Holding on

Chapter Twenty-four

After the meal, I wanted to do the dishes but Michael didn't want to listen.

"I can't let you do the dishes Michael", I told him as he stood before me blocking my path to the sink.

"No can't do, I'm the host, let me. At least this once", he said with a smile.

"Fine", I gave in since there was no way I could convince him.

A few minutes later he joined on the couch with some ice cream.

"Michael, I need to tell you something. I've not told anyone this", I sighed. "Please don't judge me okay, telling someone is difficult for me already".

"Okay, just take your time", he smiled and urged me to speak.

"It was my final year in high school, I was naive and had no friends. Mostly because I was labelled a nerd. My mom was living with us back then but she and dad were always fighting, I would stay at school till it was very late just so by the time I got home they'd be sleeping. One night, while I was walking home from school, it started raining and there was no place to take refuge so I walked in the rain. A car pulled up beside me and surprisingly the driver was the quarter back of the football team and my crush, Dave. He drove me home and walked me to my door. I was very happy, he became close to me during school hours; walking me to lunch and to my classes. When I thought it couldn't get any better, May also befriended me. She was the captain of the cheerleaders. It never occurred to me that it was a plan.
We'd sometimes go out for lunch together and they'd be holding hands and laughing, I was happy knowing that I had friends that I didn't know that they were actually a couple. When we graduated Dave threw a party at his house, everyone was invited. I snuck out of the house since my parents wouldn't permit me to. May was picking me up three houses from mine. When we got to Dave's house the smell of alcohol could knock me out, there were drunk teenagers making out at every turn I took, May disappeared from my side to who knows where. I made my way to the backyard and there was a pool with lots of kids I graduated with. I grabbed myself a soda and sat on a bench to observe. I was planning my future with Dave.

"Hey, what are you doing sitting here alone", I turned back to see one of Dave's football buddies asking me. "Um, I can't seem to find Dave anywhere and May too", I told him with a smile.

"I think Dave is upstairs, second room on the left", he told me and jumped into the pool with his other friends.

"I made my way in the direction he gave me. When I got to the said door, I was about to knock when I heard moanimg and grunting coming from the other side of the door. What could be going on there, I ask myself. I pushed the door and it fell open, but I regretted doing that because right in front of me Dave and May were having sex. "Wha-What is going on here?", I wished I didn't say anything but I couldn't help it. When Dave looked at me he chuckled. "Now you know, did you really think I was into you?" He shook his head and covered his waist with a towel that lay on the bed. May sat up with a smirk on her face. I was confused. "You were my friend May, how could you do this to me?" She also stood and made her way to stand in front of me as was Dave and spoke.
"Ever since you won the science quiz, everyone was talking about you. You stole my spotlight, you were a nobody but everybody in the school wanted to be around you instead of me. So Dave and I came up with this plan and you fell so hard for it", she snickered and kissed him.
"You could have told me, I don't know how but I could have done something about it", I told them. I was getting scared from the way Dave was looking at me, his eyes full of lust and the way he licked his lips made it worse. I made my way to the door but he beat me to it.  When he spoke I thought it was not real, "now that you're here, I have to take what I wanted from you all this while", he grabbed my arm and threw me on the bed with so much force I hit my ribs on the side post  which made me wincr in pain. The next thing I know is that he's on top of me and ripping my clothes apart. "Please don't do this Dave", I pleaded with him and earned myself a hard slap across my face. I was sobbing now and they both laughed. He was drunk, I could smell alcohol anytime he spoke. He was kissing me harshly and when I wanted to scream he'd hit me, each hit harder than the previous one. I lay there crying while he violated me over and over again till he was satisfied.
"You better not be here when we get back bitch", May said and kicked me in the stomach before leaving with Dave.

I tried to stand but kept falling, my insides hurt so baldy and the tears won't stop flowing. I found my bra and put it on with a pair of shorts I found laying on the floor, probably Dave's and made my way out of his house quietly.

I walked very slowly back home. I was in so much pain that along the way I couldn't help it but crawl. When I got home I went straight to my room and wept. I took a shower since all the clothes I was in were soaked with blood. I locked my self indoors for almost a week, eating nothing only drinking water. My parents divorced about two weeks later after dad found out mom had other kids with another man.
He sold the house and we moved here to start over again."

The clothes Michael gave me were soaked with my tears and when I looked at him he was battling his own tears too. He moved closer to me and hugged me as I cried into his shoulder.

"It's okay Danny, you're safe now. I'm very sorry you had to go through all that", he said to me his voice cracking.

"I'm sorry if I made you cry, I really needed to tell someone. It was killing me and I didn't want my dad to worry", I felt bad that he was sad.

"It's no problem, I will always be here for you, always".

"I saw him today, at the mall and May was with him too", his head shot up almost immediately the words left my mouth.

"What?, we must let the police know, they'll know what to do. But for now you're staying with me", he said as he ran his slender fingers through my hair which made me relax.

I felt myself being carried bridal style and I snuggled deeper into his chest until he lay me on a soft bed. He kissed my forehead and turned to leave the room.

"Michael??", he turned to look at me, his eyes bloodshot.

"Danny?"

"Please stay with me", I sat up and patted the bed.

He came and lay beside me. I have never shared a bed with a man before but I was very comfortable with him. I pulled him close and put my head on his chest. His breathing was slow and his chest rose and fell slowly. His heart beating in a slow rhythm that caused me to sleep faster than I've ever done.

"I love you Danny, I love you so much", he said and I smiled.

A/N: Thank you for reading. Its an emotional chapter, I guess. Please vote and comment. I love you all. Stay safe, till next time.
K.S