I’ll never understand the hold he has on my mother. She’s always been a strong, independent woman. When she started seeing Darren, I slowly watched her life drain away until she was a shell of herself. The pills, though admittedly less in the past couple of weeks, seemed to be her escape from his stifling control. Problem was, by escaping, she left me all alone.

I busy myself with packing the rest of my things I’ll need for the weekend and then sit on the end of the bed. I’m anxious and excited. I could probably go ahead and leave, but I’d die if Levi saw me walking to Callum’s. It’s safest to wait in my room until Callum comes for me.

Not going insane until he shows up is going to be a problem, though.

Swiping my phone, I scroll through my messages to the last one Gemma sent. Things have been awkward since the party when I basically ghosted her after. Then, I’d gone back to school, pretending I was the same girl I was before I’d started seeing Callum.

Friendless. Quiet. Meant to blend in.

I avoided everyone.

Nibbling on my bottom lip, I debate if I should text Gemma. I really liked her and me shutting her out because of her brother wasn’t fair. But now that so much time has passed, I feel stupid reaching out to her. Biting the bullet, I fire out a text before I can change my mind.

Me: Sorry for the past couple of weeks. Been kind of depressed. I didn’t intend on hurting you.

She replies back immediately.

Gemma: Want to talk about it?

Me: It was a lot of things. My family, getting pulled in by the cops, and then breaking up with my boyfriend.

Gemma: I didn’t even know you had a boyfriend. Do I know him? Tell me it wasn’t my brother. Ick. Dempsey is a manwhore and you’re better off not dating him.

I can’t help but grin. I’ve been an idiot for not texting her sooner. She’s obviously a good friend and deserves to be treated that way.

Me: Not Dempsey. Or Spencer. We got back together, though. He’s older than me. People wouldn’t approve. Did you get in trouble that night?

Gemma: Older? Do you call him Daddy?

Giggling, I tap out a few eye roll emojis, even if the thought does give me butterflies in my stomach. I might tease Callum about it later.

Me: Ha. No, perv. And you never answered my question.

Gemma: I stayed at Spencer’s. Dad knows some kids were involved but he assumed it was Dempsey. We never told him it was me too.

Me: I miss you.

Gemma: I miss you too. Want to come over this weekend to hang out?