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Chapter 20 :}

We were sat in the kitchen, neither of us saying much. He'd made me tea with sugar in, he says it's good for shock. He wanted to ring the police straight away but I managed to insist on waiting for Mum, and by insist I mean I mumbled 'Mum'. She'd gone out to feed the ducks with Harry. Damien was desperatley trying to comfort me, but I really didn't want to be touched. I hadn't even got changed yet. The thought of seeing my skin made me panic. I could tell he had something to say he kept parting his mouth and then shutting it quickly. I looked at him as a way of encouragement. 

"I know this isn't what we need to talk about right now so...tell me if you need me to shut up?" I nod. He runs his hand through his hair and puffs out air.

"Yesterday...I'm sorry. I tried to ring you and text you but.." I still hadn't read any of them. I give him a pathetically meak smile. I had things to say but I just couldn't find my voice. I take my phone out of my pocket and open our conversation. I had 9 messages, 8 prior to when I sent my location. I could feel him watching me.

Please come back, Im sorry 

I don't want her like that at all

I wasn't thinking when I spoke I feel like such a dick. Just tell me you're home safe??

Romy answer the phone please I just want to explain what I meant

If you need to sleep on this I get it. I know you're pissed. I know I'm an idiot. gunna b totally honest with you, I liked bells lots for a while. its shitty for me to not said anything before, i get how this looks but it's not like that. Meeting you was great for so many more reasons than you not wanting Low. You're better than Bells to me in a million ways. She never even knew I exisited i was totally hung up on the idea of her, i didnt even know her yano? I know you, and what we've got right now is an actually thing to be hung up on. i feel stuff about you that I cant  even figure out because theyre new, so for me that means that i like you more than I ever did with her

Was that too much have i made it worse

are you awake?

are we done because of this??

And then:

I'm coming, are you okay?

"You're shaking." He was standing closer to me looking down. I decide the only thing I can do right now is text him back. 

i feel stuff about you too, thank you for coming to get me 

I watch him open his phone and smile a little. He kneels infront of me, he looks kind of pissed and sad.

"I hate how hurt you look." I force a smile but forget to monitor my tear ducts. He wipes away each once. I text him again. 

im not hurt because of you, you saved me from who knows what  

His face falls and for a second I think he might cry too. 

"Romy!" I jump at Mum stood in the door way, when did she come in? She drops everything she was holding and runs to me, pulling me towards her.

"What did you do." Mum demands at Damien. I pull back, furiously shaking my head to defend him. She looks confused and I want to explain but I feel a wash of sickness all over again. Her hands were pressing firmly on my shoulders she props my head between my knees and holds it there.

"Breath.." She was steadily stroking my back.

I tried, but I couldn't. My limbs went weak and my head felt heavy. I fought to keep my eyes open...but they were forcefully rolling into my head. It all went black. 

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I tentively open an eye at the sound of Damien's voice. I hear 'against a fence' and shut it again, but not quick enough for a light to be flashed into them. 

"Romy? Can you hear me?" I open them again and am pretty taken back by the paramedic hovering over me. I sit up and she steadies me slowly, we're in my living room. 

"You fainted. Do you remember?" I nod. She asks me to tell her my name and a few other questions. Once she's satisfied I've answered them all correctly she introduces another woman. This one wasn't a paramedic. 

"Hi Romy, I'm officer Sager. Are you feeling alright?" Suddenly not so much. I search the room for Mum but I can't see her. She notices. 

"Your Mum's just taken your little brother to a friends, Damien's just over there though." She nods at kitchen door and I spot him talking to a different officer. The rest of the evening isn't in my top ten favourite memories. I had to talk eventually, and gave my account of what had happened. Because of the 'nature of the assault' my clothes wouldn't be much use in finding the guy from DNA, but I asked them to take eveything. I'd never wear them again anyway. Damien had managed to take a photo of the guy when he was on the floor, which was the best thing they could go on since the alleys had zero camera monitoring. They said unless the man was to file charges against Damien then he was in the clear for the time being, I'd like to think what he had done to me would deter any chance of that happening. I was prepared for nothing to come of this, but I gave them everything I could.