The Hidden Hero

Someone to Confide In

I woke up the next morning alone, there was a note on his side of the bed. After I read it, I was practically estatic. He left to go do another job and wouldn't be back for a few days. I then got up and began my morning routine.

My ipod blasted the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. After I took a shower, got dressed, brushed my hair, and did the best I could with my face, I went to the kitchen and ate some breakfast. Tonight I was meeting Charlie, a little smile made it's way onto my face.

I went about my day as always except for the fact that I tried to not got outside more then I had to. Nick hadn't texted me once or called, but that wasn't unusual. Before I knew it, 7 was rolling around the corner.

My heart began to thump a little faster when I thought about having to explain my situation. I shrugged my peacoat on and began searching for my keys. I prayed to god that Nick would not come home early, if he did then there would be hell to pay. But at the same time I felt excited, I felt wild and free for a little bit. Before I walked out of the door,  I grabbed some of my pain pills and then headed out.

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It was 6:58 when I arrived at the park. Charlie was softly swinging and staring at the luminescent moon that hovered behind the skyscrapers. I locked the car and made my way to the swing beside him. He looked up as I sat down.

"Glad you could make it." I said while looking at the moon. I didn't want to meet his gaze, I didn't know how he would process the information I was about to give him.

"How are you doing?" He asked with hints of concern.

"I'm okay. It's not the first time and as long as I'm with him, it probably won't be the last." I said, I just wanted to get it out in the open already. I was never one to beat around the bush.

"So there is a him. How long have you been together?" Charlie asked. His face was blank, it didn't give anything away.

"Since I was seventeen. It'll be six years in April." I answered simply. We sat in silence for a few seconds, the tension was thick. It was killing me that he wasn't saying anything.

"Why do you stay? I'm really trying to understand why someone would try to put up with that. Do you love him or something?" He asked puzzled.

"There might of been a time when I did, but that's long gone. As for leaving him, it isn't that simple." I said as I built up my courage to look at him.

"Why not?" he asked.

"Nick is involved..in the wrong crowd. All it would take is the snap of his fingers for everyone I love to be killed. At first the bad boy thing attracted me, my parents had passed away the year before so I wasn't in a good place. Brett tried to guide me, he really did, but there was a lot of pressure on his shoulders with getting a job fresh out of law school and paying the bills. He couldn't keep an eye on me the entire time. I was 19 when he first hit me, I caught him with his damn drugs. We got into an argument and he slapped me. After he did it, he wouldn't stop apologizing and making promises so I gave him a second chance...and a third and a fourth. I threatened to leave when I was 20, I received the worst beating of my life and he threatened....th-threatened to kill Brett slowly and painfully while I sat and watched. Now when I say that I'm leaving, it's just an empty promise. As the years went by, people went missing, people turned up dead, people were banging on the door demanding money, and I just went numb. I learned not to care." I finished.

This is the first time I've really talked about my situation with anyone. I would visit my parents' graves and talk to them but it wasn't the same as talking to a real person. I looked up at him and he was staring at the moon again, he was taking all of the information in.

"There must be some way.." He started.

"It's just a waiting game Charles, that's all it is. He'll get bored of me or one day his 'job' will be his end." I said, at the same time, I was trying to convince myself that everything was going to be okay.

"Nobody has the right to hit you Cali. No one, Nicholas is not an exception." He said icily. His blue eyes seemed to intensify with his mood. I felt butterflies in the pit of my stomach.

"Why were you at the hospital?" I asked, not wanting to talk about Nick anymore.

"I was visiting my mom, she's been having some issues with her heart lately." He said. He was giving the buildings across from us a distant look.

"I hope she feels better."  I said lamely.

"Me too." He whispered.

"Should you be getting home?" He asked turning to look at me.

"He's out of town for a few days." I shrugged.

"Thank you Charlie.", I sighed as I began to swing.

"For what?", he asked as he watched me go higher.

"For not telling Brett and listening. It feels nice to talk to you, it feels nice to release!!" I yelled as I swung higher and higher. He laughed with me. A deep rich sound that was music to my ears. 

We kept swinging and asking each other questiong like what's your favorite color and stuff like that. His favorite color is navy blue and his birthday is October 19. His dad is a librarian and his mother worked at a bakery until she got sick, he has his own little apartment downtown. We told stories about happier times and just had fun.

"Well I think we should get going. It's getting pretty late." Charlie said as he slowed his swing to a stop.

"Damn." I huffed not wanting to go home quite yet. I slowed my swing too, then brought my courage up once more.

"Can we do this again?" I asked as I stood up.

"Um, sure. When?" He asked standing up with me.

"Well Nick won't be back tommorrow or Monday night. Do you have a cell?" I asked hopefully.

"Yeah, can I see your phone?" He asked as he stretched out his hand. I gave him my cell and he put in his number and handed it back. I texted him and his phone buzzed.

"Well, now that you have my number, text me when you have a minute." I said. I winked at him then stalked off to my car. I waved at him and he waved back.

"Drive home safe." I said and then got into my car.

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Unknown P.O.V.

"God dammit Sulez, quit messing around with the thing and get it running." I yelled as I ran a hand through my hair. This was frustrating the hell out of me, how hard was it to put this thing together?

"Sorry, Mr.Dean, these things take time." said Sulez as he went around the machine calibrating and pushing buttons. The assistants were going around taking down notes on their clipboards.

I sighed angrily and stood up. "Look you said you could get it running and I said I could make it worth your while, you don't hold your side of the bargain I won't hold mine. Got it?" I said strictly.

"Whoa, whoa Blakely no need to get your panties in a wad. It will be up and running in a few weeks, I can gurantee that." Sulez said smartly.

"Don't screw around, I'll be back to check on your progress." I said as I walked towards the elevator.