Define Me

by Culine Ramsden

  “What happened, are you ok?”

  “Yeah I am fine but the bastard fucked with my cars, the Corvette is a goner, luckily the fire did not spread to the rest of the house, he got in through the garage.”

  “Oh shit I am sorry.”

  “Why are you sorry Cat this is not your fault, he is psycho, we will get him, and he will pay for this. I promise you Caitlin I will not let him hurt you again.”

  I put my arm around Vincent and held him tightly. Firstly because I was scared and I couldn’t believe Hunter would go that far and secondly to get the feel of Brent out of my mind.

  “What are you going to do now?”

  “Well I will have to go back home tonight, I can’t leave the house like that, but I will be back tomorrow. Your parents are still here and I don’t think your dad will take too kindly to me sleeping in his daughter’s bed. I just came back to tell you what is happening. The security company is still at the house and the police are also there. I love baby, I will be back.”

  I didn’t want Vincent to leave, but his house almost just burnt down and I was selfish by wanting him to stay by me.

  “Is Cole going to go with you?”

  “Cat I don’t need a babysitter, Cole has his own things to sort out. Don’t worry all will be fine, I will be back in the morning to fetch you for our run.”

  “Ok, see you later.”

  The rest of the night dragged by, my mom was trying her best to get me to eat even making my favourite but I was just not interested. At 8 my dad kicked everyone out the house; there was nothing more they could do tonight. One of Brent’s connection were posted outside the house just in case Hunter decided he wanted to come back, I doubted he would.

  At about 9 I told my parents that I needed some sleep but that was a lie. I’d become so use to falling asleep in Vincent’s arm that I didn’t know if I was going to sleep at all. I took a blanket and headed outside to my patio. The nights were getting colder; I curled up on the chair and pulled out my phone. I missed Vincent so much; I decided to send a message.

  ME: Hey, you there?

  Not even a second later I received a message back.

  Vincent: Hey baby, you still awake, I thought you would be in dreamland by now.

  Me: I can’t sleep; my pillow is not here tonight.

  Vincent: Who took your pillow?

  Me: He decided that my old man is too scary so he disappeared.

  Vincent: Your old man scary, NEVER!

  Me: LOL I know he scares you, he scares me too especially when he walked into my house this morning.

  Vincent: That is not funny, I shat myself this morning, I agree, your dad is very scary.

  Me: See I knew you were scared.

  Vincent: Can’t you sleep?

  Me: No, I’m worried about Hunter, I never in my life thought he would do this.

  Vincent: We will find him, I promise you. He will go to jail I’ll make sure of that.

  Me: I hope so. I miss you, I wish you were here, I like falling asleep in your arms.

  Vincent: Soon, but your dad is here he will never let me sleep over again.

  Me: LOL, yes you’re right, he won’t. I LOVE YOU

  Vincent: I love you too, go to sleep now; I will see you bright and early.

  Vincent

  “Could the day get any worse? The attack on Caitlin, fuck I thought I was going to lose her. Standing outside her house hearing her scream like that, what kind of person beats a woman like that, it nearly killed me when I found her on the bathroom floor. Then to listen to her telling me that this was not the first time, from what Brent told me, Hunter had a bad rap for taking out his anger on other people. If I got my hands on him he would be sorry.

  I didn’t know how I was going to tell Caitlin, I needed to go to New York. Grams being sick could not have come at a worse time but I needed to go home. At least Cole would be here, he could keep an eye on the business but fuck I needed to ask Brent to look after Caitlin. I didn’t trust that guy at all; I saw how he looked at her. I knew she said there was nothing between them at school, well that might have been the true her.

  Let’s hope Caitlin’s parents stick around a little longer, I know her dad is not a big fan of mine, no Dad would be after walking into his daughters house to find a guy in his underwear. I made a great impression on him, yeah right, but at least there would be someone in the house all the time. Well I better get off to bed, tomorrow is going to be another long day. I want to get to Caitlin early; my flight is late afternoon at this point I don’t know how long I’ll be away.”

  Chapter 25

  It was 4:30am I didn’t sleep at all, I kept on waking up from the noises in the house and the nightmares of Hunter did not help much. His words were haunting me.

  "If I can't have you no one will and that is a promise"

  I didn’t tell anyone this, after all this I still wanted to believe there was some humanity left in Hunter he was just lost and needed help. Maybe if I phoned his mom and talked to her, maybe they could help. It was too early to phone Annie; I would wait until after breakfast.

  I needed to go for a run; I needed to clear my head. Before I use to get lost in my music and my volleyball, but I didn’t want to think about volleyball, if it had not been for that stupid newspaper article about the Volleyball tournament Hunter would never have found me, but then I would never have met Vincent either. I was so sick of all this, I just needed to get out. I walked into the kitchen to find Vincent and my dad already having coffee.

