| "I'm not the one that needs to be worried about it,"Nick remarked. "Okay."Brian turned to Dianna."Tell me what happened." Nick once again gave her the look but she didn't care. She had nothing to lose at this point and Brian seemed to be on her side now. She was gonna at least give him the benefit. He deserved it more than Nick ever did. That's for sure." Well I was out taking a swim because... Nick interrupted her." Get the little tramp outta here. I don't need the hassle."Turning his back on the two of them and going into the other room. Dianna timidly stood and walked slowly toward the door. She was afraid this was just another one of Nick's ploys to do her harm tonight as she kept looking over her shoulder just to make sure. Once she was outside of the room, she let out a sigh of relief. She was out of his clutches and she had Brian to thank for that. Then the thought of Howie came back to her. Brian said he was looking for her. But why? He was all over somebody else tonight. He didn't care anymore for her than Nick did. So far Brian had been the only one tonight that had an ounce of decency. And with that, he appeared in front of her. "What's happened Dianna?" She stepped around him and he grabbed her upper arm. The exact spot where Nick had bruised it. Oh God just let it end!" Brian! Please!" "What did he do to you Dianna?"Not willing to let go anytime soon. "Brian! Let go! Please!" "Will you tell me what happened if I do?" Her eyes pleaded with him just to let it go tonight but he wasn't letting it happen."I can't. I just can't. Please let go of me."She begged; her eyes full of tears. |
| "I got you outta there Dianna. You owe me something." Finally seeing her pain, he let go. Nick had done more damage than he thought. Wiping the tears away from her face she looked at him. Surely she could trust him. He'd saved her once, surely there was one decent man in the world."He hurt me Brian. He really hurt me Brian." "I need more than that." "I'm sorry but I can't give you more than that. Please just drop it." "Okay. So where you planning on going now. I know you weren't going back to your room." "How do you know that?" "Because Howie told me when he stopped me in this very spot looking for you." "So he could what? Apologize for pawing another woman? It's like the only brain you all have is your dicks and if there's a bigger and better deal out there, you follow it."She lashed out at Brian. "You're not so perfect Dianna. As I recall you let yourself be roped in by some pretty words." Her eyes widened in amazement. He couldn't be saying this. He was supposed to be on her side. Then again, he was a man. Why shouldn't he be on their side? The tears started to pour out again."So I made a mistake or two. I never said I was perfect,"she blurted out. He screwed up this time. He was just trying to help and there went his foot in his mouth. She needed support. Not somebody telling her how she'd screwed up recently."I'm sorry. I don't know what happened but if Howie was looking for you, doesn't that tell you he came to his senses at one point and realized how wrong he was? We all make mistakes Dianna. I think he deserves the same chance that he gave you." |
| Why did he have to make so much sense and why did he have to be right?"Maybe I should go in before I cause yet another scene out here?" "Might be a good idea." She turned and started for the door. "Dianna?" "Yeah?"Her hand on the doorknob. "Whatever it is you're not telling me, I hope you can tell somebody one day." She didn't know what it was that moved her but she walked back over to him and said,"Thank you."Softly pecking him on the cheek."Maybe I will." She entered the room and briefly met with Howie's gaze. She turned into the bathroom and closed the door. She couldn't deal with him right now. She could barely deal with the fact of what Nick had done to her and what he could have done to her before Brian came along. She shuddered at the thought. She dropped the robe off her shoulders; once again examining the remnants of Nick's attack on her body. The door swung open. Damn! She forgot to lock it. She struggled to bring the bulky material back over herself before Howie got a good look at it. Too late! He already did. "What happened to you?"He inquired sincerely. "Leave me alone." "Come on Dianna. What happened to you?" "Nothing." Shrinking back from his attempt at kindness. He had no right. "Something happened. It was Nick wasn't it?" " I don't think that's any of your damn business." "I screwed up Dianna. I'm sorry. I know I made a mistake and I know Nick was behind it. From the looks of those handprints on your arms, I'd say he was behind that too. What'd he do?" "Nothing! Now leave me alone!"Becoming more agitated with each statement; no matter how true each one was. "I know I hurt you Di but I also know he did that to you as well. You're gonna have to tell me sooner or later." "Because you say I have to? You don't have the right to be telling me what to do after what you pulled tonight." "Didn't you hear me? Nick's behind this. He's been behind it all. Everytime we get too close he loses control and he doesn't like that." "Yeah right." "Dammit Dianna. The girl herself told me Nick paid her to hit on me and Nick himself planted doubts in my mind. I should have known better than to believe in him but I didn't. Now come on, I love you. I can't stand seeing you this way. Tell me what he did to you. Please?" "I can't,"she cried."I know you can't understand it right now but I just can't. Please don't make me." He moved toward her and wrapped her in his arms. She was right. He didn't understand but he wasn't gonna push it. Not now anyway. |
| She accepted the comfort of his arms. He'd betrayed her tonight but she knew him. She knew when he was lying and when he was telling her the truth. Right now, it was the truth. She sobbed into his shoulder incessantly until her body no longer held the strength of her emotional state. He just held her until the sobs subsided. What had Nick done to her?"Dianna?" She lifted her head weakly off his shoulder."Just hold me." He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed. He laid her down but her arms wrapped firmly around his neck."Please don't let go." He moved onto the bed. She loosened her grip just long enough to let him settle next to her. She snuggled onto his chest as his arms wrapped around her. He held her and comforted her into a somewhat restful sleep. He soothed her when she was roused from her slumber by whatever it was that was bothering her. He wanted to know; he doubted he ever would. |
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