Going Up (Up & Down Book 1), page 12
“You’ll never touch her or anyone again.” Nick said, throwing my father to the floor. His voice was low, so low it sent chills up my spine. I sat up, well aware that in a matter of minutes I would be completely knocked out and pulled myself up against the bath.
Nick sat on my father, holding his hands behind his back.
“Are you alright Sarah?” Nick said softly, looking at me.
“Tired.” I whispered, my eyes were heavy.
“What did you give her you disgusting piece of shit.” Nick shouted crushing my father’s head into the ground.
“It’s okay Nick. I’ll be fine.” I slurred, closing my eyes, submitting myself to the darkness.
A nothingness, a deep vast nothingness.
Whatever was in the pill was much stronger than anything he’d given me before, much stronger.
When I opened my eyes, I wasn’t completely sure where I was at first. The walls were white, the lights bright. My heart thumped in fear, as my eyes readjusted.
Relief washed over me when I realized I was in the safety of a hospital bed.
Nick!
I tried to sit up, but my body wouldn’t let me, it felt like lead.
“Sarah!” I heard Josh’s voice exclaim.
“Josh,” I croaked. “I need to sit up.”
Josh walked over and pressed the button on the bed to raise it up. Once I was sitting he walked back over to his seat and sat down. How much did Josh know? Oh god the house. The house had been ransacked by my father. Guilt ran through my veins.
“Are you alright?” Josh asked, his eyes were wide, shocked.
“Tired, weak… Josh, what happened? Where’s Nick?” I asked gingerly afraid of the answer.
“I made him go home and shower. He’s been here ever since you… well you know.”
“How long?”
“It’s Sunday. The doctors said that the pill was double strength, Flunitraz-something. They were pretty worried about you.”
“oh god.” I gulped, thankful to be alive.
“I came home to five cop cars outside the house, I thought there had been some kind of homicide at one of the other places. Then I saw a man being lead out of our house. I ran… ran for the door but the cops stopped me and I thought you were dead. You were wheeled out on a stretcher, out to it, you looked… and Nick was with you, I think he was crying.” Josh explained.
I swallowed a knot in my throat that had become present, and closed my eyes.
“I guess you have a few questions.” I whispered opening my eyes again. I'd answer them if he did, it was the least I could do.
Josh shook his head, he shuffled to the front of his seat and placed his hand on mine.
“As long as you’re safe now, you only need to tell me what you’re comfortable with.”
I nodded and closed my eyes, I still felt so incredibly tired. I needed sleep, even though I’d had over 24 hours continuous sleep.
“Oh god, the house.. It… he.” I blurted out, opening my eyes, trying once more to move myself and failing again.
“It’s alright; I fixed it up and let the others know. Just relax.”
“Thanks Josh. You’re too kind.”
“No, I’m your friend, we look after one another.”
“I haven’t really had friends before Josh, I don’t really know exactly how it works.”
I used what little energy I had to shift a little on the bed.
“That guy was my father, he wasn’t very good to me and I never had the chance to be a normal kid. I should have told you guys about him, I just didn’t want any of you to look at me differently.”
Josh sent me a melancholic smile and shrugged his shoulders.
“You had your reasons. Its scary opening up about your past, I get that… For the record though, I don’t see you any differently, at least not in a bad way. I mean you must be pretty gutsy to use a cell phone as a weapon.”
I laughed with Josh, That old phone really had come in handy. $10 well spent no doubt.
A little while later the room door opened, Nick walked in, he looked tired.
Josh stood up and walked to the door, the two spoke quietly, too quietly for me to decipher what was being said. Then they shook hands and Josh opened the door.
“I’ll see you at home alright Sarah.” Josh said.
“Bye Josh, thank you.”
Nick walked over to the bedside and grabbed my hand.
“I thought he’d killed you.” Nick murmured.
His eyes glistened softly in the harsh light of the hospital room.
“I’m okay Nick. I’m fine.” I replied.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t get there sooner. I drove as fast as I could.” He looked guilt ridden and angry with himself. My heart lurched. I hated that he would place any of the blame on himself. He’d come even though I’d put a stop to us. He’d not even questioned it.
“Nick, please. Don’t be sorry, you got there in time.” I soothed.
“You did break his nose I suppose.” Nick smiled.
“I knew my brick phone would have a purposeful use at some point.”
Nick pulled his hand from mine and grabbed one of the seats, he moved it closer to the bed then sat down.
“Have you really been here since all this happened?”
“Yes.”
“You must be exhausted.”
“I’ll live,” Nick chuckled, his hand moved back up to mine.
I felt a little stronger now, my muscles were slowly waking up.
I turned on to my side and faced Nick.
“What happened after I blacked out Nick?”
Nick sighed deeply and closed his eyes. I felt bad for making him recount it, for dragging him in to my dramas when I knew he had his own.
“The cops arrived literally a minute later. He tried to lie and say I’d done it all too you. That I was your crazed employer, But I began recording the call as soon as you said someone was breaking in. They heard his confession about your mom.”
