Xavier FINAL(34)

     “What? We had what?”

     I walked over and placed my hands on her shoulders and she jumped. I didn’t move my hands. I held a bit firmer. “I don’t know why, but I’m not embarrassed.”

     I turned her to me and then tried to push some of her hair away from her face. “Don’t.” She pulled it back.

     I held her chin and pushed her hair back. “Look at me.”

     She dropped her hands hiding her face and sobbed. “Please don’t. Please don’t say anything.”

     I pulled her tightly against me and her body shook as she sobbed. Thankfully, because seeing her lips had been bloodied and the bruised cheek that had been hidden by her hair made my body tremble in anger.

     I don’t know how the fuck I missed it. The way I felt, the unease that I had felt from the moment I woke up alone. I’d never felt like that. The turned over table, the shattered phone, her hair was a mess, and the fact that she didn’t come to the phone when I called should have been all I needed.

     But no. I was fighting the fact that I may have feelings for her. What a fuck up I was. Well it wouldn’t happen again.

     “He--.”

     “I hit him first. I--.”

     “It doesn’t matter. Not one fucking bit Taelyn. Jesus Fucking Christ. Did you call the cops?”

     “No! No, I hit him first.”

     I picked her up and went to sit on the mattress to hold her, to calm her while I tried to calm myself.

     “No, not there. Xavier--.”

     “Did he touch you? Did he--.”

     “No, no please--.”

     I sat her on the counter and kissed her head. “Stay.”

     I opened her closet and grabbed a suitcase and filled them with her clothes, everything I could get my hands on. She didn’t stop me either. When I had shoved every article of clothing of hers in a suitcase I walked into the bathroom and threw all her toiletries in a duffel.

     I walked out and noticed for the first time she was in a bath robe. I grabbed a sweatshirt and a pair of leggings out of her bag and she looked at me.

     The sadness in her face, the way her normally squared shoulders and proper composure had turned into what reminded me of an abused animal. Her eyes lacked the normal shine and she looked hollow.

     I untied her robe and pulled it off her shoulders and quickly noticed the hand marks on her biceps. I closed my eyes and pulled her against me. “He will pay for what he did to you.”

     “I broke his nose.”

     I pulled away and looked at her, “You what?”

     “I told you I have a temper.”

     “Good. I’m gonna break his face. Did he rape you?”

     “No. He held me down. I couldn’t get up,” She sobbed. “I tried so hard and I wasn’t strong enough. He held me down and it was forever. Hours? I was so afraid. The look in his eyes was terrifying. I was so afraid.”

     “You don’t have to be ever again. He won’t be hurting you, not ever again.”

     “Xavier?”

     “Yeah?”

     “I’m cold.”

     “Sorry, Jesus Christ,” I pulled the sweatshirt over her head. “What the hell are you doing to me? You’re fucking naked and I don’t even notice.”

     “Sorry.”

     “Jesus I need to shut my damn mouth.”

     I pulled her off the counter and held out her pants.

     “I just got out of the shower. I don’t have -- I can do it.”

     “Right. Of course you can. Sorry Taelyn. I am so sorry.”

     ~

     We drove down the street to Cyrus’s place. It was covered with photographers.

     “What’s going on?” Taelyn asked.

     “Oh you know.” I laughed. “You sleep well?”

     “Yes, but what’s all this?”

     “Photographers. Apparently I’m big news. We’ll be staying elsewhere.”