Ch. 3- Not your mate, Nate
I stare blankly at my phone screen. I had a numerous amount of missed calls, texts and without even reading them, I could even guess what they said and who had sent them. And as I could guess what they were, I chose not to look at them. Or at least I tried.
Megan and I were sleeping in her room, actually she was asleep and I was tossing and turning since we laid down.
It was nearly 3AM when a new text woke me up, -If you don't come home by morning I'm calling the police. Shit. This has gone too far. I'll have to face him, and It had to be done soon.
Tired of trying to get some sleep and failing badly, I decided to go to the kitchen and pour myself a glass of water. I knew the house like the back of my hand, so I silently made my way.
Everything had changed so much, the only thing that remained the same was the kitchen and Drake and Josh's room. It was like time travelling. Their parents decided to keep their bedroom as it used to be cause of the memories it held. And as I was climbing my way upstairs, I had an idea.
I reached the doorknob and twisted it, and just the sight of the room was calming. It was like time had never passed. I looked at Drake's bed, and a rush of coziness and sleep came over me. Thinking about if for one second, I hesitated.
But before I could even stop myself I climbed all the way up the little stairs and submerged in that tiny spot of the past.
The mattress was dreamy and the sheets smelled like him. I tried to shake these thoughts away, since I had to be at my place by the morning.
But at least I didn't feel so lonely.
And as soon as I closed my eyes, I fell asleep, like it was the easiest thing in the world.
I woke up and I felt the light weight of the covers around my head, the soft woody perfume filled my lungs and I felt at ease.
'Mmm I love this bed' I mumbled, shuffling my legs a little and stirring.
I wonder what time is it? I feel so rested. Reluctantly I lift up my arm and jump at the sight of my watch.
ELEVEN FORTY-FIVE?
I'm so dead. AND ASHAMED. Megan would know I spent the night here, oh well, I have bigger fish to fry right now. Oh man.
I grabbed my bra and the pile of clothes I had left on the floor and rushed to the door.
I stumbled upon every step on the stairs hastily and just as I was about to reach the front door I heard Megan talk.
-Did you sleep well? Oh I could see the mockery in her expression.
-Not the time for questions, I'm meeting Nate, and being late actually. I'll Text you when I'm done okay? I didn't even look at her.
-Sure sis, be safe. I heard her mocking voice behind me and looked at her.
-I can handle myself don't worry. I smiled and left.
I can do it.
I can face Nate. Oh what am I even gonna say?
'I'm sorry I disappeared for a whole day I just cheated on you and didn't know how to deal with it'
Okay Wendy, you're smart. You can think about a way to get out of this.
And then it hit me, get out of what? What am I trying to escape? This unhealthy relationship has come to a point where I see it more as a burden than as a gift.
I was so lost in thought I didn't notice I was standing in front of my very own door. This is it. I grabbed my keys and opened the door.
Nate was sitting in his chair, his back turned to me. I could see that all of the muscles were tightened. And when he turned around I saw his clenched jaw and bloodshot eyes.
-Where were you Wendy? - His voice was shaky and broke in the middle of the sentence. -Why did you leave me? He started walking towards me slowly.
The sight was painful, and unbearable at the same time, the man in front of me had been my partner in crime for a long time, and things had been going downhill. For one split second, I forgot all the pain, I forgot all the promises he had made, and I saw the Nate I fell in love with. I gulped down and ran towards him hugging him. -Nate I'm sorry- I said in a sweet voice, not noticing I started crying.
-GET OFF ME!- he roared and it echoed in every corner of my head.
And just like that, that ephemeral glimpse of light, disappeared. Vanished in front of my eyes like an optical illusion and I was met with a raging stare, and clenching fists. That might have been the last time I had seen good in him. I nervously took a step back and he started coming forward. I felt myself grow agitated and an alarm went off in my head, I was in real danger.
-Do you think I'm stupid? Do you think I don't see things? That I don't see the face you make when I'm around? That I wouldn't notice you were disgusted of me? Did you think I wouldn't notice the minute you would RUSH to screw some other guy you DUMB SLUT?
With every question he asked he stepped a little closer to me while pointing.
-Nate, please don't, I love yo-
-YOU DON'T!- he yelled and I felt his hand collide with my cheek with an unimaginable force. I was in shock and I wasn't processing what had just happened. I placed my hand above where he had beaten me and tried to fight back but as soon as I made a move he took a hold of me and threw me to the floor. I felt a big crunch and a throbbing pain and I cried as loud as I could. Normally I would have beaten his ass but I couldn't, not with a broken arm. So I aimed for his groin with my foot before he could do any greater damage and ran downstairs. I couldn't spare any minute, who knows what he was able of doing if he catched me.
