CH 17

After Gia’s date with Brandon, the day that Nikolas talked to Gia, he felt helpless by her response to his apology. She seemed to be pretty clear that she couldn’t trust him and didn’t want to be with him. He felt numb most of the time, Gia and Brandon had gone out a few more times since, and Nik would baby-sit for them. He loved spending time with Jake but he hated having to watch Gia and his brother’s seemingly ever improving relationship. He knew maybe he should move on, and think about finding a girlfriend or something. But he just couldn’t. He felt like things were at least going better between he and Gia, she would talk to him a little when she would drop off Jake, but the one other time that he tried to talk about their relationship, she wouldn’t have it. He came home that evening after school to find his brother doing his homework at the kitchen table. Brandon looked up when Nikolas came in. “Hey do you think you can watch Jake tomorrow night? Gia and I want to go out again.” Brandon asked. Gia asking him was one thing, but Nikolas didn’t feel the same about his brother asking. “I don’t know.” He said softly. “Come on man! You know I think Gia and I are doing so well, I think we might even be getting to the next level of our relationship, you know, physically.” Brandon said. Nikolas walked up to his brother. “Stay away from Gia Brandon.” Nik said through clinched teeth. Brandon laughed. “We’ve been going out for weeks now, you didn’t think we were eventually going to have sex?” Brandon asked. Nik balled up his fists. “That’s the only reason you want to be with her Brandon, not because you think she’s the amazing goddess she is!” Nik spit. “Oh you really have it bad don’t you brother? Well that sucks for you because I have her. I’ve won Nikolas.” Brandon said smugly. “Fuck you Brandon, you’ve won nothing yet!” Nik yelled, he lunged at him and they began to fight once again. Only getting a hit in each before Stovros once again came in the room. “Again? This needs to stop right now! Both of you!” Stovros yelled. Nikolas and Brandon pulled apart and looked at their father. “What is going on with you two? I’ve never seen you like this! I’m leaving right now and I don’t want to leave with you both being like this. Do I need to have someone stay with you?” Stovros asked. “We’re not children father.” Brandon said shaking his head. “That’s exactly what you are acting like. So, I’ll treat you like one. To your rooms now! Until you can cool off! I won’t be here to enforce this but you will obey. No contact for two hours.” Stovros demanded. They both went to their rooms and Stovros said a quick goodbye to both of them before leaving on his trip.

Gia sat at the table in her kitchen studying as Phil tended to Jacob in the living room. Phil suddenly stormed into the kitchen and yanked her to her feet. “What and the hell is this?” He hissed as he roughly grabbed her head and shoved it towards his hand to see what was in it. “Its, its a pill.” Gia stuttered. “Very good Gia, now will you explain to me why the fuck your brother just handed it to me?” He said angrily. Gia’s heart dropped. “Oh my god I’m so sorry. I, they spilled.” Gia said desperately. “They spilled.” Phil repeated. He looked at her. “You tried to kill yourself again didn’t you?” He asked. It wasn’t the first time she had tried to. “Yes.” She said softly. “Why do you keep changing your mind Gia?” Phil asked. Tears rolled down Gia’s face. “Because I love Jake.” Gia said. Phil backhanded her, but Gia quickly recovered, somewhat immune to them as they happened so often. “You don’t love that little boy! He could have put that in his mouth and it might have killed him. Then he would have died instead of your worthless self!” Phil screamed. He struck at her face, sending a blow to her cheek that made her fall to the floor. He began to kick her repeatedly on her legs and her thighs, Gia coughed as he kicked her in the stomach, gasping for breath as she looked over to see her brother walk into the kitchen. He stared down at her with wide eyes. “I’m so sorry Jakie.” Gia whispered as tears rolled down her face. A shrill scream erupted from Jake’s mouth as he watched his sister lose consciousness. “Jacob stop crying!” Phil scolded. Jake continued to scream in fear as his dad approached him. Gia came to, just in time to see Phil backhand her brother. She then watched Phil walk out of the house, leaving them there. She knew he didn’t know if she was dead or alive and doubted if he cared if she were dead. She would have flinched when the door slammed shut if she didn’t feel so weak. She wasn’t sure just how much time had passed as she lay on the floor, watching her brother shutter in complete shock as he cried, watching his little hands shake uncontrollably as he brought them up to hold his head as he screamed. She heard the door open and her heart sped wondering it if was Phil again, but relief washed over her as she saw who it was. “Oh my god Gia, I’m calling 911.” Carol said rushing to the phone. “Please, just get Jake out of here.” Gia whispered. Carol looked at Jacob who was crying so hard, that no sound was coming out of his mouth, only gasps of breaths escaped from him. She instantly picked him up and held him as she saw what kind of state he was in. “I’ll get you help Gia.” Carol said before turning and leaving. “Help.” Gia said, her mind racing.

When Carol came back, she saw that Gia was nowhere to be found. The blood that the woman saw dripping from Gia’s lip and eye still lingered on the floor where she was laying. Carol gasped with worry, wondering where on earth Gia could have gone in the condition she was in.

Gia wrapped her arms around herself as she got off the bus and slowly walked a familiar walk. She was numb, not feeling the pain, as much anymore, all she knew was that she needed to get away. She needed to go to someone who could help her, who could keep her safe. Someone she trusted more then anyone else in the world. She rang the doorbell, praying that he would be home, waiting for him to come. She moaned when the door swung open and her eyes landed on his face. “Brandon.” She breathed. “Oh my god Gia.” He said.