Without You I'm Nothing

Chapter 19

Chapter 19;

Jess p.o.v.

"Fån." Eric hissed as I dabbed a wet cloth on his cut.

"It's funny." I mumbled to myself.

"Me hurting?" he asked, bewildered.

"Hmm? Oh no. My boyfriend taking a punch for me. I never thought I would get to see that, let alone say it."

"Oh ... Of course. And I would do it again if it meant that he would not hurt you." he said it with such sincerity that it was overwhelming.

I felt tears rolling down my cheeks. I let go of the cloth, dropping it to the table.

"Hey." he murmured, getting off the table and pulling me into a hug. "What is wrong?" I just shook my head, suddenly unable to talk.

"Angel, please tell me? I am worried." He did sound scared, but what would I say to him?

That I was scared he would do the same as Jack had? Would I tell him what Jack did to me? That when Eric was mad, it took everything I had not to flinch away from him?

"I just ... I want to tell you, I do, but I-I'm scared." I admitted weakly.

"Of what? Not ... not me?" he asked, looking shocked.

"No, no. I-" I took a deep breath and told him everything. I told him how Jack had been controlling. That I only stayed with him because I was scared of what he would do if I left. Of how he made me feel utterly worthless, and how I ended up in hospital once because of him.

"It was only mild concussion, though." I told Eric, trying to make the situation sound better than it was. I looked up at him, leant on the table, fists clenched on the sides.

He was physically shaking - I couldn't tell if it was from anger or shock - and he wasn't looking at me.

"I-" I was cut off by a loud banging and drunken shouting from the front door.

"Open up, babe! I'm not finished with you yet! It can be like it used to be!" I heard, followed by a vomiting sound.

"Ah crap, he's back. I-I'll get rid of-"

"No. I will." Eric cut me off angrily. He stormed towards the front door, still shaking. I followed closely behind.

"No, leave him! He isn't worth it!" I pleaded, trying to get him to calm down before he did something he regretted later.

He flung the front door open and steamed towards Jack, dragging him down the few steps by the collar of his stained shirt.

I was watching, gobsmacked - I had never seen him this angry. Eric had dragged Jack to the brick wall at the bottom of the garden, and shoved him against it so roughly that I heard all of Jack's breath being forced out of him in one sharp exhale.

"How dare you?!" he screamed at Jack, who was still trying to catch his breath.

"What?" he wheezed "What did I do?" he asked as he flinched away.

"You made Jess's life a living hell for months!" he shouted back, getting right up in Jack's face.

"Eric!" I shouted, moving closer to them "Please, don't."

He paused and looked at me, taking a deep breath before speaking again. "If Jess wasn't standing right there," he too calmly replied, face contorting in anger as he pointed to me where I stood near them,

"I would make you regret what you did." he said, suddenly speaking so softly that I had to move closer to hear him. "If you ever bother her again, I will report you for assault - on her and me. And don't forget, I still have the proof." He said, pointing to his face.

"Now go, before I call the police." he said as he released Jack roughly against the wall, backing away. Jack looked startled for a moment, before mumbling a "sorry" and quickly running away down the road.

I heard Eric breathing loudly, before he turned to me, looking ashamed, I noticed.

"I'm so sorry. I-I don't know what came over me. I just-" He sighed "Knowing what he did, and that he got away with it just-" he groaned, running his hands over his face and through his hair. He looked worn out, and he wouldn't look at me.

"Eric, look at me." he did, but looked at the floor basically straight away. I walked over to him, grabbed his face and forced him to look at me. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me. I shouldn't have been that angry - I hate being that angry." he said sadly.

"You were amazing. I knew you wouldn't of hurt him, you are too kind for that." I smiled at him. He smiled back, seeming to relax.

"And I have to say, you are very hot when you get protective." I smirked, moving closer to him and wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Really?" he asked with a sly smile. I nodded, kissing him.

"In that case then, what do you say I go get 'protective' some more?" he asked, kissing me back.

"That sounds amazing." I whispered, grabbing his hand and tugging him inside the house, both of us smiling the whole way.