Page 39 of Hot n Bothered

I sobelle slammed the card on the table. She saw how Ben caught what was in it and he stiffened with anger.

“How dare you speak to us like that.” Her father blustered.

“How dare I?” She stood, he would not intimidate her not this time. Right now her anger was in control and she gladly gave it free reign to unload on these spiteful people. “How dare you give me that insult and call it a fucking gift.”

“That is an expensive gift that you need.” Her mother gasped.

“You need to watch your tone young lady and be grateful for what we have given you. Have you stopped taking your medication? Or is it other influences that are making you so ungrateful?” She dared shoot a look at Ben and Isobelle’s temper finally exploded into full blown rage.

How dare they look at him in that way. She’d had rage episodes before where she had seen red and her rational mind was pushed back as it tried to cry out ‘stop’.

But this was different, this time her rational mind was a full supporter in this.

It was waving pompoms and doing a fucking cheerleader routine.

“Grateful? Grateful ? On what fucking planet should I be grateful that you got me a voucher for fucking stomach band surgery? In fact on what fucking planet is it alright for you to constantly put me down, bully and fucking degrade me as much as you all do? I am your daughter , I should know that you love me. I should know that you will be there for me if I need you.”

She was starting to get emotional now, tears coming to her eyes. But the dam had burst and it was all going to come crashing down, there was nothing she could do to stop it. But she knew it didn’t matter if it did, because she was going to still be standing at the end.

“Instead I’ve gone through twenty-nine long fucking years knowing I’m not good enough. Because you all tell me, every fucking chance you get. You believe you have the right to beat me down, make me believe I am worthless. Well, guess what? That ends now.”

Her voice became calm, regardless of the tears that streamed from her eyes.

“I have a proper family. I have people who love me for who I am. And that’s not you. I’m done pretending this is normal. I want no part of what you laughingly call family anymore.”

She turned away and walked back to their room. She could hear her parents shouting at her to come back and them turning on Ben. She had no idea what he said to them, but she heard his tone.

It was a tone he very rarely used. The first time was to a drunk man harassing Katie and Cat while they were out. It was probably the only time Ben could be thought of as dangerous.

She pulled her suitcase from the wardrobe and started piling her clothes into it. She didn’t look up when the door opened. She knew it was him before he shut it behind him and spoke.

“Belle.”

She shook her head, she didn’t want to think too hard about what she’d said. What they did or said to him, because that annoying guilt over possibly hurting them was trying to rear it’s ugly head. Anger at the realisation they had her so conditioned, helped steel her resolve.

“How hard will it be to transfer the flights to today?” She asked as she emptied the drawers. “I don’t care if I have to get a loan or work twenty hours a day, I’ll pay you back. But I cannot stay here a moment longer with them. So can you do that please?”

It was only when he took her hands in his did she realise how much they were shaking. She was trembling all over.

“No.” He said softly. “No, you won’t pay me back and no I won’t transfer the flights.

” He smiled at her panicked look to him.

“Because you deserve a proper holiday. Where you can relax and actually enjoy yourself. Here, look this is your birthday present. We were supposed to go for a few days at the end but even if it’s not available now, we’re still getting out of here. There’ll be hotels we can go to.”

He held up his phone to show her a villa in a quiet region on the coast of Athens.

She looked over to him as he started folding her clothes properly and packing them.

He had really thought to do that? That was so sweet and lovely.

His phone buzzed, an alert popped up at the top so she handed it to him.

“Ah good. We can go today, they’re sending a car and an agent will meet us there.” He said. “Go get the toiletries and call Darren, let him know what’s happened.” He gently pushed her to the bathroom. “I’ll finish up packing here.”

It didn’t take her long to pack up all their toiletries so she sat on the toilet seat looking at her phone.

She should tell Darren, but she just didn’t want to talk right now.

She could feel the fear of what she had just done start to creep up on her.

She was going to be completely alone now.

She had just cut her only family out of her life. What did she do now?

Everyone

Richie: Don’t think being on holiday means no party

Joey: Yep. We’ve totally planned a party for when you get back

Rob: I assume you told Ben it’ll be at his?

Katie: Name me one party that didn’t happen at his?

Cat: Our housewarming – never again! Cleaning when hungover is not fun!

