Moment in the Sun

24. Shock

Nick POV (TW: mentions of violence, rape and abortion)

I can feel my  whole body shaking as I take in what Charlie has just told me. I'm torn. Part of me wants to go back into the living room and gather Darcy in my arms, holding her close so she can feel protected. The other part of me wants to hunt down whoever did this to her and make them pay. They can't get away with shattering the world of the most lovable, bubbly person I've ever met.

"D-does Tara know?" I ask, my thoughts suddenly going to Darcy's girlfriend.

"I don't think so." Charlie shakes his head. "I think she's afraid to tell her. I know I would be afraid to tell you."

"Baby, no. If something like that was to ever happen to you, please tell me. I'd never be angry at you." I trail my fingers down the side of his face. As much as the knowledge of what's happened to Darcy hurts me, the thought of anything even remotely similar happening to Charlie nearly kills me.

"I will. Promise." He whispers, falling into me. I wrap my arms around him and feel him bury his head against my chest. "How do we help her, Nick?"

"I don't know. But we need to go back to her now and be strong for her. Can you do that? You've done so well this far."

"Yeah. Just give me a second."

Moments later, we're back in the living room, sitting on the sofa again. Darcy looks terrified so I lean close and smile gently at her.

"Darcy, we love you. And we're going to help you, whatever you need, okay?" I promise and see her relax a little. "Have you told anyone else?"

"No. I couldn't. And when I found out..." She pauses for a second, "I just felt so ashamed. I needed to get away. And I ended up here."

"Okay. Can we at least tell Tara that you're with us? I'm sure she'll be worried sick about you. We won't tell her about anything you don't want us to." I can see her tossing the idea around in her head for a moment before she nods slowly.

"Just that I'm here. I, she can't know about the rest of it. Not yet."

"That's okay. She'll just be happy to know you're safe." She flinches at Charlie's choice of words, "Sorry."

"I'll go and call her now, okay? Charlie will stay here with you."

I leave the two of them alone in the living room. As much as I consider Darcy one of my closest friends, I know she is closer with Charlie and is more likely to open up to him, especially if I'm not around. I go into mine and Charlie's bedroom where my phone is sitting on the nightstand. Taking a moment to process everything, I sit on the edge of the bed.

How has this happened to someone I actually know? It was naive of me to assume that this sort of thing only happened to other people. Until now, my life, and the lives of everyone I know have been pretty normal. Sure, Charlie's had his mental health struggles and other people around me have had minor problems now and then. But nothing like this.

My hands shake as I scroll through my contacts to find Tara's number.

"Nick? Why are you calling me at this time of night?" Tara sounds like she's just woken up. I look at the clock nearby, seeing that it's 11.30pm.

"Sorry. Um, I was just calling to let you know that Darcy is here with us."

"Oh." Her indifference confuses me. How is she not worried about her girlfriend's whereabouts?

"Tara? Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I, um..." Her voice cracks and I hear her start to cry. "I thought she'd dumped me and didn't want to see me anymore."