Chapter 2
We've just got back to the hotel and I quickly lock the door of my room once we're in. Kimberley's been tense ever since Mark dragged that scumbag off of her and I hope locking the door will help her feel a little safer. I turn around to find Kimberley stood awkwardly behind me. "You can sit down pet." I say to her gently as I gesture to the bed behind her. She nods and slowly moves towards the bed, as she reaches it she perches on the end. I watch on as she bows her head and repeatedly clenches her hands into fists. "Are you okay?" I ask her as I step out of my heels. "I just." She sighs before continuing. "Yeah, i'm fine." Lie. I walk over and sit beside her. "You don't have to lie to me Kimberley." "I just feel really dirty." She whispers before a sob escapes her. She brings her hands up to cover her face and begins to quietly cry beside me. "Don't cry, a scumbag like that isn't worth your tears." I say quietly as I pull her into my arms.
It's ten minutes later when she finally stops crying and pulls away from my embrace. "Sorry." She says as she wipes below her eyes. "Don't be." I reply with a smile. "Do you want to get a shower?" It feels weird to be sat here with Kimberley. In reality she is simply a fan of mine but I feel this overwhelming urge to protect her and make her feel safe. It's like in this hotel room she's a friend, someone i've known for years, not simply a fan. "I don't have time, my train leaves soon." She replies as she looks at the time on her phone. "Forget your train. You're in no fit state to go anywhere. You can stay here, i'm going back to London tomorrow anyway, i'll take you." She sighs as she stares at the floor. "Thankyou but, you've done more than enough already. I'll just get the train." "We both know you don't want to go and stand in the train station by yourself." I answer, sympathetically. "Cheryl, I can't. I really appreciate the offer but, I can't." "Look, i'll be honest. I don't want you to go back out there on your own." I say with a sigh as I place my shoes into the wardrobe by the bed. God this girl is stubborn. "Cheryl I really ca-" "I'm not taking no for an answer." I say abruptly as I cut her off mid sentence. She groans and rests her head on her hand. I decide it's time for a change of tact. "Anyone would think you don't want to spend time with me." I say as I head for the bathroom with my fresh make-up wipe. "It's not that." She shoots back quickly. "I just don't want to take advantage. I'm only a fan after all." "As a fan you should already know that i'd do this for any fan." I shout back. The truth is, I would. I adore my fans, after all they are the reason I am where I am. I hate to see them suffering or hurting when there's nothing I can do but, I have the chance to help Kimberley and that's why I can't let her walk out of this hotel room.
I'm still taking my make-up off when Kimberley appears at the bathroom door. "Are you sure?" I turn to look at her. Even after everything that's gone on tonight she still looks beautiful; mascara lines and all. She must catch me glimpsing at the mascara trails under her eyes because she abruptly drops her head. I place two fingers under her chin and force her eyes back up to mine. "You wouldn't be here if I wasn't sure." She simply nods, finally giving in. "You go and sit down while I finish up in here then you can get a shower, yeah?" "Thankyou." She begins to walk away but stops in her tracks when I call her name. "Kimberley." "Yeah?" She replies. "You can stop saying thank you now." I counter with a laugh.
I pull my hoody on and fall backwards into the swarm of pillows covering the king size bed. The low hum of the shower fills the room as it kick-starts into life. It's only now that I actually go over the events of the night. How I went from performing the last date of my arena tour to sharing my hotel room with a fan, not that i'm complaining. Definitely not complaining. It's weird, when Kimberley walked out of the room after her meet and greet I didn't think i'd actually see her again or at least not for a long time. Yet a couple of hours later here she is, having a shower in my hotel room. Fate. I know a lot of people don't believe in it but, how do you explain strange things like this otherwise?
Kimberley's POV
I stand in the shower and allow the water to flow over my body. I feel dirty, disgusting even. I can still feel his hands running up my thighs. I have to blink away the tears that form in my eyes as I think about what could have or rather would have happened if Cheryl hadn't turned up. The whole evening seems pretty surreal not only did I finally meet Cheryl, she then proceeded to save me from an attack before offering me a place to stay and a ride home. I know she told me not to be a stranger but, I didn't exactly picture 'don't be a stranger' quite like this.
Cheryl's POV
My eyes flick open as I hear the bathroom door unlock and then open. "Sorry. You weren't asleep were you?" Kimberley asks as she stops dead in her tracks. I must admit she certainly looks in a better state than she did ten minutes ago. She tugs the hoody of the tracksuit I lent her over her head as she heads for the sofa. On her way she carelessly tosses her dress to the floor by her shoes and runs her hand through her hair. "Feel better?" I ask her. "Yeah, thanks." She replies. Except she's lying; I can see it in her eyes. A certain vulnerability shadows her eyes, which are a rather unusual colour i've noticed. I watch as she types out what I presume is a text on her phone. "Kimberley." "Mmm." She acknowledges me stating her name but doesn't look up from her phone. "Are you okay?" I ask quietly. She simply shrugs her shoulders as she continues to stare down at her phone. I could swear I see her body shake as I hear her stifle a sob. "Kimberley, come and sit with me for a minute." I shuffle to the edge of the bed and watch as she walks towards me with her head bowed. I don't think i've actually seen her walk with her head up since I met her. She sits down beside me but still, her head remains down, her stare, I presume, fixed on the floor. "Tell me what's wrong." I whisper. "All I can think about is what would've happened if you hadn't turned up." She whispers before covering her face with her hands. "You can't think like that. Don't let him get the better of you." I place my hand on her back and I can feel her breath catching in her throat as she struggles to compose herself. "You got away Kimberley." She nods before saying. "I got away." More to herself than me I think. "Come here." I whisper as I pull her into a hug. God knows she needs it.
Kimberley's been asleep on the sofa for a while, I had tried to make her sleep in the bed but, she had insisted I slept in the bed. Sleep won't seem to come to me and so instead i've found myself watching her. Even though she's sleeping she still seems uneasy. She has a small crease in the middle of her forehead, one I would associate with frowning. The more I look at her the more I get the impression that she's carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. I quickly find myself wondering if it's connected to the letter she gave me. Even more quickly I find myself wondering if she'll stick around long enough for me to find out. I find myself, quite out of character, hoping she will...
