Tutor

Fifty One

Odell

I was woke by gentle whimpering, at first I thought it was Cleo, but the more that I woke, I realised it was Demi. I shot awake almost instantly once I realised. I sat up in bed and turned to Demi who had tears pouring down her cheeks.

"Baby?" she hit at my hand as I gently ran my finger along her cheek. "Demi, wake up."

"No" her voice was weak and it made my heart ache. "No" I wrapped my hands gently around her wrists as she began to thrash out. My touch only seemed to make it worse though.

"Demi, it's me. It's Odell, Baby. You're just having a bad dream, Gorgeous" I gently whispered in her ear, it was only a moment later that she settled down. Her breathing remained rapid and heavy. I could feel her heart pounding. "You're okay, Baby. You're safe" I pressed a delicate kiss to her cheek before I pulled away from her, watching as her eyes slowly fluttered open. "You're safe, Baby, nobody is ever going to hurt you again" her eyes turned to stare into mine and my heart broke at the tears in them. She just nodded as she nibbled on her bottom lip. I used the pad of my thumb to wipe away her fallen tears.

"I-I thought-I thought I was back with him and..." I shook my head as she choked on a sob.

"You are never going back there, Baby. I promise you" her eyes closed as I delicately caressed her cheek. "How long have you been having these dreams for?"

"It-It was the first..."

"Don't lie to me, Demi" she sighed, her eyes burning into mine.

"They started pretty much since I left the hospital. I was obviously never loud enough to wake you though. I-I kind of just lay in bed until I fell back to sleep, it didn't always take me long, sometimes I fell back to sleep in like 5 minutes, sometimes I didn't fall back to sleep at all."

"Why didn't you wake me?" she just shrugged her shoulders.

"I need to pee" I moved away from her as she climbed out of bed, her hands caressing her bump as she headed to the bathroom. I sat up more in bed and leant back against the pillows. I stared off at the wall, trying to think of how I can help Demi with these nightmares. She's been having these nightmares for a month and I had no idea. Why couldn't she talk to me about this? Did she think I wouldn't understand. I leant to grab my phone so that I could check the time. 03:42. I ran my hand over my head as I sighed. What can I do to get Demi to talk to me? Does she need to see a therapist? "You okay?" I jumped from my stare and glanced to Demi as she adjusted the covers on her side of the bed. She flashed me a smile as she lowered herself onto the bed.

"Why didn't you tell me about these nightmares, Demi?" she sighed as she leant back against the pillows and stared down at her bump which she delicately caressed.

"I don't know, Odell. I-I just didn't want to worry you, I suppose" I turned to face her. I stroked a strand of hair behind her ear and leant in to kiss her temple.

"I'll always worry about you, Demi. You're my girlfriend, you're the love of my life and you're carrying my baby" her lips lightly twitched at the corners as I settled my hand on her bump. "You can talk to me about anything" she turned to me; her eyes welled up with tears. "Maybe you should see a therapist, what you went through was pretty traumatic, Dem" she just sighed.

"I'll be fine. Can you just hold me so I can get some more sleep?" I nodded; my lips having twitched into a smile. "I love you too, by the way" she spoke as I wrapped my arms around her, my hand remaining on her belly where I could feel the movements of our baby as I dropped back to sleep.

-

"How have you been, Honey?" I couldn't help but to listen in on my mom and Demi. We're having a cookout at my mom's, a little celebration before the baby gets here. It's a little like a baby shower but Demi didn't want all the fuss so we're keeping it with family and close friends. Demi's dad found out about the baby because she went missing. He isn't exactly happy about it and he hasn't contacted Demi since. It isn't like it's made much of a difference to our lives though.

"I've been fine."

"Odell's mentioned the nightmares" I could imagine Demi rolling her eyes at that. It's no surprise that I talk to my mom.

"Of course he has."

"He's just worried about you, Demi."

"I know, but he doesn't need too. They'll go away with time. I'll eventually get over the fact that I was being stalked and then kidnapped by a colleague from work. A guy who was a little too obsessed with me" I leant against the wall. I know that I shouldn't be listening in on this conversation but I can't stop myself.

"You've been through a lot, Sweetheart. Maybe talking to someone will be good" a silence fell in the kitchen until Demi gasped. "You okay, Honey?" I headed straight into the kitchen as Demi released what sounded like a whimper.

"Baby?"

"Were-Were you listening in on our conversation?" she hissed, her hand clutching her bump as she leant back against the counter.

"I don't think that's the biggest of our problems, right now" she shook her head. "Are you okay? Is it one of those Braxton Hicks contractions?" she shook head again and suddenly my heart began to hammer against my chest. Is this it, is our baby coming now?

"I think I'm actually in labour, Odell" a fear settled in her eyes as they glanced up to lock with mine.

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