Used, Abused Then Loved

Chapter 1

Ireland Baines pressed her phone against her chest as she repositioned on the plane seat. She headed to Michigan for a Comic Con. Ireland drew in a deep breath and let it out as she looked back at her phone screen. She received angry text messages from her ex-boyfriend after she left without giving him a word.

Some people may find Ireland’s reasons shallow. Tears dropped to the phone screen as she recalled the last thing she went through with him before she left. Her left cheek still hurt from where he had struck her with his belt. Ireland winced as she touched it. Since being with Cody Davids for almost three years, his true colors of being a manipulative abuser didn’t surface until he came home one night from having a bad day at work and took it out of her.

He blamed her for his rough day, claiming that if she woke him up at a proper time, made him coffee, he wouldn’t have been late for work. After that, it seemed like everything was her fault.

Ireland choked as her memory of him calling her worthless and how she would never amount to anything. Those words hurt, especially after he knew how her childhood was with her single father and her mother passing away from being abused.

How could a person get used to being beaten? Was that even possible? Of course not. Ireland was traveling to Michigan. Far away from Cody. She thought about turning off her phone multiple times, so those hurtful texts Cody was sending her didn’t make her feel like everything was her fault again.

Ireland clicked off the screen and shoved her phone in a small carry-on bag and closed her eyes. She couldn’t help those tears that seeped through. Soon, she drifted in and out of sleep. She hasn’t gotten a decent sleep in a while. She thought to herself. All she remembered was not being able to fall asleep in fear that Cody would become pissed and just beat her for the hell of it. Her chest hurt when she thought about those nights. Words can’t describe how she was feeling at that moment on the plane. Mixtures of emotions flooded her. She felt so powerless because of her ex.

Ireland looked out the plane window,watching clouds pass by as if the airplane was floating through a sea of dreams. She closed her eyes, but only to have flashbacks of the manipulations and the feelings of betrayal.

“New start, Ireland,” she said to herself in a whisper. “Time to make a new person of myself… start fresh. Cody can’t abuse and manipulate you anymore. Hopefully, he stays in Cali.”

The pilot let everyone know the plane was landing in Michigan and for them to fasten their seat belts. Ireland could feel her body shaking with nervousness and anxiety. She was going to a very unfamiliar place and hoped Cody didn’t cancel her credit cards.

Once the plane had landed safely, Ireland searched for her cab driver that she had planned with. She stood outside of the airport as a cold crisp wind blew her shoulder-length brown hair in her face. She took out her phone to track her driver. The Comic Con was already open and ongoing. Nerves were already surfacing, and doubtful thoughts seeped through. What if she couldn’t find the person she came to see? Even though the advertisement for the event said that Matthew Lillard and his friends from the horror movie, Scream, would be there, what if something happened and they had to cancel?

“Stop it, Ireland,” she said to herself. “No more negative thoughts! Matthew will be there… this will forever change my life.”

Her cab drove up, and with one foot in the door, she stopped. What will she do after she meets him? She couldn’t live at the motel forever and she wasn’t a local here.

“Hey, lady. Are you getting in or not?” the cabby asked, frowning. “I ain’t got all day.”

Ireland gave him a sheepish grin and slid into the seat. “DeVos Place Convention Center, please.”

The cabby nodded and drove on. The ride to the center was awkward. Was a person supposed to talk to their cab driver? Ireland pulled out her phone to see how far away they were. She continued to look at the time as they stopped at lights in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The streets were crazy busy as the convention center came into view.

“You can just drop me off here. I’ll walk the rest of the way so you don’t get stuck in this traffic,” Ireland said, digging in her bag to pay the driver.

“Much appreciative,” he said, smiling for the first time. “Enjoy yourself and don’t get caught out by yourself at night.”

He laughed loudly as he pulled away, leaving Ireland in shock at this statement. She hoped it was just a joke.

“Well, this place is looking packed,” she said, turning towards the building. “How am I supposed to find them through this crowd?”

Doubt, yet again, started showing its ugly face as she found the crowded entrance. A woman around her age was smiling at people as they showed their tickets at the door. They greeted Ireland with the same big smile.

“Welcome. Do you have your ticket?” the young lady asked.

Ireland smiled back and showed her the digital ticket. The lady smiled and waved her through.

“Enjoy yourself,” she said. “It’s a very exciting time here at the DeVos Place Convention Center. You may know, the team from Scream is here! I know it’s crazy crowded there, but don’t become discouraged. They always have time for fans if you’re here to see them.”

Ireland looked through and noticed all the people and saw the Scream sign at the far end of the building. She felt her heart go into her throat.

“Miss, are you okay?” the young lady said.

“I… uh… don’t think I can get through that crowd…” Ireland said, her face looking pale.

She continued to tell the lady, named Molly, her story and what brought her here. Ireland also shared with her how she didn’t do too well in enormous crowds.

“Oh dear,” Molly said. “You’re very brave, Ireland.”

“I’m going to attempt my way through to see Matthew,” Ireland said, a lack of confidence in her shaky voice.

“Good luck to you! You got this,” Molly smiled and watched as Ireland made her way into the building.

