As soon as he'd said that the shutters begin coming down and the man jumps back in shock, stumbling as the locks in the entire house click again, but not nearly as loud since everything was already either bolted or securely fastened. Thankfully, since Josh had initiated lockdown himself, the alarm sounds don't go off, but still my heart pounds in my chest.
With one last look at the man as the shutters lock into the clasps built in the ground, I immediately turn, sprinting towards the banister, swinging around it to run up the stairs. I dash down the balcony and straight to our bedroom first. I rummage through my tote, snatching the pearl grip of the Colt revolver and tucking it into my sweatshirt pocket after ensuring the safety was on.
I then beeline it to the nursery, fumbling with the childproof mechanism. Milo barks behind the door, I will him to be quiet as I try working the contraption. With still no luck, I stop for a moment, breathing, trying to calm myself down before I try it again.
It opens and I walk in to see Emma sitting on her mattress, drawing again, Milo now at the foot of her bed.
I give Emma a small smile as I shut the door behind us and take off the childproof mechanism on the inner doorknob, locking it and then returning the piece back into place. I walk over to sit on Emma's bed, only then realizing Josh was still on the phone, yelling and saying something.
"Sorry, I'm sorry," I apologize, putting the phone back to my ear. "I'm in the nursery with the ki—"
"Jesse's on his way," he informs, cutting me off. "Just stay inside and call me if anything else happens."
"Wait, Josh, I—"
But it's too late. He's already hung up.
I take a deep breath again and place the phone next to me on the bed before turning my concentration to Emma.
"Wh-what are you drawing there, Em?" I feign a smile in her direction. She looks up and yawns as she tries to return my smile.
"The animals," she responds, pointing at the wallpaper. I run my hands through her curls, the darkness of her hair making her bright blue eyes become even more so vivid.
"Aren't you tired?"
"A little," she admits, scrunching up her face.
"Let's get a nap in then, huh?" I run my thumb over her cheek as she nods. I help her put away her art supplies, tucking them into the drawers under her bed before pulling the covers over her tiny frame. I lie next to her, running my fingers through her hair, crooning lullabies as her eyes fall heavy, eventually succumbing to the sleep.
I find myself silently praying that whoever it was outside remained outside. I listened at the same time, hoping to hear whatever might be happening but it would be of no use.
Josh had actually listened to me for once last year when I told him his late-night shenanigans would disturb the kids and that therefore we needed to soundproof their bedroom. They didn't need to hear the stuff that went on around the house while they were slumbering away in dreamland.
Regardless of what he'd become, Josh still went out of his way to keep us protected from whatever it is he did. As always.
It's exactly what he'd been trying to do for me when I'd wanted to desperately be with him.
It hadn't deterred me though. I'd still spent nearly 2 years chasing him down after that first kiss, always being around whenever he came over to see Mike. He avoided me at every possible moment, kept his distance, never allowing us the opportunity to be left alone with the other. Despite his hinderance, I kept trying to catch his attention; whether it was through clothes, hair, makeup, whatever, he didn't care. He wasn't interested.
The one time we did end up alone at a dinner party my parents hosted for my brother's birthday, he straight up told me that it was never happening. That I was simply going through a phase, that I was crushing and at some point, it would blow over.
When I insisted it wouldn't, he countered saying he'd be the worst mistake of my life. That I'd live to regret it.
My spine tingled even now recalling that moment even though it hadn't when he'd said it. I had rolled my eyes back then. I was so naïve and foolish to not listen then because I kept trying. I was relentless.
It wasn't until the night of my 17th birthday that I'd finally gotten the chance to kiss him again.
Yet I hadn't initiated it then. Not exactly.
I still wondered whether he'd kissed me out of pity that night.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
"Stop, please!"
"Oh, no way, not now! Look at those hips!"
"I— No! Stop!" I clutch at material of my sleeve, now ripped at the seams.
His fingers tug at the dress, trying to yank it down and I pull myself back, snatching at the embroidered black lace and attempting to get it out of his grasp. He grabs another handful, and the floral pattern rips apart, revealing the sheer lining beneath.
