(Corey) I Just Want To Be Right By Your Side (Taylor) [22]

(Corey) I Just Want To Be Right By Your Side (Taylor) [4]

^^^ Corey’s POV^^^

I woke to a loud pounding, confused at first because I wasn’t in my room. Then last night came flooding back to me. I looked over to see Nici sleeping beside me. She looked very deep asleep but from the bags and dark rings under her eyes I could tell it was due to exhaustion. The pounding got louder and was now accompanied by shouted cursing. My lips couldn’t help but curve into a smile. I knew that voice. I carefully got out of bed as to not disturb Nici and quietly let myself out of the room. I padded down the steps and straight to the front door to let in a very annoyed looking Jim. He was followed by a slightly amused Christina. Jim immediately moved into the kitchen and sat down the bag of greasy breakfast food he’d brought before pulling his sunglasses off in irritation.

“So you’ve adopted a few new habits like calling me in the middle of the night to tell me horror stories about,”

“Jim,” Christina interrupted.

“About,” Jim continued louder, “your new girlfriend’s ex, and what the bastard did and then you don’t have your phone on beside you so when I try to reach you this morning I have to come over here and pound your door down while the neighbors are getting ready to call the cops because you can’t be bothered to answer your door either.”

“Jim,” Christina said more insistently while trying not to blush.

“What?” He said looking at her irritated.

“I’m sorry, it’s my fault,” Nici said from the bottom of the stairs. We all turned to her and Jim’s face immediately turned contrite. It pained me to see that the bruises stood out even more contrastingly this morning and there were dark blue smudges beneath her eyes attesting to her rough night of little sleep. The cut on her lip had only begun to heal still leaving it slightly swollen and obviously scabbed over. I wanted to rush over to her and pull her into a tight hug. I controlled the urge though because she looked skittish enough just being in the room with us all.

“It’s not your fault sweetie, Jim’s just being a bit peevish cause I made him get up early this morning,” Christina said.

“Yeah, sorry I didn’t mean to wake you,” Jim said awkwardly.

Nici’s stomach growled and she grimaced.

Jim pushed the bag closer to her.

“Here, Christina wanted to bring you breakfast. Corey I thought we could go down to the café around the corner.”

“Yeah sure, just let me get a shirt and a coat,” I said.

When I came back downstairs it appeared Jim was the only one who had moved as he was now waiting by the door while Nici was standing at the bottom of the steps and Christina was in the kitchen. I paused by Nici unsure of what to do. I wanted to pull her close and hold her. To promise her that this would all get better and no one would ever hurt her again. But she was to smart to believe in those promises and I dared not touch her. She looked up at me through her bangs with anxious eyes.

“I’ll be just down the street if you need me you still have my cell number right?”

She nodded.

“If you need me anytime Nici,” I said stressing the anytime.

“I know Corey,” she whispered softly.

“Ok, I’ll see you soon then,” I said awkwardly trying to avoid getting to close to her. I walked over to the door and walked out with Jim forcing myself not to look back. I hoped she’d come around to Christina without us there.

^^^Nici’s POV^^^

I watched the guys leave and looked nervously towards Christina. “Did Jim tell you?”