Chapter 30: Chapter Thirty

“We’re just quickly going to get a drink,” Jasmine yelled as the music blasted around us. With a shaky nod, she was led away by Danny who gave a curt nod to Stephen before leaving us within the crowd.

“Are you okay?” Stephen asked wrapping an arm around my waist causing me to jump.

“Sorry,” he quickly apologised, taking his arm back.

“I’m sorry. I’m just not used to being touched again,” I mumbled, looking around to hide my embarrassment.

“Do you want a drink? Water? Sprite?” Stephen questioned trying to ease the tension as we stood awkwardly whilst everyone around us was full of energy.

“Yes, please,” I smiled after an awkward minute silence. It was never usually been awkward with us, yet there we were. He nodded before leading the way. I quickly held his arm as we weaved our way through the crowd to the kitchen. Glancing around, I noticed that Jasmine and Danny were speaking to a guy who spotted me looking.

“I didn’t come make you awkward Melanie. Maybe I should just leave.” Stephen stated, handing me a can of Sprite.

“No. Don’t go. I’m just not used to being out since...you know,” I replied, before even registering what I was saying as I absentmindedly clung to his arm. His black eyes stared into mine, taking me into a whole other world that I had certainly missed.

“Hey guys, this is Tom, my friend that’s having the party.” I heard Danny say behind me, causing Stephen’s eyes to snap away from mine as I sighed softly, dropping my hand as I spun around. Tom’s light brown eyes stood out against his milk chocolate skin as they stared into my eyes..

“Tom, this is Melanie and Stephen, Melanie and Stephen, this is Tom,” Danny introduced over the music.

“Nice to meet you,” I smiled friendly as his warm hand shook mine. He and Stephen also shook firm hands, with a silent nod as people patted Tom's back when walking past.

“Well enjoy the party and if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. Oh and have fun,” Tom beamed and then yelled as he walked through the crowd who cheered with him. When he left, I spoke to Jasmine for a while until Danny insisted that they went to dance, simply a reason to grind up against her.

“Do you want to go outside?” Stephen wondered, his eyes scanning the room as he spoke to me.

“Sure,” I agreed, holding on to him as we once again weaved our way through the crowd. The fresh air expanded my lungs as the sense of claustrophobia began to die down. There were only a few other people outside, who seemed to want to get some fresh air as well.

“How are you Melanie and tell me the truth,” Stephen insisted, leaning against the wall with his eyes stayed fixed on mine. The intensity of his stare, as I considered what I was about to say, began to make me nervous.

“I’m not sure Stephen. I feel...dirty, sick and worst of all a murderer. Sure I didn’t know that I was pregnant but I still killed the baby that was living inside of me. Trevor made me feel dirty but I don’t really care about him, of course he made me fragile and vulnerable around men, but I focus more on the baby that had been living inside of me Stephen,” I gushed, feeling only the tiniest bit better after telling someone how I felt.

“You’re not sick, dirty, or a murderer. You need to understand that miscarriages happen to loads of people and if you were a murderer would I still be alive? That bastard Trevor is the sick one and you are not dirty. Who knew that Trevor would try to do that to you? No one and luckily we got there before anything even happened. About being fragile and vulnerable around men, you’re the strongest person I know and after an experience like that, being vulnerable isn’t something out of the ordinary. Give yourself a bit of credit Melanie. Some people who go through things like this may not even be able to live with themselves, but you tried.” Stephen defended me as he kicked himself off the wall and closer to me.

“May I?” Stephen quizzed but before he had even opened his arms to let me in, I walked closer to him and hugged him first. His cool hand immediately pulled me closer, almost instantly and I sighed softly into him.

“I’m sorry Stephen. I made the wrong decision,” I whispered into his chest sadly, the thought slipping through my lips. That was one thing that I hated when I was with Stephen. Every thought I had about him, seemed to always spill from my lips without my permission.

“I hurt you Melanie, that’s why you chose him. But I’ll make it up to you Melanie, I swear,” Stephen whispered in my ear and I knew that it was a promise. Tingles rose through my body as he pulled away all too quickly for me.

