10 Years (Time for Love 5)

“Craig,” the sound of Gwen’s shaky voice had my head clearing, and when I finally retrieved my foot from the dresser, I turned to her as I ran my hands over my hair, then down my face.“Are you okay?”

I dropped my hands.

Did she seriously just ask me that?

“No, Gwen, I’m not okay… Who was with Dave?”

I marched back to her, avoiding the puke this time, and pulled her up off the offensive bedding.

She brought her eyes to mine, and they were filled with trust, and something I couldn’t name.

“Brad.”

I turned, hell-bent on revenge, when Gwen called to me.

“Can you get me out of here?”

I turned back to my best friend and knew justice would have to wait… she had to be taken care of first.

“Do you want me to carry you?”

“No, just take my hand and stay in front of me,” she pleaded. “I don’t want to see anyone.”

She looked embarrassed, which just pissed me off more, but I abided by her wishes.

I walked her through the crowded party, calling out to people as I passed, trying to look as normal as possible, when inside, I felt like the Incredible Hulk was about to be unleashed.

When she was settled in the passenger seat, I got in, turned the key and cranked it.

“Home?”

“No, please… I don’t want to talk to anyone tonight,” Gwen said, her head laid back and eyes closed. “Can you take me to your place?”

“Sure,” I responded after a moment. I’d been hoping to take her home, then head back to the party and find Brad and Dave, but it looked like that would have to wait even longer than I’d planned.

When we got to my house, I parked in the driveway, then let us in to the side door off of the kitchen, since it was closer to my room. When we entered, my mom popped her head in the doorway, but I just shook my head at her and kept walking Gwen to my bedroom. Once we got inside I maneuvered her to the side of the bed, and when she sat, I crouched in front of her.

“Do you want me to call the cops?”

Her head came up quickly, and she looked startled as she responded, “No, why?”

“Why?” I asked, not understanding her confusion. “So you can get checked out and press charges against those assholes.”

“Press charges?” Gwen shook her head and her eyes welled up. “I don’t know what you think happened, Craig, but there’s nothing for me to press charges for.”

I didn’t think arguing with her right then would help, so I decided not to argue with her when she was still so fragile. Still, I had to try to make her understand… “Gwen, Brad and Dave had no right to do what they did to you.”

Gwen brought her haunted eyes to mine and said simply, “I never said no.”

I wanted to scream whether or not she said no was not the point.

I wanted the ability to time-travel, so I could transport her back to the beginning of the party and never leave her side.

I knew I needed to get away from her for a minute, before I lost my ability to keep my cool, so rather than doing either of those things, I brought my hand to her cheek and caressed it, “I’ll be right back. You need anything? Water?”

“I’m freezing,” she stated, even though it had to be eighty degrees outside. “Can I borrow your jacket?”

She gestured toward my Dodger jacket, which was resting on my desk chair, so I walked over and picked it up, then handed it to her. I watched as she put it on, then laid on her side and snuggled into the jacket. Using it to cover her face.