"Shiiiiit," he hollers, "legs like yours shouldn't be covered up, baby girl!"
"Please, stop—! No!" I yell again as the fabric tears some more, the piece in my hand is dragged out as the embedded crystals cut through my palm.
"Come on, guys, leave her alone!" The voice comes from somewhere around me, but I can't tell who it is.
"Hey, shut the fuck up, dumbass!" The man clutching the skirt of my dress shouts back.
"I c-called the cops, you guys b-better get— Better get out of here!" Bella's shaky voice greets my ear and I'm hopeful for a moment.
Both the man tearing my other sleeve and the one clasping my skirt suddenly let go at the same time; unprepared, I fall straight onto the floor as they advance towards Bella, the first one sneering, "Oh you did, did you?"
"I don't believe it," his friend laughs. "Bitch is lying!"
"I d-did," she stammers, "so, you b-better leave."
"Awe, no way, baby," another voice speaks up. "Party's just gettin' start—"
"POLICE! HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD!"
The collective deafening voices consume the entire house, followed by the sound of what felt like a hundred boots hitting the ground running in all directions. I wrap my arms around me, still on the floor, pulling both my knees up to my chest as I closed my eyes.
I wanted this nightmare to end.
Over the next however many minutes it was, I try shutting out all noise, attempting to mentally transport my mind anywhere other than right here. There were sounds of numerous feet running out the door at the instruction of an officer loudly declaring everyone and anyone not involved vacate the premises. Sounds of bodies striking the ground, or maybe being thrown considering the number of commands being tossed around from "Stay put" to "Freeze".
I'm crouched in the same spot I'd fallen, trying to regulate my thrashing heart and malfunctioning lungs.
"Ali? Ali!" I feel my arm being shaken and I flinch back as the person lets go to place their hands over my hair, eventually resting them on both shoulders. "Alisha, hey! Look at me."
I gradually open my eyes to see a pair of familiar blues staring back at me.
When I realize it's Josh, I throw myself into his arms, tears somehow streaming down my cheek even faster now. The palm of his hand runs down my back as he holds me tight, trying to quiet me.
As the hiccups and sobbing begin to subside, Josh pulls back and we lock eyes again as he asks, "Are you hurt? What happened? Which of these assholes did this to you?"
"I—" The words are caught in my mouth. I didn't trust myself to speak, so I look over his shoulder to see 9 or 10 other officers standing over bodies writhing and thrashing on the floor. Some of the officers were busy handcuffing while others held down the ones trying to get up. When I recognize the main 3 perpetrators, I point at them, turning back to him as he follows my finger. "Th-those three."
I watch as Josh's face contorts, a scowl etched into the skin, his piercing gaze practically burning holes through the men I'd pointed out. He slowly turns back to me, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear as he asks, "You're absolutely sure? Bella said all eight crashed the party."
I nod, replying, "Th-they did, b-but it was those th-three who—" Again my breath catches in my throat as my eyes prick with tears. "They did it. He t-tore my skirt— The other g-guys were eat-eating the food, and…just s-standing around, uhm—"
Josh comes back and wraps his arms around me, drawing me into his warmth again. He whispers into my ear, "It's okay. Everything's fine now. You're okay. Can you get up for me?" I nod as he lets go and pulls me onto my feet. He looks around the room before snatching the blanket off sofa and throwing it around my shoulders. He leads me towards the hall, saying, "Just sit downstairs with Bella while we sort this out."
As we pass the man who had ripped through my skirt, Josh's boot slams down hard over his fingers, twisting his foot in the process. The sound of bones being crunched is followed by the man's howling shrieks as he screams obscenities. The officer holding him down tells him to, "Shut the fuck up," while Josh mutters under his breath, "Waste of fucking flesh, scum of the earth."
He guides me to the basement door, and I watch as he punches in the passcode. He holds it open for me and rubs my shoulder, assuring me, "Everything will be okay. Just wait for me downstairs."
