by Dee Bridle
He left the room and I took a moment to check myself. Everything ached, especially my wrist and my head. I touched my neck, feeling the tenderness of where he had choked me.
He came back to the doorway and passed me a T-shirt and shorts.
“Here.”
I took them from him and murmured, “Thanks.”
He put his arms up and grabbed onto the top of the door frame. The action raised his T-shirt and provided me a glimpse of his muscled stomach.
“You need some ice or something?”
I shook my head slowly and swallowed down a lump of emotion. He was just being so damn nice to me and I was struggling with it. This was his world that was filled with care and thought and it was still so foreign to me.
“So, the TV is out here if you can’t sleep” he said motioning to the lounge room. “Excuse the porn channels. They’re Will’s.”
I nodded and looked down at his clothes in my hands. He was trying to lighten the situation, but I felt so wrung out, I couldn’t even smile.
“So, do whatever you want,” he said next. “I’ll be out here, so let me know if you need anything. Kitchen is yours. Eat and drink whatever you can find.”
“I’d like a shower.”
“Go for it,” he said stepping back with a quick smile.
I watched him head over to the lounge area, rubbing the back of his neck as he went to the kitchen.
I gulped and said, “I don’t know why you’re doing this, but, thank you.”
He looked back, his deep brown eyes settling on me.
“It’s what friends do.”
Noah
After I washed my bloodied knuckles, I sat on top of the kitchen counter and lit a cigarette. I had never needed one so badly before. I heard the water running from Zac’s bathroom and couldn’t help but imagine Ivy under it. She was so beautiful and she had no clue about it. There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted her, but I had to somehow put that aside and concentrate on helping her, instead. I wanted to remove everything bad in her life, and hopefully it was starting tonight by bringing her here.
The water shut off and I exhaled a stream of smoke. If she had been anyone else and the night had been different, she would have been under me right now in my bed.
It wasn’t long before she came out of the bedroom, her hair wet, with my T-shirt on, minus the shorts. I gulped back a moan at the sight of her long legs that had tattoos entwined around them. I imagined her long legs wrapped around my waist and concentrated on times tables to calm the beginnings of a hard on.
“So the owner of the bar is going to see a break-in and find my bag,” she said fiddling with her fingers like she was either worried or nervous.
My eyes narrowed on her and I asked, “So he didn’t know you were sleeping there?”
She shook her head.
“Lou has the keys and was letting me do it so I was safe. I can’t let the police find me,” she said a little panicked.
I could see there was a lot more to her life than Rick’s problems, and I longed for more information. Why couldn’t they find her? What had this gorgeous creature done? What was she running from?
“If they do, your alibi was that you were here with me all night,” I said watching for her reaction.
She still looked panicked.
“And I’ll replace everything in your bag.”
Her eyes zeroed on me in disbelief.
“Clothes, books, laptop, whatever. I’ll replace it tomorrow. Give me a list of things. Maybe I’ll get Ava to do the clothes stuff with you. It’ll be easier.”
“You can’t do that,” she said.
I could see she was surprised, shocked, and really unsure about the whole deal. So I did what I did best and changed the subject.
“Want a hot drink or anything? Mugs are in the top cupboard.”
She looked like she was going to refuse at first. Then I saw her shoulders straighten and with a nod, she softly padded over to the kitchen. I glanced at her legs once more, at all the tattoos and suddenly longed to look at them closer. There were entire stories all over her, and I wanted to know each one in detail.
“Do you want one?” she asked.
“I’m all right for the moment, thanks,” I said butting out my cigarette and hopping off the counter.
I needed to keep some distance, before I ruined whatever progress I had made. I listened to her make a tea as I checked my laptop on the dining table. I had a message that had popped up earlier tonight from Facebook. Rachel. A family friend whom I had seen maybe twice over the last six months had messaged me. She was keen to hook up again and planned to come to my party tomorrow night. I ignored the message and glanced over to see Ivy sipping her tea, holding the mug in both hands.
She looked so vulnerable like that in my T-shirt that was too big for her. I wanted nothing more than to go over to her and comfort her, but I knew she wouldn’t accept it. Not yet.
“So there’s a party here tomorrow night.”
She nodded and said, “I’ll stay tonight and then be out of your way tomorrow.”
“I was hoping you would stay,” I said next.
“Oh.”
“I mean, it would be cool for you to get to know my friends, especially if you end up staying here for a while.”
“I can’t just stay here,” she said concentrating on her mug in her hands.
“I don’t see why not. It’s safe,” I said with a shrug, knowing she would run if I begged her to stay.
“Won’t Zac need his room?” she asked.
“He has his own place,” I returned. “The room is yours for however long you need it.”
“I can’t pay you, until I find another job.”
I moved over to the couch and turned the TV on.
“I don’t remember asking for money,” I said flicking through the channels.
“What do you want then?” she asked tentatively.
I turned then, noting the same vulnerability as before.