All I could do was stare at the wonderful man that stood in front of me, willing to still be with me even after everything that had happened between us. His cold thumb softly caressed my cheek, leaving sparks as it moved and my eyes fluttered closed, enjoying the sensation, knowing that it could still be the last time that I felt his touch.

"Stephen! There you are. I wanna quickly introduce you to some of my guys. Melanie you can come too," Danny yelled from the door, startling me.

"No, I'm alright outside. I'll just wait for him here," I shrugged, moving back to rest my head against the wall. Stephen stared at me for a second, as though wondering whether to drag me along anyway, but after deciding against it, he left me outside. Closing my eyes, I slowly breathed in and out, trying to keep myself calm and release some of the tension I had inside.

"You okay beautiful?" A raspy voice asked, scaring me as I jumped straight, opening my eyes to come face to face with a much older guy. His deep grey eyes stared back into mine as a scary smirk spread across his lips. My heart beat accelerated within a second and I attempted to speak without showing any fear.

"Yep, how are you?" I replied, glancing around quickly to see that everyone had gone back inside, except the two of us.

"I'm good now that I found you. Zeke and you are?" Zeke introduced himself, placing his long black hair behind his ear, before the same hand tried to caress my cheek.

"Betty," I lied, dodging his touch as my mind went into panic mode.

"Well Betty, I've always loved red heads and your lips are just torturing me, so I think I'm gonna kiss you now," Zeke said, his arms and body trapping me against the wall.

"No you are not!" I shouted, pushing him away. He stumbled backwards slightly and I instantly tried to run, but he simply pulled me back, pinning me against the wall again before pressing his wet lips against mine, holding my face in place with a firm grip on my jaw.

"You're hurting me!" I cried, still trying to push him away. Suddenly his body was lifted off mine and with a hard punch from Stephen, Zeke was knocked out and sent flying to the floor.

"Stephen!" I whimpered, jumping into his arms as I held him tightly against me, crying into him as I shook uncontrollably.

"I'm here Melanie. I'm not going anywhere," Stephen whispered, stroking my back comfortingly.

"I'm taking you home." Stephen stated, slowly leading us through the house whilst I hid my face in his shirt.

"Going already? What's wrong? What happened?" I heard Tom question.

"Ask the guy passed out in your backyard," Stephen hissed before we were moving again. He helped me into the passenger seat and I curled into a ball sobbing quietly.

I should never have gone to that party or changed my hair colour in an attempt to get my life started again. I should have just stayed in my safe cocoon instead of trying to be a butterfly again. If I had, none of this would have happened.

Stephen softly took the house keys out of my hand, since my shaking hands wouldn’t allow me put the key in the lock and opened the door himself. When we got into my room, none of us bothered to switch the light on and I felt Stephen slowly take off the blazer that I had worn.

"I'm trying to make you more comfortable," Stephen informed me, before leisurely pulling my dress over my head, my breath caught in my throat as I struggled to breathe whilst his fingers gently brushed along my skin, as he left me in nothing but my underwear.

"He didn’t touch you did he?" Stephen questioned and I could feel his eyes scanning my body even though I could barely see him.

"No," I breathed and felt Stephen guide me towards my bed, so gently that I barely felt his fingers against my back. He tucked me into the bed and turned around to leave making me panic once again.

"Don’t leave me!" I cried quickly and watched him slowly turn around.

"I'm not going anywhere remember Melanie. Even if you ask me to," Stephen sighed before I saw him lifting something over his head and then walk back towards the bed.

"Scoot over please," he asked and I did exactly as he had asked. His cold body lay beside mine and I realised that he had taken off his shirt. Snuggling closer to him, I rested my head against his naked chest, wondering whether I had really heard him draw in a sharp breath or not. I quickly wiped away my wet tears trying to focus on me and Stephen in my bed and not what happened only minutes ago.

"Goodnight Melanie." Stephen seemed to struggle after his arms wrapped around my body pulling me closer which I appreciated as I tried to ignore the heat that suddenly enveloped my body.

"Goodnight and thank you Stephen," I replied, resting my hand on his abs and praying for sleep to overcome me.