Three Thousand Miles To You

by Delia Longford

  Porcha: I am glad to hear that everyone was so worried you know?

  Alanna: about what?

  Porcha: alanna people were saying that you had an eating disorder.

  Alanna: really? I can assure you that I don’t.

  Porcha: I am glad listen babe I got to go right now but can we catch up sometime?

  Alanna: yes why not.

  I don’t see myself meeting with her after all how could I with Michael and Jackson there? And what would porcha think? I look down my contacts and see who is online. I quickly notice that Adrian is online and it’s been a while since we last spoke (about 45 minutes) so I quickly send him message,

  Alanna: hello Adrian

  He replies almost instantly,

  Adrian: are you home?

  Alanna: yes I am home safe.

  Adrian: I was really worried today when you were out. Alanna: it’s not good to worry so much.

  Adrian: I know, what did you buy today?

  Alanna: I got a few things for my family Is that ok? Adrian: did you pay them with my credit card?

  Alanna: yes

  Adrian: then it’s ok, what did you get yourself?

  Alanna: nothing actually

  Adrian: what?

  Alanna: it’s like you said everything is already here for me. Adrian: have you eaten yet?

  Alanna: no not yet

  Adrian: make sure you do ok?

  Alanna: yes I will don’t worry.

  Adrian: how is Michael?

  Alanna: he is fine

  Adrian: is he still opening up to you?

  Alanna: not so much today but he did tell me about his brother Chad.

  Adrian: really? What did he say?

  Alanna: he told me how he didn’t like you and he made your life hell.

  Adrian: did he say anything else?

  Alanna: no well he told me that you met my dad in London. Adrian: I see and how do you feel about that?

  Alanna: its ok I know you backed out of the deal but I guess it’s wrong to mix business and pleasure?

  Adrian: it’s not wrong I just didn’t want to do it. Here I was sending this blokes daughter gifts and I was about to do a deal with him It just didn’t seem right.

  Alanna: I understand how did you know that he was my dad? Adrian: I saw you with him

  Alanna: of course

  Adrian: alanna are you happy?

  Alanna: I could be happier.

  Adrian: what would make you happier?

  Alanna: you being here

  Adrian: I wish I could be but if I did then I would have no company left.

  Alanna: is there more to you not being here than just that your business needs you?

  Adrian: alanna you miss nothing do you?

  Alanna: so there is?

  Adrian: I am trying to keep away from you so that the Marshalls don’t find you.

  Alanna: who are the Marshalls?

  Adrian: they are the family of the person I killed and they are the people that have been following you.

  Alanna: so it’s a revenge thing?

  Adrian: yes alanna I took away their loved one and they have been waiting my whole life for me to have someone so they could do the same to me.

  Alanna: are you finally telling me what happened?

  Adrian: if you want to know and are sure you can handle it. Alanna: yes please tell me.

  Adrian: the person I killed was David Marshall!

  Adrian: one cold winter night when I was twelve Alice had gone

  out late and the house was freezing. She hadn’t paid the bills in over three months so our electric was cut off. Around ten I went to bed because I knew that she and David would be home soon and he would only start about the cold and he would most likely take it out on me. I had a small candle next to the mattress on the floor I was lying on I heard them when they came in they were so loud but something felt different that night Alice was screaming louder than she ever did. I could hear things being broken and slams like something was falling. I heard David say that he was going to kill Alice if she didn’t pay him for the drugs he supplied her with. I could hear more struggle in Alice’s voice so I took the candle and went down stairs when I did I saw blood everywhere Alice was covered and even the fridge was covered David must have opened the fridge door and slam Alice’s head against it. I saw David on top of Alice he was choking her she was blue in the face and she hadn’t long left. He never heard me come in behind him I went over to him and he turned and saw me he immediately took one hand off Alice and started hitting me with the other his hands were full of blood and now the blood was all over me I managed to get away from him and he started to choke Alice again, so I took a knife that was lying on the kitchen counter and without hesitation I plunged it into the back of David. He fell back instantly and died shortly after. Alice managed to get up and she slapped me round the face about ten times then she just left me there a scared twelve year old that had just killed someone to save her life. I ran over to the woman who lived next door and told her everything that had happened. She immediately called the police. When they came they knew what had occurred and that I had acted in self-defense of my mother. I had nowhere to go but into care. My father left me and my mother now did the same. The police were aware of David’s family and they placed me in police protection. The next few years of my life were hell I only knew what it was like to have a family at the age of fourteen when Mr. Jenkins came and got me Alanna I hope that you can understand all this, if you feel you need time then that’s fine.

  Alanna: I don’t need any time I understand why you did it. It was not your fault and you should not feel guilty for what you did. I am glad that I now know what really happened.

  Adrian: are you sure you don’t feel different about me now? Alanna: no I only love you more.

  Adrian: alanna you are the most astonishing person I have ever known. It’s like no matter what I tell you about me you never question it.

  Alanna: you thought you were bad? How could you feel that way?

  Adrian: I never knew that I was capable of that I scared myself it wasn’t me and for years and still to this day I feel like I am a bad person.

