Taken By Creed ✔[Fan-Fiction]

Chapter 3 | Violence is Only Your Answer

I immediately removed him from my visit list on my condo security file, and set his phone number to automatically decline on all calls and text message. Where did he get off calling me a whore and assaulting me? Eddie and I were friends for 12 years and he had never, never put his hands on me like that.

His mother had called me a dozen times, leaving message begging for me to call her back. What was I supposed to say? Sorry, I don't want to speak to you because your son is obviously losing it and called me a whore after he assaulted me? When her number flashed up again I debated on saying just that, but instead pressed the decline button before tossing the phone to the other side of the couch.

I knew I was going to have to speak to her eventually. Fortunately for me, eventually wasn't today and I could still hide out in my condo a little longer. The sun was hot and bright outside, cheering up the downtown area and running the rest of my desire to sleep away.

My feet were muted against my marble floors as I made my way to the pantry. It was a peanut butter and Oreos kind of day. Having to work twice as hard in the gym tomorrow almost made me change my mind, but I pushed down that temporary flare of insecurity and pulled out the peanut butter. And nearly cried in disappointment when I pulled out my package of cookies to find only one left in the package, I ate it and dumped the empty package in the trash.

Nine minutes later I was on my way to the grocery store to grab a new package of cookies and while I'm there, maybe some chocolate and strawberries. Okay, I have to be honest, I already decided that I needed all three and perhaps a few other items when I made it there. Feeling the need to walk a little bit, I parked further out in the parking lot and people watched as I made my way up to the front of the building.

It was slow today; the aisles were nearly completely empty as I pushed my cart along. It was steadily beginning to fill with unhealthy snacks and I tried my hardest to balance it out with fruits and vegetables. I do have to report, the vegetables and fruits were losing. I rounded the corner to the frozen section and popped open the freezer, grabbing my favorite tub of ice cream. I turned to place it down in my basket and came face-to-face with Eddie Gathers.

"Ah!" I turned the basket around to use it as a weapon and begin to slow back away from him.

He followed, his eyes drinking me in and his hands trying to catch the basket and then, perhaps me. I swerved around the corner and watched in horror as the basket bobbled and toppled over. It crashed against a display of 24-pack Budweiser shaped like a football goal. All I could hear in my ears were the sounds of my own harsh breathing and the slamming of my heart against my sternum.

Time seemed to freeze as I looked over at Eddie; he was already looking at me with a determined look in his eye. I watched him take a step towards me and mouth words. I couldn't listen to him. I couldn't see him. I scrambled away, knocking down boxes upon boxes of items from the shelves. There was a ringing in my ears that pushed all thought from my mind.

When I reached the parking lot my gaze zeroed in on my car, and I ran harder trying to reach it before he caught me. But I made a mistake; I turned to look behind me. He was hot on my tail, the look on his face was tight and controlled. I turned back around and tripped. My foot caught in a small pothole and I fell to the ground, scraping my knees, elbows and my chin on the asphalt. It was a short four feet to my car and I pulled myself up to the door, popped the locks and froze when the door was slammed shut.

He stood behind me, chest against my back, forcing me against the driver door of my car. Again. I fought back the imagery and closed my eyes to slow my breathing. I could feel the erratic beating of his heart against my spine and feeling his hot breath tickling my neck. My body cringed against the car, readying itself for more violence. More pain.

Eddie leaned down to press his mouth to my ear, "I've been calling you, butterfly. Why haven't you answered?"

I stayed silent. I didn't have to speak to him if I didn't want to. He was the reason we weren't speaking in the first place.

He let out a frustrated breath. "We need to talk, Le. Please talk to me." I still stayed silent. I felt him ease away from me and I stiffened when he slowly turned me around in his arms. In my fear, I pressed back against my car and refused to meet his gaze. "We are going to talk." An arrow of fear shot threw me and I whimpered.

He scrubbed a hand across his face and turned away from me. His breath came out in a harsh rhythm for what seemed like an eternity before it slowed and he seemed to gather himself. I was frozen against the car, barely breathing and barely moving.

He grabbed my face between his hands and stared into my eyes, "I'm sorry about what I said the other day. I know you aren't a whore. I shouldn't have said those nasty things to you. Do you forgive me?"

I nodded stiffly and looked away, swallowing my tears.

He reached again towards me and I jumped away. His hands dropped away and he fisted them at his sides, releasing a long breath. I counted the seconds, he stopped at 30. I frowned and edged away from him, back towards the opening of the door. His back was turned towards me now as he stared towards the setting sun.

"I'm sorry about putting my hands on you, butterfly." I froze again, risking a look at his back. "I never should have hurt you like that. I don't know what came over me. I've been seeing someone about it and, I told my mom, that's why she's been calling you. I even told Coach Michaels, he won't train me until he speaks to you."

I swallowed and stuttered out, "Well, he should be able to train you now. You apologized."

His eyes were liquid fire when he turned back towards me. I could tell it was causing him physical pain not to reach out or walk towards me. Eddie forced out another breath and looked heavenward.

"That won't work. He wants to see and speak to you. Please, butterfly." His voice dropped an octave. It was saddened and slow. The only thing he loved more than me and his mother was fighting. I shuffled my feet and weighed my options. "For old times' sake, please Le."

From the slump of my shoulders, he knew he had won. "Fine." My voice was scruffy now, I hadn't spoken to anyone in days. "When is your next training session?" I asked, but I already knew the answer.

"Tomorrow at 5 a.m., like always."

He gave me a signature Gathers' grin before he turned and headed towards his truck. I stood in the opened door of my car watching him until he left the parking lot.

I look heavenward myself and sent up a little prayer: please let me not regret this.