7 | Define LOVE?

10 years ago

"Zoey, if you come out now I'll redeem your punishment."

"You will?" I questioned. Falling for the trap, I always fell for her traps.

I walked out of the cabinets from the kitchen. "Mommy, I really didn't mean to fail my math quiz. I rea-" before I could even finish my sentence. I felt a slap hit my cheeks.

"It's just first grade. How hard can addition be? "You're just not trying enough. You will not be a useless kid. School should be number one in your life right now." She scolded.

She grabbed her leather belt. She swung a hit at me, the rough material making harsh contact with my soft skin. I yelp at the pain. tears prickling in my eyes, It hurts.

I begged her to stop. She didn't. She never did.

"Mommy please I'll try harder." I pleaded but she didn't listen. So I had to find a way to get her to listen. Before I even thought about it I said it, "Then I'll tell dad you still hit me often. Daddy Don't like it when you do that."

She let out an evil laugh. "Think about it. Who is your dad going to believe? Huh? The person who is failing math miserably, or his beloved wife?"

Tears start falling down my face. "No! Dad will believe me!" I yelled. She only laughed again, "we'll see about that."

"All the money that I make is being invested in your education, and all you have to do is learn, but of course you can't even do that." She threw her hands in the air.

"Dad will choose me because he loves me," I murmur to myself, ignoring what she just said.

"Go to your room. Come out when you decide to take School seriously."

I ran to my room waiting for my mom to come back and apologize. I already knew the routine — this wasn't the first time. Other times it's worse. She hits me with belts, throws stuff at me and all, but she never went far enough to create visible scars on me — she would get caught.

After about forty minutes. She walks in bringing me into a hug. I flinched, but I hugged back. She softly asked me the same question she always asked.

"Do you know why I did that earlier?" Her voice softened.

"Because you love me," I whispered.

"Yes hun, and I want the best for you. So when you do something bad, what do you get?"

"Punished." my voice shakes by just the thought.

"Since you understand you won't tell daddy?"

"No. Mommy," I murmur, smiling against her chest.

"I love you, Zoey."

"I love you too mommy."

It took us four years to find out. Mom was bipolar. Even later on sometimes she'd go off her meds and turn on me. Call me names, hit me. Just like she made me promise. I never told my dad.

Present-day

I woke up sweating. I had another nightmare. I looked around the room and everyone was still peacefully sleeping. I grabbed my phone and checked the time. It was currently 6:12 AM. Then I saw three texts from an unknown caller ID. I opened the text to see.

Unknown ID: Hey, It's Josh.

Here's my location...and I'll see you at 4:00 PM.

Zoey: See you then:)

I saved his number as 'Blue balls'. Then I went back to bed shuffling and forcing myself to sleep.

A few hours later everyone was already up downstairs eating breakfast. I got up from the bed to make my way downstairs. When I got there. There was a bunch of food on the islands. Pancake, bacon, eggs, sausage, and grits.

"Did you guys make all of these?" I asked. Gawking at all the food.

"Yes and no. We didn't cook it, but we did pay Uber-eats for it." Ted explained grabbing more bacon.

Jenny smiled, handing me a cup. "We got you Starbucks."

"You guys really didn't have to, but thank you. Also, who is dropping me off later, cause I gotta go tutor Josh."

Everyone stopped their chewing, staring blankly at me, "You're tutoring Josh. You never told us." Ted broke the ice.

"Sure...tutor... Z, if you wanna suck a lil dick just say that."

"RENAE!" I snapped at her.

"Just saying." She let out a laugh. Everyone joined in on the laugh.

"Z, maybe you should start birth control." I was surprised to hear that coming from Jenny.

My eyes grew big, "Jenny! down girl!"

"Better be safe than sorry," Ted adds.

I gasped. "Wow everyone has sexual jokes this morning, huh?"

I drank my coffee. Ate some food while we watched more of the office, but it was getting later and later and I had to go before 4:00 PM. I looked at the time and it was already 3:20. I packed my stuff. "Who's dropping me off?" Ted stood up as he shook his head. "Ok let's go" I nodded, turning around saying my final goodbyes.

We walked to the driveway, and I instantly saw Ted's rare 1967 red mustang. Danm. I love this car.

"Can I drive?" I pouted. Ted chuckled "nobody drives Rose but me. Sorry." I frowned "pretty please. Just this time."

"No, but nice try though." I quickly took my seat in the car. He was already blasting" My turn by lil baby. I swear being friends with him really changed his music style.

We pull up to my driveway. I quickly said my thank you's then ran inside my house. My time was limited. I only had twenty mins to get ready. I walked into the house. I knew my dad's at work. So it's just my mom in the house. I ran upstairs. Already taking my clothes off as I walked into the shower. The shower I took was quicker than usual. I moisturized my body and slid some light-wash blue jeans on, and a yellow crop top. I grabbed my backpack while sliding my feet into my white vans. I quickly sprayed some of my signature scents on. I ran downstairs to get to my Uber. As soon as I turned the doorknob I heard a faint whisper.

"I'm taking my meds, Zoey."

I let out a scoff. "Whatever you say, mom." I walked out of the house making my way to the Uber.

I gave the driver the location. I looked at the time it was 4:10 shit, I'm gonna be late. I talked to myself slowly. Thank God the place wasn't far away.

My jaw dropped when The driver pull-up in front of a huge, expensive building. I cashapp him his money then crawled out of the car.

I looked at the location again to see if I'm in the right place. I walked into the lobby, showed my ID, and waited while they called Josh to confirm my identity. After my confirmation the bellboy walked me to the elevator, I just followed him — but only when I went in the elevator he stayed out before the door closed he told me which number to click, which so happens to be the top floor.

The ding sound went on and the doors slid open — the second I looked, his naked figure was the first thing that I saw, I closed my eyes shut trying to unsee what I just saw. Hearing him chuckle was enough reminder that,

I just saw Josh Walter fucking naked.