Finding You

Chapter 40

I take a deep breath as I sit in my car in the grocery store parking lot. Lizzie wasn't feeling well and needed me to grab her a few things from the store so here I am sitting anxiously. I put on my baseball cap then my sunglasses and climb out of my car. I breathe and slowly exhale whole heading towards the entrance. Once I walk into the store I take a quick glance around before grabbing a cart and walking where I need to go. After only a few minutes I can feel stares from people as well as whispers while I walk down the aisles grabbing the groceries I need. I try my best to keep my cool and not get anxious as I grab some bread from the shelf. Suddenly I feel a pack of break hit me in the arm. "Hey!" I look over to see these teenagers laughing and running away. "Stupid kids." I groan picking up the bread that was thrown and putting it back on the shelf. Then I turn to leave the aisle when this older lady wheels her basket in front of the aisle blocking my from leaving. "Ah sorry, excuse me." I say trying to let her by. But all she does is glare at me.

"I know who you are." Her tone is harsh as her eyes narrow at me. "You're the abuser." She spits at me. My eyes widen as I feel my whole body tense up at her words.

"Look ma'am I just need to go buy groceries for my girlfriend. So I'll just-" I start, ready to turn around when another older man blocks me in from behind. I feel my anxiety well up and my heart race. "Come on guys, I just need to buy these and leave."

"You're not going anywhere abuser!" The older man exclaims hissing at me.

"That poor girlfriend of yours is probably getting beat too isn't she? You're disgusting!" Now the lady jumps back in ramming her cart into mine.

"I haven't hurt my girlfriend like that. I'd never lay my hands on her or any women from that matter." I try defending myself starting to back up a little bit.

"Yea you'll never hurt another woman again once you're in prison." The man says with his phone in his hand. "I'll call the police right now and have them come get you."

"But I haven't done anything! Just please let me buy these groceries and go home. I'm not trying to cause any trouble. I just want to get back to my girlfriend." I look from the man behind over to the lady in front of me trying to figure an escape plan.

"Your girlfriend who you abuse! She should just leave you, you're a disgusting human being. You don't deserve her." The lady hisses ready to ram my cart again.

My anxiety and anger is getting to much. So when she goes to ram my cart I pull mine back, "Just leave me alone!" Then when she misses I push past her from the other side and quickly head towards the self checkout area.

I put my couple of groceries into two bags once I scan them as I hear the lady from before yelling and hollering making a scene. I place the bags in my cart and pay as I start getting yelled at. "Get out of here you British bitch!"

"You fucking British abuser!"

"Go back to your country!"

Suddenly blunt objects begin hitting my body as more people gather throwing things at me. I try pushing my cart but things are landing in the cart after hitting me. So I quickly grab my two bags and run out of the store as items still fly my way. Finally I get to my car and toss the bags in the passenger side seat. My anger and anxiety start boiling over as I slam the door shut. I walk to the other side of the car trying to calm myself but it's not working. "Fuck!" I yell slamming my fist into the big metal pole I parked next too. I hear a gasp and see a little girl pointing at me and her mom pulling her away. I quickly climb into my car and grip my steering wheel, almost immediately whining in pain. "Ah shit." I look at my hand, my knuckles already red and starting to bruise. Then I hurry off back to Lizzie's house still gripping on to my steering wheel.

A few minutes later I arrive back at her house and walk inside without saying anything. "Oh babe you're back!" Lizzie peaks around the corner from the living room smiling. I just silently nod at her then walk into the kitchen. "How was the trip?" She asks hearing her footsteps follow after me. I just drop the bags on the counter and turn to look at her. I sigh and go to walk away but she grabs my hands stopping me. I whine in pain pulling my hurt hand away from her. "What..." She grabs my wrist pulling her hand back towards her. She inspects my knuckles for a moment and gasps. "Y/n what happened!? Why is your knuckle all bruised up!?"

"Nothing. I just want to go upstairs to bed." I sigh trying to leave the kitchen again.

But Lizzie quickly stops me again, she grabs hold of my face making me look at her. Her smile softens as she looks into my eyes. "My love... please. You know you can tell me what happened. You don't have to close yourself off with me..." She kisses me softly while also rubbing her thumbs gently against my cheeks.

I feel my eyes gloss over as I look into her eyes. I quickly wrap my arms around her, pulling her into me. I hug onto her tightly as she then wraps her arms around my waist. "When I was getting the last thing on your list... I got trapped in the aisle by an older lady and an older man." I pause, resting my head on her shoulder. She begins rubbing her hand in a circle on my back for comfort. "They started saying I was a disgusting abuser... that you should leave me and I don't deserve you. Saying I beat you... but I would never lay my hands on you... you or any other woman... but especially not you."

"I know you wouldn't my love.. I know. Is there more?" She asks softly, hugging onto me tightly.

"Yes... after they threatened to call the police. I managed to escape and push past them. Then as I finished at self checkout.... People started yelling things like I should go back to my country... I'm a British abuser. All while throwing blunt objects at me. I just grabbed my bags and ran out the door..." I explain loosening my grip on her, but keeping my arms around her body.

"Oh honey..." She grabs my face again and kisses me softly. "I'm so sorry.. I shouldn't have had you go to the store. I could've waited until I felt better." She wraps her arms around my neck pulling me closer. "You are not an abuser. Once we get you on Jimmys show then everyone will know the truth... everyone will know you were the one getting abused." She kisses my cheek holding me closely with her. I feel my anxiety melt away as she holds me close.

"Thank you darling. And you don't have to apologize. You didn't know it'd be bad." I pull away, smiling sadly at her as her face softens.

"Of course my love." She pulls me closer kissing me lovingly. But it doesn't last long as she pulls away and pushes back a little. "Wait then what happened to your hand??"

"Shit. I was hoping you'd forget about that." I laugh nervously as she narrows her eyes at me. "Ok ok. I... may have let my anger take over... and may have punched a pole..."

"Babe.." She sighs putting her hand in her forehead with a groan.

"I'm sorry! I didn't know what to do with it so I punched a pole. Look it's not broken, I can move it" I open and close my hand ignoring the slight pain shooting through it.

She's silent for a moment before rolling her eyes and walking to the fridge. "Fine I trust you that it's not broken. But you're icing it for a bit." She opens the freezer then tosses me a frozen bag of corn. "There this'll do"

"Thanks darling" I chuckle lightly and place the bag of corn across my knuckles. "Um... do we have a date for me to go on Jimmy Fallon?"

"Actually we do. You'll be going on this Friday" She smiles starting to unload the grocery bags. "Don't worry you'll be fine. I'll be there with you. And so will Ryder and your brother. If you want Tom and Scar can come too. We have your back Y/n"

"I appreciate it... I really do." I walk up to her wrapping my arms around her from behind. I place my hands on her pregnant belly and kiss her cheek. "I love you.." I rest my hand on her shoulder while she continues to unload the groceries. I'm going to need to prepare myself for Friday. This is gonna be a long week.