Broken Together

Chapter 13: Doubts

AMELIA

 She’s standing in front of a black car and her outfit is something that I would think she would wear if she’s going to a funeral. Her black hair tied in a pony, she’s wearing a black hat, a black sunglass, black dress and black stilettos. 

I’m not sure if she’s waiting for me or for someone else, so I tried to ignore her and proceeded to the entrance of my apartment building. 

“Wait!” The woman called out as she followed me. She was the woman who Vincent was smiling at at his step mother’s party.  

I turned around to face her. She took off her sunglasses and her deep brown eyes stared at me. “I need to talk to you.” She stated. 

I feel like I’m in one of those dramas where the girl gets confronted by the other about a guy. After 10 minutes, we’re sitting on my couch inside my apartment. Like Vincent, she looks out of place in my living room.  

“What do you want us to talk about?” I asked as she looked around my apartment.

She looked at me and said, “Vincent.” a smile creeps on her beautiful face and it sends a negative feeling inside me.

She raised her eyebrow and looks at me from head to toe. “What about him?” I asked, crossing my arms in front of me.

“Well, I don’t know what you two have but one thing’s for sure, it’s not going to last long.” She declared.

“How can you say that?” I asked her.

“Trust me.” She said smiling.

“I just met you.” I replied. I’m starting to think that she probably knows something about Vincent, “Why do you think we wouldn’t last long?”

“Let’s just say that you’re not the first.” Rebecca said as she leaned back on my couch and she smirks at me, “Vincent has a habit of collecting girls that he doesn’t commit to. The man never had an actual girlfriend that he introduces to anybody.” she said, waiving her hand in the air. 

“and what makes you think that he'll be the same way with me?" I asked, slowly getting more and more annoyed at her. 

Her smile disappeared and her lips pursed. She glared at me and then added, "Look, don't think so highly of yourself just because he seems to take interest in you." She stated. 

"Well," I started to say, "I think he's more than interested in me." I stated, raising my eyebrow at her. 

She stood up and looked around my apartment one more time before looking back at me, "and just so you know..." she started to walk towards my door and I followed her, she added when she turned around, "That day when his stupid sister called him telling him that you were in there house, he was with me. f*****g me." She smirked before leaving me at the door step, with my heart broken. 

Vincent isn’t here yet when he said that he would come over and to be honest, I’m not sure if I want to see him, anyway. I sat on one of my chairs in the kitchen, I’m hugging my knees in front of me as I stare at nothing. When Rebecca said that he was f*****g her before rushing at the greenhouse, I felt an unfamiliar pain. It’s not the same pain when my parents abandoned me to get consumed by their vices. This pain is like a mix of shame and betrayal as the void in my heart gets bigger and bigger. I don’t even understand why I’m feeling this, it’s not like I’ve known him for a long time. We spent little time to get to know each other, and that’s my mistake. I should’ve thought about the consequences before I gave myself to him. Well, I did, but I foolishly ignored it. It’s not entirely his fault that I got my heart broken, mostly it’s mine. I allowed him to break my heart. My phone rang, and I checked who’s calling because I don’t want to hear his voice right now. When I see Alice’s name on the screen, I swiped open to answer, “Hello?” 

“I’m coming over.” Alice cheerfully announced on the other line. 

“Ahm... Can you come over some other time? I’m not feeling okay.” I said. 

“All the more reason to have a pajama party. See you.” She replied before hanging up. I stared at phone contemplating if I should continue being friends with his sister because if I continue to be friends with her, it’s going to be difficult for me not to see him or even just talk about him. I sighed in defeat and rose from the chair that I’m sitting on and head to my bathroom.

After taking a rather long shower, I’m at my doorstep, opening the door for Alice. She beamed as soon as she stepped inside my apartment. She looked around and turned to face me, “Your place is so cute.” Despite being the same age as me, she’s much freer and more outgoing than me.

“What’s in that bag?” I asked her while gesturing to the duffel bag she’s carrying.

“A lot. Here…” She placed it on my couch and zipped it open. “I brought wine, snacks and pj’s!” She exclaimed she shakes the wine in her hand, smiling brightly.

“Why do you want to sleep over suddenly?” I asked as I walked towards her.

“Well,” She put down the wine back on bag and took my hand. “I want to be friends with you.” She stated.

Then I remember her dad telling her I will not be an excellent influence on her, “Does your father agree with you?” I asked.

Her eyes grew wide, probably shocked that I knew about her father telling her not to be friends with me. She sighed before speaking, “Well, I don’t care. I want to be friends with you. Period.” She said, nodding lightly. Her statement made me smile, and she smiled back.

After drinking wine and watching the movie 10 Things I Hate About you in my living room wearing our pajamas, Alice fell asleep on my couch. I turned off the TV and head to my room to get her a blanket and a pillow. As I carried the bundle in my hand, I kept thinking about Vincent. Why did he not show up here, anyway? Maybe he met with Rebecca. I immediately feel that pang of jealousy.

As I walked towards my living room where Alice is sleeping, I immediately froze when I saw a man crouching down next to Alice. I couldn’t clearly see because the lights are off. But he stared at Alice. When he raised his hand and attempted to touch her, I heard a scream. The man looked up to where I was, and then I realized the scream came from me. He stood up and strides towards me and when the light of my bedroom shone on his face, my heart beats erratically as Uncle Mac shoved me on the wall, pushing the pillow and the blanket on the floor. He covered my mouth as he pushed against me, grinning devilishly.

