Only You

Chapter 49: Hero

"Thanks for being here." I tell Stella when she hands me a bowl full of grapes.

"You need to eat." She replies but I'm not hungry. It's not that I don't want to eat, but every time I see food I feel nauseous and disgusted. I know it's going to be a while until I go back to normal.

About last night, I do remember most of it. Flashes of Eric came to my mind while I was sleeping and I woke up several times, so at four I decided to stay up and watch a movie to distract myself, and it worked, for a couple of hours only, but worked.

My parents were so freaked out when Liam brought me home, I'm pretty sure they won't let me go out ever again, not until I'm like 40 years old. Although, having a pepper spray with me wouldn't be a bad idea at all.

But rather than freaked out, they were scared and upset, not because I wasn't responsible but because someone who I somehow 'cared' about did that to me and they weren't there to rescue me. I saw worry and sadness in their eyes, but I don't blame them for anything, stuff happens and I just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

My sister was crying with me when we arrived, she was afraid as well, and I don't blame her, when Liam started to explain everything to them I was listening from upstairs and it sounded so bad, as if it was a plot from a movie. So horrible. They immediately went to the police and pressed charges and we got a restraining order. Some people might think we exaggerated, but they just want to see me safe and sound.

I didn't want to know anything after I went to the station and said my statement, I just wanted to be in my bed, hugging my unicorn plush toy.

What Eric did, or was attempting to do, was really bad, and everyone is on my side because at first sight that's the most logical thing, he is crazy, but I've been wondering what is going on in his life to try to do that to an innocent girl he doesn't even know that well. How must he be feeling about all of this? And I don't justify his actions, not at all, because I'm still afraid, but I think he needs help, what he did was more than a joke or a game.

"Allie." Stella's voice interrupts my thoughts. She points at the grapes and I growl. "Eat." She tells me again.

"Maybe later." I say and she looks annoyed. "I promise." I assure. I will absolutely eat later on the day, but not right now, I'm not feeling like it.

"You're too skinny already, I don't want you to disappear." She jokes and I half smile. "You know I understand what you're going through, right?"

"I know." I answer. How could I forget?

"We just process things differently." She says and I agree.

"I still can't believe you ended up with the guy and your parents still don't know." I say. I was shocked back in the day when it happened and I still am. What is it with guys and their peculiar ways to treat women? They're insane. Well, not all of them, most of the boys are decent guys, only few of them are crazier and more imbeciles than others.

"That was my way of processing what happened." She demonstrates smiling and I giggle.

"A really bad way." I say and she laughs.

"Cheer up, Allie." She says and grabs some grapes from my bowl.

"Hey." I sharply say, "Those are mine." I say and pull them towards me.

"You aren't eating them anyway." She points out.

"Touché." I say and we laugh.

Someone knocks at the opened door and we turn to see who it is.