My eyes widened, and my breath was caught in my throat. Did that mean he would pay for what he had done after all?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“As far as I know they’ve taken a copy of the recording off the phone, I don’t know much else, but the police man I was speaking to when I picked my phone up this morning said the case would be opened and he’d be charged.”
I took a deep breath and ran a tired heavy hand through my messy bed hair. God I must look a fright.
“I don’t need to be scared anymore.” I whispered, relieved and shocked at the same time.
“No, you don’t. He won’t be out of jail anytime soon.”
Nick pulled his hand back, and lay it in his lap. He darted his eyes away from mine. What had caused his sudden change in demeanor? I craned my neck to see behind me, outside of the glass window of my room and in to the hall. The cruel hard blinding light of a flash stung my eyes. It wasn’t a pap, which was a relief, just some young girl, blonde and tall. Probably someone who had applied to the books… she looked like model material.
“I should probably go.” Nick whispered, shuffling forward in his seat
I really didn’t want him to leave, I wanted to tell him that. But I didn’t.
“Thank you for being there Nick. I owe you my life.”
Nick frowned and shook his head emphatically
“No, you don’t owe me a thing Sarah. I owe you, if anything. Call me if you need too. Goodbye.”
He spoke like we wouldn’t see each other again, and I knew that once I was back at work, and back to filing, we probably wouldn’t see each other either. I frowned at the realization, not seeing Nick was like eating toast without butter…. To me, it just wasn’t right.
But I couldn’t, I couldn’t be his secret. I’d been a secret, kept a secret for most of my life and secrets were horrible hateful things. Even good secrets left me feeling cold.
Nick leaned down and pressed his lips against my forehead then walked over to the door. He looked back over at me one last time, and I just continued staring, hypnotized by my own self pitying trance.
The police paid me a visit, and explained that the recording had been handed over to the detectives in charge of my mothers case. My father had admitted guilt, apparently with glee over how he’d managed to get away with it for over a decade. He explained it meant I wouldn’t need to attend any hearings or make any statements unless there was something else he needed to be charged with.
I didn’t say anything about the abuse, not out of shame… because while I was still battered and bruised by my life with my father, I wasn’t ashamed of myself anymore. I didn’t say anything because I truly felt that he’d get his comeuppance, a life sentence.
If he’d not admitted guilt then I’d have done it, I’d have thrown the book at him and have him put away because of the wrongs against me. But either way he wouldn’t walk the streets anymore, he couldn’t hurt anyone else and that made me happy.
I could close the door on the fear and heartache, and that truly was an amazing gift.
The doctors discharged me later that evening once the effects of the drug had seemed to dissipate completely. Josh, Marc and Janie arrived to collect me. Janie ran for me, pulling me in to a almost unbearably tight hug
“Are you alright? Josh said some guy attacked you!” She exclaimed breathlessly in to my ear
“I’ll explain at home, I should have explained from the start… I’m so sorry about your stuff.”
“Don’t be sorry, it’s just stuff, I’m just glad you’re alright!”
We headed home, and at first when we got there my heart thumped and I wondered if I could walk in there, knowing that he’d been in there, what he’d attempted to do… what he would’ve done if Nick hadn’t shown up. I steeled myself, and held back the sob, that was pleading to escape my mouth.
Janie hooked her arm in mine and we walked up the path together. Marc unlocked the door and slowly we walked inside. He’d dragged me from this very spot down to the bathroom. A stray tear rolled down my cheeks, on to the front of my t-shirt. I continued walking, my arm moving from Janie’s as I walked down to the bathroom. I had to get over it now. I live here.
I opened the door and readied myself for a flood of tears.
But the bathroom looked as it always had. Everything had its place, there were no shards of glass strewn everywhere. There was a window in, an exceptionally clean and new window at that.
I smiled and closed the door again. He didn’t have a hold on me anymore.
I was a stronger person now.
I looked back over at Janie. Marc and Josh stood with her, all three had concerned looks upon their faces, Janie walked over and hugged me again, this time softly.
I explained my life before LA to my new friends. Something I should have done to some degree when I’d moved in. At least so they were aware that I was at risk, which in turn was putting them at risk too. I apologized for that, and even though none of them would accept that it was my fault, saying it made me feel a whole lot better. Once I had finished, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I’d let people in, I’d let them see me, and all my baggage and they didn’t think I was weird or pitied me for my hard life. They were my friends, true friends.
Later that night Marc and Josh were playing X box. After having something small for dinner I headed down to my bedroom.
“Sarah!” Janie called out as I passed her room.
I stopped and walked over to her bedroom door. She lay on the bed, I’d hid under a couple of nights ago. Her laptop was propped up in front of her on a cute little laptop table.
“There’s a little more than just sexual attraction between you and Nick isn’t there?” She asked with not one hint of shame.
I just shrugged in response, I didn’t want to open my mouth and speak about Nick, I needed to forget about him, which was insanely hard with Janie questioning me.
“You can tell me, I’m not going to judge.”
“I’ve only known him a week Janie.”
