The moment I felt the bed move, I knew it was Noah. For the last three months, he had been staying at our house more and more, and his nightly visits seemed to last longer and longer. I reached under my pillow and felt the cold metal. I opened my eyes and sat up.
“Get undressed, Courtney. We’re going to try something a little different, princess.”
I reached over and turned on my lamp.
“Turn off the light, Courtney. No one needs to know you’re awake,” he whispered as he took off his shirt.
After reaching back under the pillow, I pulled out the gun and stood up. I pointed it at him, and he jumped up.
“What the fuck? Where in the hell did you get a fucking gun, Courtney? Put it down before you hurt yourself.”
“Fuck off, Noah. I’m done being treated as your rag doll. This little game you’ve been playing is over. I don’t care if I spend the rest of my life in jail. You will never touch me again. If you so much as think of getting anywhere near my sister, I’ll make sure you pay for it. Your time with me is over, motherfucker.”
He stood there, looking at me, stunned. “Courtney, you know you wanted this as much as I did. I saw it in your eyes.”
I wanted to scream, but I stayed calm. I shook my head and whispered, “No, I didn’t. I wanted my first time to be with someone who loved me. I wanted my Prince Charming, and all I got was a monster who treated me like I was nothing but a piece of meat for him to do with as he pleased. You’re not my Prince Charming. You’re my worst nightmare.”
He smirked at me and put his hands up. “Then, shoot me. I don’t think you have it in you.”
I slowly smiled and watched as his smile dropped from his face.
“You don’t know me very well, Noah. How about I give you a warning?” I pointed the gun down to his thigh, and I was just about to pull the trigger when he jumped back.
“Stop! Courtney, stop! I get it, okay? You’re serious. Just please put the gun down, okay? Just please put the gun down.”
“Get out of my room. If you ever set foot in my room again, I swear to God, I will kill you.”
He quickly put his shirt back on and went to leave. “I take it you’re not going to the prom with me?”
My mouth dropped open, and I just looked at him. “I suggest you stop staying over. If I have to sit outside my sister’s bedroom door with this gun, I will. And as far as prom goes, no, Noah. I never want to even talk to you again.”
He grabbed the door handle and quietly opened the door before shutting it.
I dropped the gun onto my bed and broke down crying. I wasn’t sure how long I sat on my bed, rocking back and forth, as I whispered over and over again, “Please, God…please…let that be the end. Please let that be the end.”
“Courtney? Hello? Earth to Court?” Reed waved his hand in front of my face.
I pushed his hand away and took a step back. “Stay away from me.”
He looked at me, confused. “What?”
“I don’t need your goddamn help. I just dropped the jar. You don’t need to come rushing in like you’re my knight in shining armor or like I’m a child who can’t take care of myself.”
I felt my heart beating a mile a minute, and the hurt in Reed’s eyes about killed me.
“Wait, I walked in, and you were crying. I thought…I thought you were hurt and—”
“I’m not. I just…I don’t know why I started crying. It’s just stupid hormones or something. I don’t know. I just…I just need you to leave me alone.”
I turned to walk back into the kitchen, and he grabbed my arm.
“Courtney, wait a minute. What in the hell happened? You were fine a few minutes ago. Now, you’re pissed at me because I tried to help you?”
I spun around and jerked my arm from his grip. “I. Don’t. Need. Your. Help. You’re all the same, all of you. You’re always wanting something, and you don’t care who you use to get it.” I stood there and fought like hell to hold in my tears.
He looked at me, and I saw the anger in his eyes.
“Who are you talking to, Courtney? Me or someone else?”