. 'You remember Nathan's boy, Jack?'
Maura nodded. She did remember Jack and she prayed the conversation wouldn't take the turn that she feared.
'He's coming round tomorrow morning.'
'And?'
'Well.. You must know he likes you.'
She shuddered. The guy was creepier than his father. 'I'm not interested.'
'He's a good boy. A good earner, too. And I know he'd be able to protect you.'
'Come on Dad, he's in his thirties!'
'And?'
'I'm not even 18 yet.'
'Your mother and I were married at 18, not to mention-'
'If you even suggest babies, I'm leaving.'
Paddy smiled and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. 'You're a good girl, Maura. I could scour the earth and not find anyone who's good enough for you.'
Maura's stomach turned at that thought. She definitely knew of one...
'Maybe you're a bit young for all that yet though. Hey, where do you suggest we head to when we get out of here?'
'I just want to go home, Dad. I want to go back to where we were.'
His smile faded. 'God, can you just drop it? I'm trying to make you happy here.'
Maura sighed. 'Then why won't you listen to me? It's my life.'
'Oh come on, what do you know about life at your age?'
'More than enough actually. More than most teenagers.' Maura was on her feet now. 'I know what I want from life, Dad. I've tried so many times to tell you but you just don't listen. I want to go to college and medical school. I want to be a doctor. I want a family but with someone I love. So if you want me to be happy, please just listen...'
Paddy, to his credit, had listened silently and patiently through the whole rant, but now he stood up and looked intently at his daughter.
'Good luck with that, kid.'
What do you all think? Let me know :)
