I'm Not Broken - TH

•2•

My dad has had drink after drink, and each minuet that passes where my mum doesn't come home, is only fueling his anger. I know what I'm going to do to get through tonight, the only problem is it could make tomorrow so much worse if he finds out. I make my dad another drink, and as quietly as possible I open the kitchen cabinet to pull out the prescription sleeping drugs. I pop a couple into his drink, and put them back where they go. This could either be a really great idea, or a really bad idea.
"Where's my fucking drink?" He yells from the other room.
"Right here." I say, walking the glass over to him. "Sorry it took so long."
He scowls at me, and starts to drink it. I can only pray that he doesn't see or feel the pills. There's a 50/50 chance that I get hurt tonight. Please work.
"Can I go get my homework finished? It's due soon." I say.
"Whatever." He mutters, waving me off.
I quickly walk up the stairs, and into my room. I shut the door behind me before grabbing my phone to check my messages. Still no text from my mum. She's ignoring me. I see I do have another text though. From Tom.
Tom: everything okay tonight?
Tom checks in on me every single night to make sure I'm okay. It's really sweet. Tom really is the only man on this planet that I trust.
Chloe: I need to talk to you about something, but it has to be in person.
I wait a few minuets, and he texts me back.
Tom: sneak out after your parents are sleeping?
Chloe: yeah. Come by in 20.
20 minuets should be long enough for those pills to take effect. I wait patiently, too scared to go downstairs to see if my dad is knocked out. After about 25 minuets my phone dings, Tom letting me know he's outside. I quietly walk out of my room and down the stairs. I let out a sigh of relief when I see my dad passed out in his chair. I almost feel a pang of joy when I see how dead he looks. I've thought about it. Many many times. But I'm not a killer, and I refuse to stoop as low as him.
As quietly as I can, I open the front door and step out, shutting it behind me. I see Tom's black car waiting for me, and I open the door to get in. He switches on the light, examining my face.
"He didn't hit me." I say.
"I'm checking out this other bruise." He states, lightly grabbing my chin to move my face to the side for him to look. I let him. This is just what he does. He has to always make sure I'm okay.
"Alright, what's going on?" He asks, letting my face go.
I start to feel the emotions rise again, my eyes flooding with tears. I allow myself to be vulnerable around Tom. He's the only person I'm allowed to be this way with. He simply wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his embrace tightly.
"Shh it's okay darling, you're okay." He tries to comfort me.
"My mum.. she's gone." I mutter between cries and he pulls away.
"What?" He asks.
"She left me a letter saying she was on a plane to who knows where, and that she wasn't coming back for me until after graduation." I explain.
"You can't be serious.. she left you alone with him? What did you tell him?"
"Well.." I start. "I didn't. I drugged him so he passed out."
Tom eyes widen, and his mouth drops.
"You drugged your dad?" He asks with a slight laugh.
"Yes stop laughing!" I exclaim, now laughing along with him while I wipe my tears away.
"I'm sorry it's not funny it's just.. god I've been waiting for you to do that for ages." He giggles.
I shake my head at him, somehow no matter how dire the situation, he can make me feel better.
"I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow.. I'm gonna have to tell him." I sigh.
"I'll be there." He states.
"Tom you know that's not an option." I say.
Tom has never met my dad, he doesn't know how bad it really is.
"Yes it is. He can't hurt you if I'm there. I will stop him."
"Stop him? I think you underestimate my dads aggression." I mutter.
"I think you underestimate my need to protect you." he states.
"Look.. tomorrow will come and I'll leave early for school. We will come up with a plan then. Okay?" I say.
"Alright. Be safe darling. I'll see you in the morning."
_____________
I wake up super early, and get ready to go to school before my dad can wake. I already know tonight is going to be hell for me, I just need to not think about it for now. It's only going to make everything worse.
I walk out the door, seeing Tom's car waiting for me. I only live a few blocks away from the school but Tom insists on picking me up anyways. I open the car door, getting inside.
"You okay? Did he wake up?" He asks and I shake my head no.
"I'm fine until I get home tonight." I sigh.
"You'll be fine then too. I'm not going to let him hurt you again Chloe, I promise." He tries, but he doesn't realize there's nothing he can do. He can't help me, he can't even come to my house without my dad freaking out about it.
"Tom I appreciate that you care about me, but there's nothing you can do."
•Tom's Pov•
I go to my first class, seeing Haz in the back of the room. I quickly make my way back there, sitting down in the chair next to him.
"We have a problem." I say.
"Alright what is it?" He asks.
I don't know how to explain this without telling him whats going on with Chloe. I swore to her I wouldn't tell anyone, and I'm not going to break my promise.
"Chloe is in danger, and in order to help her it might backfire for both of us." I say quietly.
"What? What's going on?" He asks with concern.
"I can't tell you but.. if I don't do anything someone is going to hurt her. If I do interfere then not only could it make things worse for her but it could possibly expose us." I explain.
"What are you thinking you're gonna do that could expose us?" He questions.
"Well.. Murder." I shrug.
"You can't do that." He shakes his head. "You know you can't do that."
"She could be seriously hurt Harrison!" I whisper yell.
"If you expose us we're both as good as dead. Figure out a way to help without her finding out. She can't know who we are."

A/N: idk what my posting schedule will be yet but here's another chapter💙