Brian came into view across the street bouncing a basketball. Rebecca smiled to herself. Brian was the bright spot in her life. Nine years ago he'd walked her home. Now he was her best friend. One of her only friends actually. As Rebecca watched, a car pulled over next to Brian. Kelly Allison. Brian had had a crush on her for months now. They started talking and Rebecca could see the smile on Brian's face. After a few minutes, the car drove away and Brian looked up towards Rebecca's window. He saw her and waved for her to come outside. She slid out the window and into a tree. Rebecca jumped to the ground and hurried across the street to Brian.
"Guess who has a date with Kelly!" he said grinning.
"My guess is your basketball," Rebecca teased. Brian rolled his eyes and threw the basketball at Rebecca.
"Actually, it wants to go out with you tonight," he replied. Rebecca smiled and held the basketball up in front of her face.
"Not bad," she said, studying it. Brian laughed and swung his arm over Rebecca's shoulders. She looked up at him with her gray eyes and for a second he knew what all the guys saw in her. Rebecca had never gone out with anyone though because she was too shy to notice. Brian would never admit it, but the reason none of them had ever asked her out was because he wouldn't let them. Rebecca was only thirteen, almost fourteen now. Still too young to date. And she was still so tiny. Like she had been when they first met. "How does it feel?" Rebecca asked.
"What?"
"How does it feel to be going out with her?"
"I don't know," Brian said shrugging. "I guess I'll find out tonight." With that, Brian started singing 'More Than Words'. "Then you wouldn't have to say, that you love me...cause I'd already know..."
"Brian..." Rebecca said, shaking her head and laughing. He was always singing. He had such a beautiful voice too.
"What?" he asked.
"Never mind. Just keep singing."
That night while Brian was on his date, Rebecca was stuck at home. She was sitting on the couch in the living room watching tv when it all happened. A man walked out of the kitchen and sat down on the couch next to Rebecca. She didn't look at him. She'd been around people like him long enough to know it was better not to.
"How are you?" he asked. Rebecca ignored him. "You're mama went out to get me some goods. We're home alone, ya know." Rebecca shuddered and stood up. She wanted to put as much distance between herself and this disgusting man as possible. She reached for the remote to turn off the tv and he grabbed her arm. Without thinking, Rebecca looked at the man. He was dirty and ragged looking. Like he hadn't had a shower in months.
"Let go," Rebecca said. The man laughed and pulled her towards him. Rebecca fell back onto the couch. The man leaned over and started sliding his hands up her shirt. "Get off me!" Rebecca yelled. She elbowed the man in the mouth. He recoiled enough for Rebecca to slide away from him. She stood up and started towards the door when he grabbed her foot. Her ankle twisted and she fell to the floor. As the man advanced, Rebecca kicked him as hard as she could. This time, she had given herself enough time to stand and get out the door. However, her ankle hurt and wouldn't support very much of her weight. As she hobbled down the sidewalk as fast as she could, she heard the man coming after her.
"Get back here!" he yelled angrily. "Be a good girl." Rebecca tried to run, but she couldn't. She was in trouble.
Brian was driving home after a pitiful date. Kelly was pretty and seemed intelligent...until you got to know her. It had been the most boring three hours of Brian's life. He was just about home when he saw someone being chased down the sidewalk. A knot formed in his stomach as he realized who it was. "Rebecca," Brian breathed. He slammed on the brakes and jumped out of the car. "Becca!" he yelled. She looked up.
"Help!" she whimpered. Brian ran over and lifted her easily off the ground. The man who had been chasing her was getting very close. Brian sprinted back to his car and almost threw Rebecca through the door to the passenger seat. Then he got in the car, slammed the door, and floored it. He skidded around a corner and slowed down.
"Becca, what's going on?" he asked, glancing over at her. She just looked at him silently. "Come on, it's me. Tell me, please?"
"You can't tell anyone, okay? Promise."
"I won't." Rebecca looked at him. "I promise. Now tell me!"
"My mom...is...a..." Rebecca paused. She'd kept it a secret so long that it was so hard to finally tell someone. Brian pulled over next to the sidewalk and shut off the car, sensing that what Rebecca was about to tell him was bad. He turned to look at her slowly.
"You can tell me," he said softly.
"She'sadrugdealer," Rebecca said quickly, then looked away.
"What?! Rebecca! We have to tell someone! It's not safe for you there!"
"Brian, we can't!" Rebecca put her hand on his arm. "They'll take me away. I've been fine for this long. I can take care of myself."
"But tonight...Becca, what is there for you to stay for?"
"You."
"But-"
"No Brian. I don't want to leave. You're my best friend. Please understand. I'll be fine."
"I just don't want you to get hurt."
"I won't."
Brian sighed. "So do you want me to take you home then?" he asked.
"Not yet," Rebecca replied quickly. "He'll be gone in a little while." Brian nodded.
"Then I'll stay here with you."
"You always do."