Crystal stayed in her room the whole day. She didn't dare exit her bedroom for fear that her father would hurt her again. She couldn't believe she was seriously considering Nick's offer. What about Josh?She laid on her bed, and picked up the phone, and quickly dialed Josh's number.
"Hello?" Josh answered.
"Hey, Josh, it's me," she said softly.
Hey, Me," he joked.
"Oh, stop it, silly," she replied.
"What's up, beautiful?" Josh questioned.
"Oh, nothing, I just wanted to hear your voice. How come you haven't called me?"
"Oh, hon, I was gonna, after I finished writing that essay paper due tomorrow," he explained, sitting up on his bed.
"Oh. Okay." She sighed. She didn't want to leave him.
"Sweetie, what's the matter? You don't sound yourself," Josh said, concerned.
"It's nothing, Josh." It was weird, but she wouldn't feel right telling Josh about what had happened with her father. Maybe because their parents were such close friends.
"Come on, Crystal, you know you can tell me anything. I know there is something wrong, so why don't you tell me?" he persisted.
"Damn it, I said there was nothing wrong, all right?" she screeched, exasperated. But she immediately regretted her outburst. She was just very antsy. "God, Josh, I'm sorry, I-" she started to apologize.
"Listen, Crystal, I know there's something wrong, but don't take it out on me because I didn't do anything okay?" he said, hurt.
"I know, Josh, I'm sorry. I'm just very antsy today, okay? Look, I'll talk to you later. I gotta go," she said.
"Do you want me to come over?" he asked.
"No!" she exclaimed. She didn't want him to see her beat up face. "I mean, no, Josh, you have that essay project to finish, and I haven't even started it, so I don't think you should come over today, okay?" she said. Silence. "Josh?"
"I'm here. Okay, Crystal. Whatever you want. Bye." Click.
She knew she had upset him, but she didn't know what else to tell him. She sighed, and decided to skip her homework. She just wanted to be with Nick right now. He made her feel totally safe. And he could also relate to her more than anyone around here put together could. She really loved him.
"Yeah. As a friend," she told herself. "Only as a friend. I have Josh...Man, what am I thinking? Me and Nick? Yeah right!" she said before climbing back in bed, and pulling the covers tightly over her head. She didn't want to face reality. She wanted everything to disappear.
*Flashback*
"Nick, I don't know what I'm gonna do. I can't take this anymore," she said in between sobs. Nick ran his hands up and down her back in an attempt to console her. Just then he had an idea.
"Run away with me," he stated simply. Crystal shot up and looked down at him in shock. He sat up too.
"What did you say, Nick?" she said, not believing her ears.
"I said run away with me, Crystal. We could be happy together. We wouldn't have to suffer any more next to our family. We could be happy together," he said.
"Nick, I..." she started.
"It's the best way to get away from him, Crys. You wouldn't have to put up with him and his abuse any more," Nick said, taking Crystal's hands into his own.
"But, Nick, I-I-I'm not even 18 yet!" she exclaimed.
"Run away with me on your eighteenth birthday. Come on, sweetie, please! It's the only way to escape him. Your mother's obviously not doing anything about him, so why don't you?" he reasoned.
*End Flashback*
"Yeah. Why don't I? Isn't my happiness and my sanity more important than Josh? So why don't I run away with Nick? I should. I have to...I will," she decided after a while of pondering. "I'm gonna run away with Nick. And that's final!" she said, as if someone was trying to change her mind. She decided to call Nick right now and tell him.
Chapter 9
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