HER 'MEOW'

Ch - 6

I was out of the police station, I sat in my car. Images and feelings of the past 48 hours poured through my head. Naked, caged or leashed, pleasured and punished, it was all completely overwhelming, even in retrospect. Fresh tears welled up, but I fought them back. I drove a few blocks, and stopped at a Subway. I ordered a simple sandwich, and sat by myself, but three bites into it, I lost all my appetite. To make matters worse, a lady strode by, walking her two dogs, which trotted happily in front of her. My god, that was me a few hours ago, I couldn't believe that was actually what I wanted...

I hit the road, I turned the radio as loud as I could stand, singing along at the top of my lungs, just trying to block everything else out. It actually helped, the drive went quickly. The blaring music was insulating me against painful memories as the sun was setting in the horizon in front of me. I had about an hour left to drive, and I dialed Andrea. A few seconds later, a frantic voice came on the other end,

"Brooke?!? Where have you been, you didn't call, what's going on?"

"Dray, Dray, just listen to me for a second,"

"I had to call the POLICE for Christ sake! You left a note, that was it, I hadn't heard from you-"

"ANDREA!" I blurted through the phone, "I will be home in about an hour, pour me a glass of wine, and I'll tell you everything. I'm fine, honest."

"You are not off the hook missy, just get home!"

I knew she hung up on me, and her words hung around with me. What was I actually going to tell her? I don't think the police ever got back to her, so she only knew that I had gone to see Mike, and that I was out of contact. She knew that I was interested in him, and that's it, I think. I didn't have to tell her anything really, but she was my closest friend, who else could I open up to?

The sky was black when I pulled up to my house. I turned off the engine, and stared ahead for a few minutes. I rocked back and forth, thumping my head softly against the wheel. I didn't know if I was ready for reality again. My phone lit up with a text message:

*Stop being weird. Come inside.*

Andrea: the ever vigilant spy. I clambered out of my car, glancing up at the house; I knew she was still watching me. I slung my bag over my shoulder, trudging up the steps. I was exhausted, I had barely slept, barely ate, and my knees were still a bit sore. Andrea met me at the door, and I offered her a weak smile. I came in, and she took the bag from me, leading me into the living room. Two wine glasses were poured, although one was significantly lower than the other.

Andrea had yet to speak, she looked me over again and again, and I suspect she was looking for bruises, or other indications of what might have happened. She always suspected the worse, but I doubt the truth of what happened ever crossed her mind. I sat down on the couch, she sat in the easy chair, very straight up and proper, twirling her glass in her hand.

"Well??" She demanded.

"Andrea... I'm sorry you were so worried..." I was slow getting the words out of me.

"What the hell happened to you?"

"I... I don't know where to begin..."

Suddenly her face was filled with worry; I'd never seen Andrea like this. I guess she must have assumed I was just a negligent friend, but I think she realized there was more than what I alluded to earlier. I took a couple deep breaths, trying to gather myself, still deciding how much to share with her. I looked down, my hands were trembling.

No, screw it. This was too much for me to deal with on my own, if she wanted to listen then I was going to share.

"So, I never really told you how I met Mike."