The couch dips down beside me, as a large hand reaches in front of me with a steaming mug of coffee. “Here Caroline; take this, it will help warm you up.” I take the mug, and look over at Eric. His face doesn’t show pity, but he does look concerned and confused himself. “Thank you, Eric. This is probably what I needed, instead of my choice of beverage for the night.”
“Yeah; I saw that choice in the yard. I grabbed the bottles up on our way in. Stretch your legs out, and give me your feet.”
I pull my legs in tighter, and scrunch my brows together. “Just give me your feet, Caroline. It is one of the fastest places to lose heat and regain your warmth back again.” I am really wrestling in my head with stretching my feet out to Eric, but they really are cold, and the look on his face says he isn’t going to take no for an answer. I start to stretch my legs out, and he takes my ankles into his hands and pulls my feet onto his lap. He starts rubbing them firmly through my socks, and I can feel them warming up almost immediately. His touch brings an automatic comfort to me. I take a few sips from my coffee and close my eyes for a moment, letting the warmth run down my throat and up from my feet.
I start to feel very relaxed, and then suddenly it hits me. I am curled up on the couch with my feet on Eric’s lap as he rubs them. This just isn’t right of me. It’s too soon since I left Kyle hurting and alone—less than 24 hours ago. I try and pull away as slowly as possible, and place my feet back on the ground, sitting up straight. Tara still has concern etched across her face, and Eric looks, well, honestly, I’m not sure what his look is. I just know those emerald eyes seem to be speaking whether his lips are actually moving or not.
“Thank you guys, for helping me to warm up. I promise, the next time I plan on doing an impromptu lawn stretch I will let you know in advance. I am going to go take a hot shower and go to bed. I called in sick tonight, but I have class and work tomorrow, so I really need to try and get some sleep. Goodnight, and thank you again for everything.”
I wake up Tuesday morning to the same mute feeling I have had for over the past week now, since I called things off with Kyle. It makes nine days now, and every day I have to convince myself not to call him just to say hi and see how he is. I know I am the reason we are no longer together, but it doesn’t mean I don’t give a shit how he is doing, or miss him. He really had become an important part of my life. Yet, I know it just wasn’t meant to be for us.
That knowledge still hasn’t stopped me from walking around like some type of droid on a daily program. School, school-work, job. I still meet up at lunch with Adam and Tara, but I haven’t had any of our coffee shop visits since the breakup. Tara did force me out the house one day for a head clearing run, as she called it. She was right; it did help at least for a little while. Tara and Raleigh had been talking, and Raleigh showed up here Thursday night. It was the one night that I let everything go and just lived in the moment with them. They have both been really great by me, and I slept better than I had all week just having Raleigh’s presence in my room with me that night.
My first class today is an early one. As I am walking back out after class, I cut around the side of the building for a short cut to the parking lot. Once I am about half way down the side, a large hand reaches across my mouth, as a strong arm grabs around my body, restraining me; both of my arms by my sides, and pulling me in against him. I look up into the eyes of my captor, and complete fears runs through me as I take recognition of him.
He has a very evil smile on his face, along with that cocky look I remember from outside my dorm room door. The look he gave me when he was telling me he would have loved for me to join his and Piper’s party. His smile changes and his grip tightens as I try and pull away. “I told you I would have you screaming my name in pleasure, Bitch. You seemed to be keener on rape, though, so I guess we are going to have to do it your way.” I know if I don’t do something now that is exactly what is going to happen. Through pure adrenaline, I manage to get one of my arms free and punch my knuckles right into his throat. His grip drops from me, but as I go to run away, he manages to swing and punch me right across my temple. I remember hearing other loud voices right before I hit the ground.
When I open my eyes I see police standing by me, and a lady leaning over me, saying something. I must be dreaming of mine and Raleigh’s car accident again, and I try to shake my head and wake up. That is when I feel the immense pain run through my skull, and my hand flies up to the side of my head as my mind registers what just really happened. Rape. Oh my god, he was going to rape me. I jerk my eyes back and forth, trying to realize where I am.
I am still by my school building, and I see him up against the wall; hand-cuffed with officers standing around him and blood running down his face. There is another officer standing with a group of guys, and one girl who looks completely frantic herself. I look back up at the lady leaning over me, and realize she is talking to me.
“Just try and lay still ma’am. Can you tell me your name and what type of pain you are feeling?”
I close my eyes again, and grip the side of my head as another sharp pain runs through it. “Caroline Reyes, and only my head from what I can tell right now. Did he, I mean he was going to…”
“It’s ok, Caroline; we know. Try and relax. He was seen by those other guys, and they attacked him. He never got a hand on you past that moment. We are going to take you to the hospital just to check you over fully. You have anyone you want us to call?”
TARA AND ADAM walk into my cubicle in the emergency room first. Tara’s hands start flying around in the air. “Oh my god, Caroline. Honey, are you ok? That is a stupid question; I’m so sorry. I was talking with Adam, when Raleigh called to tell me everything. She knew I could get to you the fastest, and Adam wanted to come check on you too.” I look up at Adam, and can see the worry and anger in his eyes. He is standing back further from my bed, and I notice his fist actually clenching open and shut. I look back up at Tara and reach out for her, and can’t help the sob that escapes my throat as she gently wraps her arm around me, rubbing her fingers up and down my arm.
