I stumble towards James, he smiles at me, but quickly drops the expression when he sees what state I'm in. He says something I can't hear to the group of people he's with and hurries over to me. He puts his arms on my shoulders and I flinch, he takes them off and gestures to the back door. I nod and we push our way to the backyard where significantly less people stand around. He sits me on a bench and places himself a couple of inches away.
"Lucy, what's wrong?" He gives me a sympathetic look. I shake my head to clear it as another sob emits from my mouth. I sloppily wipe away my tears as I try to speak.
"He- he wouldn't st-stop. I- I thought he liked m-me." I press my hands to my face, feeling my chest tighten and my breathing become labored.
"Hey..." He starts, tentatively wrapping an arm around my back. This time I lean into it and he tightens his grip. "Who was it, Luce? Echo?" I nod weakly and his breath catch. "What- what did he do?" He asks, his voice becoming tight. "Lucy, what did he do?"
My shoulders shake with a dry cry. "He kept going," I sob. "I- I told him to stop... he took off my pants." My voice trails into a whisper at the end and James puts another arm around me and I turn to press my face into his chest.
"Luce... Did- did he rape you?" He hisses the word rape I tense up at I
it, suddenly coming to a blunt realization of what really happened.
I nod and he mutters a string of profanities under his breath. "Well, uh, not exactly-" I start but he cuts me off.
"No, it doesn't matter what he did if you told him to stop." I nod, wrapping myself around him in an effort to calm the goosebumps on my arms. At some point in the last couple of hours I lost the hoodie Mary let me borrow. "Are you cold?" I nod. "C'mon, let me take you home."
We stand and he leads me through the side gate to the front of the house where an old white car sits. He helps me into the passenger seat and walks around to the driver's. He starts the car and I lean against the window, watching the party disappear. I pull out my phone and see that I have a missed call from Lyssa. I settle on sending her a quick text to tell her to just go home without me rather than trying to call her.
Then, I let my eyes close and slowly drift into a light sleep.
When James nudges me, I look up to see we're in the middle of town. "Sorry," he says quietly. "I don't know where you live, and I didn't want to wake you just yet, but my cousin wants me to come back home."
"Oh." I say, sitting up straight. I tell him my address and keep my eyes open as I watch him drive smoothly through the streets like he's lived here his whole life. At some point his hand finds mine and he gives me reassuring squeezes occasionally as we approach my street. "Right here." I say, pointing to the house. He pulls into the empty driveway, Pete and Patrick must've gone out tonight too. "Thank you." I say to James, facing him.
"Of course." He says. Then he pulls me into a hug and I sigh against his chest. "I would do anything for you, Lucy." I hum in acknowledge-ment. We pull apart breifly and his lips gently graze my forehead. I close my eyes at the gentle touch and they slowly press themselves to my lips. I kiss back, not even thinking, only forgetting the rest of the night for a moment.
"Bye James." I say when we part. He nods. I open the door and walk across the lawn to the front door. I twist my key into the knob and turn back to wave at James before going inside.
I peel off my clothes in my room and shove them deep into my trash can. Then, I shower to be rid of the dirt I feel has accumulated at his touch and dress in a loose shirt and pajama pants. Then I go back downstairs and lie on the couch, not wanting to sleep in my room tonight. I turn on the TV and pick a movie I'm not paying attention to and fall asleep.
===
When I wake up, it's bright outside. The TV is off and it looks to be about mid-day. I take in my surroundings and notice a blanket now draped over me. I wrap it around myself like a robe as I wander into the kitchen. No one is in there, which is odd for a Sunday. Usually, there's people over and loud conversations and laughing ringing through the house, but now it's silent.
I pull the blanket tighter around me. Then, I notice a note written in Pete's handwriting sitting on the counter.
Went to pick up Patrick and get lunch, be back around one.
I glance at the stove clock, seeing that it's only a couple of minutes away from one-o-clock. I go to the coffee maker and make myself a a mug, filled with too much creamer and topped with whipped cream. I decide I deserve it though. I pick out my phone from the creases in the couch and see a text from Lyssa and a text from James, and six missed calls from Echo.
I open James' first.
From: James
Just tell me what to do and I'll do it. You could take this to court, Luce.
To: James
Don't do anything. I'll take care of it.
I sigh, looking to confirm Lyssa's message is just an ok. Then I click on Echo's contact. What the hell am I going to do?
I settle on the simplest corse of action. Guilt from kissing James and dread from what Echo did fills me as I type a message.
To: Echo
Lose my number. We're done.
I clear our conversation and block his contact, feeling slightly better.
The door opens and I set my phone down, happy for the distraction. I hear the cheerful voices of my adoptive parents come through to the living room. They come in, seeing I'm awake.
"Good morning sleepy head!" Patrick cheers and I force a smile onto my face.
"Hi."
"What're you doing back already? I thought you were spending New Year's with your friends?" Pete asks, setting a Subway bag on the coffee table.
I shrug,"I decided to come home. An old friend was at the party and he gave me a ride."
"Oh, ok. Well, we're happy to have you home." I nod, picking up the food and finding a sandwich they must've got for me.
"Is everything ok, Lucy?" Pete asks, sitting next to me.
"I'm fine." I lie, keeping my fake smile plastered on.
Ooh saucy!!
IM SorRY THiS TOok SO LonG TO GeT ouT
I am trying to be more consistent but school has been really busy, sorry.
<3
YOU ARE READING
I Promise || Adopted by Peterick
Fanfiction*Completed Lucy Ann Crowley was left on the highway at age seven. Her mother said she'd be right back. She said she promises. After daddy left mama promised she'd never leave. But one day she did. Eight years later she's fifteen and still without pa...