Bianca: What cleaning?!?!?! I did all the bloody cleaning while you laid on the sofa moaning!

Of course she wasn’t alone. She hated that she struggled to remember it.

It wasn’t going to be an instantaneous happy ending for her.

She wasn’t going to be suddenly self-confident and basking in the love of this family of friends.

But the important thing was she had taken the first steps in the right direction.

It was going to be hard, she would probably struggle and doubt her decision so much. But right now, in this moment, she was confident that she had at least nine pairs of hands to help her up. So that’s why she found the strength to respond.

It needs to be a double celebration. I finally cut the toxic ties. You guys are my real family. That’s all I need

Katie: Of course we are!

Rob: No doubt about it. We love you Iz

Darren: What happened?

They got me stomach band surgery and I snapped

Bianca: WTAF!! How DARE they?

Katie: I am on the verge of coming over there to have a ‘quiet’ conversation with them

Richie: I’ll come visit you in jail love. You shouldn’t get long – justified homicide

Rob: What jail? She was with us the entire time

Rich: Please tell me Ben at least thumped them

Cat: Someone had better have had their eyes scratched out! Oooooh I am livid!!

No violence. But I did have a go at them. Told them I had a proper family

Darren: WTF Wallace? Why didn’t you stick up for her?

Ben: Didn’t need to. She was strong enough to do it by herself

Joey: That’s our girl. Did you give them Hell?

Ben: She was fucking magnificent

Darren: So does this mean you’re coming home?

Ben: Nope. Just packing to go to our own place

Joey: Nice! Enjoy

Cat: You’d better spoil our Iz rotten Ben

Bianca: Yes! Or you have us to answer to when you get back

Rob: Have fun ;)

Rich: What’s with the ;)? That looks totally creepy

Richie: What's with the old school texting? Lost your emoji's old man?

Joey: Rich’s got a point

Cat: LOL you know how bad it is if Joey says it’s creepy

Joey: HEY!!

Rob: Bloody Hell! I take it back alright – & I'm on my computer

Katie: You've lost another phone haven't you?

Rob: No….I think I know where it is. It's just not with me

Isobelle put her phone away chuckling, feeling a lot better now. Her watch and phone were buzzing away, but she didn’t need to read the messages just yet. It was enough to know they were there.

Of course Ben had packed everything in the time it took her to return to the room. He’d even gotten her roses from the kitchen, with her book bag.

His eyes watched her closely, but he didn’t say anything as he packed the toiletries. Waiting on her to talk first.

“Is that everything?” She asked, she hated the slight tremor to her voice.

“Yes. I did a sweep of everything out there. Car shouldn’t be long.”

She nodded. “Can we wait outside? I… I just need to get out of here.”

He collected the bags, only letting her carry her handbag and the roses.

“So you are still insisting on being so dramatic.” Her father said before they got outside. “Stop this nonsense right now. Come back inside and apologise.”

She was so tired right now. She was done arguing with him. It wouldn’t make any difference, it was like banging her head against a brick wall. It would only hurt her.

“Let’s go.” She said to Ben instead and turned her back on the man who should’ve been a father to her.

“How dare you.” He shouted. “You walk out on us now, don’t expect us to help you anymore. We won’t contact you at all.”

As she stepped outside, she turned and looked back at him.

She supposed she should feel something at that.

After all he was still family, she should feel love for him.

But honestly she felt nothing but relief that she would never see him again.

Never have a panic attack because she was so anxious about how she would disappoint him this time.

“Good.” She said.

The lightness in her chest, Hell in her whole body made her realise just how much they pulled her down.

“How are you planning on paying me back for all thi…”

“Don’t.” Ben’s dangerous tone was back as he interrupted him. “You’ve been more than paid for this. I’m not stupid. I know what you demanded for the flights more that covered all your seats and even half the villa, if not all of it.”

“Are you threatening me? Who do you think you are? I can take you to court for…”

“I don’t need to threaten you.” He interrupted him again. “I have lawyers who can do that for me. So if you want to go down that route, make sure you come with receipts.”

The door slammed, it should’ve been such a cold, final sound. But to Isobelle it was a welcome end to a lifetime of fuel for her anxiety. She took a deep breath, face to the sun with a smile on her face.