When He Showed Up

Chapter 8

Chapter 8:

Watching Min Su dance, it made me want to dance so badly.  She kept trying to get me to join.  I really wanted to major in dance, so I told her I would think about it.  I didn't want to rush into this too quickly. I started questioning my major.  Maybe I shouldn't go into dance... Maybe...

"Jess! JEEESSS!!"

I jumped, reality smacking me in the face once more.  "What?"

"I've been calling you! You were off in LaLa Land!" laughed Min Su, waving her hand in front of my face teasingly.

"Haha, sorry..."

"It's ok.  School is over, so it's time to go home!" said Min Su, looking relieved.

"Ok! Will you drive me home or will I have to walk home?" I asked, absent-mindedly picking at my nails.

Min Su gave me the “no-freaking-duh” look.  "Well, unless you want to go to my dad’s company and sit for a few hours?"

I looked at her sarcastically.  "No, that's ok. I'll just walk, then."

"Ok. Be safe! Call me when you get to your house, arrasso?"

"Arrasso!"

Walking home, I was wondering what Min Su was doing all alone at her dad’s office.  Probably thinking about Tae.  She may try to hide it (rather poorly), but I know she likes him deep down in her heart. The way she lights up when she's with him, the way she walks and talks with him.  Ok, so she totally wears her heart on her sleeve, but personally I think it’s sweet.  I believe it's the same way with him, although I can't be quite sure yet.  I'll have to ask Brie about it...

Brie. Now why can’t I stop thinking about that boy?  That stuck-up, pompous jerk who can't keep his hands to himself.

His hands. They were so big and warm around my waist.  I felt so... so.. harassed. I chuckled at my own thoughts.  I then sighed, my attitude turning melancholy.  That's what they all do, apparently.  Just as I turned the street corner, I, again, ran into someone. "Man! What is up with me running into people?

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't see you th-"

But before I could finish apologizing, he grabbed me up, pulled me close by the waist, looked me over, then smirked triumphantly.

"Cute. You'll do."

Do?  Do for what? I thought, my brain temporarily malfunctioning.  But then, he dragged me into an alley and pulled out a cruel-looking knife.

"In case there are any...noises," he explained with a low chuckle, then abruptly pushed me against the wall of the alley.  The situation finally registering in my sluggish mind, I let out a bloodcurdling scream until he covered my mouth with his insistent, nauseating lips. I tried desperately to push him away, fighting tooth and nail, but he was too strong.  All my senses were on high alert; I kept screaming and crying, trying to ward off his probing hands.  I kicked and pushed and hollered as he ripped open my buttoned down jacket.  After I screamed yet again, he pulled out the knife and hissed, "You remember what I said about the knife: you scream, you get hurt."  I begged and pleaded with him to stop, but it was too late. He  ripped my sleeve off, and savagely slid the blade over my arm.  Unable to think clearly, I instinctively shrieked in pain.

"You really don't listen well do you?" he growled, brandishing the bloody blade again.  I cried and cried.  I knew he had cut me a few more times, and I thought the final, awful, disgusting climax of his attack would soon arrive, until finally, I heard someone.  My heart leapt; pounding with naïve hope, I managed to glance over and notice it was a male.  As he ran closer, I finally recognized him.  It was... Brie?!

When my attacker spotted him, he instantly released me with a cry and sprinted down the alley.  As I fell weakly to the ground, Brie snatched the man by the collar and pulled him back.

"YAH![HEY!]  YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST GRAB SOME INNOCENT GIRL AND RAPE HER?  YOU SICK, PERVERTED LOWLIFE!  GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE I BEAT THE LIVING CRAP OF YOU!" Brie bellowed ferociously, putting his outraged face right up to the attacker’s terrified one. Giving him a look of complete and utter disgust, Brie threw him away from us, and after stumbling, the man booked it out of the alley.  After making sure he had gone, Brie walked over and knelt down in front of me.

"Agassi [Miss], are you okay? Did he hurt you?"  Then he brushed my hair away from my face and gasped in shock.

"J-Jess! Wh-What are you doing here?!  Are you in pain?"

I tried to speak but I couldn't, it was too much at once.  I could still imagine the feel of the man’s fingers on my skin, and the fear I’d felt.  Although I would chide myself for this later, I actually started breaking down in front of him.

I looked up at Brie and I saw a side of him I’d never seen before. He looked hurt, concerned, and angry all at once.

"Come on. I’m taking you to the hospital."  He picked me up bridal-style (to my horror, I blushed bright pink!), and started to carry me.

"T-Thank y-you..." I murmured softly, gratefully.  He smiled, then I lay my head against his chest and before I knew it, I fell asleep.

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Jess’s POV:

I woke up to a stinging sensation; I didn't know where it was coming from, but I knew I wanted it to stop, immediately!  I winced in pain.

"Sorry, I have to clean these cuts."

“Brie...what...what are you doing?! I thought you were taking me to the hospital!"

"I was, but I didn't think that would be smart since they would want to know how it happened. Besides, they aren't deep cuts."

I lay back on the couch where he set me.  "Oh.  Well...thanks."

"No problem, babe. Just remember, you owe me."

I eyed him suspiciously.  "Owe you?"  I started to get worried; just what exactly was this guy thinking?

"Yeah, babe, you know, like a favor?" I nodded, silently exhaling a breath of relief. "Unless, of course, I can do something else for you..."  He came very close to my face, his spearmint breath fanning my lips, his expensive cologne intoxicating... ARGH!  JESS, GET A GRIP!

"NO!” I said too loudly.  “Uh...no.. That's fine..."

Brie smirked, as if reading my thoughts once again, then backed off. "Come on, I'll take you home."

"It's ok, I can go by myself..." Then I shut up, remembering what had just gone down.  

"And let you get assaulted again? No way. Come on!"

And with that, he dragged me out of...huh, I suppose it was his apartment.   I didn’t really know where we were.  All I knew was that Brie saved me from an awful, shame-filled fate I could never have stopped on my own.  And I'm eternally grateful to him for that.

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