The Nerve Wreckers

part 10: misunderstood

Marcus’s

                  I gently laid the soundly sleeping Carrie on my bed and tucked her in. I had no idea where her unit was so she just had to make do with my apartment temporarily. I didn’t bring her home; what would I say to her parents? I didn’t exactly know how she ended up in the alley, so letting her explain would be the best solution.

                 

                  I soaked a handkerchief in warm water and put it on her forehead. In the past, my mom always does that to relief stress, paranoia, eliminate headache and to have a good nights rest. For such a innocent girl, tonight was definitely way more than she could bear. I just wanted her to rest well and hopefully forget about the incident.

                  Once I dropped a text in her mother’s inbox stating that Carrie would be staying out for the night, I grabbed some pillows and a comforter, curled up in the sofa in the living hall and slowly drifted to sleep.

                 

In the middle of the night, a faint cry woke me up from my light sleep. I rubbed my temples. What the hell. It was only 2am in the morning! Can’t a guy get some peace?

Then it struck me; the noise was coming from Carrie!

I kicked off the blanket and rushed to the room. It was dark, but I knew where I was going. I sat down beside the bed and felt Carrie grasp my arm. I could feel her heart thumping as fast as a bullet train, her short breaths continuously blowing the fine hairs on my skin and the panic in her voice. “Help…. Somebody-“ she threw herself into my arms, in search of a relief hug. She was obviously having a nightmare about the incident, and she was scared shitless. I wrapped my arms around her and patted her back, reassuring her that it was over.

“Carrie, I’m here, don’t worry, its over… Don’t worry,” I hushed her, as if she was a small helpless toddler. She started to relax, but still holding on tightly to me. I brushed her long brown hair and assured her profusely that she was safe now.

I waited for her to calm down before I slowly wiggled out of the embrace. “Now, close your eyes and go back to bed alright? I’ll be outside protecting you.” I patted her hands. But her grip suddenly tightened; refusing to let me leave.

“Stay with… me…. “ She half-slept talk. Before I could even respond, she wrapped her arms around my waist and pulled me down onto the bed with her.  I was in awe. I didn’t know what to do. She didn’t like me, why was she doing this? Did she think I was her boyfriend?

She draped her legs over my body which put me in a very uncomfortable position. I was like a human cuddle pillow. I wanted to push her away and return back, but, being this close to her, I couldn’t bear to. I wished this cuddle could last forever.

Slowly and unknowingly, I drifted into a deep sleep, with her in my arms. I know she has a boyfriend, but I really couldn’t resist it any longer, I have been waiting so long for this cuddle.

Carrie’s

Daylight shone through my shut eyelids as I refused to wake up. I was tired, hungry, sad, but most of all, afraid. I didn’t want to know what at all happened. If my attacker really raped me, how was I supposed to face my friends? My parents? Andrew? But thankfully, I wasn’t. Lord has mercy. My clothes were still on, though my blouse was torn.

I tried shifting position, where it suddenly struck me that I wasn’t alone in this bed. There was an arm draped over me, most probably belonging to the attacker from last night. I looked around at the unfamiliar environment. Its probably the ‘kidnappers headquarters’ like in the action movies. Shoots, I have to make a run for it. Before he woke up, before he catches me. I was now or never. But I don’t even know where the hell was I!

Just when I was sorting out my thoughts, the sleeping log beside me suddenly rolled over and ruffled his hair. I froze. I was so dead.

And then I realized; Marcus Fisher?!!???!!!

Marcus’s

                  I awoke to a stunned Carrie, staring at me as if I wasn’t a human being like her. I yawned and tried to figure out what exactly was going on.

                  “Carrie are you okay?” I mumbled the first sentence of my day.

                 

                  She started backing away, emotions slowly melting down into despair and horror. Let me guess, she was still in trauma after all that happened last night?

                 

                  “Carrie come here,” I said, patting down on the bed gently, wanting to console her and eradicate all her fears. I didn’t need to do that. I wasn’t her boyfriend.

                  But I wanted to.

                  “How… Could you?” She screamed in disbelief, on the verge of tears.

                  “Carrie what?” I was totally lost. What was she talking about?

                  “How could you…try to do… such a thing to me…” She thought I was the attacker? I wouldn’t be so despicable to try to force my own student to have sex with me!

                  “Carrie I-“ She cupped her ears with her hands and shook her head furiously, obviously wanting me to shut up. She refused to let me explain. Tears burst out of her eyes. I didn’t know how to react. I barely got out of bed five minutes ago and I was now accused of assaulting my… loved one?

                  Before I could say anything else, she swing opened the door and ran out. I didn’t give chase, because I know her too well. Now, exactly what she needed was some time alone.  I didn’t want to go after her and force her to hear me out, but instead calm down first and then I could clear things up. The emotional baggage she had carried was overloaded, and the best I could do for her was to shoulder some for her.

                  Being maligned for ‘attacking her’ did me injustice, but most of all, I felt hurt that she actually believed that I would commit such a sin. She had absolutely no faith in me. At that point, I too felt like bursting into tears.