Chapter Thirty-Nine: Bright

A/n: hi lol ive read your comments in the prev chapter and youre all like "shes over 18 she can do what she wants" and yeah she is but her mother is a control freak and a perfectionist. Let's be real here. No matter how old you are and you can handle yourself you still have to listen your parents even if you're 50 or a hundred bc they're your parents. And Lisa is really istg a pain in our asses and the deal is tate needs to marry cal bc business merger lol so yeah don't sweat it guys it will all make sense soon ;) all the love xx.

-

I woke up with from the awkward sound of people chattering around me.

I looked up and saw a bright light blinding me.

Ugh, thank god it was all just a horrible fucking dream.

I sat up and squinted my eyes to adjust from my surrounding.

Im in my room and I noticed people running around, in and out.

Unfamiliar faces looking down at me and they were all wearing face masks.

My eyes widened in horror as I noticed that my legs were spread a little and there was someone holding my ankles apart.

I felt a pang in my lower belly like something was being scooped inside me but the feeling was faint I was groggy and my vision was blurry.

I heard my mother's laughter in the background which caused me to shriek.

"No..no..my baby!" I cried.

Just when I was about to scream at the top of my lungs, I quickly sat up.

My skin was clammy from all the sweat and tears were rolling down my cheek. It was just a dream.

A nightmare.

I tried to breathe slowly as I catch up to my own phase, I noticed that I was inside the car. My mother driving.

Painless expression on her face.

"Mother..I-"

"I'm very disappointed with you Tatum Malory." She snapped. "What are you thinking? Do you even think? You ruined everything, how are you going to face your consequence now?"

I didn't answer. I used to have smart comebacks but now..I'm just all dried up. Tired.

"I settled an appointment for you tomorrow. You're going to have an abortion."

My heart fell straight to my stomach and the lump on my throat was making it hard for me to even swallow.

I closed my eyes before answering back. "No."

She laughed like a crazy bitch she is, "And you think you have another choice?"

"Mother, I am old enough to do want I want and you can't hold me back no matter what. Drop the press charges on Luke you're being unreasonable! Stop it and just be happy for me for once in your goddammed life!" I yelled.

"I didn't raise you to be a slut! He deserves what he's got! I can't even look at that man without disgust!"

"That man..treats me the way I should be treated. He gives me things that you should've, affection and attention, mother! He gives me that! He loves me and I love him. I'm not having an abortion and I am not marrying Calum!"

"We've been over this a hundred times!"

"I wouldn't care if we go through this a thousand times!"

"Tatum Malory Beck! Have you lost your mind? I am your mother, do not talk to me like that! I didn't raised you to be a fucking slut!"

"You never raised me! All you did was boss me around and use me like a puppet! You dont get to tell me what to do in my life right now, you're nothing to me, mother. You are dead to me!" And with that she slapped me again just enough for me to make a run for it once we stopped at a red light.

I heard her calling my name for I have left the passenger door open but I ran my way towards a dark alley.

The cool air brushing towards me, I can feel my nose and ears become numb because of the coldness. My breathing becoming uneven and white puffs of air escaping my trembling lips.

I dropped on my knees once I knew I ran far enough. Gasping for air as I try to breathe evenly.

I reached towards an old convinience store and asked if they have a payphone.

Luckily, they do.

I pressed the metal buttons after paying a nickle.

After a few rings, a familiar voice boomed in the other line.

"Hello?" His raspy voice exclaimed, obviously tired and unaware of what's happening.

"Calum? I-its me...Tatum. I uh-I didn't know who to call and I guess I need y-your help-"

"Tatum? Are you okay? I just woke up to go back to the hospital to check on you, I got your clothes from Nana a few hours ago. What happened? Where are you?"

"No, Calum! Don't show up in the hospital. Not right now. Luke has been arrested. My crazy son of a bitch of a mother did horrible things to get back at me." I rambled on.

"Tatum, you didn't answer me. Where are you and are you okay?"

I nodded, even tho I know he's most likely not seeing my gesture "Yes, I'm okay but I don't know where I am" Tears started to fall down my face once again.

"Tell me what you see and I will pick you up."

