BrookLyn's Journey Read Online Free PDF Page B

at look of silent joy across their faces, and left. She hadn’t seen them since. They’d talk ed on the phone periodically but that was it. She missed them—not just because they left her to deal with her parents.
    She kept her grades high because she didn’t want anything stopping her escape from that madhouse . Everyone always sa id how wonderful her parents were, but u nless you live with someone you have no idea who they really are behind closed doors. Her father should’ve been an actor because he play ed the good guy part so well. Her mother is afraid of him and always took it out on the kids . The problem was that the kids ha d dwindled down to just BrookLyn, who always believed that her mother enforce d h er father’s rules to ensure her safety.
    I just want out. Maybe hooking up with a girl will get me just that .
     
    ***
     
    “What did she say?” Gabriella had come out of the bathroom.
    BrookLyn rolled her eyes and huffed. “She just asked me if I was on my way home and hung up. She doesn’t believe I tried to get in. I knew she wouldn’t . You catch a glimpse of her sweetness at church but I know who she is at home. That woman is the devil.”
    “No way . ” Gabriella looked astonished.
    That’s why BrookLyn never told anyone. They wouldn’t believe that Mr. and Mrs. Perfect weren’t actually perfect.
    “My parents suck .” BrookLyn flopped onto the bed. “ They changed the locks . That’s why I couldn’t get in. They didn’t even tell me , but it’s all my fault. I’ll be grounded ... maybe worse.” BrookLyn didn’t share what the worse was.
    “It’ll work out. I’m sure they’ll realize they were wrong.”
    “ You don’t understand, Gabriella . They’re never wrong . E ven when they are . ”
    BrookLyn sat quietly for a few minutes wondering how her entire life changed so much in one night. Had her father planned this when he had agreed to let her go out? It wasn’t like he needed a reason to beat on her. It didn’t make any sense. She closed her eyes.
    “So, are you going to be my girlfriend or what?” Gabriella asked suddenly.
    BrookLyn’s eyes popped open to the sight of Gabriella’s Cheshire-cat grin. “Right now, all I want to do is get this morning breath taken care of. Do you have an extra toothbrush?”
    “There’s a brand new one with your name on it over on the counter. ” She smiled , calming BrookLyn’s angry heart down.
    “Thanks . ” BrookLyn walk ed past Gabriella and into the bathroom.
    After BrookLyn brushed her teeth , she stopped and stared at her self in the mirror . What am I doing over here when I ha ve to go back to the house that I hate ? I can’t get comfortable here with Gabriella . She looked at the toothbrush in her hand. T his i s n’t my home . I wo n’t be able to see her when she want s, if I want to see her. My father r uns my life and everything in it. I s this a chance I ’m willing to take? I s it fair to her?
    BrookLyn didn’t have the answers. She straightened her clothes, combed her messy hair down with her fingers, and looked at her freshly brushed teeth . Had she become Gabriella’s girl overnight or was she just trying to have a life? She inhaled deeply and open ed the bathroom door.
    “So, you my girl or what?” Gabriella didn’t miss a beat. She flash ed her million-dollar smile as soon as BrookLyn walked into her bedroom , causing her heart to skip a beat and sending a shock down her spine.
    “I don’t even know what that means , Gabriella. Can I think about it?”
    “Yes. Just know that I want to be with you. I’ll protect you and make you happy.”
    She believed Gabriella . She believed that she would protect her, with every bit of her heart , but she doubted that she could protect her from her horrible parents. No one had this far.
    “What would I have to do?” BrookLyn had never even thought about being with anyone before , let alone another girl. All she’d ever thought about before was her books, her