The Change

Chapter Thirteen

I woke up in my bed, with my jeans and Corey's jacket on. What happened last night.... "Oh God!" I got up and kicked my covers away. Tears ran down my cheeks.
"What's wrong? Babe?" Corey woke up. He was sleeping on the floor.
"Oh God! Oh God!" I curled up in a ball.
Corey sat on the bed and held me. "It's okay, it's okay. They're not gonna hurt you. They can't get to you anymore."
I unraveled myself and gave Corey the biggest hug I've ever given anyone. I cried and cried. I cried until I had no more tears left, then cried some more. When I finally stopped crying, and I was stable enough to say something, I whispered, "They were going to rape us."
Corey played with my hair. "I know. It's okay, I got you now. None of those bastards are gonna hurt you anymore."
I looked at him. "Thanks." I wanted to tell him how much that meant to me, how much he meant to me, but there weren't any words to accurately describe how much that was. Except three.... "I love you."
He was quiet for a long time. "I... I..." He looked like he was thinking, making sure what he was going to say was what he actually felt. His muscles relaxed, and he smiled. "I love you, too."
"I'll kill 'em! Jesus!" Harmony woke up, swinging her fists. Feldman jumped up from the floor next to her and tried to comfort her. She was squirming, then she stopped, and put her hands to her face, trying to stop her tears. "Those bastards!"
"Shh, it's okay. I got you, you're fine. You're fine." Feldman wrapped her in his arms. After a while, she calmed down. "I can't believe what they did! They drugged us! They plugged my nose and forced the fuckin' drink down my throat!"
I stared at her. "You mean, you don't remember anything else?"
"No." She got wide eyed. "That was the point, wasn't it? They drugged us we wouldn't remember anything."
I started shaking. "They were gonna rape us, Harmony. They were going to rape us!" I buried my face in Corey's shirt and started crying.
He held onto me tight like if he didn't, someone would take me away. He said nothing, he just held onto me. I didn't need to hear anything, though. The way he held me said enough. I looked up at him again. "Oh my God, Corey, what happened to your eye?"
He chuckled. "Oh, it's nothing. Red just got one good punch in, that's all."
"Corey, I'm so sorry. This was my fault."
"Ana, what are talking about? It wasn't your fault."
"Yes it is. I knew something was off about those people, I should've said something. Then Harmony wouldn't of been drugged, and you wouldn't have a black eye, and Corey's ribs wouldn't hurt!" I motioned to Feldman, who winced because of his ribs. "It's all my fault!"
Corey grabbed my arms. "Look, it's not your fault."
I didn't look at him. "Yes it is. It's all my fault!"
He shook my arms. "It is not your fault. Ana, look at me. You're being overdramatic. Look at me!"
I looked at him, daring him to try something.
He sighed. "Listen, this is crazy."
Harmony and Corey had walked over. "Yeah. This is crazy-talk." Feldman commented.
Harmony looked at me. "Listen, Anastasia. We don't hate you. Dude, we're fine. Look, no sleezbags in sight!"
I chuckled. "Yeah. I guess only two goofballs!"
"I know you didn't mean me!" Corey H smiled, then tickled me. I tried to fight him off, but that just made it worse. I saw Harmony and Feldman hold hands, because Feldman's ribs were bruised and it hurt to move.
"Stop! Ha ha! Stop!"
"Are you gonna stop sulking?"
"Yeah ha ha!"
He stopped and held me. I kissed him on the cheek.
"So, what are we doing now?"