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Chapter 22

*Crack*

Brent's hand makes contact with my face but I'm in too much of a panicked state to really realise what's happening.

"Shut the fuck up you dumb bitch"

I don't listen. I can't listen. If I stop then he wins. I would rather be a bruised and bloody corpse than let any one win like this again.

I start screaming again this time putting so much might into it I'm definitely going to damage my voice.

Just as Brent raises his hand to me once more there is an awful slamming noise. I turn and face the door to see a demented Eric. His eyes scream for murder.

"GET YOUR FUCKING HANDS IF HER!" he screams as he rips Brent of me via his neck.

Brent flies across the room smacking he wall opposite me before falling to the ground. The force of the throw has left a dent in the wall; but it's not enough for Eric.

He strides over to a groaning Brent before landing punch after punch into him.

This can't be happening again. I'm so done with all this shot happening in my life. I don't have enough energy for anger. So I break down balling my eyes out.

Eric must have heard me crying as the next thing I know he's crouched down in front of me so that the only thing I can see is his eyes.

"It's ok muppet your safe now. He's not going to hurt you" he coos

"I'm.... I'm.... I'm so sorry" is all I can choke out.

He scoops me up into his arms holding me close to his chest. We make a quick detour to the kitchen where Eric grabs something before making our way to his truck which has been dumped across the drive with the doors left open.

Eric places me in the passenger seat making sure I'm strapped in before moving to the drivers side.

We've been driving for about 10 minutes with a deathly silence in the car before Eric pulls over on the side of the road.

Before I can realise what's happening Eric has unstrapped me and pulled me across the car so that I'm now sitting in his lap barely able to breathe due to the intense bear hug I'm trapped in.

"I should have been there for you muppet. If anything had happened to you... God if I'd only been a few minutes later. I could never have forgiven myself" his head is buried in the side of my neck and he sounds broken.

"You have nothing to apologise for you saved me" I force him to look into my eyes. My own tears are building.

"I should be the one apologising. I should have trusted you. I should have know you would never do something like that to me" the tears are flowing freely once more "it was him, Brent, he told Tia everything. He got some sick kick out of it"

Eric reaches over and wipes the tears from my face. I look at him once more and become fixated by his eyes.

"Muppet your coming home with me. You can stay with me until your brother comes back or even longer if you like, but I don't want you going back there"

I don't argue and instead let Eric drive me to his house.

~

We're in the car for another 20 minutes before Eric pulls into the drive of a small house. We've moved over to the bad area of town but honestly this is the safest I've felt in a while.

As we make our way inside I take note of the inside. In front of me are a set of stairs and there are two doors on either side of me. Which I'm assuming are the kitchen and living room.

"Come on muppet I'm sure you want to get changed" Eric takes my hand and leads me up the stairs.

He leads me threw a door into a smaller bedroom. It's a little bit messy and only has the bear minimum of a bed and a wardrobe. There is a rug in the middle of the room and the colour scheme is monochromatic. The whole space smells like Eric which makes it perfect.

Just now I realise I have no clothes with me. Well I don't have anything with me apart from my backpack.

"Here muppet you can wear these the bathrooms just through that door"

He hands me some jogging bottoms and one of his t-shirts before I step into the bathroom. I shower quickly using the shower gel that smells just like him.

Quickly I slip in the clothes Eric has given me. Thankfully he's placed some of his boxers in the clothes he given me. Everything is absolutely huge on me so I have to roll it all up.

Once is step out of the room Eric wraps his arms around me instantly pulling me to him. I wrap my arms around his back and push my body closer to him.

"Come in muppet let me show you around"

We walk back down the stairs. He opens one door and shows me the kitchen. It's rather small but everything is clean and neat.

"My mums going to be back later. I hope you like Chinese food. I told her it was your birthday and you were staying with us so she insisted we treat you as it's your birthday"

I can't help but smile at how kind his family is towards me especially as they not even know me yet.

We step into the living room and I notice the television is already on. Moving round I go to sit on the sofa but have a mini heart attack as I see someone already sat in the sofa.

"Oh this is my brother Xavier, Xavier this is my girlfriend Tavi"

I look at the little boy on the sofa. He must be about 7 years old. He is pretty much identical to Eric apart from the fact he is missing both of his legs. Surgical amputations by the looks of things.

Xavier desperately tries to cover his legs with anything he can and it breaks my heart. I know what it's like to be embarrassed your differences. I don't want him to feel like that in front of me.

"Hi Xavier. Do you mind if I make myself comfortable"

"Err... no" he mumbles. Eric looks at me quizzically.

At that I lean down and pull up the leg of Eric's jogging bottoms. I take my leg off and the rub guard leaving me leg fully exposed. I roll the jogging bottoms up so that you can see what's left of my leg in all its glory. I've only ever done this in front of Zekie and Eric only once.

Looking over at Xavier I see his eyes have lightened up and he's no longer trying to hide his legs from me.

"Your just like me?" He smiles

"Looks that way" I smile back at him "so what we watching?" I Point to the Tv.

"Big hero 6" he smiles

"Great I love this movie" I say before sitting myself next to him.

I look over to Eric to be greeted by the biggest smile I've ever seen.

"Eric be a dear and go grab some drinks for the movie" I command causing Xavier to giggle.

"Yes my lady" Eric bows before leaving the room.

He returns with the drinks placing them on the table in front of us before scooping me up and taking the space I previously occupied. He places me in his lap and pulls me close to his chest.

"I fucking love you muppet" he whispers into my ear before leaning back so we can all watch the film.