Jennifer

It had been a good night. Learning to play darts and just driving around. Sometimes those are the best of nights. Not having a destination in mind. Our plans would be to continue hanging out at the apartment, while waiting for T to get off of work. Christin just had to make a quick run to the ATM.

It was around 11 p.m and pouring down rain. My kind of weather. However, my hair would not agree. Christin said she would run into the store real quick, while Scotty and I waited in the car.

I was sitting in the middle of the backseat, for no other reason other than it was easier to talk, while keeping an eye on Christin from the comfort of the car.

Scotty and I had a good relationship. We both knew we had to like the other. I was the BFF of his girlfriend, and he was my BFF’s boyfriend. It was easy to get along with him. He had a good sense of humor and tended to take charge of situations. Never any red flags until that one rainy night when Christin went inside to the ATM.

He turned around and grabbed my hands. I assumed he would be making one of his jokes about how I need a ring on it or something. Instead, he told me “You know Jen, you and I have so much more in common with each other than we do with Christin or T, if it does not work out, I would like to take you out some time.”

This can not be happening. Thankfully, Christin made it back to the car just in time. I sat quietly in the back trying to process this. I needed Alphonso. He would know what to do.

A few days later, I still had not made a decision on if and when to tell Christin. She was so happy with Scotty, I did not want to be “that girl” that comes in and ruins it. Maybe I misread?

T and I were driving down near Redondo. A two lane road filled with twist and turns that takes you on a scenic route of Puget Sound. Beautiful beach houses over looking The Sound were on my left, and the crystal clear water was on my right.

I was mesmerized. I could not look away. Who would want to? One day I wanted to have a house over looking Puget Sound. A view on a cold snowy day is more than I could dream.

It happened so fast.

My head slammed into the passenger’s side window. I felt numb and dizzy. Did we have an accident?

“What the fuck are you looking at? Are you looking at him?”

T was screaming at me. And then it all clicked. There was no car accident. He took my head and slammed it into the window.

My heart sunk.

I was once again broken. In the span of five minutes most, I was broken.

The worse of all, I knew it was my fault.

I asked for it.

I pushed his buttons.