Blooming

by Fletcher, Peyton

  Todd’s voice boomed out before he even realised he’d shouted, “What the fuck is going on here?”

  Jen shot round, took one look at his thunderous face and screeched in alarm as she vaulted onto the sofa and launched herself over the back of it before shooting into the bathroom out of sight. The grace with which she managed it in the heels was astounding.

  “Todd darling,” Sean began to say.

  “Don’t you fucking darling me,” he roared before scooping up Jen’s t shirt and jeans which were strewn on the floor. “I’ll deal with you in a minute. I ought to toss you out on the street.”

  He stomped off, dragging the sofa out of his way and pounded on the bathroom door. “Go away,” she yelled.

  “Not a chance,” he roared back, I’ve got your clothes out here and I’m prepared to wait as long as it takes.”

  The door opened a crack and her hand came out, “give them to me.”

  “Not before you let me in.”

  “Sebastian attempted to deflect his ire, “Er Todd, it’s our fault, Sean had an idea for a line of dresses and he wanted to see Jen for himself...”

  “Oh well he bloody well managed that didn’t he!”

  The next thing he knew the bathroom door opened wider and a small hand yanked him inside.

  Jen stood there, eyes wild, her chest pounding.

  “How much have you had to drink?” he stormed.

  “A third of whatever they’ve had, it’s your fucking fault, telling Sean about my scar what happened to you managing to keep a secret? Well he had to come see for himself didn’t he and I was forced to drink enough to give me the courage to show him. Unfortunately the little fucker still isn’t put off.”

  “I heard that!” Sean yelled from the living room. “Who are you calling little?”

  “Forget about that I’ll be having this out with him in about five seconds, first I want a good look at you myself.”

  Her breathing stuttered in her chest and she instantly sobered as she sensed the dangerous change in his mood.

  Suddenly she was aware of how small her bathroom was and how much room he occupied inside it. His green eyes flashed with heat and anger while his eyes roamed over her. “Firstly I promised to keep a secret about the virgin thing. Second - I’m getting pretty damn sick of discovering you having fun every time my back is turned.”

  “I haven’t encouraged any of it, not yesterday or today and don’t go round telling people about my scar either.”

  His eyebrow cocked in mischief as he pointedly looked at her chest and then her groin.

  “Do you realise how revealing that bra is? I can see your nipples through it.”

  She gasped at his directness and tried to cover her chest.

  “It didn’t seem to matter and it’s not as if Sean and Sebastian care, just for a minute I felt brave enough to do it.” She sobbed suddenly and collapsed on the floor, she was about to go into hysterics.

  He pulled her up by the wrists and yanked her towards him. “I don’t know what’s happening to me,” she croaked. “You’re all driving me crazy, and I’m doing things I would never have dreamed of a month ago.”

  All of a sudden his anger drained as she began to cry. Her confidence boosting adrenaline was fast diminishing.

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “Well don’t be, I just got the shock of my life that’s all.” He stepped back and looked her up and down again, drinking her in. Then he coaxed her to turn around slowly before she turned to face him again.

  “You are absolutely beautiful,” he said reverently, and then to diffuse the palpable tension between them, “But seriously we need to get you some new underwear.”

  Chapter 6

  They stood looking at each other for a minute neither saying a word, then Todd spoke, ”before you cover all this up again I have to kiss you.” His hands went to her waist and his fingers splayed out over her rib-bones.

  “Ohh,” she said on a long sigh. “How come it doesn’t tickle when you do it?”

  “You really are drunk aren’t you? It doesn’t tickle because I know what I’m doing,” he laughed then faltered, “Just who else has been tickling you anyway?”

  “Nobody, I’m drunk I don’t know what I’m saying and you shouldn’t be taking advantage.”

  “Well I’m afraid you’ve found the limits of my chivalry, when I find women in their underwear inside my building they become fair game,” he said pulling surprisingly hard on her pony tail.

