I Believe in You

Distance

My heart hurt as I drove away from River Valley University early Saturday morning before Christmas. I was spending the two week winter holiday with my family in Atlanta.
I couldn't help but let my mind wander to the events of the night before.
Conrad and I were at the campus karaoke bar after class. We were lounging on the couch in the back just spending time together before I had to leave.
"I'm going to get another beer. Can I get you something?" He asked kissing me.
"No. I have to get up early. Thank you though." I smiled at him.
I watched him walk through the crowd to the bar.
Almost immediately a different man sat next to me.
I turned and saw Chloe's brother Christian.
"Hey baby." He slurred.
"What are you doing, Christian?" I sighed looking around for Conrad or Chloe.
"The things I would do if I got a few roofies in you." He smiled at me.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I exclaimed standing up.
He stood up and grabbed my wrist pulling me back to him.
"We're going to dance to one song then go back to my place and fuck." He chuckled.
"Get off me." I pushed hard against his chest.
"You think Conrad can give you half what I can?" He whispered grabbing me by my hair.
"Let go of her." Conrad growled from behind me.
Christian tossed me onto the couch and faced him.
"What the hell are you doing, Christian?" Conrad asked glancing at me.
I could feel my wrist bruising but ultimately I was fine.
Christian lunged at Conrad who grabbed him effortlessly out of the air and slammed him into the ground.
He pulled his arm back and punched him once, twice; again and again.
I got up and pulled on Conrad's shoulder to get him to stop.
"Conrad. Conrad, stop." I urged pulling him off Christian.
His eyes dark with anger as he looked at me. He shook his head and shook me off him before walking away from me.
"Conrad. Conrad, don't walk away from me." I called after him.
He stopped and turned around to look at me.
"What was that, Conrad?" I asked walking up to him.
"He tried to hurt you." He said glaring back at the bar's entrance.
"You lost it. I'm fine." I sighed looking at him.
"So, what? You want to leave me?" He threw his arms in the air and turned around again.
"What? Conrad, no. I want you to talk to me. Tell me what's going on with you."
"I can't explain it to you." He growled and continued to walk away.
"Conrad. Conrad!" I called after him as he walked into the night.
I wiped the rogue tear that fell from my eye.
The bruise on my wrist was minimal and didn't hurt. Chloe let me know that everyone knew Christian was at fault and he was fine.
I pulled up in front of my parents house in my blue Chevrolet Malibu and pulled out my phone.
I'm not sure what's going on with you, but I'm here. I care deeply about you and I just desperately want you to let me in. I just made it to my parents house. I just wanted to let you know I made it safely.
I put the phone back into my bag and walked into the house.
"Hey, Zeus!" I exclaimed as my parents full blood Saint Bernard ran down the foyer towards me.
"Hey, Meggie." My dad greeted me from behind the giant puppy.
"Hi, daddy. How are you?" I asked as he took my bag from me.
"I'm good. Have you talked to your sister?" He asked walking me up to my bedroom.
"No. Not since I left for River Valley." I answered.
"Why? Is something wrong?" I asked.
"She told mom she found a boyfriend. Alec Norwood? I think. We haven't seen much of her." He admitted.
"I didn't even know she was seeing someone."
"It's new. She met him after you told us you met someone. Don't think I haven't noticed that you haven't told us his name." He teased.
"His name is Conrad. Conrad Hawkins." I answered.
"War hero, Conrad Hawkins?" He asked.
"He said he's in the Marines and has been in Afghanistan." I answered with a small shrug.
"Conrad Hawkins was a medic in the Marine corps. He helped bring his entire squad home from behind enemy lines. Even though the United States government gave up on them. Left them for dead. The president awarded him the Medal of Honor." He explained.
I couldn't get that new information out of my head. It bothered me immensely that Conrad wasn't responding to me. I hated the way we left things.
Merry Christmas, Conrad. I just want you to know I'm still here. I miss you.
I wandered the halls of my family home early Christmas morning.
"Can I help you?"I asked catching sight of the silhouette of a man at the end of the hallway.
"Who are you?" He asked harshly, his grey eyes almost black as he looked at me.
"This is my family's house. What are you doing here?"
"I'm Elena's boyfriend, Alec Norwood." He said running his hand through his chin length black hair.
"Is my sister here?" I asked stepping towards her bedroom.
"She's sleeping right now." He stepped forward to block my way.
"Move out of my way." I insisted.
"Who do you think you are?" He growled at me.
"I'm her big sister. Move." I stood my ground in front of him.
"Meghan?" My sister's voice said from behind him.
"Hi, sis." I said pushing passed him.
"I'm fine, Meghan." She said catching the look in my eye.
Something was off. It was in the way she was holding herself. I glanced back at Alec. Something about him upset me. I didn't trust him.
"Meghan? Elena? Who's this?" Our mom asked walking down  the hallway.
"Mom. This is my boyfriend, Alec Norwood." Elena said walking towards him and letting him put his arm around her.
I didn't like it.
Conrad still didn't answer my messages as the holiday season came to a close.
I wore a gold off the shoulder sequined lace gown with my brown hair in a braided updo to my parents New Year's Eve party.
I uneasily watched my sister with her boyfriend from the corner of the ballroom.
"We have to let her make her own mistakes." My father said gently walking up to me.
"I know. It's just frustrating." I sighed.
"Conrad Hawkins is at the front door." He smiled at me.
"Really?" I asked looking in his hazel eyes.
He nodded and smiled a half smile at me.
I walked through the crowd towards the foyer leading to the front door.
Conrad stood on the doorstep dressed in black suit over a blue button down shirt and silver polka dot tie.
"Conrad. Are you okay?" I asked closing the front door behind me as I stepped onto the porch.
He nodded and reached for my hands. I slid my fingers against his palms as he took my hands.
"I have to start by apologizing to you for what happened the night you left. All I've ever known is protecting the people I care about and when I saw him grabbing you like that I did lose it. I couldn't stop myself from wanting to seriously hurt him. You called me out and I panicked. I don't want to lose you Meghan. I know we've only known each other a couple months but the connection I feel with you is strong and I need it." He rambled.
"Conrad. I'm not going anywhere. Just talk to me. Be honest with me and we'll figure it out. Together." I answered squeezing his hands.
"I'd like to give you something." He said taking back his hand and reaching into his pocket.
He pulled out a black metal ring with a ruby heart flanked with small round rubies.
"I promise to be honest with you about everything from what I'm thinking to how I'm feeling. I promise to let you in even when it's scary. I promise to trust you unconditionally." He said taking my right hand and sliding the ring on my middle finger.
"I'm so sorry I scared you." He said kissing my cheek.
"I'm sorry I panicked." I whispered wrapping my arms around his neck.
"You had every right to be upset." He assured me, his arms around my waist.
I looked up into his eyes as he leaned down to press his lips to mine.