One in a Million (UNEDITED)

Chap 33: May I Stay With You Tonight?

Warning!
Rape topics will be discussed in this chapter!!

In the last chapter~
~Nick gave Imani some clothes to wear
~Nick finds Imani's ripped shirt, hickeys, and a love bite
-Imani dreams about the person who tried to rape her and Noah (her ex)
-She wakes up and she can't stop shaking and crying
-Afraid of being alone, she goes to Nick's room

Nick's POV

I was deep in sleep when I felt something shaking my arm. I ignored it and hoped that they would leave me alone but they didn't.

"Nick? Wake up! Please?" they urged.

"Hmm?" I stirred. I was starting to wake up. I opened one of my eyes and saw a figure in front of me

"Nick!" they pleaded.

I sat up in my bed and ruffled my hair as I yawned. I focused my eyes and saw that it was Imani.

"I...Imani?" I questioned.

She nodded.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" I asked. I swung my legs off the bed and was gonna get up but she put her hands up to block me.

"U-uh nothing's wrong!" she promised.

I sat back on the bed and tried to look at her but it was too dark. I flipped the light switch on the lamp near my bed and it illuminated the room.

She carried a blanket over her head and she was slightly shaking. I looked at her face and her eyes were red and puffy.

"You were crying, " I realized. I used one of my hands to hold her chin and I used the other to check her temperature.

"What's up?" I questioned as I took my hands back.

Before she started talking, I noticed that she was fidgeting with her hands.

"W-well.." she trailed off. "I-I was just wondering..."

I raised an eyebrow.

What's happening?

"A-and you don't have to, i-it is your house a-and you can do whatever you want, p-plus you probably won't be comfortable with it anyways, " she rambled. Her fidgeting was going faster and she started shaking harder.

"Y-you know what? Never mind, I-I should go back, I-I'm very sorry for waking you up, " she shook her head. "I-I'll just go back to my r-room, " she gave up. With that last sentence, I swore I saw her tearing up.

She wiped her eyes quickly and went to head out of the room. I grabbed her hand to turn her around but she flinched as soon as my hand touched hers. I immediately let go.

"Take a deep breath, " I instructed.

She nodded and took a shaky breath.

"S-sorry, " she apologized.

"It's ok, sweetheart, " I soothed. "Now, what do you want to ask me?" I asked.

"C...can I..." she started. She began fidgeting her hands but I placed my hands over hers. She flinched again but quickly recovered and let me put my hands on hers.

She took another breath and closed her eyes. "M-may I stay... in here with you...tonight? Please?"

Huh?

Her question took me by surprise for a moment. She opened one of her eyes to look at me and then opened the other.

"I knew it, " she sighed. "I'm very sorry, I don't know why I asked, " she explained and went to leave again but I held on to her hand tight and spun her to face me. Then I wrapped my hands around her waist so that she couldn't go anywhere.