Welcoming (Part 1 of 4)

Chapter One

Chapter One

(Danny)

I couldn't help but stare at her almost lifeless body laying in the back seat of my car.  The few visable bruises scattered tenderly across her pale skin.  It felt like only a few minutes ago when she had called me crying, begging for me to take her away, take her away from all the pain.  Unfortunately the drive to her was much longer and had taken me a couple hours to even arrive at her front door.  By then she had already started to run, carrying only a few small possessions in the back pack slung over her shoulder.  But I knew the woods just as well as she did and found her curled beside the lake we use to play at when we were kids.

I couldn't kid myself, carrying her body so close to mine, reminded me of the feelings I had buried deep within me.  Her petite weight barely registering in my arms.  Yet it was her body heat that hit me the hardest.  Growing up I had always imagined what it would be like to be so close to her, and not carrying her towards safety.

She moved ever so gently in her sleep; a half moan half cry escaping her parted lips.  She had called me, knowing I was her only friend left.  That alone, excluding the years it had taken her to call me, warmed my heart and made it swell to the point of bursting.  It didn't matter why she had called me or how long it had taken her to call me, I was just glad she had called.

By the time I had pulled into the driveway, darkness had enveloped the sky.  The city lights blotting out whatever stars may have been visable.  Slowly the engine died under my feet, allowing silence to smother my warm ears.

I sighed before turning my attention to Veronica.  She had barely sturred, obviously in desperate need of sleep.  My heart was heavy as I gently shook her awake.  "Ronnie.  Sweetie.  Wake up.  We're home."

Her eyes fluttered open, revealing just how blood shot they were.  She sat up quickly, rubbed her eyes, and feverishly tried to tame her wild hair.

"You look beautiful, don't worry."  I whispered.

A fragile smile uneasily spread across her face.  Her eyes moved towards the house in the distance, darting across every brick and stone, leaving nothing left to the imagination.  "It's big."  Her voice raspy.

"It's just our touring home.  I guess you could call it.  I told the guys to behave; figured you would just want to crawl into bed and sleep for a while."

"Don't.  I don't want to be a burden."

"Get that out of your head.  I have no problem, WE have no problem with you staying here.  We want you to."

"Did you tell them?"

"No.  You can tell them if you want.  But you don't have to."  She shook her head nervously.  "Now come on, the guys are exstatic to meet you."

Slowly she stepped from the back seat, her back pack held tightly to her chest.  I watched as her body shivered ever so lightly in the cool night air.  Pulling her closely, I whispered into her ear, "Don't worry.  I'm right beside you the whole way."

The dead bolt screamed to life, though the door was silent as it swung open, what lay beyond the door was anything but.  The walls vibrated with life, especially Jordan's voice, which seemed to echo throughout the entire house.

"FUCK YOU!" He screamed.  "GIVE ME BACK MY FUCKING BEER!"

I lifted my fingers to my mouth and whistled signaling to the guys to come to the front door.

"Danny's fucking home.  Then you have to give me back my fucking beers."

Ronnie pressed herself closer to my body, her eyes darting up and down the spiral stair case, laced with a plush carpet, towards the railing that surrounded the second floor and finally resting on the grand chandelier that hung heavily from the ceiling.