“And?! You know Romeo and Juliet fell in love the moment they met!”
“Romeo and Juliet were characters in a play, besides… It’s not like that romance ended well.”
Janie frowned and looked down at her laptop.
“I’ll Google other love at first sight couples! I will.” she teased.
“You don’t need to do that, I believe in love at first sight, I do. I just don’t think that’s what has happened here. Anyway I’m exhausted, I might go to sleep… I think I’ll be okay for work tomorrow.”
“Night Sarah.”
“Night.”
I walked out of the bedroom and down to my own room. There was a small box sitting on my bed, wrapped in black with white polka dot wrapping paper and a silver bow. Gingerly I tiptoed to my bed and picked up the gift. I laughed at myself, for behaving like the present was some kind of weapon. I unwrapped the present to find a brand new boxed smart phone. A small post it sat fold up on top so I set the box down and opened the note.
You needed a new one, N.
I smiled then quickly frowned. He couldn’t buy this for me, he couldn’t expect me to keep it.
It was inappropriate, everything we’d done was inappropriate.
I was going to have to see him tomorrow, I was going to have to give him the phone back.
Glumly, I grabbed the box and placed it on my dressing table.
I went to sleep not long after that. When I woke in morning I felt more refreshed than I had in a long time. I showered and dressed before any of the others were up and downed a coffee and bagel for breakfast. By 8:00am however we were all out the door and on our way to work in Marc’s car.
The smart phone sat inside a small hand bag, still inside its box. I had tossed up giving the box to Janie to hand back, but it would have posed all sorts of questions from her that I didn’t have answers for. Once we were up in the office I walked around to my cubicle, still carrying the bag with the boxed smart phone.
I avoided emailing him all morning, He probably didn’t even realize I’d come to work. He’d probably send me home if he did know.
Unfortunately around 11am my in-box bleeped.
To: Roxy Levi RLevi@bookedout.com
From: Nikolai Jackson Nikolai@bookedout.com
Subject: You should be at home.
You shouldn’t be here. I want you to go home.
Now.
Argh!! He was insufferable! So bossy, controlling.
To: Nikolai Jackson Nikolai@bookedout.com
From: Roxy Levi RLevi@bookedout.com
Subject: re: You should be at home.
I feel better than I have in a long time. I’m staying here.
Nick thank you for the phone, but I can buy my own electronics. I’ll drop it off at lunch.
Ha! That would shut him up, me being bossy back. Or so I’d thought. Before I could finish gloating and get back to work, my email bleeped again.
To: Roxy Levi RLevi@bookedout.com
From: Nikolai Jackson Nikolai@bookedout.com
Subject: re: You should be at home
It’s yours.
If you bring it to me, Well lets just say I can’t be held responsible for my actions Sar.
You know what I mean.
I gulped and deleted the email. The sexual undertones were not lost on me. I was stuck with the phone, for now at least.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Josh stopped by my cubicle at lunch time.
“Are you coming with us to the cafe?” He asked leaning up against the cubicle wall.
“Oh yeah, I suppose I should eat.”
I logged out of my computer and grabbed the bag, the one with the phone in it, the phone I didn’t want.
I stood up and walked with Josh up the corridor meeting with Janie and Marc as we got there. We headed to the elevator and hit the button. I smiled, remembering how much I’d feared the things last week, a fear that was now completely and utterly gone. The doors opened finally and the four of us stepped inside.
“Hold the door!!!” Nick’s voice yelled as the door began to close.
Don’t hold the door. Please.
Josh, who was right by the door stuck his hand out, setting the sensor off. The door opened and Nick breezed in. He looked over at me, intensely, while he thanked Josh.
I darted my eyes away, I couldn’t keep looking in to his eyes anymore, the deep blue pools of smoldering sexiness knocked the wind out of me every single time I found myself caught up in them.
I stared at the floor of the elevator as we went down, the others chatted, Nick too. I just stood silently, like I was in a my own world.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. The guys waited for Janie and I to exit before exiting themselves.
“Join us if you like.” I head Josh say from behind me.
Say no. dear god please say no.
“Actually, I will. It beats eating alone.” Nick replied with a small chuckle.
I couldn’t turn back for the office without looking like an idiot, or without confirming Janie’s suspicions that I’d fallen for Nick. So I continued walking toward the cafe. We all placed our orders then sat down at a free table.
“I know we shouldn’t talk work at lunch, and I promise this only vaguely relates back to work. However I’ve been planning a respite resort excursion for 10 staff members. All expenses paid. You four are part of that 10.”
The others were too busy whooping and yahooing to see the stares Nick and I were sharing with each other. I’d been in this job a week. I didn’t deserve a holiday.
“Why me? I’ve been here a week.” I asked monotonously.
My tone instantly brought the happiness of the others down, all four sets of eyes were on me.
“My entire staff will end up going on this trip Sarah, You are part of the first 10. I thought you’d want to be with your friends.”
“What about you Nick? Do you go?” I demanded, not caring anymore if I was coming across as a little strange to the others.
“I’m going on the first trip yes.”