I nod as he steps aside, faltering for a moment when our eyes lock. His hand reaches up to my cheek, fingers gliding under my eyes, swiping at the mess of tears mixed with makeup no doubt. With one final glance, Josh urges me down the steps and shuts the door, the lock immediately activating.
Bella and Liana look up from the papers they're scribbling onto the moment I land on the last step; Bella's alarmed features distort before reducing into tears. She gets up from the sectional and races over to throw her arms around me, whispering, "I'm so sorry" into my hair. I hug her back as tightly as I'm able to, trying not to focus on the rips and shreds her own dress was in. Liana shoots me a sympathetic smile from the couch.
"Josh said he called your parents," Bella informs letting go as we walk to the couch and seat ourselves. "They told him they were catching the next flight out of Paris."
"Yeah, and," Liana begins, rubbing her palm over my arm, "Mike and Michelle are also driving back from New York City, so they'll be here in a few hours."
"Where are the twins?"
"I messaged them," Bella responds, grabbing her phone off the coffee table as she opens her texts. "Think Derek's phone must be dead, look," she holds up the device to show red exclamations next to messages she's sent my brother. "Nothing's going through. I messaged Gavin too, but don't think he's seen it yet." She exits out of her conversation with Derek then opens the one with Gavin. The messages there are confirmed 'Delivered', but there's no read timestamp under them.
"Do you think they're with Ae-Cha and the other girl? What's Gavin's girlfriend's name?" Liana asks.
"Valentina," I answer. "They're probably at the Yuns' place. Ae-Cha was throwing a New Year's party. I don't have her number though." I turn to look at Bella, asking, "Did Nari leave? Maybe she can check."
"Everyone was forced out, but yeah," Bella nods, "let me check."
As she texts Nari, Liana goes back to working on her statement while my attention returns to my dress, the torn floral lace hanging in frayed shreds off the bodice.
It's ironic how the world perpetuated this idea that dressing a certain way invokes desire so strong in some men that they feel the need to sexually assault the dresser. Or the idea that women shouldn't be where they're not supposed to be. Or that women shouldn't surround themselves with the company of strange or even slightly acquainted men. How did these kinds of people explain my current situation?
This dress was more than modest enough and if I wasn't safe in my own home, then where would I have been safer? These were uninvited people. None of us had any idea who they were. And not one of us was strong enough to overpower them. I still wasn't sure how they got in since the doors had all been locked.
A half hour passes when Liana announces her ride was here and she needed to go. She hugs us goodbye and then it's just Bella and me. She was waiting for her mom to come get her despite the fact that the both of us had insisted to Mrs. Sanders that it would be more than okay if Bella spent the night. I guess the whole thing must have spooked her out enough as I'm sure it would any other parent.
I could only imagine what my own were going through.
45 minutes later, the door opens again, and I can hear more than one person running down them, bickering with the other.
Bella and I look over to see my younger brothers rushing over to immediately hover over me.
"Are you okay?" Derek asks, sitting down on the coffee table.
Gavin wraps his arms around me and runs his hand up and down my back, "I'm so sorry, Al. Fuck!"
"I'm fine," I insist, nodding as Derek smiles at me over Gavin's shoulder.
"Better be," he nods, "gotta testify in court against those pieces of shit!"
"Is it all clear upstairs?" Bella asks as Gavin shakes his head and sits down next to Derek.
"The police are still combing through everything. Saw 'em practically dragging some guy into the back of a cruiser," Gavin laughs.
"Did Josh, uhm…did he leave?" My eyes settle into Derek's and then Gavin's as the latter rolls his, shaking his head.
"He's still up there," Derek answers, holding out a piece of paper for me. "Said he needs a statement from you."
"Shit," Bella mumbles, "I should finish mine." She grabs the paper and pen she'd set on the coffee table earlier and quickly starts writing.
"JC said he'll come down once they're done upstairs," Derek adds.
"Okay," I nod, "can you grab me that pen?"
Gavin reaches behind him and hands it over to me, along with one of the coffee table books to write on.