Adam paces back and forth a couple times, and then looks up at me again. “The bastard is in the same hospital, Caroline. After they check him over, they are taking him straight to a cell. I am so, so sorry. I swear it is taking everything in me not to go kill the bastard. We were told the guys that saw the attack on you put a hell of a beating on his ass, though. Sorry; this probably isn’t what you feel like hearing right now.”
I reach my other hand out toward Adam, and he walks slowly over toward me and takes it gently into his hand. I can feel his hands shaking from anger and his own adrenaline build up. I am still panic stricken inside, but I feel lucky to have caring, loving people in my life.
I give them both a weak smile, and feel another twinge of pain and reach up toward the gel pack they have wrapped on the side of my head. Tara’s mouth falls open, and I see tears welling up in her eyes. “Thank you both so much for being here, I really don’t want to be alone right now. I remember him from being with Piper one night, and I talked shitty to him when he tried making crude gestures toward me. I had forgotten all about him, but I guess he took it more personal.” I feel the tears building up again, and I try and hold them back.
Tara sits on the edge of the bed beside me, and moves her fingers gently across my cheek. “I’m so happy those other guys showed up, and things didn’t go further, Caroline. What a fucking asshole. We will never walk alone again; ok? We will work our schedules out, and always have at least one other person with us. I’m so sorry.”
I am lightly rubbing Tara’s back, as the tears start running down her face even heavier. Adam hands us each a tissue, and gives Tara’s shoulder a slight nudge, making her look up at him. She just stares up at Adam, and, even though he is trying to smile for her, he is shaking his head back and forth as he softly speaks. “Try, Tara; we both have to try—not now, ok?” She nods back in agreement, and takes in a loud sniff and wipes her face clean.
We stay like this for some time, and then Raleigh and my mom come rushing through the curtain. Mom takes one look at me, and her hand flies up to her mouth. Tara and Adam both step back, making room. “My baby girl; my sweet baby girl. I can’t even begin to say what I am feeling right now. Oh god, just know I’m so thankful that you are still here with me; no bastard is ever going to take my sweet baby girl away from me. I love you so much.” I grab Mom up into a hug, and, even though the pain shoots back through my head, I squeeze her as hard as I can, and don’t even try and stop the tears this time.
Raleigh reaches me and joins in on the hug, and the tears are already falling from her as well. They pull away from the embrace and each take a side of the bed beside me. Mom is gently caressing my hair away from my neck, and Raleigh is rubbing circles on my hand. “I am scared to say anything, Caroline. I just don’t know what to say; other than you know I can’t ever live in this world without you. We have to always be each other’s rock; you have to stay safe. I love you.”
“I love you too, Raleigh. I love all of you, and it means so much to me to have such loving people here for me—now and always.”
After some time, Adam and Tara have left together, and the doctor comes in to talk with me once more before releasing me. I have a busted blood vessel in my eye and a knot on the side of my head. I am going to have one hell of shiner and several headaches, but there was no signs of another concussion. No one, as of right now, will give me details on Scott’s injuries—basically just that Scott is the asshole’s name, and that he is being moved to a cell later today.
Raleigh is still sitting beside me on the bed, and Mom is standing outside the curtain, talking some more with the doctor. The curtain slides to the side, and there he stands with his hands in tight fist by his sides and wrinkles on the sides of his emerald eyes where he is squinting them so tightly. I don’t know why the sight of Eric has me crying again, but suddenly the sobs are just uncontrollably leaving me.
His hands relax by his side, and he takes two large steps over to me, taking me gently into an embrace against his chest and softly stroking the back of my hair. “Oh Caroline, shhh it’s ok. I swear to you, that piece of shit will never touch you again. My jurisdiction or not, I am going to make sure his ass gets everything he deserves.” I pull back slightly, and look up and see Mom standing inside the curtain, looking confused, and Raleigh has her hand up toward her shaking her head back and forth, stopping Mom from walking further.
I look at Eric’s shoulder where my face was just resting, and start wiping at the wet marks I have left trailed all over his shirt. He lightly takes my chin, raising my eyes to his. “Leave it Caroline; please just leave it. Are they releasing you now?”
Raleigh hands me another tissue, and I wipe my face clean before speaking. “Yes; Mom and Raleigh are taking me to my house. They aren’t too happy I am not coming home with them, but I don’t want to run away from my life and give him any satisfaction if possible.”
He gives me a weak smile, and then his fingers lightly caress my cheek. “My brave girl. Do you all mind if I follow behind you? I know officers are supposed to stop by and speak with Caroline some more. They have been pretty busy with the assailant, and the guys that stepped in to help, so they haven’t gotten back with Caroline yet. I would like to be there when they talk with her again; if that is ok with all of you.” Everyone looks over at me, waiting for a response as I just shake my head yes.
Eric helps me out to my mom’s car, and Raleigh climbs into the back.