  “Wow you’re here early.”

  “Yeah, I got here 10 minutes ago, your dad was outside.”

  “Morning my darling, did you sleep ok?”

  “I’m ok Dad; do you want to go for a run, Vincent?”

  “It’s still a bit dark, we can go in a little later.”

  “Ok”

  I was a little disappointed I needed to be alone with Vincent, I needed him to hold me but I didn’t want to do that in front of my dad.

  “Well you two kids have coffee down here, I will take your mom her coffee in bed, and you know how grumpy she gets when she doesn’t get her fix early in the morning.”

  “I’m going to tell mom you said that.”

  “She knows it is the truth. Love you my baby girl.”

  “Love you too dad.”

  My dad went upstairs leaving Vincent and me alone. I could feel something was wrong that he was holding back. I wondered what really happened yesterday at his house.

  “You want some more coffee?”

  “Yes please, I’m going to need it, I didn’t sleep last night and from the look on your face I don’t think you slept either.”

  “No I didn’t, my head feels like it wants to explode. I just need to go for a run, I need the sea, and I need the sound to drown out the voices in my head.”

  “Come sit by me for a bit. I need to hold you, last night was too long.”

  I went over to where Vincent was sitting; he pushed the chair back to make space for me.

  “I missed you last night; I can only sleep when I am in your arms. My parents are going home today, Dads working tomorrow. Then you can sleep over again.”

  Vincent didn’t say anything just put his arms around me and hugged me tightly. Something was wrong and I could feel it. I hoped all this shit with Hunter had not scared Vincent off, all my shadows had come between us.

  “What is going on Vincent, I can feel something is different, you are freaking me out …what?”

  “No baby, is not you, damn I don’t know how to tell you, with all that is going on right now.”

  “Just tell me, Vincent!”

  “My mom called last night, my Nana is really ill and it doesn’t look good, my mom asked us all to come home and see her, it might be the last time. I am sorry, I wish it was different, I wish I could stay. Shit Cat I am worried I just don’t know what else to do”

  “I’m not going to lie to you, I am freaking out, I need you but I understand you need to go, your fami
ly comes first.”

  “It’s not like that right now you are the most important person in my life, but it doesn’t look good, she might not make it. I need to see her before its too late. I will make it back as soon as I can.”

  I put my fingers on Vincent’s lips.

  “Stop, you need to go your family needs you, I will never forgive myself if you don’t get to say goodbye. We will make a plan, the police will find him, and he will not get to me.”

  “Caitlin, I’m just so worried about you. Don’t you want to come with me, and then at least I know you are safe.”

  “Vincent, I can’t this is a time for you and your family and I have class, I have missed so much already. Heather and Cole will be here and we can ask those friends of Brent to help.”

  “I understand, it’s just hard, I feel like I am letting you down by leaving.”

  “You’re not, I promise you, I will miss you like crazy but I understand and there is no other way.”

  “I was awake the whole night stressing about this and the fact that I need to ask Brent to look after you is stressing me out even more, I don’t feel good about that guy, I know he cares for you and I think if I can’t be here he is the best one to ask.”

  “B R E N T! No why him?”

  “He has been there for you before and he is the only other person that really knows what Hunter is capable of doing.”

  “Oh, well when you put it like that, you are right, but you really have nothing to worry about.”

  “Not worry about Hunter getting to you yes, but Brent with you is a whole other story. I see the way he looks at you and I don’t like it. I love you Caitlin and I only want you to be safe.”

  “I love you to Vincent but really there is nothing to be worried about between Brent and me. We were hardly friends at school, the only connection we had was the fact that Hunter took his frustrations out on both of us that is it.”

  “I hope you are right, just a big brother complex from Brent’s side. But you need to know I will fight for what is mine and you are mine.”

  “I’m glad you feel that way, you are mine too. Talking about that have you heard from Rebecca again?”

  “No, nothing to worry about on that side, I think she got the message.”

  “Good, now can we please go for a run?”

  “Yeah, let’s go.”

  Vincent and I went for a long run; neither of us was talking. Deep inside I was a wreck, I didn’t want him to go, and I needed him. I was terrified Hunter would come back for me. Seeing what he was capable of scares me. Then there was the Brent thing I sure as hell didn’t want to be alone with Brent. I was a big mouth, there was nothing between Brent and me, but I could see it in his eyes too just like me he was affected this afternoon when he held me in his arms. I loved Vincent so what was that feeling I got with Brent today. It was freaking me out but I can’t show Vincent that. I just need to make sure I limit time I spent with Brent alone. Heather would have to do her BFF duties and stay by my side I needed her. It was a quite morning on the beach only a few more runners out. I needed that so much, it was the one place I could calm my mind.

