Stupid Dreamers

Chapter 27: News

When I woke up the next morning-in my own bed, in my own hotel room-the first thing I did was run to the bathroom, take off my shirt, and look at my back through the mirror. I was expecting to see something horrendous, with blood and puss oozing out of the indents in my back. But all that was there was tiny, red, crusted over marks scattered all over my back. I felt over one of them with my finger and although it did sting, it didn't hurt as much as it did last night when all of these were fresh. I let out of a breath of relief, glad that it wasn't as bad as I expected and won't get infected. Harry must've knew what he was doing.

Harry insisted that I sleep in his bed last night so he could make sure I was okay, but I denied it. Thinking that my crew will be very upset with me if they find me missing from my room a second time, it would probably be best to trudge back to my own room and try to sleep it off. He hesitantly let me do so, and told me to call him if I needed anything else. I'm starting to think this boy may have the slightest of a crush on me. Either that or he's just that caring of a person.

After I left the bathroom, I changed and did my usual morning routine of making the bed and making sure everything else was in order, just as I like it. Then I walked over to my nightstand and retrieved my phone, unlocking it to find that Harry sent me a text.

Your ex is in trouble...big time.

I felt slightly indifferent about this. Either he's saying this to make me a bit more relieved and relaxed, or someone actually called the cops on Rick. I switch over to the Internet and type his name in just to see if any particular news articles pop up. Right at the top of the page was an article posted about four hours ago, headlined by "Erin Taylor's Ex Causing Trouble in the Big Apple" I tried to ignore the hideous and badly written headline and clicked on the page. The first thing that appeared after the headline was a blurry photo of Rick sitting in the bar, then another one on the side viewing his back, probably from when he was cowering over me.

Erin Taylor's ex-boyfriend was last seen at a bar in New York City, supposedly getting drunk enough to start fights...one of which on another girl. The girl was unable to be identified, but it has been said by witnesses that he smashed a beer bottle against her back and shoved her into the wall.

What may have started this sudden outbreak may be Erin's recent sightings with the popular boyband singer, Harry Styles. Nothing of this matter has been confirmed, but it is now known that Rick Johnston has been arrested by the NYC police and locked away for abuse caught on the security cameras in the bar and is currently awaiting trial.

My heart practically stopped once I read the last sentence. My ex-boyfriend, my boyfriend of two years that was everything I ever wanted, my sidekick who supported me in everything I did, was now in jail because of me. Just because I said no, because he didn't get what he want, he's locked up. I couldn't help but feel at fault for this. I couldn't help but feel the urge to cry at this too, because at one point in my life, I actually loved this man and would go out of my way because I did.

He would reveal it was me he beat up at some point; they'd have to question him about it and I knew he wouldn't lie about it. I'd probably have to be brought into court and questioned about being the witness and by the end of it, I'd end up in more tears than before.

I couldn't worry about this right now. I couldn't worry until I had to. For right now, I had a better idea that would hopefully get my mind off of all this happening right now. First, I decided to send a message to Carter, just in case she or Powell or Parker were worried about my whereabouts last night.

Heading out for a couple of hours or so, if that's okay with you guys.

I received a message back a couple minutes later.