Chapter 1
I stared ahead at the clock on the wall. Tick tick tick was all I could hear. I was counting down the seconds, hell I was counting down the milliseconds, until I could leave this place of torture. You probably already figured out where I am currently, ignoring the teacher droning on and on about something or another, I couldn't be bothered enough to listen. All I could focus on was getting the hell out of here as fast as I could. It was finally the last minute and I started to get nervous.
What if I don't make it out in time? I started to get even more nervous with that thought. 30 seconds. I felt my leg start to bounce, but I couldn't stop it. 20 seconds. I started clicking my pen uncontrollably. 10 seconds. I started to think it would never come, but it did.
I shot out of my seat the second the bell rang. I practically ran out of that classroom and down the hall before most people could get out, I could still make it. At least I thought I could, until I tripped. My bag didn't spill or anything, but you try getting up when there is a wave of kids rushing into the hallway. I jumped up, bumping into everyone around me and getting tons of dirty looks, but I didn't care. I needed to get out. There is still time.
Relief washed over me like a tidal wave when I finally made it out of the front doors, safe. I grabbed my bike and immediately started my 15 minute ride home. I knew the way home like the back of my hand, so I let my mind wander as I rode. I thought back to before all of this crazy bullshit happened. When I had friends. When I wasn't the freak or outcast. When I wasn't the school's punching bag. When I was just me.
I sighed, thinking about it will only make me upset, but it was hard not to. Before I realized it I was home, I put my bike in the garage and trudged inside and straight to my room. I really didn't feel like talking to my mom right now, she doesn't even know what is going on. Well, she knows a small bit of it I suppose, I mean when your daughter suddenly stops talking to all of her friends it's kind of hard not to notice, I thought bitterly. I sat down at my desk and pulled out my homework, not like I had anything better to do. Tonight's homework was pretty simple so I finished it fairly quickly.
I sighed, not knowing what to do with the rest of my night. I glanced at the clock that read 5:26. My parents should be leaving soon for their date night, then I would have the house to myself. I'm a seventeen year old girl on a Friday night and I have nothing to do. Just as that depressing thought hits me, I hear a knock at my door and my mother says, "We're leaving now and we should be back by midnight," I quickly reply, "Ok have fun, love you."
I wait until I hear the front door close and see my dad's Mercedes leave the driveway to get dressed. I usually stay in when my parents leave for the night, but I wanted to do something, anything really. I put on black skinny jeans with combat boots and a black shirt with cut outs in the back with my leather jacket to top it off. Where I was going I needed to look tough. Last summer, when Kelsie was still my best friend, she took me to this biker bar and that's where I planned on going tonight.
I grabbed the keys to my white Jeep Cherokee and started the 20 minute drive. I know I know, I'm seventeen I can't get into a bar blah, blah, blah. That same summer I got a fake ID, all the bartender thinks is that I just turned 21. As I pull into the parking lot, I get a little nervous, I never came here without Kelsie before. Before I could chicken out, I get out of my Jeep and walk in.
As soon as I walk through those doors I could smell the alcohol and tobacco practically baked into the walls. I go and sit up at the bar and the bartender, an older gentlemen, comes to take my order.
"I'll have a vodka soda, thanks," I say politely, "Sure thing miss," he says with a southern accent. He brings me my drink and leaves me to my thoughts. The bar wasn't very crowded tonight, just a few stragglers here and there, and the odd prostitute flirting with an older guy in the back. I was startled out of my people watching when the stool next to me scraped back and a bald, middle aged man sat there.
I ignored him and continued sipping on my drink, but he wasn't having any of that.
"Hey Pretty thing, what're you doin' here all by yourself?" He said to me with a mischievous grin, showing off his yellowed teeth. His breath smelled so bad that I wanted to gag. "I'm not alone," I said confidently, "my friend is just in the bathroom." I don't think he bought it though.
Before he could say anything more the bartender came to my rescue, "Leave the poor girl alone Harry, she clearly doesn't want to talk to you." I shot him a look of thanks and he winked in return. Harry got up and stumbled out, muttering under his breath.
"Don't worry about him, he's harmless. He just can't take a hint." The older man said to me. "Thanks," I said, "I'm Abby."
"David, but everyone calls me Joe," he said in return.
I smiled at him, he seemed like a genuinely good guy. "How much do I owe you?" I asked, referring to the drink. "On the house," he said with a smile and a wink.
"Thanks Joe," I said as I got up from my seat. I waved at him and left the bar.
As soon as I got outside I was pushed up against the brick wall of the bar. I started freaking out and tried to scream but a hand clamped over my mouth. It was too dark for me to see my attacker, but I think I know who it is. I bit down on the hand covering my mouth. I heard a curse word that confirmed my suspicion, it was Harry.
"Just shut up and I'll make it quick," he said while unbuckling his pants. Oh God, he was going to rape me. I froze for a second then started thrashing around harder, trying to break his hold on my body. He slapped me across my face and his ring cut my cheek, I then realized it was a wedding ring.
This sick bastard was fucking married and trying to rape a seventeen year old girl! He ripped my top open and I could feel his lust filled eyes on me. I started to sob, this disgusting pig of a man was going to take my innocence and I couldn't stop him. He had me pinned against a wall with no one around us, or that's what I thought.
As I was mentally preparing myself for what was to come, he was ripped off of me and I fell to the ground and curled into a ball. I could hear a commotion before I heard something hitting the ground. I looked up and saw Harry's body lying motionless on the pavement in front of me; I thought he was dead, but then I saw the rise and fall of his chest. Not dead, just knocked out.
I looked up to see my savior and saw a boy, no, boy is not the right word, I saw a man in front of me, no more than 23. He had dark brown, almost black, hair, brown eyes, around 6'4" I would guess, and an amazing body, God definitely took his time on this one.
I noticed that he was staring at me as I inspected him. "Are you okay?" he asked me in a deep voice that sent shivers down my spine. "Y-yes, thank you for saving me," I said in nothing above a whisper. I stood up and tried to cover up my exposed chest, he noticed and let out a low growl and handed me his jacket.
"Thank you," I said looking at the ground, shaken by the situation and my body's sudden reaction to this man in front of me. He put two fingers under my chin and made me look up, fear in my eyes. Even though he just saved me, I didn't know him. I didn't know what he would do now.
He saw the fear in my eyes and growled again, which only made me even more scared. "Don't ever be afraid of me, I would never hurt you," he said in a low voice, "you are my mate, I could never do anything to you."
I stared in his eyes, confused. Mate? What did that mean? He sighed, seeing the look on my face. "I will explain on the way to your house, where is your car?" I know I shouldn't let a stranger take me home, even one as attractive as him, but I don't think I could drive after what had happened.
I led him over to where my Jeep was parked and handed him the keys. I got in the passenger side as he started it up. I told him where I lived and we started off.
