Page 18 of Fight or Flight
“Don’t worry. I’m fucking unbreakable,” I spit harshly.
My father’s shoulders lower with a sigh of resignation as he nods. “God, I hope so. Still, I want you to stop seeing him.”
“Get out,” I say in a low voice, my lower lip already wobbling with the oncoming tears.
He gives me one last sad look and exits, closing the door behind him.
I swap at the tears angrily and then grab my backpack. After I spill all of my books and school supplies out of it, I open a drawer and grab a few items of clothing. Then I take the only picture of me and my mom I possess, and the frame next to it that presents both mine and Jenny’s smiling faces, and open the window. At that point, I don’t even care about keeping quiet as I jump over the sill and get out through the back gate.
I’ve had enough. I don’t need my father. All I care about is Aidan. The rest of the world can fucking burn for all I care.
My father's voice calling after me to come back barely registers as I walk through our front yard and disappear from his view around the corner.
He and I are done. He won’t keep me away from my happiness. I won’t let him.
CHAPTER VII
AIDAN
I wake up and sigh happily like the pussy whipped sap I turned into lately when I feel the small body curled up next to me. Claire’s even breaths puff on my naked chest, and I wish, as always, that we can stay like this forever.
It’s been three weeks since Claire showed up at my window after the single best night of my life until that point, claiming that she’s done with her father. There was no other option for me than to allow her to stay at my place. Saint could grumble about it all he wanted. At this point, Claire became everything that matters in my life.
Although, I admit it’s not all a bed of roses living together.
Most days when we can spend the whole day together, Claire is the happy-go-lucky girl I fell for since the moment I first saw her – I’m not ashamed to admit it now after all this time together. We can talk for hours about silly stuff, watch movies or listen to music before making love. Which I won’t pretend is not the best part of being together because I could worship Claire’s body for hours.
She also loves to watch me draw, which I was reluctant at first to allow her to do. My art is something that is the most intimate part of me. But she built a safe space for me in which I can be myself. So, this became a constant part of our routine as a couple.
I also told her a bit about how it was growing up with an irresponsible mother who cared more about her boyfriends than her own son. She’s actually the first person that, I felt, wouldn’t judge me for where I come from. Lots of the stories from her own childhood indicate that she also went through some shit with her mom, but it’s just something that she throws in here and there.
Life with Claire is good.
However, some days, usually when I have to go run an errand for my brother, I come back to find my girl moody and ready to pick a fight. I know she doesn’t like that I’m adamant about keeping her out of that part of my life. But the thought of her looking at me differently or dumping me when she learns the truth, the whole truth, is not something that I can swallow. So, like a fucking coward, I am keeping my mouth shut about the things I know. I’m aware it’s going to grow bigger and will eventually cause strain in our otherwise perfect relationship.
And let’s not forget about her father, who hasn’t been making things any easier for us either. The first week Claire came to live with me and Saint, he’s been banging on the door every day demanding to speak with his daughter. To which she refused, of course. And even though he threatened to call the cops a few times, which almost made me panic, he has yet to actually make the call. After all, Claire will be eighteen in two months, and I think her father realizes that if he wants to have any kind of relationship with her, he needs to tread carefully.