  “Hey, you ok, you have been very quiet?”

  “Yes I’m fine just trying to clear my head.”

  “You want to come to the shop for breakfast, Cole will only be in later and I’m sure your little friend is still fast asleep, I will make it a quickie, have been fantasizing of having you on my desk.”

  “V I N C E N T, … OK!”

  Chapter 26

  I hated watching Vincent walk away it was torture; I didn’t want him to go with the fire at Vincent’s place and the phone call to me, Brent and his team had gone on high alert. After our “breakfast” at the shop that morning Vincent gave Brent a call and asked to meet with him.

  Brent would be my shadow until Hunter was caught or Vincent got back. You could have cut the tension with a knife; I understood how Vincent felt and Brent was not helping the situation, by calling me princess every chance he got. (If it wasn’t that we needed Brent I think Vincent would have punched his lights out that day. It was not funny I know but it is kinda nice seeing Vincent all worked up, he was not shy to admit he was jealous.)

  I drove back home with Heather and Cole, I asked Brent to rather not come to the airport, so I assumed he was waiting back at the house. Vincent arranged that Brent or one of the security guys slept at the house with us just to be safe.

  “Hey girl, you ok? You haven’t said a word since we left the airport.”

  “Um, yeah I’m ok, I just miss Vincent.”

  “I know, but he will be back soon enough.”

  “Yeah, you’re right.”

  “So what you want to do? Go home or go out for supper.”

  “I don’t know what ever.”

  “I will stay with you girls tonight, won’t need Brent’s services for tonight.”

  “What is wrong with Brent sticking around, he’s an old school friend. Caitlin and will be fine with him or are you jealous as well?”

  “Jealous of what, I just don’t like him.”

  “Ok then, if you say so, who am I to argue?”

  “OMG you guys are all the same.”

  “Oh yeah, I need to protect what is ours.”

  “Whatever, just take us to a good pizza place, I need carbs and lots of wine.”

  Whilst we drove to god knows where, I got a text from Vincent.”

  Vincent: Miss you all ready.

  Me: Miss you 2

  Vincent: Are you still with Cole and Heather?

  Me: Yes, Cole is playing superhero and decided he will be staying with us tonight protecting what is yours.

  Vincent: That’s a good man, he knows which side his bread is buttered.

  Me: We’re on our way to get some pizza and then heading back home.

  Vincent: Great, I better go we are about to take off. I will let you know when I land. I LOVE YOU.

  Me: I love you more.

  It was going to be a freaking long week.

  “I changed my mind, can we get take-away, really not in the mood for people.”

  “Sure thing, let’s go home and order in. Do you at least have something to drink?”

  “Yes all sorted.”

  “Caitlin, please tell me you are going to be a little more sociable, you really killing the mood here.”

  “Whatever Heather, just take me home and I will get out of your way, so sorry I’m such a buzz kill.”

  “Ouch.”

  I was not in the mood, I was miserable with every minute away from Vincent, my mood is turning darker; I should have gone with him. My gut was telling me something was going to go wrong, I just wanted to be in Vincent’s arms. I could feel the tears well up in my eyes. I turned my head to the window, the sun was almost totally down and a soft misty rain was falling. Perfect for the mood I was in.

  Cole barely parked the car and I was out running up the stairs to the front door. I saw Brent’s car parked in front of the house. I didn’t want to face him either.

  “Caitlin wait, what’s it with you, you going to eat with us?”

  “No sorry for snapping earlier, I just want to go to bed, see you in the morning.”

  “Ok, see you in the morning if you need me just shout.”

  “I will, good night”

  I opened the front door and headed straight for my room; I closed the door behind me and slid down to the floor. I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. After I walked away from my relationship with Hunter, I thought things would change for the better but the darkness seemed to want to drag me back all the time.

  I needed a hot bubble bath; I took my phone and IPod with me. (Phone just in case Vincent called and my IPod for my music. Music has always been my escape from reality.) I started pouring my bath before setting up my iPod. I wondered what time he would land ... I missed him.

  The steam misted up the room; I slipped into the bath submerging myself for a few seconds. I pushed back up t
he fragrance of my lavender bubble bath it was so relaxing. I just needed to close my eyes for a little while. All of me by John Legend start playing, I drifted away in the memory of the night Vincent told me he loved me.

  I must have drifted off; I was woken up by a knock on the door. The water had gone cold and the bubbles were all gone.

  “Cat, the food is here, you want to come down?”

  I felt so much better; the relaxing bath seemed to have helped lift my mood.