I begin detailing everything that happened: from the moment I'd hung up the phone with my parents who again wished me a Happy Birthday and demanded I stay safe, to the moment the 8 guys had shown up, seemingly out of nowhere, half-drunk, pestering every single girl at my party causing me to speak up and eventually become their main target.
I jot down how the majority of them were teasing, making inappropriate jokes along with scarfing down the catered food and drinks, while 3 of them had been hellbent on making every single girl feel physically uncomfortable. When one of them had tried to unzip Bella's dress, I lashed out and threw the nearest thing at him: a bright, red Solo cup.
It was enough to make him advance on me.
When Bella's phone rings 15 minutes later, I jolt back to reality looking over; I can see the guilt take over her features as she nods and responds on the phone. Bella hangs up and takes me into another hug, sighing as she whispers, "I love you and I'll call you tomorrow, okay?" Bella then turns to Derek and Gavin, "Take care of her, alright?"
We exchange our goodbyes with her as she disappears up the stairs and out of the basement. I go back to the statement as the twins take the vacant seats on the couch, turning on the TV.
"What a shitty fuckin' start to the New Year," Gavin remarks, looking at his phone. I realize then that it's been 2015 for almost an hour. "Sorry your birthday turned into this."
I shrug, "It's fine. I'll always have the party with you guys."
Derek yawns, nodding as he says, "Honestly, I realize how much we take mom and dad for granted. These guys would have never done that yesterday." Then he shakes his head, "Sorry, I mean the day before."
I nod along with Gavin before saying, "I don't think I'll ever celebrate a birthday without them around. It was so stupid to want another party with just my girlfriends after how perfect Thursday night was with just the six of us."
Derek shakes his head, "It's not your fault."
"Those guys should be fucking sorry," Gavin rasps, his jaw clenched. "I swear if I ever get my hands on one of 'em—!"
"You'll what," Derek laughs, "poke 'em to death?" Gavin rolls his eyes as I join Derek, chuckling.
"Besides," I add, "you saw a couple of them, right?" Gavin nods. "They're like twice your age and so much bigger. None of us were able to fight them off."
It grows quiet right before Gavin sighs, "The fact that a bunch of thirty-year-olds did this is what's wrong with the world. How'd they even get in?"
"I don't know," I answer. "One second, we were all dancing to Gaga and the next, there were these guys just howling and whistling."
"One of the officers said that the back door was open," Derek replies. "Did any of you go outside?"
"Fuck," I mutter under my breath as it hits me. I meet their gaze as they stare at me, anticipating. I take a deep breath, "I asked Lizzie to grab some more ice from the pool house 'cause we ran out. Fuck, fuck, fuck! She must have forgot, and I never bothered to check."
"It's fine," Derek assures. "It's not your fault. Or hers. Or anyone's except for those loser assholes."
Gavin agrees with him, yawning as he says, "Seriously, stop blaming yourself."
I can only nod, suggesting, "You two should get to bed."
"Nah, it's fine," Gavin shakes his head. "We'll stay up with you 'til they leave."
"You don't have to," I insist. "I'm fine now."
But neither bothers to move so I sigh and concentrate on finishing the statement. It takes me a couple minutes before I set the pen and paper down, leaning back into the sofa as we watched Home Alone 2, picking up from where we'd last left off the night before.
None of us heard Josh coming down or the basement door even opening or closing. It wasn't until he stood in front of us did the 3 of us finally realize he was downstairs.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I lie, glancing at my brothers who intently watch me.
"Hey, guys," Josh turns to them, "mind if I speak to your sister? Alone?"
Derek nods and gets up, but Gavin stays seated, arms crossed, saying, "I don't mind."
"Gavin," I look at him, pleading, "seriously."
"C'mon, let's go, Gav," Derek urges, walking away as he steps up the stairs. "Gotta make some calls and have the house cleaned. Night, Ali!"
"Good night," I yell back before looking at Gavin again.
He gazes at me, then Josh, narrowing his eyes as he hisses, "Don't think I don't know what's going on here."
"Nothing's going on," I protest as Josh holds his hand up in my direction, eyes on Gavin. I stop, anticipating his next move.
