Jewel's POV
The sheets rustle under my body and I'm suddenly woken by a rough hand shaking me.
"Get up." Eric says in a stern tone. I pry my eyes open to see him staring down at me intensely, waiting for me to make a move. When he sees the confused expression on my face, he sighs heavily before coming around the bed and sitting on the edge next to me.
"I don't have time right now to explain but I need you to get ready." He stands quickly and makes his way out of the room, leaving me with a disarray of thoughts.
I pry myself from the warmth and go the bathroom and turn the knob of the shower so that hot water can start to flow. I glance back at the bed, momentarily and see a faint red stain in the center of the sheets.
I glance down at my body and see a small amount of dried blood around the area of my inner thigh. The sight of it makes me cringe and I immediately remember that I gave myself away last night.
The hot water penetrates my skin on contact and I shy away from it but soon relax back into the now soothing burn. Sadly, I cannot enjoy this forever. Something is wrong, obviously and I have to find out what it is.
After prying myself from refreshing heat, I dress quickly and walk out into the kitchen where I see Eric, pacing. He stops in his tracks as soon as I enter the room and walks to me with brisk steps. Once he is in front of me, he grabs my upper arm harshly and pulls me towards the door.
"Hey!" I yell, unsuccessfully pulling from his grasp. "What's going on?"
Eric doesn't even glance down at me but opens the door and pushes me out, still in his hold.
"Max wants to see you. Ryan's death is in question." He spits while keeping his eyes ahead. I stop abruptly, almost stumbling when Eric continuous to walk.
"Why does he want to talk to me?" I ask, already knowing the answer.
Eric finally stops and turns to face me with a clenched jaw.
"You and I were the last ones to see Ryan alive. Max is going to ask you what all occurred and you need to make sure that when you tell him, that I acted in your defense, taking all the necessary precautions to keep you safe, which in the end meant me having to kill him."
He wants me to do what?!
I shake my head multiple times and don't meet Eric's gaze. I stare at the center of his chest for a long moment before even speaking and even then, I don't sound strong but completely week.
"You want me to lie? To Max?" I dare meet his eyes now and a certain darkness that I'm very familiar with as rage, glares back down at me.
"Lie?" His eyes narrow and he takes a step closer to me, pressing my back against the cold stone. "It isn't a fucking lie. I was protecting you." The hand that was coiled around my arm has somehow made its way to my hip. Fingers grind into my skin, sending a painful pulse through me.
Unwanted tears start to cloud my vision and my bottom lip trembles.
I don't like this Eric.
"What do I have to do?" I ask with uncertainty.
"Make him believe you." He states in a dry voice.
I nod my head a couple of times and begin fidgeting with my fingers.
"Okay." What else is there to say?
This is the moment that Eric should leave but he doesn't instead he places his other hand firmly on the wall next to my head and leans in with intense eyes.
"I also need you to go to the infirmary and get something. I didn't use a condom last night and I DO NOT want anything unexpected to happen."
It feels as if he has slapped me across the face. My eyes glaze over even more and I look to see that he has a serious expression.
"What do I have to get?" I whisper, looking away from him. He pulls away from me now but stays close enough so that any escape is impossible.
"They will tell you once you get there." He says, simply. "And don't cry about this. I can't deal with another hormonal female." He patronizes. I glare at him with teary eyes, wanting so badly to scream.
The plague of doubt that has always clouded my mind when I thought about losing my virginity, is back and in full force. Something that was so special to me was only a moment for him. Now all he wants me to do is clean up his sloppy mess and act like it didn't happen.
I don't think I can do that.
Where's the Eric that didn't want anything bad to happen to me? Where's the one that has come after me so many times?
I swipe my hand across my cheek and sniffle but begin walking in the direction of Max's office. Eric's hand grabs mine before I can get too far and pulls me back into his chest.
"Go to the infirmary first. That needs to be taken care of immediately."
Why do I feel so rejected? And then it dawns on me. I am being rejected just in a different way. I'm being rejected the opportunity to start a family or to have anything else past sex.
He lets go of my arm and I continue on the the infirmary. People give me sideways glances as I walk with fresh tears furiously falling down my face. Let them see. Let them see what heartbreak and multiple bad decisions looks like.
Take care of it?
I'll take care of it but not the way Eric wants it be taken care of.
Well, couldn't stay happy times forever. I love you all and your support! Thanks so much for reading this story and giving me the inspiration to want to continue writing. Love you all!
