Interim

four

I picked myself up from the toilet and started to rinse my mouth as I had just finished throwing everything up. Zach was helping me in every way and it was so much appreciated. After a moment of silence, I spoke.

"Thanks so much for helping me, although, I am quite embarrassed, I'm really sorry you had to see all that."

I was looking down. I was now sitting on top of the sink, my feet dangling.

"No it's okay, honestly, I'm glad to help you. Anytime you need someone, I'm here, you know that right."
He said gently picking my head up and meeting with my eyes. I felt myself slightly blush and look at him.

"Thanks, you really are a great friend."

I got myself down and started exiting the door, Zach following me behind.

"I feel really gross now, and I would go home if I could but I came with Demi and I really don't want to kill her fun."

Zach turned around to face me and smiled at me.

"Stella, you can stay here in my room if you want and rest. That's what you need."

"Um, I don't know, this is your room. I couldn't."

He playfully eye rolled me and picked me up again and lightly threw me on the bed.

As soon as I was secured in his bed, he began to speak.

"Do you want me to stay with you or are you fine here by yourself?"

I felt that his presence and his kindness was really making me happy and I wanted him to stay.

"Um, you can stay if you want, I don't know."
I said with a laugh.

"Okay, cool."
A smile forming on his face, his dimples arising.

His room was very neat and organized. It was in much better shape than mine and I feel embarrassed as to know that I'm the one who's supposed to be more neat. Girls are supposed to be cleaner than guys. My eyes shifted from the white sheets and back to meet his eyes again. He was staring at me the whole time and I don't even feel weird about that. It wasn't weird. It wasn't creepy.

"So what happened back there with Erik a while ago?"

Oh shoot, I had entirely forgotten about Erik. Last time I'd seen him he was out and about with some fake Barbie. Who knows where he can be at now.

"Um, nothing really, he just got mad because I didn't see any of his missed calls and messages."

Zach's eyebrows furrowed and looked at me with a sense of confusion

"So he started to cry about that?"

"Oh uh, no no haha, he just felt bad."
I said feeling a bit nervous.

"He felt bad because you didn't answer him?"
He asked in even more confusion.

I sighed and faintly told him about Erik harming me and how aggressive he has been lately and that I don't know what to do with him. Zach was in total shock and started boiling with anger.

"He is no good for you Stella, he's a loser, a pathetic no life loser."

I felt myself getting a bit hurt from what he said about my boyfriend and began to defend him.

"He is not a loser, he can get anywhere in life if he really wanted to."

Zach looked down at me with a bit of disappointment in his eyes and stayed silent.

He opened his mouth, about to say something to me, until we both got startled by a clamorous, furious knock on the door. Zach got up to open the door and as he did, I hear a very familiar voice. It was Erik.