They Are There For Me (book 3 of Running Towards Home series)

CHAPTER 27

ARLENE'S POV:

I wake up with a headache. My face aches. At first I'm confused about what happened. Then the events of last night come rushing back. I get up. I see the gang splayed about on the living room floor. Everyone is here. I tiptoe to the bathroom. I look in the mirror. I have a purple bruise covering one side of my face. I can't believe Ricky did this. I can't believe I thought he was a good guy. I'm startled out of my thoughts by Sam standing by the door.

"I heard you get up. Figured you might want a change of clothes." She tells me, smiling gently. I thank her, and she closes the door. I turn on the water, and wait for it to get hot. I undress and climb in. The water rushes over me, cleaning me of sweat and dirt, but I can still feel his hands on me, the feeling of him on top of me. I let tears drip down my face, mixing with the water as it swirls down the drain. I stay like that until the water starts to get cold.

I climb out and dry off. I put on the clothes Sam gave me, a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. I walk out, and see the gang is up. Johnny comes up to me. "How are you feeling?" He asks me. I smile sadly. "Not great." I say honestly. He pulls me into a hug. I walk into the living room and everyone is looking at me. Two-Bit comes over and pulls me into a hug. Then Pony joins, then Sam, and soon everyone is with me, wrapping me in a protective group hug. I feel safe for the first time since last night.

When we pull away, Darry gets started on breakfast. He fries some eggs and bacon. We all sit around the table and eat. I can barely get a mouthful down before I feel nauseous. I don't eat any more food. I can't right now. Johnny keeps looking at me with concern. He's worried about me, and I don't blame him. When everyone is done with breakfast, I sit down on the couch. Everyone gets a seat. They're all staring at me. I feel like an animal in a zoo.

"We need to talk about last night. Are you really okay?" Darry asks. "As good as I can be." I tell him. I really don't want to relive last night. I just want it to be in the past, like it never happened. "And... He didn't...." Darry starts. I shake my head no. He sighs deeply. "Thank God. Are you sure you're okay?" He asks me again. "Really, you guys, I'm fine. I just want to erase it from my memory, pretend like it never happened." I say. They all nod. They seem to understand.

We spend the rest of the morning watching Mickey Mouse. We're about to cook lunch when someone knocks on the door. No one ever knocks. Darry goes to open it. It's Ricky. I back away and Johnny puts me behind him. "What do you want?" Darry hisses. "Look, I came to apologize." He says. "Get out, you son of a bitch." Two-Bit yells at him. The gang gets in front of me, a human shield to keep him away from me.

I'm shaking. I feel fear wash over me as memories from last night come flooding back. Johnny holds me, and I calm down a bit in his arms. "Arlene, I am so sorry. I was drunk, and I didn't know what I was doing-" he starts, but Johnny cuts him off, fire in his eyes. He walks forward, towards the door.

"Stop making excuses." He hisses. "You almost raped her, you would have if we hadn't stopped you. You can't apologize for that and expect her to accept your apology." He yells. I've never heard him this mad. "Now leave." he shouts. Ricky stares at me for a moment, but he turns and leaves. I fall to the ground, tears in my eyes. Johnny comes running over to me. "He's gone. I've got you. You're safe." He whispers to me. He hugs me close to him until my tears stop.

"He's never going to hurt you again." Johnny says.