"I'm afraid, Calum. I ran away from my mother. We got into a heated argument and now I'm behind this old apartment buildings and in a convinence store. I'm using a p-payphone-"

"I'm coming to get you. Don't leave."

A cup of coffee and three Twinkies later. I noticed a familiar Range Rover parking outside the store.

I made my way out and climbed to the passenger seat.

"Are you okay?" He asks. Voice worried.

I nodded.

"What about Luke?"

"I uh-the doctor's said that the anesthesia will wear off in 4 hours. I guess he's going to be awake in an hour or something.. I don't know he's doing fine now. Before we left he was sort off awake but I dont really know-"

"How about you? Are you sure you're really okay?" Calum asked once more.

I let out a deep sigh and nodded.

I'm trying to be okay.

I will be okay.

I have to be okay.

Even though I'm not.

I shut my eyes for a little bit to stop the tears that were brimming in my eyes.

"Where do you want me to take you?" He asks.

"I need to go back to Luke and we need to help him out of the hospital before he recovers and the police takes him away."

"Woah woah woah-" Calum raised his hands up in defense, "Police? What are y-you saying?"

I took in a deep breathe before explaining everything.

"Your mother filed charges and now Luke is handcuffed on his hospital bed?!'' He asked in disbelief as soon as I try to explain to him what has happened in the span of only 6 hours when he left hospital. "How can we even go past thru those guards I mean, your mother could've ordered them to restrain you once you show up and try to help him."

"I don't know, Cal..I don't know what to do. It feels like I'm going to be insane and I have no idea how to tell Luke how sorry I am. He doesn't even know what's happening. If he wakes up hand cuffed to his bed then I don't know how I could explain to him." I let the tears fall down for I haven't got any other choice.

"But how can we talk to him? This is so fucked up. This is the first time that I am left dumbfounded and stupid that I dont know what to do like my whole mind is freaking blank!" He squeezed his eyed shut before opening them again.

"We should just probably head back. I can handle it with my mother." I sighed. "I shouldn't have left her now I made things worst. God, why do I have to be impulsive every single freaking time?!"

"Mood swings. You really are pregnant." He chuckled.

"You have no idea how hard it is to be."

"Well I'm glad that I'm a man to not experience it. Congrats tho! You're gonna be a mommy soon" He laughed, if I didn't know any better he's trying to lift up the mood.

I gave him a smile and thanked him for really actually caring. I realized that Calum did a lot to help me. I'm greatful that he's not how I first judged him to be. Snotty, rich, son of a bitch..it turns out he's way more and a real true friend.

The drive was silent as we head back the dreaded hospital. I achieved to stop more tears from falling and calmed myself down a bit. The drive back was silent. Both of us exhausted and wouldn't want to ruin the mood.

I feel my chest tighten as we get closer to the building.

I know what I have to do. I hope my mother would be reasonable and would shut up and listen to me even for just a minute.

Calum pulled to the nearest lot and as soon as he finished parking I stormed out his car and head inside the hospital.

Pressing the elevator door with shaking hands was a struggle.

The more I felt I become closer towards Luke's room the farther I felt away from him.

Just as expected, my mother was there. Sitting on the waiting room. A magazine in hand. Looking unamused.

I stood in front of her. A deep scowl on my face. Calum trailing behind me for moral support even though I know that he's not going to help me with talking out my mother. I appreciate it, because its totally none of his business. He's just being dragged by me.

"I see you've collected your senses." My mother chuckled still not eyeing me.

"Drop your charges against him and I will do whatever you want. Stop everything you're plotting towards him and leave him alone. I'll do anything." I exclaimed my tone harsh.

She started laughing and looked up to face me. "You are not to see him ever again. You are not to talk to him. You are to abort that devil inside living in you and you are going to push through with your wedding that has been cancelled for so many times because of your stupidity and because of this love you claim. You are to listen to me and stop being immature. You do as I say, I don't care what you feel. That or I will make sure he will rot in jail with nothing in him..no riches, dignity and pride. Nothings going to be left off of him if you disobey me. Understood?"

I felt my stomach churn and my heart stop beating.

I nodded.

"Good. Now come home with me before you do anything more stupid than this." She stood up as I follow behind leaving Calum in the hallway.

He nodded towards me mouthing 'I'll do what I can."