Letters
Alexis got onto the bus for the first time in nearly two months. Alexis was shocked when Jerry held up part of the deal. He agreed to let her go to school and let her grow her hair out but the whole eating thing was still a little bit much. She still only got her single piece of dry toast. However, now that Alexis was allowed certain privileges she also lost some. She was only allowed to wear long sleeved turtlenecks to school to cover up her extreme weight loss.
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Once on the bus Laura passed Alexis a piece of paper.
"AJ told me to give this to you," Laura said.
"Oh great," Alexis said opening the piece of paper.
Lexi,
First off, I know that I deserve asshole of the decade award for what I did last night but if you were in my shoes you would do the exact same thing. This was the only way that I could keep you safe. Yesterday was completely fake. This way I can still talk to you and make sure that nothing bad is happening to you. I love you to death Lexi, can I have my baby back?
AJ
"And just what I am supposed to say to that?" Alexis asked looking at the letter.
Laura shrugged. "If you want to you can write him something and I can give it to Petey to give to AJ."
Alexis closed her eyes and put her head back against the seat. She groaned, opened up her binder and found a pen.
AJ
You can try asshole of the century. I can't believe that you would pull a stunt like that. What if Jerry didn't wanna talk? What if Jerry had just phoned the police? What if Jeff was over? And what in God's name took to goddamned long? Why did you quit talking to everyone?
Lexi
"Here ya go," Alexis said handing it to Laura.
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"Delivery service," Laura said giving another letter to Alexis.
Well I was expecting a little bit more than that but I guess you're right. You deserve answers. I'll start with one of the more obvious questions. I quit talking to Petey and Laura because I couldn't stand the stories that they were telling me. It was like something out of a horror movie. I could only listen to it for so long and then I couldn't take it anymore, not while there was nothing I could do about it. The reason that I didn't come sooner? Well truthfully, I couldn't even sit up in the condition that I was in. Any more questions?
"Why did you let me be such a bitch?" Alexis asked Laura.
"You had to get it out sooner or later," Laura said to her. "If you didn't it would always be in the back of your mind. But look at it this way, now you have your answers.
AJ,
Alright, my bad on that. Sorry for being a bitch but I really missed you. I thought that you had had enough and that you just gave up. You don't know how many nights I cried myself to sleep to that theory. By the way, I take full responsibility for what my cousin and uncle did to you and I feel horrible. I love you so much and I hope that you know it.
Lexi
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Lex,
Don't you ever say sorry again for something that wasn't even your fault. What happened between your uncle, cousin and me was my own oversight. I knew that risks that I was taking when I first kissed you that day in the bathroom. I told you that I didn't care if your uncle found out and I paid the price for not being cautious enough. On the contrary, how's life outside of the detention center?
AJ
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AJ,
Life's a lot better now that I can hear from you. School's alright. A lot of people stare though because they think that I'm anorexic. I don't get excited about work any more either. I don't get to go anywhere but straight to school and straight home. I swear that if Jerry didn't work he'd drive us to school and back everyday. I have to get going though we're almost at our stop. I love you, miss you, and want to see you.
Lexi
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AJ,
I know that I just wrote to you yesterday but I had to write again. I'm sitting in my bedroom freezing. I don't know how much longer I can go on like this. Jerry's starting to think of new punishments. Like today I told him that the day I turn eighteen I'm out of here and I'm leaving with you. He tied me up and put me in a freezer. We have to get out of here soon. I'm not sure how much longer you can go on like this either. You don't say it because you want to be strong but I know that you're scared. You're constantly looking over your shoulder to make sure that Jeff's not there. I'm really worried about you.
Lexi
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Alexis,
I really don't know what you want me to tell you. I would love to say that everything's alright, but it's not. There's only so much that I can do when you're so far away from me. I would love to come over there and kick the shit out of Jerry again but that would only make your situation worse. Think about it baby, one month left. And I think that it'd be smart if you didn't mention my name to Jerry. As for the whole freezer incident, Jerry'll get what's coming to him.
AJ
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AJ,
I'm so scared. Jerry's starting to drink heavily. He stares at me all the time and he's becoming exceedingly violent. I've come to the conclusion that neither of us can live like that his anymore. So, if you're willing, this is what we're gonna do…
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