"I'm not sure what you're going on about," Josh calmly begins, "but right now, we need to focus on the matter at hand."
"I wonder how the Chief of Police would feel knowing there's a conflict of interest on this case," Gavin retorts, glaring holes into Josh.
"There's no conflict of interest," Josh replies. "However, if my being on this case upsets you in any way, then I will gladly step aside."
"Good, then get on it!"
"No," I intervene, looking at Gavin now. "I'm not comfortable working with or going into detail about what happened with anyone other than him—!"
"Because you have a crush on him, Ali!" Gavin snaps before rounding on Josh again, "And don't think I don't know you're practically encouraging it."
"Hah," Josh laughs, "that's amusing."
"What is?"
"The fact that you think I'm interested and reciprocating whatever or however Ali feels for me," Josh answers. "I understand she's got some schoolgirl crush, I get it, but I raced over here because your brother is a good friend of mine and your parents have always been more than kind to me." Josh looks to me and then back to my brother, "You don't have to worry, Gavin; there's nothing going on, and I think my lack of presence around here compared to before can more than back me up."
Gavin still looked pissed despite the obvious tell-tale sign upon his face as he realized that Josh hardly lingered around our house anymore, likely due to what the both of them had labelled a "crush".
I felt a little insulted, but I knew the true nature of my feelings, as well as the extent and the depths, would only make matters much worse.
"I'm fine," I speak up, attempting to convince Gavin, "just go upstairs. Seriously. We're fine."
Begrudgingly, Gavin walks around Josh and leaves the basement, shouting back, "You better be up in bed soon!"
I turn to Josh who sighs as he comes to sit down next to me. I apologize for my 15-year-old brother's behavior.
"It's fine," Josh assures, "they care about you and especially after what happened tonight, they're allowed to be a little skeptical and on edge. Did you finish the report?" He eyes the statement sitting on the table and I bob my head, handing it over. He skims it, nodding as he says, "Pretty much exactly what everyone else has said." He sighs, setting it aside before turning back to me, "I'm really sorry this happened to you tonight of all nights."
"Me, too." It came out so softly I wondered whether he'd heard me.
"Are you doing alright?"
"Sort of."
"Do you wanna talk about it?"
My head whips up at him as I bite my lower lip from making any kind of an expression.
Josh takes my hand in both of his as he leans forward, whispering, "It's okay to be upset over it. Or scared. Or whatever else you might be feeling."
The tears sting my eyes again as I attempt to swallow down the lump forming in the back of my throat. I tried to speak, but it only let the waterworks loose, causing me to sound like I was choking or gargling instead of trying to formulate an actual sentence.
"It's okay," he whispers, inching closer and dragging me into his chest. My arms come around over his as the sobs wrack my body again. There's only the sound of him calming me and me continuing to cry as he held me. When the tears subside, Josh pulls away and runs a thumb under my eyes.
"I th-thought they were going to—"
"Never," he interjects. "Not if I have anything to do with it. Or Bella. She's a brave girl, your friend."
"I know," I respond, "I just feel awful. I hate that it happened."
"It's okay," he reassures. "I'm sorry it got as far as it did, but regardless, you're safe now. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"
I shake my head.
"Okay, well," he looks around the sofa and then grabs the remote, "do you want to watch your all-time favorite movie?"
I end up grinning, laughing over the fact that he'd remembered.
"That would be nice," I smile. "So long as you watch it with me. And actually finish it this time."
He laughs as he turns to the TV, "We'll see about that."
I watch as he concentrates on getting the movie up and running, my mind whirling around thoughts of that kiss we'd shared on this very couch exactly 1 year and 2 months ago. I wanted him to kiss me again. But just being near him was a close second and I'd settle for that.
As he slips out of his boots and pulls his legs up onto the sofa, I nestle closer to him while the movie starts. His attention turns to me, and I can feel him immediately tense as I rest my head against his shoulder.
"Don't worry," I murmur, looking back up at him as I smirk, "I won't kiss you this time." His body relaxes and he turns back to the TV.
