CH 18

“Brandon I, I need Nikolas.” Gia cried. She moved passed Brandon and made her way to the stairs. She saw him there with his bare back facing her; she felt a rush of relief wash over her as she saw him turn around to face her. She ran to him, pushing past the pain, all she knew was that she needed to go to him. That he would take care of her and keep her safe. In her heart she knew that he was the one that she needed to be with.

Nikolas had been in his room, dressed for bed in a pair of pajama bottoms, when he heard someone at the door, he heard his brother going to get it but wanted to see who it was for himself, finding it odd that someone would be coming over so late. He descended down the stairs and made it half way down, when we heard his brother say Gia’s name. He closed his eyes, his heart dropping, thinking that she was here to see his brother. He went to turn around when he heard her ask for him. His heart soared as he heard her say this. When he looked at her, he saw that she was running up the stairs to him, like he dreamt she would do every time she came in his house. That she would walk right past Brandon and run up stairs and into his arms. His heart pounded with worry as he looked at her. He was so happy at first but that quickly changed when he took in her appearance. Blood was dripping from a cut on her lip and one on her eyebrow and her eye was swollen. “Nikolas.” She cried as she made it to him. The moment she reached him, he wrapped her up in his arms. Feeling her cling to him. Nikolas didn’t glance at his brother once before picking her up and carrying her to his room.

I wanted to be like you
I wanted everything
So I tried to be like you
And I got swept away

I didn't know that it was so cold
And you needed someone
to show you the way
So I took your hand and we figured out
That when the tide comes
I'd take you away

Nikolas gently placed Gia on his bed and knelt down in front of her, he looked at her face with concern. “What happened to you Gia?” He breathed, tears sliding down his cheeks. “My, my step dad beat me. I was so stupid; I had these pills, the day after the party, when I fought with you at my school. I came home, I was so hurt and alone, I was going to kill myself, to end it all. I had the pills in my mouth but something made me look up and I saw a picture of Jake, and I just couldn’t leave him. So I spit them out, and I picked them all up, well I thought that I picked them all up but I must have missed one. Jake found it, he could have swallowed it Nikolas!” Gia cried. Nikolas let the information she was saying register in his brain. “You tried to kill yourself?” He whispered. Gia looked at him, shocked that he wouldn’t hate her for what she just told him. She nodded her head. “Oh Gia. Because of what I said?” He asked, his heart pounding. “Not just that. Nikolas my parents hate me. My mom says horrible things to me and my step dad beats me. It was everything, I just wanted everything to go away.” Gia said desperately as she looked down at her hands. Nikolas cried as he looked at her, the thought of losing her tugging so strongly at his heart.

If you want to
I can save you
I can take you away from here
So lonely inside
So busy out there
And all you wanted
was somebody who cares

I'm sinking slowly
So hurry hold me
Your hand is all I have to keep me hanging on
Please can you tell me
So I can finally see
Where you go when you're gone

“Gia, you’re safe here, I won’t let anyone hurt you.” Nikolas said, his eyes dancing along her face. Gia looked up at him. “I knew you would keep me safe Nikolas.” She said touching his face, causing Nik’s heart to race. “Do you trust me to take care of you?” Nik asked. “Nikolas I want to tell you the truth. No one has ever been as kind to me as you have. At first when I met you, I thought you were just out for sex. But then when we went to the mall, you were so nice to me. You bought me a dress and you made me feel so special. You were great with Jacob and we communicated on a level that I never have with anyone before. Our lives are so different but I started to see that we were so much alike on the inside. These feelings scared me, and when you asked me why I trusted your brother and not you, it was because I couldn’t trust my heart with you. I didn’t want for it to be broken like it has been so many times before. I trust you now Nikolas, more then anyone else in the world. That’s why I came to you.” Gia said, tears streaming down her face. Nikolas had tears in his eyes to match. “I’m sorry Gia, I didn’t mean any of those things I said about you. I was just being so stupid.” Nik said. “It’s OK Nikolas, I know you were hurt. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize that I was wrong and that you were the one I wanted to be with, not your brother. I want to be with you Nikolas.” Gia said, taking his hands in hers and holding them. Nikolas wanted to kiss her, but she was so badly beaten that he didn’t feel like he could. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” Nik said.

If you want to
I can save you
I can take you away from here
So lonely inside
So busy out there
And all you wanted
was somebody who cares

All you wanted was somebody who cares
If you need me you know I'll be there
Oh, yeah

If you want to
I can save you
I can take you away from here
So lonely inside
So busy out there
And all you wanted
was somebody who cares

Please can you tell me
So I can finally see
Where you go when you're gone

Nikolas carefully dabbed a medicated cloth, wet with antiseptic over Gia’s eyebrow and down her face where the blood had dripped down all the way to her chin. He then dabbed her lip, his hand flinching when she winched in pain. Gia grabbed his hand that he had pulled away and brought it back up to her mouth. Nikolas cleaned it off gently, bringing his other hand up to tuck a loose braid behind her ear for her. “You’re so beautiful Gia.” Nik whispered, his thumb running lightly along her uninjured cheek. Gia shook her head. “How can you say that when I look like this?” Gia asked, her chin trembling. “You always look beautiful Gia. I’ve never seen you when you haven’t. You’re perfect.” Nik said smiling. “Thank you.” Gia replied, blushing shyly. Nikolas smiled brighter. “Thank you for finally accepting a complement from me.” He said. Gia smiled as brightly as she could and nodded her head slightly. That smile faded when she finally looked down at her blood-soiled clothes. She was only in a pair of denim shorts and a small gray shirt. She didn’t even have shoes on her feet as she was dressed down for the night. “I’ll get you one of my shirts to sleep in.” Nik said moving to his drawer and handing her a big T-shirt. He started to leave but Gia grabbed his hand. “Don’t leave me.” She said, looking into his eyes. Nikolas nodded his head and watched as she shyly removed her clothes in front of him. His throat began to tighten but as she stripped down to nothing, he wasn’t looking at her magnificent body, however he was looking at the bruises that had already darkened on her. Nikolas gasped. Gia’s legs were almost completely covered in bruises, and there was one on her stomach, and one on her hip that made his stomach turn. He almost had to look away but the scared look in her eyes made him stay. Gia slipped the shirt on and then slowly walked over to Nikolas. “Will you just hold me tonight?” She cried, her chin trembling like mad. Nikolas instantly took her in his arms and carried her to his bed. Putting her under the covers and lying down next to her. Gia curled up next to him and closed her eyes as she lay on top of his comforting chest. She fell asleep while Nikolas thought about what he was going to do. One thing was for sure; he needed to get Gia away from her parents.

Song credits: Michelle Branch~ All You Wanted~ Listen to it here:
www.flirtatious.org/michelle/media/audio.html