Ch. 7 

Jake's flushed face came into view as he stepped into the light of the street lamp. "Are you, okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. I looked to the side and noticed Brett lying still on the concrete, a thin stream of blood flowing from a cut on his lip where he had been hit.

In that moment I realized Jake had saved me from Brett not once, but twice, and in as many days. Tears welled in my eyes, threatening to spill over onto my cheeks. I tried to answer but a cry caught in my throat and I broke down, my knees buckling underneath me.

Suddenly, I was enveloped in Jake's strong arms and a feeling of relief spread throughout my entire body. Oblivious to the commotion going on around us, I inhaled his masculine scent and gave into the safe feeling he provided. It wasn't until Ruby tentatively rubbed my arm that I came crashing back to reality.

"Addy? There's an officer here. He wants to speak with you." Her voice sounded just as shaky as my legs felt.

Reluctantly, I pulled away from Jake and looked up at him. With a gentle hand, he carefully brushed the tears from my face.

"It's okay," he reassured me with a soft smile. "You need to talk to him. I'll be right here."

Fear and embarrassment burned like an inferno in the pit of my stomach, and my mouth struggled to form words. I felt myself begin to tremble as I attempted to move toward the police officer.

"Addy!" I heard Ruby shout, but it sounded muffled, almost like a dream. Without warning, I found myself sitting on the sidewalk, the warm pavement underneath me.

"Are you alright?" I heard an unfamiliar voice ask.

My head was spinning and I instinctively knew it was because I had been breathing much too quickly. I tried to take deeper breathes in an attempt to push away the panic I was feeling. I closed my eyes and concentrated on inhaling and exhaling... Inhaling... Exhaling...

When my eyes fluttered open, I saw Jake, Ruby and the officer kneeling down next to me. Ruby was holding my hand, a worried expression shadowing her pretty features. "Addy?" she asked with caution. "Are you alright?"

Slowly, I nodded my head and took a shaky breath. "I'm fine. I just felt dizzy," I explained, and struggled to stand. "I'm better now."

The officer and Jake both took an arm and helped me to my feet. Nervously, I looked over to where I had last seen Brett lying dazed on the ground. He was still there but sitting in an upright position, another officer crouching next to him. A small crowd had gathered, and I lowered my head in a lame effort to conceal my identity.

This can't be happening. My lower lip began to quiver.

"My name's Officer Kent. My partner and I were in the area when we saw the altercation. Can you tell me what happened?" the police officer asked kindly.

Goosebumps covered my arms as I slowly began to recount the evenings events. With my eyes cast down, I told the officer everything that had happened, and about the incident with Brett at the ice-cream shop the day before.

"Were there any other times he attempted to assault you?" the young cop asked, writing everything I said down in a notebook.

I glanced hesitantly at Jake and he nodded in encouragement. Swallowing hard, I whispered, "A couple of months ago, Brett and I went to prom together. He came on strongly that night, too." I explained how he'd forced himself on me at the dance I how I had left him, walking four miles home alone in the dark.

A small gasp escaped from Ruby's mouth and I looked up. Realization washed across her face as she put the missing pieces together from our prom night several weeks ago. She sensed something serious had happened when she discovered I'd vanished half-way through the evening, leaving Brett at prom alone. I had fed her some bullshit story about not feeling well. I figured she wouldn't buy it, but surprisingly she never prodded for more information.

"Addy, I'm so sorry! Why didn't you tell me?" A mixture of hurt and concern inter-weaved in her voice.

"It wasn't one of my prouder moments," I admitted feebly, giving her a small smile.

Full of emotion, she reached over and hugged me tightly. "You should never feel embarrassed to tell me anything," she whispered. Fresh tears blurred my eyes as I weakened in my best friend's embrace.

"Would you like to press charges?" the cop asked, interrupting us.

I turned quickly toward him, horrified by his suggestion. "No! I am not pressing charges," I stated firmly, wiping at the tears that were now falling freely down my cheeks.

"Are you certain?" he asked skeptically. "You wouldn't want this to happen again, to you or to anyone else for that matter, would you?"

I considered what he'd said, but couldn't convince myself to go through with it. Life would be hell living in the small town that we did, having to attend school everyday with the person I had charged with assaulting me. Silently, I also worried about the repercussions that would surely await me if I did.

Absolutely not, my mind was made up. I shook my head.

"Alright then," the cop sighed warily. "Let's go talk to him."

I looked over at Ruby and Jake and felt my breath begin to quicken again. The last thing I wanted to do was confront Brett. Jake smiled at me with gentle eyes, and I felt his hand grab mine and give it a squeeze. Inhaling deeply, we walked over to where Brett and the second officer were talking. Brett was standing up now and I could tell that Jake had roughed him up pretty good. He gave me a blank stare as we approached them.

"This young lady is not willing to press charges at this time," Officer Kent began, looking directly at Brett. "But I want you to know that we're making an unofficial file, and this incident is going straight into it." I wasn't sure if they could do that or not but I hoped it was enough to scare Brett, then maybe he would finally leave me alone.

Brett nodded his head in agreement, a look of relief covering his face.

"If we hear that you've been involved in any more trouble, no matter how small, I promise the next time you will not be so lucky," the officer threatened, looking Brett square in the eye. "Unless you don't mind a domestic abuse charge going on your permanent record. Your parents will also be notified of this situation."

Brett's eyes widened in alarm, "Do you have to tell them? What if I just promised never to talk to her again?" he pleaded desperately.

Officer Kent shook his head, his eyebrows raised, "Oh, I'm not going to tell them. You are."

Brett looked over at me with an emotion I was unable to read lurking in his eyes. He caught Jake's gaze and their eyes locked, contempt covering both of their faces. Blind to the silent conversation taking place, the officers exchanged words with each other and then turned back toward us.

"I understand that your parents are out of town this week?" Officer Kent asked, looking directly at Brett.

"Yes sir, they are," he answered, dragging his eyes away from Jake.

"In that case, you're going to have to come to the station with us and we'll give them a call from there. You can find a ride home afterward."

I looked around and for the first time noticed that Brett's friends were no where to be seen. Their presence had dissolved, along with the rest of the crowd. I almost giggled, in spite of myself. Brett was left all alone. I hoped he would have to walk home from the police department, just as I had walked home from the dance.

"You let us know, Miss, if there is any more trouble," the second officer said to me. They turned and guided Brett toward the awaiting police car, leaving words like "breathalyzer" and "under-age drinking" in their wake.

I somberly watched as their vehicle pulled away, taking my assailant with it. Vaguely, I wondered how our circle of friends would react when they caught wind of what happened.

"I'd like to take Addison home, if you don't mind," I heard Jake say to Ruby.

My eyes widened as I looked back and forth at them.

"That is, if it's okay with you," he asked, turning toward me.

I closed my eyes and raised a shaky hand to my head. What is he going to say to me? What am I going to say to him? I sighed warily.

"Addy, are you alright?" Ruby asked anxiously . "Do you want me to take you home instead?"

I opened my eyes and gave her a tight smile. "No, it's okay, Ruby," I answered, shaking my head. "I'll be fine."

I need to get this conversation over with now instead of having to face him tomorrow, I reasoned.

She gave me another hug before walking to her car. "Call me when you get home," she added protectively. Ruby glared at Jake for a moment before pulling away.

Alone in the street, we stood there awkwardly and stared at one another, neither of us knowing what to do next.

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