Our secret

Uncle john

I woke up the next morning and Damien was no longer beside me. I looked around the room and it was still just as I left it when I fell asleep in Damien's arms. I grabbed my towel and I went to the bathroom. The water was hot and welcoming. I stood under the hot water for way to long before I even started washing my hair or myself. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and examined my marks I got from last night.

Last nights scene kept replaying on repeat over and over in my head. I choked back my tears and finished with my morning routine Before exiting the bathroom. I ran into Todd and Damien was right behind him with my mom. Todd grabbed ahold of my arms to steady me from falling. I recoiled from his touch and he looked hurt. He dropped his hands from my arms.

"I'm sorry kiddo"
"It's okay Todd don't worry about it"

Of course they would all be up here when I only had a towel on. I didn't wait for anyone to say anything more before walking back into my room and shutting my door behind me. I got dressed and brushed my hair out.

"Well that's as good as it's going to get today I guess"

I said the statement to myself but ended up saying it out loud.

"You look beautiful"

I turned around to see Damien standing in my doorway.

"Hi"

I said it so small and Damien looked at me with such sadness covering his face.

"Hi baby"

I gave Damien a small smile trying to reassure him and even myself that I was okay. He walked over and planted a very light kiss on my forehead wrapping his arms around me hugging me. He kissed the top of my head a few times.

"Are you okay?"
"No"

I held onto Damien. I didn't want to let go. I wanted to bury my face into his chest and just scream. I've known zack for years. I never thought he was even capable of something like this. Yeah sure he was word but I never thought of him as someone who would be calls of this.

"You know ads I would love to stay like this all day if we could but we can't"

I didn't say anything I just shook my head in a I know type of way. Damien let me go from his safe embrace and lightly kissed my lips before giving me a reassuring smile and exiting my room. I sighed and walked out of my room heading down the stairs and into the kitchen. I stopped dead in my tracks.

"Hi sweetheart"
"Uncle Tom what are you doing here?"
"Your mom called and said my favorite niece needed my help"
"I'm your only niece Uncle Tom"
"Yeah but if you wasn't you still would be my favorite honey"

I smiled at him but didn't move.

"Honey I know you don't want to be touched right now so I'm not going to but I need you to tell me what happened at that party"

I looked at my Uncle Tom and I couldn't control the tears anymore I couldn't choke them back any longer . They started streaming down my face and I shook my head no.

"I-I can't it doesn't matter anyway nothing happened"
"Based on the bruises your trying to hide I would say something did happen and you just don't want to talk about it"

"Ads you gatta tell him let your uncle help you"

I looked over at Damien and I knew right at that moment he couldn't embrace me but him just being there made it better for me.

"Only if you promise Damien won't get in trouble"
"Why would Damien get in trouble honey"

My uncle gave me a confused questioning look. I didn't say anything I just looked at my uncle then at Damien and he gave me a smile as if saying good I love you with his eyes.

"I beat his ass that's what's she's talking about"
"How bad?"
"He was still alive when I left if that counts for something"

My Uncle Tom smiled at Damien
"It means your not in trouble for stopping a crime and you won't get in trouble."

My uncle looked back at me and I sighed walking out and sitting at the picnic table. Shortly after my mom, Todd, Damien and my Uncle Tom all joined me sitting down. Damien sat beside me and his dad was sitting in a chair at the end of the picnic table. My uncle was sitting right across from me and my mom was sitting beside my uncle.

"You got this tell us what happened"

I looked at Damien then to Todd and my mom and finally to my uncle. I let out a long sigh before I started talking. They sat there all in silence as they listened and didn't interrupt me. I told the story from the time we got off the boat until Damien came back with my necklace. I left out all the details of me and Damien but no one needed to know that except me and him.

"Okay and Damien what happened in your words"

Damien looked at my uncle and told his side of the story. Well for the parts he was present at and what I didn't witness.

"How many kids were at the party"
Damien "close to eighty maybe"
"Okay good do you know all their names?"

Damien looked at my uncle and shook his head no. Damien was way more popular then I was so if anyone knew the people it would have been him.

"I know about sixty names though i think. I can try"
"Okay good"

My uncle handed Damien a notepad and a pen and Damien wasted no time at all. Before I knew it I looked over and Damien was flipping another page in the pad and continuing to write.

"That's all I can remember I'm sorry"

My uncle took the pad and looked through it.

"No this is great Damien this is a lot of help thank you. Imma head out and see what I can do for this situation but dont get your hopes up guys it could lead to nothing since he didn't rape her"

My uncle took his leave and left leaving us all at the picnic table. My mom looked at me and wiped away her tears.

"Breakfast or lunch guys"
"Lunch"

I mumbled it out so she barely heard me but Todd did.
"I'll help with lunch and the kids can go for a swim"

I looked at Todd and smiled at him as they walked inside.

"Get your suit let's get wet baby"

I looked at Damien and chuckled as I shook my head heading to my room for my suit. I changed and headed back outside. I was walking to the lake when I heard Todd call from the grill

"One hour and it will be done"

I could feel his and my moms eyes on me. They were looking at all of my marks and my bruises. They had such sad faces lined with anger. Everyone in this house wanted to kill Zach. I however just wanted to forget the entire thing even happened. I didn't even want them to know but deep down I felt more at ease that they did. Plus it was easier with them knowing. I didn't have to wear such hot clothes in the middle of summer to hide the evidence.

Before I could say anything Damien hoisted me up and threw me over his shoulder and took off for the water. I grabbed ahold of him feeling like I was going to fall. I couldn't help but start laughing hysterically as he flung me into the water.

"Damien"

I boosted up out of the water laughing as he jumped in. I wiped the water from my eyes and I looked up and my mom and Todd were smiling at us. My guess was because I was finally laughing.