  Alanna: no a bad person would just have let Alice die.

  Adrian: even though the way I was treated by her made me hate her but I couldn’t let him kill her, she was the only person I had and I didn’t want to lose her.

  Alanna: it’s only natural to feel that way.

  Adrian: now alanna about you and your safety

  Alanna: I guess it’s the family of David that wants to kill me? Adrian: it pains me to even think it but yes it’s them. Alanna: why are they after revenge after all this time?

  Adrian: the Marshalls are a high crime family and they need to show that they live with a balance.

  Alanna: what does that mean?

  Adrian: it means alanna that they always get there revenge just like revenge has been seaked out on them.

  Alanna: so they are used to this kind of thing?

  Adrian: alanna the only way for me to explain this to you is by this, if a member of their family killed someone then they would expect one of their own to be killed in revenge. To show that there is a balance they must seek out the person who killed David their loved one and do the same to them and that’s what puts you in danger.

  Alanna: don’t they see that you were just a child at the time?

  Adrian: that doesn’t matter I took David’s life and that’s all they see. Alanna if you feel that you don’t want to be with me anymore I would understand.

  Alanna: I want to be with you always nothing could make me change my mind.

  Adrian: not even Michael?

  Alanna: no Adrian I have wanted to talk to you about him. Adrian: then talk

  Alanna: I will always love you and only you I need you to know that?

  Adrian: I do

  Alanna: however I do need Michael too.

  Adrian: why?

  Alanna: since we have been together in this
house I have bonded with him and I feel strongly about him.

  Adrian: do you have loving feelings for him?

  Alanna: no but it’s something else I feel for him.

  Adrian: what is it alanna?

  Alanna: it’s hard to explain, he is like a missing piece of me that I didn’t know was missing, and I need him in my life Adrian. Adrian: I don’t know what you’re saying Is it him you want to be with?

  Alanna: no it’s only you but I need him as a friend.

  Adrian: you know that he loves you right?

  Alanna: I know that he cares and I want to talk to him about it make sure he knows that I want to be his friend.

  Adrian: I can’t say I am entirely happy about this however Michael is my brother and I am glad that you to get along but alanna I will not lose you to him!

  Alanna: I know you won’t because I have no worries about that if I had to choose it would be you every time.

  Adrian: I do trust that what you are saying is true.

  Alanna: good I will never let you down.

  When Adrian finally stops texting an hour or so later I am so tired that I just crawl into bed. I close my eyes and try to fall asleep but my brain is working overtime I can’t begin to understand what Alice did. How could she have just left Adrian there scared and alone after what he did for her? I feared that what Adrian was keeping from me was far worse than it actually was at least now I know that it was self-defense and he didn’t just go out and kill someone. What strikes me the most is the bravery he had. I know at the end of the day someone died but it could have been Alice and although maybe she did not deserve saving for what she did to Adrian. But I will always think that maybe if she had died then Adrian would have to. I feel myself begin to fall asleep with the image of Adrian in my mind.

  I walk over to a small door under the stairs in a cold small dark house I open it to find a boy sitting in the dark. I switch on the light and I see the fear in his green eyes. He takes my hand and says “please help me” I look at him and see his pain there is bruises all over his face and neck. His hands are blood stained and freezing cold. I walk him into the kitchen and sit him down at one of the chairs I get him a glass of water and then I hear a huge bang at the front door. And in barges a man with dark hair the boy clings to me and I tell him that everything will be ok. The man comes closer to me and he has a knife in his hand he swipes out trying to catch the boy but I push him out of the way. The man gets even closer and now his breath is right in my face there is a smell of strong alcohol from him. The look in eyes is pure evil. I try to run away from him but he catches me he drags me back into the kitchen he sits me down on the chair and takes a rope out of his pocket he ties my hands together. As he comes closer to me leaning right into my face I lift my foot and kick him as hard as I can between the legs. He falls to the ground and I run this time he can’t catch up I grab the boy and head to front door when I open it I feel the cold on my skin but it’s not the cold winter night it’s the feel of a cold blade going through my skin I look down and there is pools of blood I lift up my hands they are plastered in my own blood. I feel myself fall and the pain is excruciating but all I can see is the boys glowing green eyes. “Alanna are ok?” I wake with a jolt my heart is racing and the sweat is pouring from me. I look and see Michael sitting on my bed. I sit up looking around when I finally mange to get my breath back I look to Michael “am I ok?” “I heard you screaming I came as fast as I could were you having a bad dream. “Yes I was” “what was it about?” I sit back and lean fully against the headboard. “It was about the night that Adrian killed David” I see the astonishment on Michaels face. “He must have told you everything” “yes I dreamt it wasn’t David who got hurt it was me” “alanna is there anything I can do?” “Yes can you stay with me?” I see Michael trying to decide and he looks at me “of course I will” Michael climbs onto the bed and lays flat on his back with his head resting on the pillow I lay down and turn on my side I huddle into his chest and he puts his arm around me The feeling I have when he does is safety.

