In the wrong bed.

~MELANIE~

A violent slap met me across the face, sending me flying out of bed. I hit the ground with a thud and a wince fell off my lips. 

Pain shot through my sides and a faint ringing echoed in my ears from the slap. 

“You shameless little slut! How could you?!” My mother’s furious tone cleared the last traces of sleep in my eyes. “What the hell are you doing in your father's bed?!”

My father's bed? What is she talking about? I tried to get off the floor and that was when I realized it…

I was naked. 

Stark naked without any underwear on. A cold shiver ran down my spine as goosebumps broke out of my skin. 

How did…

“Of all the men out there you could have slept with, you chose my husband? Your step-father? What is wrong with you?” She was practically shaking with anger now and all I could do was stare blankly. “Is that why you were always making up stories about him asking you out? You just wanted to get a taste of him, didn't you?” 

My brain was trying so hard to process everything. How the hell I ended up naked, in this position… I couldn't have possibly slept with anyone…

But as my eyes darted to the bed, I saw him comfortably sleeping through the commotion. He was naked as well and didn't seem to care that my mother was screaming at the top of her lungs. 

As if to clear my doubts, the soreness between my legs hit me like a wave as I made an attempt to stand up. 

My heart skipped as I slowly realized everything. The last thing I remember was drinking with Paul, my step-father last night. 

We’ve been at loggerheads since Mom first introduced him. He made several advances towards me behind my mother's back and of course, she didn't believe me when I told her. He'd put on an act and pretend to be all innocent and forgiving and my mother would turn on me. 

Last night, he knelt down and apologized for everything. Then asked me to drink with him as a sign that we've sorted things out. 

But that was all I could remember. Drinking. If anything happened between us, I would have remembered, right? Unless he….

My eyes widened and dread pooled in my stomach. 

“Mom…” my voice came out shaky. “Paul… Paul… drugged me…”

Her expression immediately changed. 

“He invited me for a drink last night and after one glass, everything went black…” I grabbed her hand, my stomach twisting so hard that I felt bile rise up my throat. “Mom, I think he assaulted me…”

She yanked her hand from me instantly and my heart shattered into a thousand pieces. Another slap met me across the cheek, sending me sprawling on the floor. 

“How dare you make such a baseless accusation against my husband? Isn't it bad enough that you slept with him? Now, rather than own up to your mistakes, you want to shift the blame? How despicable can you be?!”

My chest tightened so hard that I couldn't even breathe.

“Why…” my voice broke. “Why are you so certain that it is all my fault? You've hit me twice snd your precious husband who cheated on you is still comfortably sleeping. Why am I the only one being questioned huh?” The more I spoke, the angrier I became. “Shouldn't you be worried about me? About what…”

A yawn cut through my words as Paul stretched on the bed and finally opened his eyes. My fists clenched hard as I watched my mother rush to his side. 

I wanted to believe she would question him. Maybe grab his collar and demand answers from him. I really wanted to think that…

But he quickly slipped into his innocent act. “Baby… what's going on?”

“I just found you in bed with my daughter, Paul. Care to explain?” She crossed her arms but her tone was barely half as harsh as she was with me. And I definitely didn't see her hitting him. 

“In bed with who… Melanie?” He responded with confusion, then clutched to his head, wincing. “Fuck, my head hurts… What is this migraine?”

It took my mother only a couple of seconds to crack. “My God, Paul, are you okay? Should I get you pain relief?”

His eyes widened as he suddenly gasped and got off the bed. “Oh my God! That did not happen!” 

I scoffed in disbelief at the poor acting but my mother was more concerned about concealing his nakedness with the sheets. 

“I think I remember what happened now,” He grabbed my mother, feigning panic. “I… I came back late from work last night and Melanie offered me a drink to calm my nerves. I started feeling funny but before I could fully react, I passed out.” 

What?!

“I think she drugged me, Sarah,” He grabbed her arm, violently shaking her. “Your daughter took advantage of me!” 

He was obviously lying but my mother turned to me with disdain that made my heart squeeze. 

I shook my head slowly, desperately as she stormed to me. 

“Mom, don't tell me you actually believe him…” the words barely left my mouth when she hit me. 

“You little bitch! How could you be so vile and disgusting?” She yelled, grabbing my hair furiously. 

“I didn't do it, mom. I swear to you…”

My pleas fell on deaf ears as she hit me over and over. I curled on the floor, clutching to my stomach as I sobbed, begging her to believe me but she didn't listen. 

Instead, she hit me with everything she could find. Her hands, shoes, she even kicked me in the face and from the corners of my eyes, I saw him standing there, smirking cruelly at me. 

When he saw I couldn't move anymore, he came to hold her. 

“Please stop hitting her, Sarah. What if something happens to her? Would you be able to forgive yourself?” He asked gently and a shaky bitter laugh fell off my lips.

That ticked my mom off. 

“I don't care what you say, Paul, but she's leaving my house at this minute. I will not house a cheap whore under my roof! Who knows what she will do to you next time?”

My whole body went stiff at that moment. 

She… she couldn't be serious, right? She couldn't possibly throw out her only daughter for a man, right?

“Sarah, that is too harsh, don't you think? Where will she go? Besides, it's just 2am in the morning, it could be dangerous out there in the cold, on her own,” His eyes flickered to me as he spoke. “Besides, I'm sure she has already learnt her lesson.” 

“She should have thought about that before pulling this stunt!” My mother hissed and grabbed me once again by the hair before I could even react. 

My scalp burned as I struggled to get her off. Despite his fake sweetness, Paul didn't hesitate to join her in dragging me out of the room. 

“Mom please… I didn't do it, I swear. He's lying to you,” I pleaded desperately. “You know me, I would never do that to you…”

She stopped by the door. 

“I know you don't like me, Melanie, but how could you accuse me of something so cruel? I love your mother to death and will never do anything to hurt her! How can you be so remorseless?”

His words triggered her to open the door and the cold February air hit my skin. I shuddered, momentarily forgetting the pain in my scalp as I wrapped my arms around myself. 

“Mom, you can't do this…”

“I don't want to ever see you in my house again. Since you're old enough to drug people now, you will go out there and fend for yourself!”

“No, please, no…” I begged, but Paul didn't hesitate to throw me out into the cold and slam the door shut. 

My entire being crumbled as I broke into sobs. I ran to the door, banging and begging her to let me in. 

The door opened and I thought she might have changed her mind, only to have my bags thrown at me. 

Tears streamed back my cheeks as I realized her mind was made up. She was really going to abandon me. 

Sniffling, I grabbed some thick clothes to wear and stuffed everything else in my bag. 

My eyes were burning and my lungs felt like they would give up any second from now. But my legs didn't stop moving. 

I wandered the empty streets mindlessly. Just walking like a corpse because that was exactly how I felt inside. Empty. 

My ringtone stopped me dead in my tracks and I quickly dropped the bag, fishing for my phone.

Once I found it, the caller ID made me feel a little disappointed. I guess I was still expecting my mother to change her mind. 

I swiped the answer button and Allison's high-pitched excited voice blasted into my ears. 

“Hey bestieeeeeeee!” She squealed. “Did I wake you? I'm sure you'll live. What do you think about a trip to Madrid for some much needed holiday?”

I blinked. Madrid?

“Before you say anything, bills on me,” she added. “My Dad wants me to come over but he said I could bring anyone I wanted. So, you in?”

I stared at my bag of clothes. I mean, I don't really have a choice, do I? Besides, it might do me some good to just get out of this place for a while.

“Yeah, sure.”