Misfits - Chapter 3 (Patreon)

What is hell? There are many different descriptions of it. But of all the examples, they boil down to one point. Somewhere you don't want to be. Think of something you hated. Something that makes your stomach turn at the thought of it. That brings tears to your eyes as soon as the thought crosses your mind. Now multiply that by 10, and you may feel a fraction of what I feel.

I jump as another bang hits my door. My father had come home in a horrible mood. Already stumbling in here in a drunken stupor. As soon as I got home, I made myself an ice pack and barricaded myself in my room. I made sure to push the dresser in front of the door so my father couldn't kick it in. This was my hell. The deep turning in the pit of my stomach from the gut wrenching fear that somehow he would make his way in here.

This is how it was. This was a form of normal for me. I close my eyes and try and pull my mind elsewhere, drowning out the angry cries of my father. How much longer would this last? How much more torment must I endure?

"Open this fucking door you sorry piece of shit!" My fathers shouts are growing more frantic. I close my eyes and count in my head, I keep telling myself that one day it'll be different. One day I'll be out of here. But sometimes it's hard to make myself believe that. I've tried many times in the past to reach out to some family, but as it turns out, I don't seem to have any.

A broken sob escapes my lips. This was torture. I slowly move over to my bed crawling under the covers, trying to drown out the sounds of my fathers drunken rage. I remember the chocolate bar Callum gave me yesterday before I got out of his car and quickly pull it out of the corner.

A smile forms on my face. Callum. I didn't know this man at all. I knew nothing about him, and he put me in his car yesterday so that he could help me out. Then he further extended the kindness by getting me the chocolate I was craving. He didn't even know me on a personal level and he had done something so kind for me.

He had said he wanted to see me again, but that couldn't happen. I couldn't afford any distractions. Especially distractions that involved men. I was too close to let someone get in my way and ruin my future plans. It could never work between us anyway. We come from two completely different worlds. And there was no way I would ever want to introduce him to mine.

I jump as an even louder bang sounds against my door. That in itself was motivation enough for me to stay focused. This wasn't the time to get soft and let a man break down my wall just because he did something nice for me. How did I even know this was what I wanted? I could just be so unused to anyone being kind to me, that Callums gestures make him the white night of my story. A laugh escapes my lips as I realize the double meaning.

Callum was a distraction I couldn't afford.

* * * * *

What seemed like a long weekend finally ended. I slowly open the door to my bedroom, looking around the dirty living area for my father. I can feel relief washing over me when I realize he's nowhere to be found.

I quickly grab my things and head out the door. The neighborhood is silent, everyone asleep on a Monday morning. Even though the sun is risen the crisp fall air sends a small shiver down my spine. This was the time of year I dreaded. I was constantly cold. And new clothes weren't something that I could afford. So I could only hope I hadn't grown too much so I could get away with wearing old clothes that were warm.

I set my pace to get to the bus stop before the morning run. As I round the corner, my pace immediately falters. Callum is sitting there. He's leaning against his black mustang, the engine rumbling loudly. He's once again wearing black with his arms crossed over his chest. He has yet to notice me yet which gives me all the time in the world to admire him. I've never seen a person like him before. He's so charming, yet I can sense something about him that's just... off.

His eyes finally open and shift as if he sensed me before I said anything. His burning gaze lands on me. He does nothing to acknowledge me. I wouldn't even know he was looking at me if the movements of his eyes didn't say otherwise. Even though the air is chilled, I can feel my palms getting sweaty as I near him.

Once I'm standing in front of him, his eyes roam my face. He still doesn't speak as he reaches out slowly brushing his knuckles against my cheek. His eyebrows draw together and he stands a little taller. Everything about Callum screams arrogance., his movements were so graceful, but precise.

"Where were you all weekend?" Even though he asks me a question his voice doesn't waver.

"Excuse me?" I say a little confused at his greeting. He scoffs looking around.

"I waited here. Everyday until nightfall. You were nowhere to be found."

"It's the weekend. I was at home," I say a little defensively. He crosses his arms across his chest not believing me.

"Your face looks better. Ready to tell me how that really happened?" 

He looks at me with a serious expression. I have to look away from his probing gaze.

"What are you doing here?" I ask choosing to ignore his question. I see him out of my peripheral shrug.

"I wanted to see you," he says as if it's the simplest thing in the world. I give him a fake smile and begin walking away.

"Well, you saw me. I'll see you later. I have class." 

I turn my back walking away and feel a hard grip around my arm. Panic immediately flares within my chest as I'm transported back into my home with my father. Tears automatically spring into my vision and a scream erupts from my throat. 

I whip around quickly looking in horror at my attacker, expecting to find my father, but am shocked when I see Callum. He's staring at me in shock holding his hands up on either sides of his head.

"Hey.. I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to scare you." We both just stare at each other. I can feel the tears streaming down my cheeks and hastily wipe them away. Callum steps closer to me bending over so that his eyes are level with mine as he studies me.

"..Are you ok..?" he says, still reading me like a fucking open book. I quickly take in calming breaths, shaking my head vigorously.

"Yeah.. I-I'm sorry." I trail off not even knowing what to say that could excuse my behavior.

"No.. don't apologize. I shouldn't have grabbed you. I'm sorry. I didn't realize how jumpy you were." I just nod my head in understanding ready to just leave before I embarrass myself anymore. He probably thought I was a complete freak.

"Let me give you a ride." After I don't respond to him, he reaches out slowly, gently grabbing my hand in his and rubbing his thumb lightly over the top of my palm. The motion sends shockwaves of excitement through my body from the contact. My whole arm is tingling.

"Come on. It's the least I can do." He look up from my palm directly into my eyes. 

The sun is shining so that I can make out flecks of gold in his amber gaze. It was like staring into flames of some sort. They were mesmerizingly beautiful. For the first time this morning, a smile graces his perfect face.

"Please." That's all it takes for me to nod my head, not able to find the words to say to such a handsome person.

* * * * *

"Pre-Med." The silent ride was up. Callum talks.

"What?"

"Pre-Med. You look like you want to save lives," he says. His eyes are still focused on the road. I focus my gaze back to the dash.

"No."

He snaps his fingers.

"Dammit. I really thought I had you pinned." I don't know how to respond to him, so I just don't. The ride takes 20 minutes and I find myself nodding off. The ride in his car was much more comfortable than the bus. And quieter.

We arrive at the college and Callum pulls into a random park. He looks over to me with his watchful gaze.

"Do you have any friends, Rue?" The question is so random, I actually feel my jaw drop. I even look around the interior of the car as if I were searching for a camera or something. Once I realize he's not joking do I speak the sad truth.

"Uh.. No." A small snicker escapes his lips and when I look at his face, his lips are turned up at the corners.

"Well, you do now." He cranes his head exaggeratedly at me giving me the cutest puppy dog eyes I've ever seen. I have to force myself to breathe again and get my thought process going.

"Why are you being so nice to me? You don't even know me, or anything about me." The car is silent and I hear rustling as Callum moves around.

"You're right, I don't know you.. But I would like to. And that's reason enough for me, princess." He smiles for the second time today. I step out of the car closing the door behind me, Callums words ringing in my head.

"What time are your classes over?" I pause, turning around to see Callum with his window down.

"Three...," he nods his head.

"I'll be here." I don't even try and argue with him. He had proven to me on several occasions that he did exactly what was on his mind. And if picking m up was on his mind, then that's what was going to happen.