  In the next second his hands were at her back as he swooped into her mouth - all hot breath and flashing tongue. Thank Christ for the heels because without them he knew his hands would be on her ass and he wouldn’t have been able to control anything that happened after that. As it was he thrust her up against the sink, her legs went to open on instinct and he stepped into her.

  He kissed her so hard, she was struggling to respond there was no room for her to kiss back, he was staking his claim to her, and something scary and fascinating was poking her stomach.

  Next thing there was banging on the door, “Todd, I know you’re not trying to sex that girl up while you have two gay men out here!”

  He groaned into her mouth and slowed his rhythm and in delighted relief her own tongue surged into his mouth and she kissed him back once before withdrawing.

  “I better let you get dressed,” he looked at her ruefully, “you’re going to give me a heart attack otherwise.”

  The banging started again, “Todd I want to get my girl’s measurements before she sobers up and comes to her senses.”

  He looked back at her once with regret, then pressed a hot open mouth kiss between her breasts, so quick she wasn’t sure it had actually happened. Then he stepped away yanking the door open and strode out.

  “You two finish whatever you’re doing and get your butts downstairs, I want an explanation for this,” he yelled at the guys before stomping away.

  ****

  Todd was pacing back and forth when Sean and Sebastian knocked and came through his door. He’d managed to calm down a little, so when Sean held up his hands in surrender he simply said, “What the hell were you thinking of Sean? I told you something very personal to her, something she’s probably only shared with me, and I only did that to spare her the embarrassment of trying to deal with you herself. I didn’t for a minute think it would have the exact opposite effect on you.”

  Sebastian chipped in, “Look Todd, we are truly sorry. Sean got excited because he had a brainwave that he could design dresses for women with issues like Jen. You know - sexy dresses for ladies with specific things they felt they needed to hide or camouflage, dresses to make women feel gorgeous give them their confidence back. Maybe expand it into working with burn victims or cancer patients.”

  Todd sighed, “Guys that’s a nice idea but she’s told me she will bolt if we can’t all respect her privacy and I really, really don’t want her to go anywhere.”

  He fixed them both with a penetrating stare so they understood his meaning.

  Sean looked sheepish, “She gave me the mother of all dressing downs as soon as you left the room. She’s sworn off drink - for good she said, so we won’t be able to put one over on her anymore. She’s funny isn’t she? I’ve never met anyone like her, shy one minute, spitfire the next.”

  Todd smiled despite himself, then his face quickly changed to a scowl when Sean teased, “Hell Todd you should have seen your face, I thought you were gonna swallow your tongue!”

  Seb burst out laughing, “Yeah your eyes were nearly popping out of your head man, you looked like a cartoon character and if you’ll forgive me noticing but your package went boing in like nought to sixty,” he made a descriptive hand gesture at the same time.

  They both cracked out laughing and Todd had to give up and just watch them fall about.

  When they’d finally settled down, Sean was more remorseful. “Look Todd none of us want her to go anywhere. I think we all agree we want to help her, but none of
us know what we’re doing here. Funny thing is she thinks she has no confidence and yet look what she did, how many women would do that especially in that horrific underwear. She wants to push herself whether she admits to it or not and we four might just be exactly what she needs. Don’t try so hard to protect her that you risk not helping her at all.”

  Todd thought on what he’d said then checked his watch, “Oh hell, I’ve got to go pick Lily up. I said I’d take her out for pizza. We’ll discuss this later, I’m not sure you two are off the hook yet,” he pointed at them menacingly.

  Sean winked, “Wait until you see the dress I’m going to make for Jennifer, it’s gonna knock your socks off! Then we’ll see who’s hooked.”

  ****

  An hour later Todd was starting to panic, Lily hadn’t turned up yet and he wasn’t sure what to do. He looked at his watch again, god he better go try the restaurant but he knew he’d told her to meet here at the Kinsey Institute.