I saw a cab and I ran inside as fast as I could. I told the driver Megan's address and felt as my heart and head were giving up on me. I noticed how saturated the colors around me felt, and I knew I was going to faint soon. I felt the familiar buzzing in my ears, and soon I felt like I was going to throw up. My chest rose and fell violently, this is it. I thought to myself and everything turned black.
-She fainted in the back of my cab- I heard some man's voice
Someone is fanning me, I try to open my eyes and I'm in a gortney, everything moves fast and I close my eyes.
-Wendy can you hear me? I heard an unfamiliar voice and I mumbled.
-Vitals are normal, BP is 80 over 70 pulse is 65. She seems to be coming back.
-Where am I? -I asked and this time I heard a unfamiliar voice again. -You're at the hospital Wendy, it's okay we're going to take good care of you.
-My arm hurts- I said and then I was gone again.
A beeping noise made my eyes open up a little, just to realise that I couldn't recognize the room I'm In. I try to move my left arm but it's fixed. I try to move my right arm but something warm is holding it.
I turn to my right and he shifts quickly.
-Hey there- I see Drake offering me a small smile.
-What am I doing here? What are you doing here? - I managed to whisper.
Drake chuckled a little bit and caressed the back of my hand. You, you fainted in the back of a cab. You don't remember?
And then it all comes back to me, his looks his words, the pain, the fear, and the overall panic. And I start crying.
-Heyyy, come on, you're safe now, what's wrong? He looked preoccupied. His voice coming off really calming.
-I went to...dump my boyfriend and...he...he. Oh fuck it. -I started bawling again.
-He did this to you?- he asked dead seriously.
I couldn't usher any words out so I kept crying. Drake just came closer with his chair and tightened his grasp on my hand.
-It's okay you don't have to talk about this right now, what matters is that you're here, and okay. Okay?
-So bare with me and stop crying. The Wendy I knew was tough as nails- I felt him kiss my head and wipe my tears as he went back to his feet.
-I'm gonna tell Meg you're up.
Megan and Drake had rushed all the way to the hospital when they heard the news. And after a couple of hours of observation and a cast for my arm, I was released into the city again. Homeless, again.
It had been about 3 years since my parent's death, two casualties that took away most of my childhood away, and for a while, It seemed like they took all of my happiness with them. Most people live their lives, thinking they are protected, "that won't happen to me", "what are the odds?", most people don't get to see, this isn't a game, this is real, and nothing is certain. Most people are just like I was, innocently thinking that I'd get a chance, to be like the rest, where the odds don't affect me but pass me by an inch. I thought I'd manage my way out of this life like everyone else does. But as you get older you realise that, no one is safe, and as much as you want to shove all the bad things under the carpet, everyone has this story to tell, when they thought they were ahead of life, and then saw, there wasn't even a race to win. Life always wins. And 3 years ago, I was learned that I should never take anything for granted, the hard way.
After the accident I didn't feel human, I felt like a ghost, seeing everybody else do their lives in pure, precious ignorance, while I had no other option but watch them. I didn't feel the energy to do almost anything, I lost too much weight, and one night, out of pure misery, I sold my house. I couldn't bear the emptiness, the house was too big for me It didn't feel like a home. I started college and met Nate online, he lived in San Diego, and after a few months I saved enough money, took the exchange program and moved in with Nate. And that's how everything started.
And, as of today, this is how it all ended.
-Does this hurt?- I heard Megan's voice and snapped from my thoughts. She was holding my arm up to put a pillow underneath it. I was resting in Josh's Bed since climbing to Drake's would have been counterproductive and probably dangerous.
-A little bit, but don't worry Meg, I'm okay, I just want to rest.- I was trying to sound convincing, but I felt this knot in my throat and chest, and I wanted to let it out but I not in front of people. I hate it. I hate this stupid and boring phase, I want to disappear for a while. I feel so ashamed. Without even noticing, a tear rolls on my cheek and Megan hugs me.
-It's okay, I'm here- she whispers and hugs me, and I feel a little warmth coming back.
Yet, I can't help this thought at the back of my head, that she's not whom I'd want to comfort me right now.
A/N: Hope you're enjoying so far, so Wendy's had a rough path since we last saw her on the show, and there's a long road to go!