We watch in silence for a bit. I shift here and there, trying to make myself comfortable. When his arm lifts and comes around me, my head moves to his chest and eventually his lap. I grin staring at the screen where Vada makes a face over her father and Shelley. My attention soon dissipates where the film is concerned. I slightly turn my head up, eagerly but slowly, until I'm watching Josh; watching him laugh at something Thomas J. says or groan at Shelley or even just yawn because he was tired. He was mesmerizing.
"You're not watching," Josh declares, eyes still on the screen. "I thought this was the best movie ever made." He then looks down at me, smirking as if he thinks he's caught me in some kind of lie.
"It is," I reply, "I'm just watching you watch the movie."
"Yeah? Why's that?"
"It's my favorite movie ever; I'm just making sure you're absorbing it all. It deserves that level of respect."
He laughs, "You sure you don't have some sort of stake in this film? I swear, you harp on about it whenever I'm around."
"Which is like three times," I protest. "Because you got freaked out thinking I was twelve."
"You're still twelve," he leers.
"Two months shy of sixteen was not twelve," I insist. "And I've been seventeen for nearly a full day now, thank you."
"My, what a big age," he laughs again, our eyes locking.
"Thank you," I whisper as he narrows his eyes in confusion. I clarify, "For coming when you did."
He nods, "It's fine. All part of the job, right? Serve and protect."
"I know, but I'm glad you came," I emphasize. "I don't know what it is, but uhm…" I swallow hard again, unsure of how to phrase it. He narrows his eyes again as he watches me toy with the words in my head. "You make me feel…safe."
I watch his features soften upon comprehension of what I've just said. He licks his lips, nodding once more.
"Happy to help," he softly replies, eyes still locked with me. We sat there staring at each other for a moment too long, as if everything, the world itself, had just stopped.
It takes me even longer to process what we're doing when he leans down to press his mouth against mine. My neck cranes up, moaning into the kiss as his fingers delve into my hair, pulling me closer. I immediately slide further up into his lap, my hands sliding up the sides of his face as our tongues crashed.
Sweet fucking rejoice!
My tongue massages his, fighting for dominance as I gasp and moan against him, wanting to be even closer. We kissed like kissing was going out of style. It's not until my legs come around to straddle him does he immediately stop, pushing me away, and then scrambling to get up, breathing hard as he ran his fingers through his hair, muttering, "Fuck," under his breath again.
"Why do you always say that every time you kiss me?" I then joke, "Is it because you want to?"
He ignores the last part, "You kissed me that first time!"
"Okay, sure," I wave my hand, "whatever. But still—"
"Because this isn't right, Ali," he snaps, shaking his head. "You and me, we don't work. I came down here to grab your statement and to sit with you, to provide you a sense of comfort, or to make you feel safe again. Not to maul you! We shouldn't have done that! We shouldn't even be in the same sentence for fuck's sake, leave alone the same room."
"And why not?" I retort. "If it's the age thing, then—"
"No," he interrupts, "it's not just the age thing. It's the fact that I'm not good for you, that we don't— Won't! Won't work! I'm not a good person, you have no idea what—!"
"How could you say that?" I ask. "How could a cop who saved my life not be good for me?"
"Trust me, Ali," he maintains. "You don't want to know."
I grow quiet, disheartened, mind whirling at speeds I thought inconceivable. When I look back up at him, he's got this pained expression on his face. I bite my lip, "Is there someone else?"
"No—!"
"Then is it me?" I bite my lip again when the tears return. "Am I just not good enough for you?"
"Ali," he whispers, sighing as he comes back to sit next to me, wrapping his arm around me, "it's not you. Please, just— Please understand, I'm trying to keep you safe."
"And I told you that I feel safe with you," I reply, holding onto his shoulder. "Why can't you see that?"
"Look, in a perfect world, maybe this would have worked, but we don't live in a perfect world. Just trust me when I tell you that I'm no good for you." He wraps both arms around me again as he whispers, "It's not that I don't like you, it's just…there's so many working parts here, in my life, and I can't be what you need me to be. I can't give you what you want. I don't have the capacity to maintain any kind of intimate relationship with any person, leave alone with you. It's complicated."