“Nothing, Ivy. I’m helping you out, because I want to. I don’t want money. I’ve got enough of my own. Just stay and go to college or stay and go look for a job. Whatever. I don’t need rent. I don’t need any favors. Just stay.”
“I’m so not worth the trouble you’re going to.”
“Let me be the judge of that,” I returned. “Just understand that there is a thing called friendship, where people like each other and want to help them. It’s as simple as that.”
There was silence as I turned back to the television. I had no idea if I had said too much. Maybe she would run now, instead of in the morning. I had to be honest with her, but I also had to play this smart or she would run a mile and I’d never see her again.
She stepped over to the couch and then sat down slowly beside me, keeping her distance as much as she could. I bit back a smile and kept my eyes on the show I was pretending to watch. We sat in companionable silence for a while.
“I’m not used to friendships. Each one I’ve had has always turned bad, including boyfriends. I’m not that type of girl who makes guys happy.”
“Well, you’ve made me happy by staying here and being safe, so you can throw that notion out the window,” I said.
“I hate being a burden. I don’t like relying on anyone.”
“Because no one has had your back. I do. I will go to great lengths to keep you safe now, Ivy. I will also go to great lengths to show you that life can be okay once in a while. That friends are good for you and can make you happy.”
She took a sip of her tea and looked at the television, not really seeing it either.
“So we’re friends,” she stated, almost to herself.
I turned to her, my arm going up along the top of the couch, but not touching her.
“Make no mistake, Ivy, I want you like my next breath. But I will wait until you’re ready,” I stated.
She swallowed hard and said, “What if I’m never ready?”
“Then we stay friends,” I returned i
nstantly.
I knew she could feel something between us, but she was in denial, and that was okay for now.
Chapter Seven
Ivy
I didn’t hear the footsteps behind me until it was too late.
“Boo.”
I jumped in fright, my eyes widening at the scorching pain of the spilt coffee now on my hand.
His sick chuckle made me cringe as his hands grabbed onto my waist and pulled me back against him.
“You think you look nice in those clothes?” he asked into my ear.
I didn’t answer, because I knew he didn’t want an answer from me. He had all the answers. It was always best if I kept quiet in these situations.
“You look like a whore,” he grunted into my ear.
I shut my eyes tight, trying to close down from the imminent torture.
“You want men to look at your body? Is this why you are dressed like a whore?” he asked as his hand ran its way roughly over the front of my body, groping and rubbing, making my stomach heave.
I was dressed like a normal young girl with a T-shirt and skirt. I hadn’t dressed for men to look at my body or to be a whore. It was just a hot summer day and I had put on a skirt.
But from that day onwards, I never wore a skirt again.
His hand moved roughly to my neck and held it tightly. I gasped for air, only making the noise he wanted to hear, in turn making him tighten his grasp.
“Now you’re going to be punished for dressing like a whore,” he grunted into my ear. “Do you hear me?” he demanded angrily.
I tried to answer, but the air was gone from my lungs.
“Answer me!” he said using his entire body weight to shove me hard against the kitchen counter.
I groaned at the pain and then managed to gasp out, “Yes.”
“You’re going to learn not to provoke me,” he said as his other hand roughly went up my skirt and ripped my underwear.
I tried to fight him off then, knowing what was to come. Sometimes he hurt me and then left me with just bruises. Other times, he wanted what he was trying to do now.
“Don’t fight me,” he barked, covering me with his entire body to keep me in place.
His hands went to mine and he forced them on the counter in front of me. My hot coffee was poured over my hands and I screamed in agony.
His hand covered my mouth, muffling my pain.
“Never fight me,” he said angrily.
“Sir, you have a call,” said a voice outside the kitchen.
Mason. One of my father’s security men. The only male in my life who had started to try and help me.
He suddenly let me go, taking a breath as he straightened himself behind me. I was safe for now, thanks to Mason. I looked down at my red throbbing hands, knowing I had to get them under cold water as soon as the monster left.
“Sir?” questioned Mason behind the door.
“On my way,” he said in his cool and controlled voice; a voice that didn’t give away that he was torturing his daughter behind closed doors.
My head was suddenly shoved down onto the counter, and I felt the spilt coffee on my face as my eyes shut.
“Don’t dress like a whore again,” he said pressing my face into the coffee and then wiping the counter with my face.
His hand fisted tightly in my hair and then pulled me back sharply. The pain made me want to scream, but I clamped my mouth shut, knowing it would only make him angrier.
Noah
As the sun started to rise, I was awakened to a high pitched scream and jumped out of bed, ready to kill someone. I flung the door back, almost off its hinges and went outside to see Will snoring loudly on the couch.
I heard her cries and stormed to her room, not even comprehending what I could be facing. As I opened the bedroom door, my eyes settled on Ivy tossing and turning in bed, in the throes of a nightmare. Tears glistened down her cheeks as she pleaded for something to stop. I stopped at the door, not knowing whether to leave her or wake her. Her sobs called to me and I moved towards her, wanting to take her pain away. I leaned over her and smoothed her cheek.
“Ivy…it’s just a dream,” I whispered.
