"The fuck is this?!" Joe shouts. He reaches and jerks me away from George.
"You take your hand off her right now." George's voice is surprisingly steady considering Joe stood a good foot and a half taller and about a hundred pounds heavier.
"The fuck you gonna do about it pretty boy? Come 'ere you stupid bitch. What you thinkin pullin shit like this behind my back?!" Joe spits, his hand tightening around me. I bite my lip, careful not to show the pain I feel.
"You don't talk to her like that." George says.
"My damn house my damn rules." Joe's voice rises, not good. George says one more time for Joe to let go of my arm. Joe shoves me against the wall, I crash into it with a bang. I cover my eyes as I see Joe advance towards George. I squeezed my eyes tight, wishing this nightmare would end. I keep my eyes shut until I hear a punch followed by an,
"Oof." I still don't open my eyes. I feel a hand on my back. I jump.
"Hey." Comes a soft voice. I slowly peek out from behind my hands to look directly into George's eyes. I look around him to find Joe's body slumped in a heap on the floor. I can't form any words. I cry. I can't believe George, little George, took out that meaty guy in one punch.
"Come on." He reaches his hands out to me. My hands are shaky in his strong and steady clasp. He pulls me up. He wraps his jacket around my frail shoulders. He grabs my suitcase and leads me down the stairs.
"Now, things are going to be crazy. Just hold me tight." He says, hand on the door to push it open, the other wrapped around mine.
"But what if I lose you?" I feel panic start to rise. George slowly leans forward and kisses me softly.
"I will never let you go." He says into my ear.
George opens the door and we're immediately swarmed by people and flashing cameras. Everybody yelling, trying to get George's attention. He stays silent, focused on pushing through and getting into the car that's waiting. When he shuts the door behind him, he looks to the driver,
"Home." He instructs. The car pulls away and still my anxiety level is high. I sit pressed against the door opposite George. He reaches to stroke my arm. He pulls back when I wince. The two of us stay quiet for a while.
"What if he finds me." I mumble looking out the window.
"He won't. I promise." George says assuredly.
"How can you make such a promise." Tears start to fall again. I don't want to be here any more. As in alive. I don't want to be alive. That's the only way I could imagine possibly escape how I feel right now.
"You just have to trust me." He says quietly. When we pull up to George's grand house, he leads me inside where a few doctors are waiting. I shake, panic jumping into my throat as George lets go of my hand. They lead me to a room in the back of his house.
