Chapter 5 – So Close

Kelsey's POV:

I wake up in the morning with a sleeping Brandon still in my arms, hanging onto me for dear life. I look at my watch and I notice that it's 8:00am. I shift my weight slightly to a more comfortable position, trying not to disturb Brandon. My mission is unsuccessful and he wakes up peacefully.

"Did we sleep here all night?" he asked.

"Yeah, I could tell you didn't want to move." He remains silent and quietly gets up and pulls me into a hug. "You didn't have to stay here with me."

"I know I didn't have to, I wanted to."

It hurts me so much to see my best friend in so much pain, I made a promise to myself that I would do anything to protect him and I intend on keeping that promise.

I made a quick glance out of the bathroom door to see if anyone was in the hall. I saw Ryan coming out of his room and heading toward the bathroom. I quickly shut the door and locked it.

He knocked on the door. "Who's in there?"

"I'm in here Ryan, I might be awhile." I answered.

"Alright I'll go downstairs." As soon as I couldn't hear his footsteps anymore, I opened the door and made sure the coast was clear.

Once I was done checking, Brandon and I walked into our bedrooms and walked back out to play it off as if we just woke up. Brandon's appearance in jeans, sneakers, a t-shirt, and a denim jacket was hard to fall for. Surprisingly, it worked and everyone assumed that he had gotten dressed before he came out.

I guess no one realized that he wore the same outfit before he left for Baltimore.

Throughout the whole day, Brandon, Bam and I were in the backyard on the ramp. Brandon has been trying to teach me how to skateboard, but it's not going very well. I feel like one of the Jackass guys because I keep falling every time I try to drop in.

"You know what? I'll just sit this one out." I say jokingly as I climb off the ramp and sit to the side.

It is getting near 7:00pm and Ape calls us in for dinner. Once they get off of the ramp, Brandon pulls me to the side.

"Kelsey, we need to get your stuff from your dad's house."

"Oh yeah, I'll go over and get it. I used to sneak in all the time."

"Absolutely not! I am not going to let you go to your house by yourself with that psycho living there!"

"I'll be fine; it's only a few blocks away."

"Did you hear what I just said? I am not letting you go by yourself. I'm coming with you."

I knew there was no arguing with him, once he makes up his mind, that's it. I finally agree, and we go inside to tell Bam that we'll be back later.

Once that's done, we make our way down the street to my house.

We walk with our hands intertwined. We're not a couple, but we act like it. Bam and the guys always make fun of us for that, but Brandon says he loves it when we hold hands, he says it makes him feel more loved.

Something I know he doesn't feel very often.

A few blocks later and we are at my house. "Do you want to wait outside while I get my stuff?"

"I didn't come with you so I could wait outside, I'm coming in."

We go in quietly, trying not to disturb my Dad and surprisingly, he wasn't home. I called out his name to see if maybe he was in another room but no answer.

"That's really weird, he's always home."

"Don't worry too much about it; just get your stuff quickly before he gets back."

I listen and go in my room to pack all of my clothes into a large blue luggage.

Every piece of clothing, every hat or jewelry is just another reminder of how much I am like my mother. About how much I dress like her and look like her. I miss her so much; there is no way I can let Brandon succumb to his addiction.

Once I am done packing, I meet Brandon in the living room with my suitcase rolling behind me; I don't have many things since my Dad never got me much.

"I'm ready to go." I said with a smile. He smiled back and we walked out the front door.

It's about 8:30pm and we are about two blocks away from Castle Bam. It is very dark out but just bright enough to see the street.

Brandon is walking next to me on my right side where the street is. I can hear a car behind me and assume it will just pass us, but it doesn't happen.

After about 5 minutes of hearing this car, I finally turn around to see where the car is going. My heart stops as I see the familiar white van with the driver in the front seat, my father. There is someone I don't know in the passenger seat.

"Brandon, we have to run right now."

"What are you talking about?" He turns around, sees the van following us, and before he has time to react, the van comes to a sharp stop. The man and my father come running out of the car.

Novak's POV:

It all happened so fast, but I know I could have prevented it!

They ran out of the car and the guy in the passenger seat grabbed onto Kelsey and held her back.

Her father ran toward me and tackled me to the ground.

I tried to fight back as much as I could, but I was so weak from not getting my fix that he overpowered me eventually.

I could hear Kelsey screaming for me from behind as he picked me up off of the ground and hit me in the back of the head with something hard.

The last thing I heard before I blacked out was Kelsey screaming my name.