Broken

Chapter 4

"I had no idea," he said, softly. He pulled me back into his embrace. "I am so sorry you went through all that. You're safe now, though. I won't let anything happen to you."
"You can't protect me Taylor," I sighed. "I just have to get as far away as possible."
"We could tell someone," he said. "My mom will help. We can call the police."
"No!" I cried hysterically, pulling away. "I can't tell anyone. They'll send me back. He's respected in our town, he's a pastor, everyone will vouch for him. He's looked at as a saint for taking my alcoholic mother and her bastard child in. Everyone will say I'm making it up, that I'm just like my mom."
"Okay, okay," he said, pulling me back to him. "Calm down we won't tell anyone. I promise. Your secret is safe with me. I won't let anyone send you back. But we're going to have to tell my mom something about why you're not finishing school."
"Just tell her I can't," I said. "I'll figure out an excuse. Hopefully I won't be here too much longer."
He looked away, "I don't want you to go though."
"I have to, Taylor," I said. "I have to go. It's only a matter of time before he figures out I'm here."
He nodded and sighed, "Okay, I will keep you safe until you can get out of here. I won't let anything happen to you."
"Thank you, Taylor," I said, my eyes welling up again. "You're the only friend I've ever had. You have no idea what that means to me."
I hugged him again, that's when I realized I still didn't have my top on. I blushed and grabbed the only other shirt I had besides the one I wore yesterday and threw it on. I slipped a pair of pajama pants up under my skirt before taking that off too.
"I'm really sorry," I said, embarrassed.
"Don't be," he said, gently moving my hair off my face. "You didn't do anything wrong."
I nodded but I still felt ashamed.
"Do you want me to go so you can get some more sleep?" he asked.
"Yes," I said but shook my head no.
He smiled, "How about I stay til you fall asleep?"
"Okay," I smiled and crawled back into the bed. He sat down next to me and pulled me into his arms onto his chest.
"I'm here for you okay?" he whispered. "I promise you, I'll always be here for you."
"Thank you Taylor," I said, yawning. I felt safe in his arms. "Thank you for everything."
He kissed the top of my head gently before I fell asleep.
I woke up a few hours later, I was still in Taylor's arms. He was still sleeping.
"Hey you," I said, nudging him gently.
"Hmm?" he mumbled.
"You better get home," I said, pulling out of his embrace.
His eyes fluttered open and he looked surprised.
"What happened?" he asked, then looked at the clock.
"You must've fallen asleep," I said. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault," he said, then grabbed the phone off the nightstand.
He dialed a number then waited for the line to pick up.
"Hey mom," he said. "I'm okay. I know I should've called.... I got side tracked helping Amelia with some things.... No I was just gonna take her to dinner before she has to go to work."
He winked at me.
"I know, mom," he continued his conversation. "No she's not going to need you to teach her after all.... She was able to find her aunt's address in California. She's going to save up some money and go out there and finish school. She wants me to thank you though for offering.... Okay I'll let her know and we'll figure out a day she can... Yeah I'll be home around 10 if that's okay? Thanks mom... Love you too... Bye."
He hung up and smiled, "I'm yours til 10."
"You don't have to babysit me," I laughed.
"I'm not," he said. "I'm hanging out with you. My mom wants you to come over for dinner one night before you go off to 'California'."
"Okay," I said. "Why did you tell her California?"
He shrugged, "Had to tell her something. Besides I think if I was in your position that's where I'd go, sandy beaches, palm trees, warm weather."
I smiled, "That does sound nice."
"Just an idea," he said. "I just hope wherever you end up you'll let me know so I can come visit you."
I nodded, "You're the only person I'd tell."
He smiled, "Now I know you have to be starving. Get dressed, I'm taking you to eat."
"I don't have anymore clothes, I have to do laundry," I said, embarrassed. "All I have is my work uniforms."
"Okay no problem," he said. "We'll order a pizza and watch a movie."
He ordered a pizza and then picked up the movie listings that you could order on the motel TV. He read them off to me.
"Which one do you think?" he asked.
I shrugged, "I don't know. I haven't seen a movie since I was a little kid."
"Hmm," he said, looking the list again before ordering one.
When the pizza, came he handed me the money.
"Just in case," he explained, when I looked confused. "Sometimes they recognize me. We're being inconspicuous remember?"
I laughed, and paid for the pizza. We sat on the bed, ate the pizza right from the box and watched the movie. I felt like a normal teenager for once. When we were full, he put the rest of the pizza on the table and sat back next to me on the bed. His hand grazed my thigh and I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through my body, causing me to jump slightly.
"Oh, sorry," he blushed.
"It's okay," I smiled.
"Are you sure?" he asked. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable."
I nodded and blushed, "I don't think you could make me feel uncomfortable. You're the only one who's ever made me feel safe."
I bit my bottom lip and looked away, embarrassed.
He took my hand in his and squeezed it gently.
Neither of us said anything throughout the rest of the movie. We just sat there watching, my hand still in his.
"I need to get ready for work," I said, looking at the clock when the movie ended.
"Get ready," he said. "I'll wait for you so I can walk you over there."
"It's just across the street," I smiled.
"Yeah but it's dark out," he said, weakly. "Just let me do it."
I laughed, knowing he wasn't going to let me out of his sight until I got into the diner, "Okay! I'd be honored if you walked me to work."
He grinned, "Thank you! Now go get dressed!"
"Yes, sir!" I laughed and saluted him before gathering my uniform and going into the bathroom.
I got changed and threw my hair up into a messy bun. I checked myself over in the mirror before returning back to the room.
He was flipping through the TV channels when I emerged. He smiled when he saw me.
"You certainly make yellow look good," he said with a toothy grin.
I blushed, "Thank you."
He turned off the TV and we headed out. After I locked the door to my motel room he took my hand and we walked across the street.
"Thank you for everything," I said, when we reached the diner. "You have no idea what today meant to me, will always mean to me."
He smiled, "I told you I am here for you and I mean it. I will always be here for you."
I fought back crying again, I had cried enough in front of him that day, "Thank you again."
He didn't say anything he just leaned in and gently kissed my lips. Such a light feathery kiss I almost didn't feel it; not the forceful, tongue down my throat kiss I had grown accustomed to getting from my step father. His lips sent a warm sensation throughout my body. My first real kiss from someone I actually wanted to kiss me.
He hugged me tightly, "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon."
"Goodnight Taylor," I said, softly.
I went into the diner and watched him cross the street from the window. I stayed at the window until I saw him drive off.