Mr Barlow

Chapter Twenty

"Until next time." Tom whispered in my ear before walking away and laughing at himself. I was left frozen for a couple of minutes as I watched him walk away, why did they have to let him out, who knows how many girls he's raped since he's been out, he's sick and deserves to be locked up for eternity. I eventually fell to the floor, I didn't know what to do, I didn't feel like going anywhere, I just wanted to crawl up into a ball and stay here and cry and sleep and just...

"Hey." I was brought back to reality and looked up to see Mark stood in front of me.

"Are you okay?" He kneeled in front of me with concern on his face.

"Yeah... I just urm..." He still just looked at me with concern in his eyes."No, not at all." I managed to get out.

"Here." He said standing up and holding his hand out for me, I took it and got myself to my feet. He didn't let go of me until we were over to the bench. "What happened?" He asked me with a weak but consoling smile. I tried to explain everything to him through my tears, everything from when Gary came to find me at the club, to Tom, to Gary once again coming to find me and rescuing me, him staying the hospital, the real reason I'm staying with him, and to why he just found me sitting on the floor up against a tree so broken. He didn't say anything, he sat there with a shocked look on his face but also concern, sadness even probably a sense of pity.

"I... I'm so sorry." He said before pulling me into a hug while I cried and cried.

"We should get you back home, well Garys house, whatever it is. He'll be worrying about you." I nodded my head as he once again helped me up and helped me over to his car of which I was unaware was actually parked so close.

"Thank you." I sniffled as I climbed in the car.

After about a minute Mark turned on some music, even though it was very quiet I could just hear the sound of 'The Flood' in the background causing me to giggle slightly.

"Something funny?" Mark looked over and asked with a small smile.

"It just makes me laugh how you and Gary both have your own music on when you're in the car." After I'd said that my face returned to worry, what was Gary going to do? He said if Tom ever came near me again he was going to kill him, although I doubt he would, would he beat him up? I don't know if he would actually hurt him, he's so kind and gentle.

"Yes but, I hardly ever listen to songs which I have lead vocals, unlike Gaz." Once he'd said this a faint smile appeared on my face. The smile once again disappeared as we pulled up to the house.

"I'll come in with you okay?" Mark looked at me with a reassuring smile, I just nodded. He; as Gary, was a gentleman and ran round to my side of the car and opened it for me, then helped me get out.

"Thank you." I once again, weakly smiled at him.

I got my keys out and passed them to him to unlock the door, he did so and gestured for me to walk in first. As soon as I walked in Gary stood up off the sofa and ran over to me and pulled me into his arms.

"Why haven't you been picking up your phone? Where have you been? Wait, why are you with Mark? What's happened?" He was filling my mind with so many questions, before I could even think about what was happening I realised I was crying in his arms. Again.

"She..." Mark started to explain. But I pulled away from Gary and turned to Mark, still with tears falling.

"It's okay. I'll explain it, you can go, thank you." I walked over and gave him a hug.

"Are you sure?" He asked me, once again with concern on his face.

"Yes." I replied, he nodded once and left.