88

88
HAYLEY’S P.O.V

I registered the slap before I even knew what was happening. I was on my feet in an instant and rushed over to the door.

I couldn’t think of anyone that would dare hit Jake and yet, Andrea stood there. She looked furious, her chest rising and falling rapidly as if she had thrown everything she had into that hit. I glanced over at Jake and a gasp left my lips. His cheek was red and angry but he didn’t seem upset, he looked more shocked than anything.

“Did you get all your anger out?” he asked and she lifted her hand again but he stopped her with his words. “I would choose my next actions wisely. If you hit me again, you will go to jail for assault and I will make sure you stay there for as long as possible.”

She was smart enough to drop her hand but the anger didn’t leave her face. If anything, it got even worse.

“You little bastard,” she spat. “You’re the one poisoning my daughter’s mind. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? You are closer to my age than to hers. You’re a fucking p-”

“Stop!”

Andrea turned to me. She hadn’t noticed me before but as soon as she did, her eyes softened and she brushed past Jake and grabbed me.

“Come, we are leaving here,” she tugged me but I jerked my hand out of her hold. “I’m not playing with you, Hayley. We are leaving now. I don’t know why your father would let you stay near this man. He has taken advantage of you.”

“I am not a child,” I said simply. “The only person bothering me here is you. You have no right to barge in here, hit Jake and try to take me out of here. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I am your mother!”

“Right now, you are a fucking nuisance,” I spat. “Get away from me, get away from my family and stay away from Jake. What the hell is your problem?”

Her expression went from soft to angry and she stepped towards me. The look in her eyes was not normal and I felt a stab of fear in my heart but Jake moved quickly. He tugged her by her arm and all but threw her out of our house.

“Leave or I will call the cops,” without another word, he slammed the door shut.

My heart was beating rapidly in my chest but I felt relief. Jake made his way over to me and brushed my hair out of my face. He was the one who was hit and yet, he was doting over me.

“Are you okay?”

I was about to respond when I heard a loud bang. A scream left my lips as Jake pulled me into his chest. I heard the sound again and I realized that it was Andrea banging against the door. She was screaming profanities and yelling at the top of her lungs.

I was worried she would hurt someone or herself.

“Go upstairs, Hayley,” Jake kissed my forehead. “I’m going to call the police.”

“But-”

“Go upstairs, please.”

His tone held no room for argument so I didn’t bother trying. I rushed up the steps, dialing my father’s number as I did. If there was anyone who needed to know, it was him.

“Hayley, is everything okay?” he asked as soon as I picked up and I immediately lost all ability to speak.

Dad spent almost five minutes panicking before I finally told him what happened. As soon as I was done, I heard him curse and the roar of an engine. He told me to stay put and if it were another day, I would have laughed and told him that there was nowhere else I could go.

He stayed on the phone with me as he drove, assuring me that everything was fine. By the time he was arriving, the police was already here. I heard a lot of screaming over the phone but I couldn’t make out the words. I just sat patiently in Jake’s room as I waited for him to come up the stairs.

“Hayley,” I looked up to find him standing in front of the door.

He hung up the phone and I rushed into his arms. Dad didn’t hesitate to hold me close as he pressed a kiss to the side of my head.

“Did she do anything to you?” he asked and I shook my head. “Fuck, I didn’t think she would do anything like this. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I managed out. “I’m fine, I swear.”

“You’re not, Hayley, you have never called me like that before. You sounded scared.”

“I was,” I admitted. “Where is she now?”

“The police took her away. Jake is talking to them right now. Do you want to stay here tonight or do you want to go home with me?”

“I don’t know.”

It was the truth, I wasn’t sure. I just needed to take a deep breath first. Dad didn’t push me to make a decision, he just nodded and kissed my head again.

I wasn’t sure how long I stood there just holding my father. He didn’t let go until I did first and once I did, he led me downstairs to where Jake had already made me a cup of tea.

Neither of them spoke about what happened, at least not to me. Every few minutes, I would catch them speaking to each other in hushed whispers. A part of me wanted to be involved but another part of me didn’t care. I wanted to be done with this whole thing.

Jake made us dinner but I couldn’t bring myself to eat anything. There was a hollow pit in my stomach. I pushed my food around with my fork for a moment before Jake stopped me.

“You have to eat,” he told me and all I did in response was shrug. “Hayley-”

I was saved from responding when someone knocked on the door. I turned to Jake in confusion but he looked just as confused as I was. He wasn’t expecting anyone. He started to rise but I stopped him.

“Let me answer it this time,” I told him.

He didn’t look too pleased but he let me go. I made my way over to the door and looked through the peephole and to say I was shocked would have been an understatement. Was there some kind of family reunion that I wasn’t invited to?

“Who is it?” I heard Jake ask but I ignored him and pulled the door open.

Andrea’s oldest daughter stood there. She looked exactly like her mother but her eyes were tired. She was in pajama pants and a large hoodie that was far too big for her. Her hands were shoved into the pockets of her jacket and she looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here.

“Hi, can we talk?” she asked and I just stood there in shock.

“What are you doing here? How did you even get here?”

“I took the bus, I’m fourteen not stupid,” she rolled her eyes. “I found the address on my mum’s phone. Can we please talk?”

“Hayley, who-” dad paused when he saw who was standing there. “You look like your mother.”

The little girl flushed. “I get that a lot. Look, I don’t want to come into your house or anything. I just need to talk to Hayley.”

I could have sent her away, I would have been well within my rights but she was a child. I wasn’t going to send a fourteen year old back onto the streets at this time of the night. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her.

I pulled the door open wider. “Come in.”

“I don’t-”

“You’re fourteen, I’m not a complete monster. You’re shivering, come inside.”

She looked like she was going to bolt but at the last minute, she sighed and made her way inside. Her eyes seemed a little too old for someone her age but there was no mistaking how young she was.

I wasn’t sure how to deal with a teenager but I figured food wasn’t a bad way to start so I grabbed her a plate and set it in front of her.

“I’m not staying long,” she began but I cut her off.

“I don’t care, eat,” I gestured to the plate.

“Why are you so nice to me? Last time we met, you were a bitch.”

“I was, but that’s because I never knew you would be there. That was my grandmother’s funeral, your mum was not supposed to be there. I don’t even know your name.”

“Makayla,” she mumbled. “But Kayla is fine. You don’t need to tell me your name, I know who you are.”

“Well, Kayla, your mum isn’t here. I can call you a cab if you want-”

“I know she isn’t here and she’s your mum too. She gave birth to you.”

I gave her a small smile. “Giving birth to someone doesn’t make them your mother. I didn’t even know who she was until recently. Why are you here?”

“I want you to drop the charges, please.”