There was hope

{3}

I feel tears coming to my eyes.

That's when I feel the hit to my face.

And that's when I kick the guy in the face with my good foot.

I see the next hit coming from him but I don't feel it.

They suddenly let me go.

I open my eyes to see Rex, other security, and Xavier beating the crap out of the guys.

I look over at Jessie.

I look at her tear stained face and her busted lip.

I want to cry so bad, but I just can't, I feel so tired.

I see Rex grab her and carry her up the stairs, suddenly I'm lifted up.

I smell an extremely old smell that I use to recognized so well before, that use to remind me of home.

Xavier was carrying me and I was so tired and breathless, I just laid my head on the crook of his neck.

They took us to a separate part of the club, into a room where they sat us down.

"Xavier-"

"I know" Xavier cut off one of the security guards and walked off.

"Do you want to report this?" Rex ask, I look over at Jessie's terrified face.

"Yes" she gives me a weak smile as the tears stream down her face.

Rex walks away with his cell phone on his ear.

Before we know it, we're in ambulances on our way to the hospital.

Jessie had to get three stitches on her lip, I had to get seventeen on my foot.

It was four in the morning by the time we told the cops everything that happened and we were finally discharged to go home from the hospital.

"I'll order an uber so we can go home" gently spoke Jessie, her lip was so swollen it made it almost impossible for her to speak without causing too much pain.

"No need."

We both look up as our eyes landed on Xavier to our surprise.

"What are you doing here?" I let out more like a whisper.

"I'm taking you guys home, you guys have had a hell of a night. I just wanted to make sure you were both ok."

My heart aches at his words.

He seems to be exactly like the old Xavier I knew.

"Come on, I'll help you."

He grabs some hospital socks from cabinet.

"Here" he puts the socks on my feet, extremely gently on my cut up foot.

He grabs my crutches.

"Come on." He helps me up and on to the crutches.

He grabs a hold of our heels  as we follow behind him to his car. A black dodge charger. We walk silently, at a loss for words, why is he being so kind?

He helps me take a seat on the passenger side, and I give him instructions on how to get to our apartment.

In a couple of minutes, we're in front of our apartment complex.

"Jessie, can you go make sure nothings in the way so Elli can get up there safely." Jessie nods before getting out of the car and heading in.

"Are you ok?" His serious expression causing my nerves to act up.

"Yea."

"Don't front with me Elli, I know you."

My heart stops at the sound of the nickname.

I haven't heard anyone say that since he last said it two years ago, and it has rolled off his tongue twice as simply as if nothing had ever changed.

"Uh, I'm fine."

He raises an eyebrow.

"You and your bestfriend almost got gang raped and got the crap beat out of you guys and you're ok? You have a gash on the bottom of your foot, you have a black eye, Jessie's lip is completely busted and you're fine..."

Without expecting it, tears begin to swell at the bottom of my eyes. I start to blink them away as he notices.

His forehead creases and he looks distraught at the sight of me.

He knows I mist be hurt because I do not cry. He's known me for so long, and knows that it's not something anyone has every seen.

"I.. I don't know what to think or feel." I honestly let out.

To my complete surprise, he gives me a hug, and then he lets go too soon.

"Let me help you upstairs." He let out after a moment of silence.

He parked and slowly made his way into the elevator and up with me.

He helps me all the way to my room and sits beside me once he's gotten me sitting on my bed.

"Do you mind if I use your bathroom?"

I tell him where it is and he goes, Jessie quickly comes in.

"I'm scared. I never thought you and I could not defend ourselves alone but tonight... tonight could've been the end of us." She looks like she is about to cry but holds it in.

I pull her in and give her a tight hug.

"Its ok." I mumble into her hair.

"We'll be ok." I mumble... I'm not sure if it's to comfort her... or myself.

When we separated, we see Xavier leaning on the door frame.

"Do you need me to do anything else? I just want you two to feel safe.. ok?" He looks worried as he stares at us.

I can see why, I have never seen Jessie so vulnerable, and I had never been this physically hurt before.

"Actually.."

We both look at Jessie.

"Only if it's ok with you Elpída, but, would you mind spending the night here, or whats left of it? I just.. I can't go to sleep knowing it's just us here and anything can happen." She stares at the floor, she seems embarrassed, ashamed even, that she has to ask him to stay to even feel safe.

"Um sure.. only if it's ok with-"

"It's ok." I cut him off.

"Actually.." I make my way over to drawers and go to Kendals, my brothers, drawer that has clothes there for when he comes over.

I take out a white t-shirt and black jogger-like-sweats.

"These are Kendals, they should fit, if you want to take a shower, you can and I can set up the couch for you... only if you're comfortable." He nods at my offer and slowly takes the clothes from my hands and I hand him a towel which he takes.

"I'll be out quickly." We nod as he walks away.

"How do you say thank you to someone who just saved your life?"