Don't Let Me Go ~ N.H.

TWO MONTHS LATER

Niall and I have been dating for two months now. Yesterday, he asked me to be his girlfriend, and I accepted. He’s also convinced me to try out for “The X-Factor”.

I came home one day to see my bags packed and on the sidewalk. What the fuck?! I thought as I got out of my car (Niall and I had gone car shopping the weekend after our first date) and went inside. Daddy was working on his laptop.

“Daddy, why are my bags on the sidewalk?” I asked him.

“Carlie, your mom and I are divorcing,” Daddy said. “I’ve already kicked both of you out of the house, and you’re gonna live with your mom and her new boyfriend in Brooklyn.”

“Mom was cheating on you?!”

“Yes, and I had no choice but to dump her. Call Niall and tell him you’re moving.”

By now, tears were rolling down my face. “Okay.”

I went up to my room and called Niall on my cell. He answered almost immediately.

I couldn’t say it. I just burst into tears.

“Carlie, are you alright? What’s wrong?” Niall asked.

“Niall, I’m moving!” I cried.

“What?! Why?”

“My mom and dad are divorcing, and Daddy’s making me move to New York with Mom.”

“Aw…well, we’ll work something out. I promise. I’ll get a passport and come see you sometime.”

“Aw, baby…you’re the best!”

“Carlie! Say goodbye to Niall and get out of here!” I heard Daddy yell from downstairs.

I sighed. “I gotta go, Niall. Mom’s waiting for me.”

“Okay, love. Call me when you get there.”

“I will. Bye.”

~~~~~

Seven hours later, Mom and I arrived at JFK Airport. Mom’s boyfriend was supposed to meet us there.

Mom’s boyfriend turned out to be black. He was tall and thin with cornrows, and he wore a hooded sweatshirt.

“Roseanna! How are you, girl?! I missed you!” the guy said, hugging Mom.

“Andre, I’d like you to meet my daughter. This is Carlie, and she’s sixteen. Carlie, this is my boyfriend Andre.”

“Nice to meet you, shorty,” Andre said.

“Thanks, you too,” I said.

~~~~~

“Why don’t you get dinner for us so Carlie and I can get to know each other better?” Andre suggested to Mom.

“Okay,” Mom said. “How about KFC?”

“Sure,” I said.

As soon as Mom walked out the door, Andre leered at me.

I gulped. “Um…I’ll be in my room. I gotta call my boyfriend.”

Without letting Andre answer, I rushed up to my room, slammed the door, and called Niall.

“Hello?” he said groggily.

“Hey, Niall. I’m in Brooklyn.”

“Oh, how do you like it so far?”

“I hate it so far. My mom’s boyfriend scares me. He just leered at me!”

“He didn’t do anything further, did he?”

“No, I escaped before he could.”

“Good. Well, it’s half ten here, so I better go to bed.”

“Okay, bye.”

Notes