“Make him stop,” she pleaded, emotion heavy in her voice.
Her pain sliced into me and I gently shook her to wake her from her nightmare.
“Ivy, wake up,” I said.
It took another few gentle shakes and coaxing words before her eyes flew open. She growled in anger and swung her fist at me in the dark. She connected with my stomach and I stepped back with a grunt.
She scrambled away, kicking at the sheet tied around her legs as she did everything to get away from me.
“It’s me, Ivy,” I said switching the bedside lamp on. “You were having a nightmare.”
Light filled the room, and I saw the pure fear in her unfocused eyes as she scrambled back and then promptly went too far and fell off the side of the bed with a thump.
“Jesus,” I said quickly moving over to the other side to help her.
She righted herself on the floor and put her hand out to stop me.
“I’m okay,” she gasped.
I stopped at the end of the bed and watched her, not knowing how to comfort her. I wanted to pick her up in my arms and tell her that all was going to be okay, but I knew she wouldn’t let me.
“Sorry,” she whispered, pulling her knees up tightly and holding her head in her hands.
“They happen a lot?” I asked.
She let out a deep sigh and said, “All the time.”
I wanted to ask her a hundred questions. I needed to know what was causing her pain, but I knew it wasn’t the time. She needed a supportive friend and that was it. She was obviously mortified at me seeing her at her weakest, so I changed the tension in the air with humor.
“By the way, you punch like a girl.”
I was sure I saw a small curve of her lip between her hands and I smiled to myself.
“Remind me to teach you how to punch properly while you’re here,” I added.
I’d teach her how to defend herself from the losers in her life.
She was silent for a while, and I did everything to stop myself from going over to her and holding her.
A large gasping snore broke the silence and she looked up at me with questioning eyes.
I grinned and said, “Excuse Will. He snores like a bear. Farts like one, too.”
She went to smile and then looked away.
“So, I’ll leave you to it then,” I said, knowing I needed to give her space, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do right now. “Scream out if you need me.”
“No pun intended,” she murmured back to me.
I chuckled softly as I walked out of the room.
“Right.”
Ivy
I awoke early the next morning and took a moment to look at my surroundings. Noah’s place. I was safe.
I allowed myself to smile a little as I snuggled further under the warm quilt in the comfortable bed. I listened to hear if Noah was up but was met with silence and I smiled again. I didn’t want to get used to this, but it felt so good to be in a comfy bed and somewhere safe where no one would find me.
There were no strange voices in the other room where I had to worry who or what Rick had brought home with him. There was no impending break-in with heavies looking for Rick. There was no screaming from my mother. There was just wonderful silence.
I pondered over Noah’s words last night, still not comprehending what was in it for him. I had nothing to give and he was offering me everything. It was like I had a sudden guardian angel. But I couldn’t let myself get caught up in the romanticism of a guardian. I couldn’t stay here. I had to make a clean break and leave. I didn’t want to owe him anything and I needed to live my own life.
He had seen me at my worst last night and I knew I would have freaked him out. He deserved to know that I was a freak, and to know what he was getting himself into by being friends with me. I wa
sn’t normal. I carried years of abuse around inside and the evil always called for me in the middle of the night.
I had to get out of here.
I got up and went over to the door, listening again to hear if Noah was up. I hoped to leave before he woke. I couldn’t handle a conversation about last night and the nightmare. I looked down at his T-shirt that skimmed past my thighs and took a deep breath. I didn’t want to think about how nice it felt when I had put it on last night after my shower. It was well worn and comforting in a sense, and it had a faint trace of his delicious scent.
I needed to leave immediately. I needed to get dressed and forget this happened. Forget all the warmth a guy had given me in one night.
I opened the door and looked out, seeing if I had a chance to get dressed quickly and leave. Will was sprawled over the couch, his Mohawk sticking up in different ways. I suddenly wondered about his story and why he made it a habit of staying on Noah’s couch. Did he have the typical commitment issues or was it that he just had a shit place he called home too? He didn’t seem to be hard up for cash because he was driving an expensive car and his clothes were cool and designer. Money obviously wasn’t the issue.
I didn’t realize his snoring had stopped until my eyes settled on his eyes, now open and watching me. I stepped back in and went to close the door.
“Well, good morning,” he said in a gravelly voice as he sat up on the couch. He winced and held his head for a moment, “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
I didn’t say anything as I fought my need to shut the door. Noah was still sleeping and my quiet escape plan was diminishing before me. I should have gotten dressed and climbed out the window instead.
Will stood up and headed over to the kitchen, scratching himself in the groin. I had trust issues and knew what guys were capable of at their worst, especially big muscled ones like Will. I held onto the door tightly, my sudden fight or flight instincts were beginning to take over.
I don’t know if he sensed my panic, but he opened the fridge and got the milk out.
“Want a coffee?” he asked, turning the coffee machine on.
I didn’t say anything, not knowing what the hell I was doing. I needed to get out of here. I needed to get dressed and run, not have coffee.
