Consume my broken heart

Chapter 26

In a daze, I feel someone nudge my arm. Immediately, I feel people surrounding us. How long were we standing like this? Did I stare at him the entire time?

"Grace, I'm sorry, but I need to go home." Barbie says apologetically. My gaze travels to the man beside her. Rick his expression was serious, so I'm guessing they need to work things out asap.

"Of course you need to go. I will be fine." I assure her. She eyes Aiden for a moment, a small smile creeping up her face.

"I know you will." She says with a wink. "I'm Barbie, Grace's sister." She continues. "And this is my boyfriend, Rick." She introduces him like he was her prince, and she his servant. The way she clung onto him like a lap doll, it was cute and at the same time creepy. But this is how my sister is. She's clingy and jealous, not to mention a total control freak.

Maybe that's what we have in common and is in our blood. The Stone's are all control freaks. "It's nice to meet you both." Aiden answers seriously, clearly not in the mood for a chat. Knowing Aiden he isn't the chatty type just like me. Rick nods shortly before he continues his stare competition with my sister.

"I have to take the car with me. Can you get home?" Barbie asks. Fuck, I forgot we were here in her car.

"I will call a cab, don't worry." I say. "Are you sure?" She takes my arm, whispering in my ear. "Are you going to set through with your plan? I hate not being able to help you now." She says apologetically.

"I will be fine. Don't know if I'm going to set through though." I say, knowing I can't do this on my own. I can't kiss Matthew and look after his girlfriend at the same time. This feeling sucks. I feel lost and pathetic at this exact moment. I can't even handle my own plan.

"Grace if I can give you some advice. Go home and get some rest. This was a difficult evening for you. I'm already proud of you because you're killing that dress." She smiles sweetly and leaves before I could ask her why the hell she was proud of me for wearing a dress.

She leaves me with more confusion in my mind than I stepped into this building a few hours ago. I'm worried about Ben despite I'm so mad at him. I'm mad at my sister, although I understand she needs to save her relationship. And I'm mad at the man across from me with his controlling eyes and dominant behaviour.

I clench my jaw and ball my fists, feeling I could lose sanity any second. I'm an emotional wreck, yet I'm still standing here. The need to stay or leave are equal. "What are you going to do, Grace?" He asked, his penetrating eyes fixed on me.

"I want to slap you for interfering, again." I spit out, crossing my arms in anger.

"Slap me, if that's what you want." He says calmly, his hands resting in front of his body. He seemed so in control and at ease, it mad me even more pissed off. How can he be like this after what happened? He punched my friend in the face just a few minutes ago, like nothing happened. And why the hell would he let me slap him in the face?

"Slap me, Grace." His voice turning darker. "This is what you want, so get over with it." He continues as he sees me struggle with my thoughts.

"You don't know what I want." I glare at him before storming away from him, desperately seeking for fresh air. What I need is to get away from him as soon as possible.

POV Aiden

I see her vanishing out of my view into the direction of the exit of the building. I'm so angry and dissapointed at her. Despite all of my efforts to stop her for doing something stupid, I feel guilty for stopping her again. She's a grown woman who can make decisions for her own. Altough, in all of the mess I have created, I'm so fucking proud of her.

The way she looked on the dancefloor, so fragile and for others she must have seemed confident, because that's what she tried to be. More like her sister and less like herself, only to seduce her potentional rapist. Now I finally got to know the truth, I feel this plan was doomed to fail all along. How can she even consider kissing the man who may have raped her? How could I let her set through with her ridiculous plan? It would crush her. What if I wasn't here to stop her on time?

Did she even know how beautiful she looked tonight? How all men stared at her when we walked into the crowd. I had to fight to myself constantly. The urge to smack a few people in their face were so tempting, but I knew I would hurt her and now I have done it with her friend. However, he was a total dick for talking to her like that. He was a jealous prick who clearly felt more for her than just being a friend.

The image of the fourteen year old Grace kept circling in my mind. How can I be mad at her for her ignorance. She needs to know what she wanted to do was wrong. She needs to know it would crush her in the end. That's how well I've known her and I'll make sure she understands.

I march toward the crowd into the direction of the exit when my eyes catches the attention of Matthew who was arguiing with his girlfriend, again. Good for him. Hope he fucks himself and ends in a ditch where he belongs.

My legs bring me back in action, but I got stopped by a blonde girl with a red dress. "Hi there," she begins, but I cut her off a bit too rude."I'm defenitely not interested." I say and push her aside before rushing outside and before anyone could stop me again. Arriving outside of the building, I look around as I didn't see her right away.

My heart starts beating in a higher pace. Where is she now? My head yanks from side to side and stop just in front of the street to get a better view from the other side of the road. A few cars honk the horn, but I don't care. If someone wants a fight and step out of their car, they will get one. Maybe I will feel better afterwards. Fuck, how could I let her go. It's dark outside and she's alone.

"Are you crazy!" I hear someone yelling at me, and I can't hide my happiness. "Do you have a death wish! Step away from the streets!" She yells with so much persuasiveness I could only obey. "Are you mad?!" She yells, her big eyes showing she was astonished, maybe a little afraid for my life. A grin creeps up my face. I couldn't help it, but it amuses me to see someone caring for my life.

The energy between us is fascinating. There are times I went to wrap her in my arms and other times I want to hide her in a closet so I don't hear her judgements.

"What the hell, Aiden!" She sighs, when she notices my grin. "I can't believe this. No, I can't understand you one bit." She says in frustration while tugging one lock of hair behind her little ears who were pierced nicely. Beside us, a guy kept staring into our direction and I immidiately feel the urge to make him watch to an other direction, but I feel Grace's eyes on me, scanning me, probably investigating what my next move will be. So, I stare at the guy for a moment, making sure this is forbidden teritory. Luckily, it worked and he made his way back inside.

"Stop staring at that guy, Aiden. Did you really think I wouldn't notice? I can feel a man's stare before I even see it." She says with her arms folded in front of her, showing a small amount of skin coming from her cleavage. In annoyance, I yank my head up before she notices. God, why am I here? She's forbidden. She's out of my reach its as simple as that. I can't drag her with me. She wouldn't even want to be with me because she's good and pure. She thinks she's damaged, but she is not. Grace Stone is perfect just the way she is with her moodswings and cranky blurts. She's the way she is and it has nothing to do with the rape.

They will not break this woman because she's strong. I will make sure nobody will hurt her again if that's the last thing I will do on this planet.