“Be quiet, you bitch.” He whispered, I turned my gaze towards Alice and it looks like she didn’t wake up. Relief coursed through my body because I don’t want her to see this. For her to see this disgusting man. Uncle Mac slides his hand on my chest as he spoke, “I missed you.” He reeked of alcohol and his eyes bloodshot. I attempted to shake him off, but he’s pinning his lower body against mine. I tried to push him with my hands, but he grabbed both of my hands and placed it above my head. “Don’t f*****g make a sound or I’ll wake your friend over there and f**k both of you.” He muttered.

I can’t let him touch Alice. I won’t let that happen. Uncle Mac probably saw the resolved in my eyes so he dragged me inside my room while his other hand pressed against my mouth. He threw me onto my bed, then he closed the door to my room.

He turned to face me, his eyes moved up and down on my body. “I’m going to ruin you, you slut.” He slurred as he walks towards the bed. Looking around my room, I’m hoping to find something that I can use to defend myself. I figured that the fastest thing for me to grab is my alarm clock, so I shifted on my bed and reached for my alarm clock, but then Uncle Mac pulled my leg, making me slide to the edge of my bed. He hovered on top of me, holding both of my arms as he leaned closer. I closed my eyes shut, hoping that when I open my eyes, it would just be a dream.

BANG!

Someone pulled Uncle Mac off of me and was thrown on the floor as Vincent hovered over him as his fist dive in on Uncle Mac’s face. I rose from the bed and I stood frozen, watching Vincent viciously attacked Uncle Mac. Alice ran towards them. She started pulling Vincent off of Uncle Mac, but Vincent shoved her aside, making her fall on the floor. I stared at Uncle Mac and I remembered everything he said to me, everything he did to me. 

“You’re going to kill him!” Alice voice brought me back from my revelry as she yells at Vincent. 

I looked back at my now unconscious Uncle and I realized that I have to move. I rushed to Vincent’s side, and I grabbed his arm or else he’s really going to kill him if he continues.

“Vincent.” I mumbled, trying to make him calm, and it worked when he loosens his grip on Uncle Mac’s collar. He lets go of Uncle Mac and his jaw clenches, as he stood up then ran his hand on his hair then he turned to look at me and I can see him trying to hold back his anger then he spoke, “Call the police, Alice.” He continued to look at me without turning to look at Alice.

When Alice left the room, Vincent stepped closer to me and he cupped my cheeks with his bloody hand. “Are you hurt?” He whispered while staring into my eyes. I am mad at this man, but I am glad he’s here. 

I leaned into his hand and closed my eyes. “No.” I replied. 

“Are you sure? Because if he hurt you, I might not wait for the police.” He said and his eyes got intense again. I didn’t question his capability to kill him, because he probably can, but I don’t want him to. 

I placed both of my hands on his cheeks and looked into his eyes as I spoke, “I’m okay now.” 

After an hour, the police arrived and arrested Uncle Mac. He glared at me as he was being dragged out of my house. Alice hugged me tightly as she explained she was already awake when I was being pinned against the wall. She slowly grabbed her phone and texted Vincent, telling him about Uncle Mac. That’s why Vincent came rushing in to save me. 

Vincent grabbed my clothes and stuffed it inside an enormous bag that I didn’t know I had. “What are you doing?” I asked him as I watch him grab almost everything in my closet. 

“You will not stay here.” He stated. He then moved to my drawer where my underwear’s are so I hurriedly stepped between him and my drawer. “I’ll do it.” I said. He stared at me for a few seconds, then he slowly smiled. 

“Okay. Choose carefully.” He said eyeing my breast and smirking. I rolled my eyes at him and watched him leaving my room.

After putting all the clothes inside the bag, I looked around my room and what happened earlier flashed through my eyes and it sends a shiver down my body. If it weren’t for Vincent or Alice, Uncle Mac would’ve... I shook my head, trying not to think of what would happen. 

As Vincent carried my bag to his car, Alice walked beside me. “Did it happen before?” Alice whispered. Her eyes fixed on the ground. 

“Yes.” I whispered back, and it made her stop. I stopped walking also, then I heard a sniffle. “Alice?” I asked  

Alice looked up and tears fell down her eyes. “I’m sorry, Mel.” She hugged me tightly. And it makes me well up. 

She pulled away and squeezed my hands gently. “Thank you. I heard what he said: that if you make a noise, he’ll hurt me too. Thank you for protecting me.” 

I smiled at her and gave her a hug. I wouldn’t want her to get hurt, I wouldn’t want anybody to get hurt. Specially those closest to me. Alice may be a little assertive like his brother, but that doesn’t bother me anymore. I certainly wouldn’t like her to get hurt because of me. 

“Let’s go, Amelia.” Vincent called out for me as he held the car door open. Alice turned around to roll her eyes at her scowling brother before turning to face me again. 

“I’ll see you in the morning.” She said as she backs away to head to her own car. She stuck her tongue out at her brother and smiled at me as Vincent rolls his eyes to her. 

Vincent was still scowling behind the steering wheel while his eyes are on the road. 

“You know... there’s a law, that you can’t scowl and drive.” I said, trying to lighten his mood by making a very poor joke. 

He glanced at me without smiling and I bit my lip, immediately regretting my poor attempt at being funny. I turned back to look at the window. I know I’m not acting normal right now after what happened, but I guess I’m so used to getting hurt that every time something bad happens, my heart hardens and I put a mask on. 

Vincent continued to not say anything, and the lack of conversation or music is making me sleepy. I yawned lightly, and I leaned against my seat. Next thing I know, Vincent was caressing my cheek, saying my name as he wakes me up. “We’re here.” He whispered as he smiled at me. I looked out of the window and my eyes grew wide as I stare at a yacht.