Ed drops me off at Risa's house so I can get my luggage. I don't know where he's going, but I don't ask. "You got it?" He asks as I open the door and climb out of the car.
Honestly, I'm a little shaky, but I roll my eyes and nod. "Yes, Ed, I can walk."
He laughs. "Alright. I'll be back in a few minutes."
I use my key to open the door, and Risa immediately rushes out of the kitchen over to me. "Natalie!" She exclaims, throwing her arms around me and almost knocking me over.
"Hey, Ris," I say, patting her gingerly on the back with one hand and steadying myself on the wall behind me with the other.
"Oh, sorry," she says, pulling back. She keeps me at arms length, studying my face. "How are you? Are you feeling okay? Oh, my gosh. I can't believe that happened. I'm so sorry. It'll be okay, though. Do you want to sit down? Here."
I've opened my mouth to respond several times throughout Risa's monologue, but eventually I give up, letting her take my arm and pull me over to the couch.
"How do you feel, though?" She asks, staring intently at me.
I can't help but laugh. "I'm fine, Mom."
"Sorry." She gives a shaky laugh. "I'm so sorry for leaving Tanner there with you. I had no idea he was a freak, I swear. And I knew Ed would be there soon, I just-"
"Risa." I put my hand up, stopping her mid sentence. "Chill out. It wasn't your fault."
She starts to say something else, but I stop her. "Risa. It's ok. I'm fine. He didn't hurt me at all."
She nods. "Yeah, Ed told me what happened and what you told him. I'm thinking that when you got to the bathroom, he slipped it into your cup."
"Yeah, that's what he thought, too."
Risa looks grimly around the room. "I told Ed to beat the living shit out of him."
I shake my head. "I don't want Ed to get into trouble because of me."
"Well, that's too bad. Nobody messes with my little cousin. Ed'll be at Kyle's right now." She smiles a slightly evil smile at the ground.
"I'm only a year younger than you. And, what?" I don't see how Ed going over to Kyle's house has to do with anything.
"He didn't tell you?" She frowns. "Oops."
I groan. "Tell me Tanner isn't over there, too."
She shrugs.
"Crap, Risa!" I pull my phone out of my jacket pocket and dial Ed's number. It rings several times, and I tap my foot anxiously on the ground, waiting for him to pick up.
It goes to voicemail.
"Damn." I hang up, drop my phone on the couch and give Risa a look.
She puts her hands up defensively. "Come on. You can't tell me that you don't want him to get the snot beat out of him. He was going to try to rape you!!"
I consider for a moment. "I really do," I admit.
"Well, there you go."
"But, I don't want Ed to get in trouble for it!"
Risa rolls her eyes. "Relax. They're not going to kill him. They're just gonna have a nice little... Chat. Teach him a lesson."
"What if Tanner hurts them?" I ask, worriedly.
"You really have no faith in our men, do you? Tanner's a little coward, and Kyle and Ed are both matches for him in their sleep. They'll be FINE, Nat. I promise."
This makes me relax a tiny bit.
"Now come on," Risa says. "I made chicken quesadillas for supper, and if you don't eat them I'll be very offended."