As soon as we pull into the drive, Tara and Adam step out of the house. Adam gives Tara and I each a quick hug, and then heads for his car. Eric gives him a quick stern look, but quickly turns his attention back to me.
Even though Scott never had a chance to touch me in that way, I can’t help but feel dirty. Everyone gives me a look of sorrow as they let me go wash the filth I feel away. When I walk back into the living room, they are all sitting around talking. Mom comes over to me with the first smile I have seen on her face all day, and leads me toward the couch.
Eric has a laptop set up on the island, and he shuts it as I come walking by, and he reaches out and lightly squeezes my hand. I can feel the automatic pull of comfort with that one little touch from him. They have my pillow and a blanket set up on the couch, and I settle in. I’ve never been so thankful for a room full of people. Everyone tries to pamper me with anything they can do for me, or get for me.
After several minutes, there is a knock at the door. Eric answers it, and two officers come walking in. One is a short, yet broad shouldered female, and the other is an average height, very broad, all over male. I notice for the first time as Eric is standing by the door, that he has his badge and gun on his belt. He must have come here from work, and my gratitude for his presence increases.
After several questions to me from the officers, as well as several questions from Eric back at them, they finally leave. All eyes were on me when asked if I want to press charges. I didn’t hesitate at all with a “yes”. I found out that Scott actually had rope and a knife in his pockets. The guys that saved me gave Scott a broken nose and two broken ribs. Eric had also been doing his own research, and told me about a prior charge from Scott’s High School days by another female against him for rape. She dropped the charges once the court case actually started, changing her statement to consensual.
Everyone has grown very weary again, and all this news just attacks me all over with the seriousness of the whole day. I can’t bring myself to eat anything throughout, and mom tries to stay the night here with me. I convince her that I will be fine, and she really should go home to Mark and explain everything to him. Raleigh rode here with my mom, and, even though she protests, I convince her to leave with Mom so she isn’t riding back alone.
Eric comes to sit on the couch beside me and takes my ankles, placing my feet on his lap; rubbing my feet the same way he did before. Once again, his touch and presence are an instant warmth and comfort to me. “I know this won’t be easy, Caroline, but I’m glad you are pressing charges. Assholes like that can’t keep getting away with this shit. Trust me when I say I will do everything in my power to make sure of that. I don’t want to see you, or Tara, walking alone any more, though. You might also start getting sick of seeing me around, because, like it or not, you two are going to be seeing a lot more of me around here.”
A smile spreads across my face, and, even though I won’t tell him, the thought of having him here more makes me feel safe and very warm inside.
Tara walks over and leans in, giving Eric a hug. “I already talked to Caroline about working out our schedules to make sure we are always with someone else. For once Eric, I think I really am going to appreciate your over baring company over me. Thank you for everything.”
Eric looks up at Tara, and gives her a big smile. “Didn’t think I would ever hear that from you, Tara, and no need to thank me; I want to be here. I’m just sorry this situation is the reason I am needed.”
Tara sits down beside Eric, and leans her head on his shoulder. He leans over, kissing the top of her head, and then looks back over at me. “Eric, I really appreciate you coming here today. You were great with all the questioning and it just means a lot to me. I…. I just feel really secure, and after this day all this right now just somehow feels so right.” Eric is just staring at me with that same look in his eyes—there is so much he wants to say, yet he won’t.
I feel my eyes starting to get heavy, as Eric continues rubbing on my feet and ankles. The weight of the day’s stress bringing my eyelids down. I feel the blanket rising up further on me, and I look up to see Tara looking over me. “I really am tired, Tara, but I think I’d rather sleep in my bed. Would you mind coming to lay down with me, though? Sorry if that sounds strange; I just still don’t feel like being alone.”
Tara reaches out her hand to help me up. “Caroline, that isn’t strange; if that is all you ask of me, of course I will be here for you.”
He reaches up, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “I want to be here for you, Caroline; you don’t have to thank me. Yes, I will see you soon. I have a few more things I want to look into, if you two don’t mind, and then I will head out.”
We are all standing now, and Tara gives Eric a hug and kiss on the cheek. Eric kisses her back, and then turns to me and wraps his arm around my waist and gently pulls me into him. My arms automatically wrap around him, and he brings my head down gently to his chest and strokes my hair down my back a few times. I’m sure I hear him inhale, as he leans down toward me and it causes a shiver to run through me. Eric lets out a sigh, and then releases me. This embrace is the best feeling of belonging I have ever felt. “You girls try and get some rest. Scott is in jail, and I am going to be sure to keep up to date with his whereabouts; so don’t worry with that.”
ON THURSDAY, I head back to school with Tara in her car. The knot has gone away, and the pain has subsided substantially. My eye looks right out scary, and I know I am going to receive a lot of stares throughout the day. Word has spread across the school of what happened. Scott is out on bail, and at his parent’s home, but he isn’t allowed back on campus at all.
Tara walks with me to my class, and Matt meets her by my door so they can walk to their class together. They have been out a few more times, but she really doesn’t talk about him often. As they turn and walk away, I notice him reach over and take Tara’s hand into his. Tara looks down at their entwined fingers, and tucks her hair with her other hand, and then looks back straight ahead.
In the Stars Page 21