Embrace Me (A Shatter Me FanFiction)

Chapter Five

I apologize for the delay in getting more chapters out - but I promise I haven't forgotten:)

_______________________________________

As soon as I've rushed James to Kenji's house (he lives fairly close so I can usually walk), I stand in front of the wooden door attempting to pull myself together. I discreetly clean the dry tears off my face so as to not worry James. Usually the walk over to Kenji's is peaceful and enchanting as I take in the sounds and smells of nature. Though this time, it wasn't as much of a walk as it was a frantic getaway. Instead of the gentle, cool breeze reviving my body with its refreshment, it felt like a cold sharp slap across the face, skeleton hands wrapping around my throat. When I eventually knock, I don't even recognize the sound of my own voice.

"Kenji?"

To my surprise, the first person I see when the door opens is not Kenji. It's none other than Nazeera, his girlfriend.

I can tell by the stunned expression on her face that I'm not looking my best. She seems like she doesn't recognize who I am. I already looked bad before James and Adam showed up - I can't even imagine how disheveled I look now.

"Juliette? Girl, what the hell happened to you?" Nazeera asks as she puts her hands on my shoulders and looks at me with concern in her eyes.

Nazeera is so sophisticated and always put together. Though she covers her hair, her face alone is enough to convey the kind of beautiful that takes your breath away. Her light brown skin shimmers when the sunlight hits it, her eyebrow and lip rings catching blinding sparkles. She boasts defined, contoured cheekbones and dark eyebrows and eyelashes. Her tall, slim frame towers over me - just her appearance emanates an intimidating energy.

"Okay J, what kind of crazy drama shit went down this time?" I hear Kenji's voice shout from somewhere in the house as I hear another simultaneous crashing sound. Moments later, he appears at the door, wiping his hands on some kind of towel. He looks back and forth between Nazeera and me. "Whose ass do I need to kick? Kent or Warner?" He points a finger at me and raises his eyebrows. "Or both? Just tell me and I'm at your service," he says while pretending to flex his muscles.

Kenji knows things have been rough with Warner and Adam lately - he was actually the first person to know anything. I went to him before anyone else when I found out about the pregnancy. Even before I told Warner or Adam. He was the one I ran to after my night with Warner, when I was still desperate and broken and didn't know how to fix anything I had just done. Kenji calmed me down and helped me work up the courage to tell Adam and Warner. My fear and guilt still linger of course, but I don't know that I would be alive without Kenji. I'm so glad he's my best friend.

Nazeera rolls her eyes and almost cracks a smile, but instead punches Kenji's bicep with her fist. He quickly recoils.

"Hey!" he whines, rubbing his arm. "I thought I told you not to punch me anymore." He looks at me. "She's freakishly strong," he tells me, nodding at his girlfriend with wide eyes. "Kind of like you, J. But like, not really. In a different way I guess."

Just then, James pushes past me and wraps his arms all the way around Kenji's waist and buries his head into his shirt. "Oh woah, hey there little man," Kenji says, taken aback. He shifts his gaze to mine. "I didn't know you were bringing a guest."

"I hope it's okay that I did," I tell him, feeling a little sorry. "I had to get him away from my place."

Kenji frowns and then puts a hand on his hip. "Okay, wait, so what happened? Is anybody going to explain what the hell is going on?" he asks, throwing the towel onto a nearby table.

"Kenji," James says, his voice cracking. "Warner's hurting Adam. He- he had him against the wall-" and he's continuing to wipe stray tears away from his face. The emotion in his voice tears my heart into a million pieces.