  Chapter 24

  I wake around 7am and as I do I see that I am still huddled into Michael’s chest. I look up at him and he is still sleeping he looks so peaceful and him lying like this I can really see his beauty. Knowing that it wouldn’t be long until he wakes I rest my head again on his chest. I know that I should get up but something is stopping me. I like the feel of him and I know it’s wrong but I do. I don’t want him to wake I wish I hadn’t waken so early. I decide that I will lay here for another five minutes and then I will get up. I want to close my eyes but I can’t all I feel like doing is staring at him so I do! I take in the darkness of his hair and the way it’s strangely messed. Even though his eyes are closed I still have a picture in my mind of what they look like. Light blue and mesmerizing His lips are full and I see them twitch a little as he sleeps. He is beautiful and a different kind of beautiful to Adrian although I wouldn’t go as far to say that he is better looking than Adrian. But still there is something very alluring about him. I look at his face and I know that I couldn’t be without him. “Alanna stop staring at me” my heart jumps as I hear his voice “I wasn’t” “yes you were and you have been for ages now” I feel a little embarrassed I was so sure that he was sleeping. “Ok then you caught me sorry” “don’t be sorry” he says as he opens his eyes and there they are his startling blue eyes. He turns to look at me and smiles he says “its ok I stared at you for most of the night” I don’t know what to say back to him. He is too close in my face and we are holding one another. I think of Adrian and what he would think if he saw us here. With that thought I quickly get up and run to the bathroom. I feel really bad like I have done something wrong. I know that I shouldn’t have asked Michael to stay last night but I was scared and I wanted him there. I fear now that he will think that there was more to it I don’t want to lead him on but I don’t want to tell him the truth either. I couldn’t handle it if he was to get mad at me and go out of my life. I shake myself and try to fix myself up for the day. I have a long hot shower and put all of this with Michael out of my mind. I get dressed and head out into the oversized condo. I see Maggie cooking as always and today Jackson is the guard by the door. “Come get your breakfast dear” Maggie says as she holds a plate filled with every kind of food you could mention. I walk over and take a seat. She hands me the plate and I look at the quantity of the food. There is no way I will ever eat all this. I have a few mouthfuls of the scrambled eggs and bite of the toast and already I am full. I can see Maggie look at me as I poke the food with my fork. “Are you not hungry dear?” “Not really, the food is great and thanks for making it but I just can’t eat” “is there something on your mind dear?” “There is a lot on my mind” “don’t you want to talk about it?” I would love to talk to Maggie she seems like she is a great woman but I don’t know if I should I know that she tells Adrian when I don’t eat and I fear that she would tell him everything I say. “I am fine I just have a few things that I need to sort out” “may I ask what they are?” “I have college stuff that needs my attention” “I see miss hart I don’t think that college is what you are worrying about” “I have exams coming up and I need to study for them but I don’t feel like it’s important right now” “because you are here?” “Yes I feel that there is too much going on here for me to worry about college” “that’s what love will do to you” I think even more that she fishing for information but I want to talk to her. she is the only girl I have talked to in forever it makes me think of how much I do miss Sophie. “I can’t think of anything else” “that’s not a bad thing tell me dear how old are you?” “Twenty two” “you have many years yet to worry about love but right now you have college and I am guessing that you want to graduate this year?” “Yes it was the plan” “and tell me what you want to do after college?” “I want a job where I can help kids that are in poverty” “that’s a wonderful thing you want to do” “my heart breaks every time I think of all the kids out t
here that are suffering I want to help them” “my advice to you dear would be to study and pass your exams graduate on time and think about love later after all Mr. Black will wait for you but the children won’t they need help as soon as possible and they are waiting for a kind loving person like you to help” I hear her words and they make sense there is hundreds of kids out there on the streets that are suffering going through the same things as Adrian did. I have a pang of pain every time I think of what he has been through and if I could just help prevent one child from experiencing that I smile at Maggie “thanks “I walk briskly to my room and close the door behind me. I get my phone and call the head master at Columbia. “Hello Mrs. Henderson?” “Yes who am I speaking with?” “It’s alanna hart” “oh miss hart how are you?” “I am good Mrs. Henderson you said that I would still be able to take my finals does that offer still stand?” “Of course it does the exam will be held a week Monday” “I see would it be possible for me to come to the exam?” “You haven’t been attending classes and I feel that maybe the board won’t approve of that can you leave it with me?” “Yes but I will do whatever it takes” “miss hart I don’t feel that this will be approved however as I have said you can take the exam from your home I could send out a teacher and make sure they supervise you in taking the exam” “can you really do that?” “Mr. Black gave us such a generous and needed donation I feel that this school owes him for that and I want to repay him by helping you graduate on time I don’t see how the board can disagree with me on this” “thanks Mrs. Henderson I will begin studying right away” and that’s exactly what I do for the next 48 hours I study.

  Adrian: how is studying?

  Alanna: good

  Adrian: am I distracting you?

  Alanna: no I was just about to take a break How are you? Adrian: I am fine and how are you?

  Alanna: yes I am ok, how is business?

  Adrian: really you are talking to me about business what’s wrong alanna?

  Alanna: nothing is wrong I am just interested that’s all. Adrian: it’s been good baby I have a few new deals.