  He was starting to feel really sick, something was not right; what should he do?

  He called Sebastian, to check his apartment for him, see if she’d made it home, but she wasn’t there. With sick dread in his stomach he remembered that they’d never made it to the police to file a report on her date, the guy calling himself Philip Lorenson. He should have made sure they’d done it today, but the initial fear he’d felt had abated overnight and he’d let her go off to college as normal.

  He couldn’t take it if something had happened to her, he absolutely couldn’t; he was going to the police.

  ****

  Bang, bang, bang on her door, Jen sat up groggily. She’d just about managed to change into nightwear before crashing out early at seven, she reiterated to herself that there was no way she was having any more alcohol while she lived in this building. Her mouth felt like Satan’s armpit whatever that meant.

  She looked over at her alarm, it was 4 in the morning. This was the final straw she couldn’t keep on living like this, not know what was going to happen one minute to the next. She couldn’t cope with it any more.

  Jen stumbled out of bed and opened her front door, a snarl ready on her lips.

  Todd stood there looking like a ghost; it was like someone had reached into his chest and ripped out his guts.

  “Todd,” she stuttered, “what’s going on, what’s wrong?” her eyebrows creased in confusion.

  He was swaying in front of her, god he looked like he was going to faint. As her eyes began to focus better in the dim light of the hall, she became aware that his face was wet with tears and she made a startled cry. Then he stepped to the side and she registered Lily’s presence.

  “Oh my God.”

  If not for being with Todd, she doubted she would have recognised her.

  Lily had the beginnings of a black eye which was nearly swollen shut and a nasty cut over her eyebrow which had been dressed, but there were still remnants of dried blood on her face. Her lip had been split and she was as white as a sheet.

  “Lily?” Jen said in confusion, looking back at Todd for an explanation.

  “Jen, can we come in?”

  “Of course, sorry,” she stepped back and fumbled to find the light switch. When it came on overhead Lily winced, and Jen saw further marks on her body. God there was a handprint on her neck as if someone had been throttling her, her coat was torn and bloodied.

  “Todd?” she said and not knowing what else to say she left the unasked question hanging.

  “Lily baby go sit on Jen’s couch while we talk in the hall.”

  Lily moved away to do as he asked, she still hadn’t spoken and she hadn’t looked at either of them. Todd grabbed Jen’s hand and pulled her through the door.

  “Todd what happened who did this to her?” she said as soon as the door was shut.

  The next second her heart lurched when Todd bent at the waist and his mouth opened in near silent wracking sobs, trying to stifle the noise so his sister wouldn’t hear him let go.

  Jen pulled him upright supporting his weight as best she could and pulled his head into her neck. Then he said in her ear, “Lily has been raped.”

  The bottom fell out of her stomach even though it was what she’d half expected him to say.

  Not Lily, no, no, not beautiful - effervescent full of life Lily.

  “She didn’t show up where I was supposed to meet her on campus, that guy grabbed her straight off the street, he must have been waiting for her. I went to the cops when I couldn’t find her and the report had just come in from the hospital that she was there. He knocked her out, raped her in his car and then threw her out on the street like she was trash.”

  Without thinking he put his full weight on Jen and she had to lower them both to the floor, he was shaking uncontrollably. Jen became aware of Sean and Seb on the stairs, they’d obviously heard the disturbance and come to check out the source. She shook her head at them to keep back for a minute.

  “I had to be with her at the hospital while they did an exam and she made a statement. She won’t speak to me and I’m afraid to touch her,” he began to cry more openly. “I let her down.”

  “No, no,” she said sitting on his lap and pulling him towards her, rocking him. She took the tail of her pyjamas and wiped his face gently, trying to give him what little comfort she could.

