Guarded Hearts

Chapter 3

"Oh my god, I knew you would be here! I just had a feeling! Can you sign this for me? Can we take a-"

Pippa panicked. She whipped around to face the woman. She was short, with long brown hair and glasses. Steve was right. The look in her eyes made Pippa shiver.

Then Pippa saw a hand on the woman's arm, pulling her hand away from her. It was Steve. The woman opened her mouth to say something, but Steve stared her down. He didn't say a thing. Just looked at her with those intense eyes. The woman took a step back and Steve stepped in between her and Pippa, gently grabbing her wrist and leading her away from the woman.

They walked through the park and were approaching the sidewalk.

Pippa heard screaming behind her.

"Wait! Wait, I love you! Phillipa! Come back!"

Her vision started to blur. Her breath was out of control. Her heart was pounding. She was vaguely aware of Steve making them walk faster. Then she was in a small alley, Steve's body blocking her from view of the street.

Distant calls of "Phillipa, where are you?... Come back, I love you!... We're made for each other!" and other similar things continued for at least 5 minutes. It felt like an eternity to Pippa's scrabbled mind.

She was having a panic attack. Hyperventilating. Shaking. Crying. The whole nine yards.

"Hey. Pippa. Pippa, look at me," Steve's voice broke in through the fog that surrounded her brain.

"You've got to breathe. Okay? I need you to stay as calm as you can. Just for a little while. There's a safe place nearby, I just need to get you there. Can you help me?" He spoke softly and slowly.

Pippa gulped down her sobs and tried to breathe deeply. She could hold it together. Just for a little while. She looked down at the ground and nodded.

"Okay. Okay, you're doing great." He glanced back over his shoulder. "Okay in a few seconds, we're going to start walking again. It's only about a block away. We can make it, but I need you to keep up with me. I know you're fast. You can do it. Are you ready?"

She nodded again, a bit more alert this time. Adrenaline was rushing through her system.

He stepped out of the alley, motioning for her to walk in front of him. She did and walked as quickly as she could. After passing a few buildings, Steve murmured in her ear.

"Turn."

She turned left onto the street next to them. It was quieter than the main street and she felt the tiniest bit calmer. She kept walking, Steve close behind her, until they arrived at a gray apartment building.

"Here," Steve said softly, stepping in front of her and opening the door.

It was a dimly lit space. Pippa didn't pay attention to what was actually in the room. They didn't stay long enough for her to care.

Steve quickly led her to a stairwell on one side of the room. She walked up briskly after him, trying to burn off some of her energy.

They stopped after two flights of stairs.

"This way," said Steve.

She followed him to a door, which he unlocked. He gestured for her to go in.

When she walked through the door, she sat down on the first chair she saw and buried her head in her hands. Steve locked the door behind them. Hearing the lock click was the first thing that had made her feel safe in the last 20 minutes.

He crossed slowly to her and knelt in front of her.

"May I touch you?" He asked calmly.

She realized he hadn't touch her the entire time since the alley. He knew her physical boundaries had been violated and he wasn't about to rush her into touch she didn't want.