The crowd was indeed thick. Ireland was feeling claustrophobic as she weaved her way through. In the crowd, she started feeling panic rise in her chest as some people accidentally bumped into her. There was a time she nearly lost her footing. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, she told herself, and she turned around and went back to the entrance. Thankfully, she found a spot near the restrooms where she could lean against the wall and catch her breath.

“Ireland, I saw what happened. Are you okay?” Molly had rushed to her side and wrapped an arm around her trembling shoulders.

“I thought I could do it… I… I just can’t,” Ireland said, crying.

Molly watched her in silence for a few seconds. “Wait here…”

***

“Hey guys, thanks for coming! Great to see you,” Matthew Lillard was greeting fans when he felt someone touch his shoulder. “Hey, Molly, what’s up?”

“Matthew, there’s a fan here who’s been through hell and back and she wants to meet you. She’s near the restrooms crying her eyes out because the crowd is too much for her to get through without panicking. I know you normally don’t walk away from the booth but.. She’s going through a lot right now,” Molly said, tears in her eyes.

“Okay, give me a minute,” Matthew said without hesitation.

He turned to Skeet Ulrich and gave him a nod, and followed Molly to the area where the restrooms were. Matthew felt a tug at his heart as his eyes landed on the figure that was sunk to the floor, sobbing. Her appearance was timid looking and just completely vulnerable.

Molly knelt down and put her hand on the woman’s back. “Hey, hun. Look who’s here to see you.”

Ireland looked up. Tears stained her pretty face. Matthew smiled gently, trying not to let tears that tickled his eyes roll down his cheeks as he looked into her ocean-strong blue eyes. In an instant, her eyes grew wide.

“I told Matthew everything,” Molly said quietly in Ireland’s ears.

“Hey, Ireland,” Matthew said, kneeling in front of her. “I’m so sorry about everything that’s happened to you. And I’m truly honored that you came all this way to see me.”

He reached for her face and gently wiped away fresh tears, a smile still on his face, although his heart was aching to see her like this.

Ireland sniffed. “Can I hug you?”

“Of course,” Matthew said, opening his arms.

Without thinking, Ireland threw herself in his arms and they both fell to the floor. Matthew sat up, still holding on to Ireland, who was whimpering in his chest. He crossed his legs, and she laid both of her legs to one side and sat in his lap. Matthew’s eyes met with Molly, who was currently wiping away a tear from her cheek and she smiled.

“Everything is alright, now,” Matthew said softly, stroking her hair and resting a cheek on top of her head. “Let it all out…”

Even though there were a few people staring and pointing as they walked by, Ireland didn’t care. She was just done. Her goal was complete and yet somehow she still didn’t feel complete herself. What was missing? She wondered as she took in Matthew’s scent. Part of her couldn’t believe this moment was happening, since it happened so fast. The other part felt like she was asleep and would soon wake up to Cody, greeting her with his fists.

“Hey,” Matthew whispered, getting Ireland to look at him. “Everything is going to be alright. You are a very brave woman for getting out of the situation you were in and also for coming all this way. I’m proud of you.”

He wiped tears away with his thumbs and kissed her forehead. Matthew sniffed and moved around so he could stand up. Ireland moved aside and let him stand, then he helped her to her feet. She wasn’t that tall compared to his six foot three stature. She had to be at least five foot one or two.

“I have to get back to the booth. Have fun and look around and stop by the booth if you want when the crowd gets thinner,” Matthew said, wiping off his pant legs.

Ireland nodded, her body still shaking from nerves and excitement. “I’m sorry for causing you to pull away from the booth.”

“It’s no problem at all,” Matthew said, smiling. He moved a strand of hair from her face and kissed her forehead again.

“I got some pictures of that moment,” Molly chimed in when Matthew walked off. “I can send them to your phone.”

“I didn’t come here for pictures,” Ireland said, watching Matthew disappear into the crowd. “My mission has become accomplished.”

“What now?” Molly asked, following her gaze.

Ireland shrugged. “I guess I’ll move here and hope for the best.”

When Ireland turned around, her heart started racing at the sight of Cody staring hard at her. His eyes were burning with hatred and his jawline was tight, but he managed a smile.

“There you are, Ireland. I was worried sick,” Cody said, grabbing her arm. “Let’s go home.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Ireland said, her voice shaky. “Let go of me!”

“Now, dear,” Cody said, clenching his teeth, “Don’t be silly… Let’s go.”

“No! Let me go!” Ireland screamed.

****

A commotion caught the attention of a fan who was taking a photo with Matthew and pretty much everyone in the building. They all looked in the direction the screaming came from.

“Let go of me!” Matthew saw Ireland trying to get away from a man who had her by the arm.

“Back me up,” Matthew said to Skeet as he made his way through the on-looking crowd to Ireland’s side.

“Let me go, now!” Ireland screamed again.

“You’re coming back home with me,” Cody said sternly, grabbing her hair with his other hand.

Just then, Matthew put himself in between the man and Ireland and successfully got Cody off of her. Skeet squared up to the man while Matthew moved Ireland behind him.

Cody held up his hands without a word, glared at Ireland, and turned around to leave.