  “You don’t understand Jen, she wouldn’t have been in Bloomington if I hadn’t given in to her and persuaded Mom and Dad to let her study here. She was dying for some independence and I remembered what that felt like, I thought she’d be safe with me.” He wiped his hand across his face angrily and pierced her with a hard despairing look that hit her right down to her stomach. “Jen, I need you to let her stay here with you tonight, I don’t know what to do with her.”

  Jen gulped audibly. She may be a girl but that didn’t give her an instant understanding of what to do in this situation, but she was aware that Lily was inside on her own and needed somebody’s help.

  She signalled Sean and Seb, “Todd, you go with the boys and let me look after Lily. I’ll do whatever I can for her.”

  She lifted his head and pressed a kiss to his lips trying to convey every bit of comfort she could. His beautiful mouth was cold against hers and unresponsive.

  Jen got to her feet and Seb put a hand to her back as they helped Todd up. He looked like he’d aged ten years in the space of a few hours.

  She watched them go downstairs then took a huge breath in to steady her wits, and opened the door.

  Jen didn’t have a clue how to deal with a rape victim; she only knew the rubbish she’d seen on TV crime dramas. The first thing she had to do was get her cleaned up and out of those hideous things.

  She temporarily bypassed Lily while she went in her bedroom and gathered all the nicest most fragrant products she had and took them through to the bathroom. Then she went to Lily’s side and dropped to her knees.

  Jen looked up into the younger girls face - the eye that wasn’t starting to turn black had a burst blood vessel. Jen felt devastated to the root of her soul but shucked off her own emotions as she coaxed Lily to her feet and through to the bathroom.

  She sat her on the bath while she adjusted the shower and turned the water on, waiting until it was a good temperature, then she lined up all the things Lily would need to clean herself.

  “Lily can you undress by yourself?” she asked softly.

  Lily nodded; the first indication that she was aware what was happening. As Jen watched she started to struggle out of her coat and as her arm appeared out of the sleeve Jen had to stifle a gasp, there were what looked like rope burns on her wrist.

  Jen gently helped the girl lift her t shirt off over her head and looked at what was remaining of Lily’s bra and gulped. Her skirt came off next.

  “Ok sweetie I’m stepping outside now. Once I’m gone take your underwear off and stay in the shower as long as you need and use as much stuff as you want until you feel cleaner.” Jen raised her shoulders helplessly, “I’m so very sor
ry Lily - I’ll be right outside the door, just shout if you need anything, but don’t lock the door behind me just in case.”

  As soon as Jen closed the bathroom door, she ran to her kitchen sink as soundlessly as she could. She just made it in time before vomiting again and again, until nothing came up but the remains of tequila fuelled stomach acid.

  Lily had been brutalised. It wasn’t just the damage to her face and wrists - her legs and torso had bruises forming and there were livid marks that looked like bites on her collarbone.

  Jen dropped to her feet by the sink and placed her face to the cool floor for a few minutes. She bit back angry tears that were no good to anybody. When she felt able to, she dragged herself up on shaky legs, splashed cold water on her face and rinsed her mouth out.

  She gave herself a mental slap. It was no time for her own weakness, and she considered how she could make Lily as comfortable as possible.

  Decision made, Jen went to her bedroom and dragged the quilt from her bed. She was quite happy to give up her bed to the younger girl, but she had memories of being poorly as a child and her mother making her cosy on the sofa with a quilt and a hot water bottle. With some cushions to support her back, maybe that would be a better idea.

  After Jen had the little bed ready, she rummaged among her things for a clean night dress that would fit Lily and sat down to wait for her. She had to clench her hands together to stop them trembling from stress and shock.

  Just as she was thinking she’d have to help her out of the shower Lily emerged on her own, wrapped in a towel her hair wet. Jen noticed her skin was red raw where she’d scrubbed too hard.

  She put an arm around her and led her back to the couch, then she went and fetched a brush and her hair dryer and as gently as she could she brushed out the knots in Lily’s fine shoulder length hair and blow dried it for her. The girl remained immobile and just surrendered to what was happening.