"Whatever," I mumble, wiping my eyes as I pull away from him and grab the blanket. I rest my head back onto his shoulder and turn my attention to the movie. I can still feel him looking at me as he ran his fingers through my hair and eventually resting his cheek against the top of my head.
When I'm being shaken awake, I gasp as I open my eyes, coming face to face with Mike and Michelle standing over me, concern etched onto their faces.
"Are you okay?" Mike asks, sitting him down in the spot I was lifting my head up from.
I look around the room to find Josh but see no signs of him. I turn back to Mike, asking, "Where's Josh?"
"JC was here?" Mike questions, narrowing his eyes.
"It's just the last thing I remember," I lie, realizing how idiotic it was for me to ask if his best friend was still here, downstairs, where I had been found sleeping. "I, uhm," I clear my throat before continuing, "he was collecting my statement and uhm, I guess I fell asleep after he left."
"Well, there's no one around," Michelle clarifies as she sits down on my other side. "Are you okay?"
I nod, "Yeah, uhm…I'm okay. Did you guys just get here? What time is it?"
"Nearly six AM," Mike answers. "Sorry it took so long."
"Yeah, he was still doing a hundred on the freeway," Michelle laughs. "The city was just harder to get out of. Everything was smooth sailing after that."
"Are you hurt?" Mike asks, looking me up and down as his face twists into anger, "I swear to God I'm gonna murder the motherfucker that ripped your dress apart."
"I'm fine," I maintain. "Seriously, the cops got here just in time. Nothing happened more than this."
"Your dress is in tatters, Al—"
"I know," I insert, "but trust me, seriously. I'm fine."
"Fuck," Mike mutters, shaking his head as he gets up. "Let's head upstairs. Get into your bed, change your clothes, whatever. Michelle can stay with you guys, while I head over to JC's, find out what's next."
"Okay," I nod, getting up. "When are mom and dad back?"
Mike shuts off the TV and then ushers me up the stairs behind Michelle as he replies, "In a few hours. I'll pick 'em up from the airport. You just get some rest, okay?"
I tell them "Good night" despite the fact that the sun was peeking out in the sky now.
As I pass the living room, listening to Mike and Michelle begin to clean up the mess, I grab my phone that sits on the ledge, right behind the planter where I'd hidden it. I was so naïve to think those guys were simply robbing us. I climb up the stairs, realizing just how cold it suddenly felt in my shredded dress. That was hundreds of dollars down the drain in one night, a dress I had literally gotten the day before, a dress my mother gifted me for my birthday. It was ruined.
I grab some pajamas from the closet and begin to take it off. As I unzip, something falls down from around my neckline. I reach down and pick up the piece of paper, unfolding it to read the scrawled words.
'I'm sorry if you wake up and no one is here. I had to get back to work and submit your statement with the rest. If there's anything else you need or remember, just message me at this number. Happy Birthday, and I'm sorry again.'
I grin as I grab my phone off the bed and typed in his phone number, saving him to the device. I then press the message icon, texting, 'Did you at least finish the movie before you left?'
I place the phone down as I shimmy out of the dress and into my pj's. It buzzes and I immediately pick it up, reading his text, 'nope! you fell asleep & I thought you should rest so I left.'
I roll my eyes to myself, typing, 'I swear on my life: one day you are going to watch the entirety of that movie. I'll make sure of it!'
He immediately responds, 'sure! now get some rest. hope ur ok.'
I grin again as I thanked him and said good night before pulling on my top and crawling into my bed, making another promise but to myself this time: come hell or high water, he's going to be my first.
I wanted him even more than I had a year ago. I think the whole "knight in shining armor" tactic might have had something to do with it, but I knew, regardless, that I'd still feel the same in the morning. As I had every morning after our first kiss.
He made himself out to be some big, bad wolf to me only because he was scared of what my family might say, what his coworkers, or his job might say. He couldn't actually be bad for me.
There was no way.
I'd never felt that comfortable, that safe around anyone ever in my life.
He was wrong, he just was.