Beat Heal Love

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

"Get out," I hear Smith say with menace. Who's here?

"Let me see her. I need to talk to her," a voice I've grown to distrust.

"No. She's dealt with enough shit. Some coming from you as well. Leave her alone," Nathan argues.

"I need to talk to her. Let me in," Scott pauses, "even Max isn't growling at me."

"Not yet. But I'll set him on you again if you take one more step inside." I walk out of my room quietly, moving to watch the exchange. No one notices me.

"I just want to talk. You guys can even be around to listen if you'd like. There's something I need to tell her. It's important. Please?" Both Smith and Nathan shake their heads in denial. I see Scott rise his head in an attempt to see me, and see me he does.

I hold up five fingers, hoping he'll understand the meaning. He gives me a small nod before trying to convince Smith and Nathan to let him in as I walk back in my room. I wait, curled into a ball on my bed as if I'd never left.

"Charlie, you okay?" I look up and see Nathan at the door with Max following like always.

"Yeah, as I'll ever be. Do you mind if I go take a walk outside? I just need some air," I ask.

"If that's what you need right now, go ahead. Take Max with you if you want." I shake my head and get up, taking my blanket with me.

"Thanks, Nathan, I'll be back in a bit."

"Make sure you actually come in this time please." I laugh with a nod. I walk out of the warehouse and towards the lake. I see Scott start to follow.

•♦•♦•♦•♦•

"What?!" I demand when I turn around to face my follower.

"I just want to apologize. I went to talk to your–Peter. He admitted to abusing and raping you."

"Why would he admit that? He never has before," I state to myself.

"He said he was getting out. He told me that none of the evidence showed abuse or rape. Just a teenage girl wanting attention." My knees buckle from the shock but before I hit, Scott catches me.

"How?" He doesn't answer, just sits me down and goes beside me. I put my head in my hands as I force tears away. How was the evidence inconclusive to the reports? It was supposed to be an easy case. Peter get convicted and go to jail. All the evidence had been there, and had pointed to abuse and rape.

"Don't tell anyone else, that I met with you or that he's getting out. I'll deal with that when the time comes," I state in a strong voice, managing somehow.

"You're going to handle it by yourself?" He doesn't believe the words. I just nod,

"You'd better go. I don't know if one of them will come looking for me if I'm out too long."

"I'm not leaving you out here alone. It'll be dark soon. There's no way."

"Scott, go. You're just going to make me feel worse. I need to absorb the facts and I need to do it alone."

"I will if you call Nathan and tell him where you are," he bargains.

"No phone and I'm not using yours. Max'll be able to sniff me out. He always does," I put my head on my knees after pulling them to me.

"I'm not leaving you here. Not after what I just told you. No way in hell." I don't answer him.

"You're not alone in any of this, Scarlett. Don't make it seem like you are. One of my best friends since middle school is hostile towards me because of what I did to you. Both of them will back you up in anything. No doubt about it. You can ignore me all you want, I'm not leaving." He settles himself more comfortably beside me. Not touching, just... there.