Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous

I was lying in bed, just a moment from a deep sleep when my phone rang.
Somehow, the first quarter had disappeared and it was mid November already. The last month or so had, thankfully, passed by without much incident. After a couple of hellish nights, Mr. and Mrs. Barakat went back to their usual routine of staying out of the house as much as they possibly could. Jack and May couldn't be happier to be without them. Occasionally, their mother would return home for a weekend and spend time with her children. For all her faults, Mrs. Barakat was a good mother...when she was around.

I felt around my nightstand for my phone without opening my eyes. I cracked one eye as I answered the call to see Jack's name on my screen. “What is it, Jack?” I grumbled.

“A-Alex?”

I sat up. “May?”

“Y-yeah.” Her voice trembled and cracked.

“What's wrong, sweetie?” I was already up and scouring for my jeans as I spoke.

“I-I don't k-know. Jacky just, he j-just gave me his p-phone a-a-a-and said to call you a-and he went downstairs a-and-”

“Hey, hey, breathe, May. Are Mommy and Daddy home?” I ripped through my drawers for a shirt.

“Y-yeah, they were y-yelling but w-when I went to his r-room Jacky l-l-left me alone,” she whimpered.

“Hey, it's ok, honey. I'm on my way, but I want you to stay on the phone with me, ok?” I was pulling on my jacket as I ran out the door. The sky was pitch black, and the streets were dead. Jesus, what time is it?

“O-ok.” I pulled out of my driveway in record time and sped to Jack's house.

Crash!

“May, does it still sound like they're downstairs?”

“No.”

My gas petal inched towards the floor.

“Ok, I need you to listen to me. Are you in Jack's room?”

“Ye-”

CRASH!

My car lurched forward.

May whimpered, “Yes.”

“I need you to go into the bathroom and lock the door. Can you do that for me?” Just ten more blocks.

“S-sure.” I heard some shuffling and a click. “Ok, I did it.”

“Good. I'll be there in one minute, but until then I need you to stay on the phone with me, but be quiet. I know this is scary, but I'm coming right now, ok?”

“Ok,” she whispered.

I finally slowed and pulled, haphazardly, up the Barakat's driveway. I jumped out of my car and took off for the door at a run. “Does it still sound like they're upstairs?”

She was quiet for a moment before whispering, “No, I d-don't think so.”

I checked the door to find it open. Did Jack do that on purpose? “Ok, good. Stay absolutely silent for just another minute,” I whispered, trying my best to quietly hurry up the stairs. I heard yelling and crashing from somewhere past he kitchen on the first floor, and deemed it safe to break out into a sprint to Jack's room once I was on the second floor. I slipped in and locked the door behind me. “Ok, May I'm here. Come on out.” I hung up my phone and slipped it into my pocket.

The bathroom door opened to reveal an absolutely terrified May Barakat. She ran at me full force and was sobbing in my arms in moments. I sat on Jack's bed and rocked her in my lap until she had calmed to sniffles. Eventually, she lifted red eyes and tear-stained cheeks from my shoulder. “I don't like this, Alex. I'm scared.”

I held her tightly. “I know, sweetheart. It'll be ok. I'm going to bring you out to my car and you're going to wait inside there while I get Jack, ok? I'll give you the keys so you can lock it while I'm gone, and unlock it when I come back with Jack, ok?” She nodded as her eyes filled with more tears. “Shh, May, I know this is scary, but I need you to be brave for just a little bit. Once I get Jack we're going to go and then you can be scared, but until then I need you to be really brave for me. Can you do that?” She nodded. “I knew you could, come on.”

I managed to get her out of the house and to my car without running into her parents. I showed her which buttons to press and made sure she locked the car before sprinting back into the house to find Jack.

It wasn't hard. I followed the sounds of fighting to what appeared to be a library. Books and fists were being thrown alike. The room was so loud with yelling and swearing that I couldn't pick out individual words. Mrs. Barakat was passed out on the floor, while Mr. Barakat was cornering his son.

“YOU WORTHLESS, UNGRATEFUL, DISRESPECTFUL, SON OF A-” I couldn't listen to him anymore. I grabbed a book.

“Hey!” I yelled as I ran up behind him.

He reeled on me, eyes foggy with the liquor that vented from his breath. “Who are-”

WHACK!

Thud.

I was breathing heavy as I looked at Mr. Barakat, now unconscious at my feet. I looked up to see Jack's eyes alight with a raged fire. I took a deep breath and placed the book down slowly. “Jack.” I could see his hands shaking with such forced it looked like he was intionally moving them. “Hey, I'm going to come closer, ok?” He just kept his eyes on mine. I knew all his concentration was focused on not lashing out, so I took it slow. I raised my hands to my shoulders, taking painfully slow steps towards Jack. I let him watch my every move, but kept my eyes on him, just in case. I was about two feet away when I stopped. “Jack, it's just me.” I placed my hand out between us. He looked down at it briefly and met my eyes again. “They're out cold, and May is safe in my car. I know you're trying your best, but I need you to calm down so I can get you out of here.”

He took an unsteady breath and looked at my hand once more before taking it. “May's ok?” he forced out.

I nodded. “She's fine and she's safe. Why don't we go upstairs and pack a bag for each of you, then I can take you both to my house so you can breathe easy, ok?”

He nodded, stiffly. “Yeah, ok.” He squeezed my hand as he took a deep breath.

We made our way upstairs quickly and frantically shoved clothes, charging cables, toiletries, and whatever else Jack and May might need for a day or two into duffle bags. Jack was zipping up May's bag as he asked, “Ready?”

I took a quick look around, something on the bed catching my eye. I grabbed the stuffed monkey and one of the bags. “All set.”

I could tell Jack was still very much on edge, but his lips twitched into a small smile. “Ok.”

I checked in on his parents while Jack took his bag out to his car. They were still passed out, Mrs. Barakat snoring loudly. I sighed at the thought of Jack and May living this nightmare for years. They deserve more than this, so much more.

When I got outside, the back door of my car was open with Jack squatting in front of it. I saw May's arms clasped tightly around his neck. “I know, baby, it's ok. You're safe now,” he cooed in her ear.

She sniffled loudly and looked up as I approached. “Alex!” She jumped out of the car and hugged my waist.

“She was worried about you,” Jack said.

“You said you would come back with Jacky! But he came out here all by himself!” She accused.

I rubbed her back. “I'm sorry, hun. I brought you someone, though.”

She looked up to see the stuffed animal under my arm. “Beverly!” She hugged the monkey tightly.

My eyes met Jack's and a mutual thought passed between us. Let's get the fuck out of here.

Notes

Sorry for the wait. I was going to make this longer, but I decided to make it two chapters so that I could upload sooner. Enjoy! - Anna