Impavid

Safe

     My mind raced through the options, and I briefly wondered what the best possible scenario for me would be. Who just opened the door?

     It could have been my parents. That might be messy.  

     It could have been Melanie. Even worse.

     It could have been Sophie, but how could she really even help? She was just as petite as I was.

     My mind flashed to Luke briefly, as I thought of how he could probably help the most in the current situation. I didn't especially want to see him after what had just happened between the two of us, though. 

     "Carson," Dave hissed, still hovering over me. One hand had a grip in my hair, the other trailed down my stomach closer to somewhere I didn't want him to be. 

     "Carson?" A voice questioned from downstairs. A wave of strange relief flooded over me, and in that moment, I didn't care about what had happened between us. 

     "Luke! Up here!" I screamed as loud as I could before Dave's hand moved from my hair to clamp over my mouth. 

     "Sh," He scolded. The sounds that came from my mouth were terrifying. I could hear the footsteps, as Luke bounced up the stairs as quickly as possible. His steps were loud and quick, and I knew I was going to be okay. Until I clearly safe, though, I was too terrified to think straight.

     My heart was pounding, and I hadn't even realized I was crying until Luke was pulling Dave backwards off of me, and I was jumping up as fast as I could, now shaking and audibly panting. The room was spinning, and I didn't know whether I should call the police or try to help Luke or go hide. I just sat on my bed, wide eyed, now gripping the phone I had apparently not-so-strategically placed beside me. 

     I screamed as Luke's fist flew back before connecting with Dave's face. Dave's back slammed against the wall, knocking a picture frame from its hook. I screamed again when I heard the glass shatter, watching shards scatter across my rug. 

     "I'm going to fucking kill you," Luke hissed, and even I was startled by his volume and tone, "if you ever even come near her again. Do you hear me? Now get out."

     I watched as Dave blinked, not fighting back. He looked over his shoulder back at me as Luke shoved him toward the stairs.

     I heard the front door close again, and again, I was relieved to hear that sound. That door had woken me up so many times. That door had gotten me in trouble the two times I came in after curfew. That door confused the hell out of me. You could try so hard to close it softly, and yet, it was always loud enough for the whole house to hear. I was so thankful to hear it close now with Dave on the outside, probably scattering down the driveway and running on foot toward his home. 

     I knew I should call my parents immediately. I knew I should call the police right after that. I knew that Dave's family needed to know, other girls needed to know, my family needed to know. Melanie needed to know. 

     I couldn't think of any of that, though, as I sat frozen on my bed. I watched Luke shake his hand, his fist already bruising. I watched as Luke looked up at me, and I watched him step carefully over the broken glass. I watched as he moved into my doorway. I watched as he froze.

    I saw his hesitation. I knew he felt awkward about the way we had ended things. I knew he felt cautious to approach me, in case I was too scared to be touched. I could see all of this in his eyes. It struck me how pretty his eyes looked. I kept my eyes on him, saying nothing, waiting for him to speak. I was surprised at how attractive I found him in that instant. He had saved me.

     Who knows what Dave would have done if someone didn't stop him? His fingers were already inching toward more than I would offer, and I didn't even want to think about the precautions he would have taken to find ensure no one found out about it. I could have even been killed. I could have been murdered by Dangerous Dave. I could have tried to get away and fallen, hitting my head. I could have died by accident, even. 

     In what way I died didn't matter to me. I just could have been dead. But I wasn't. Luke saved me. 

    "Carson," Luke whispered, staring at me. "Are you okay?"

     I didn't give him any indication of whether my answer was yes or no. I only held my hand out toward him, inviting him closer. He moved instantly across the room, sitting on my bed beside me. He wrapped his arm tightly around my shoulder and tugged me into him. My head rested against his chest as I began to cry harder once more, and he curled my hair gently around his fingers. 

     He didn't hush me or tell me not to cry. He didn't ask if I was okay again or tell me I was safe now. 

     I was grateful that we sat in silence for minutes, him holding me tightly against him. 

     "Carse," He finally spoke. I grabbed a fistful of his cotton tee in response, the tee I had grabbed an hour earlier. I didn't say anything, listening to his soothing voice as he continued to speak. "I think you should try to get some rest. You've had a rough couple of hours." 

     I sat up, immediately missing his warmth. I had felt a sense of security in his arms, and I wanted nothing more than to feel that again. He stood up, and I shifted my weight to pull the blankets back. I slid my body beneath the comforter and looked back up at Luke. 

     "Will you lay with me?" I whispered.

     He didn't answer. Instead, he pulled back the covers I had tucked myself under and slid into bed beside me. I rolled over to face him, my eyes meeting his for a moment. As I leaned in to rest my head on his chest once more, I thought about how strange this was. 

     I definitely didn't expect to be cuddled up to Luke tonight. I closed my eyes, feeling his arms close around me protectively and his fingers begin to stroke my back. I knew I'd be having nightmares about Dave every night for weeks, but I also knew that I wouldn't even think about Dave while I was in Luke's arms.

    I didn't feel scared. I just felt safe.