"I'll be back. Stay with Audrey or Brad or Chaz..." Zach said.
"I know. I will, don't worry." I smiled at him.
He smiled back, looking into my eyes. "I don't wanna leave you."
"I'll be *fine*. Go do whatever you need to do. I'll be here with Audrey." I gave him a small push.
"Okay." And with that, he walked toward the restroom.
"Hey Nora. You wanna take a walk down to the park?" Jesse asked.
"Uh, no. I don't think so Jesse," I said.
Jesse grabbed my hand. "Oh come on."
"I...I...I can't." I gave Audrey a "help me!" look. She just shrugged at me helplessly.
"Why not?"
"Um, I told Zach I'd dance the next one with him," I said.
"Screw Zach! He can wait. I can't." Jesse tugged on my hand.
"Um, no. I don't wanna keep him waiting and I don't wanna break my promise to him. You know me." I laughed nervously.
"There are lots of other songs to dance to. Let's go." Jesse began to lead me away.
I hesitated and tried to pull my hand away, but his grip got tighter.
I looked back at Audrey who was giving me an alarmed look.
"Should I get Zach?" she mouthed to me.
I nodded my head violently. "Yes, get Zach QUICK."
She nodded and turned to Brad who looked at me and ran for the restrooms.
"Why don't you want to go to the park anymore, Nora?" Jesse asked angrily.
"I do, I do, but I'm not in the mood tonight, Jesse, so can we go back to school, *please*?" I was getting scared-who knew what Jesse could do to me out in the park.
We were now in the park. Jesse stopped and turned to me, bending down to kiss me. I turned my head so his lips touched my cheek.
"Jesse-I want to go back," I said.
"You know what? I think you and Zach are going out behind my back, Nora." Jesse stared at me with a cold gaze.
"NO. Why would I do that?" I whispered, choking down my tears.
"Because you think I'm with Jess," Jesse replied.
"No. No-why would I go out with Zach?" I asked. "And no t Chaz or Brad or Alan or Randy?"
"You and Zach have known each other longer," Jesse answered simply. "Enough talk."
Then he grabbed my face between his hands and planted a hard kiss on my lips. I pulled away despite his strength.
"Jesse, leave me alone *please*!" I was desperate. I began to run blindly through the park turning and hiding by a tree.
Jesse pinned me to my very hiding tree. "You can't get away from me that easily."
As Jesse began to kiss me, I began to cry. "Don't please, Jesse. I just wanna go back!"
I immediately thought of Zach's soft kisses and his arms around me and all of a sudden, I heard his voice, calling my name. "Nora!!!"
"ZACH!!" I screamed. "I'm here!"
And then Jesse was thrown to the ground and Zach was there, holding me tightly.
"Oh geez, Nora. I'm so sorry I left you. he didn't do anything to you did he? He didn't try anything did he?" Zach asked.
"NOthing too bad," I managed to choke out.
"Oh sweetie I'm so sorry I left you," Zach repeated, kissing my head and stroking my hair. "Oh sweetie, I'm sorry."
I just cried.
"Oh gosh, baby, I can't believe I let that happen. What was I thinking?" Zach said. "Sweetie, I never should have let you go."
"It's okay," I said.
"No, it's not okay. If Brad hadn't told me that jesse had dragged you out, Jesse could be out here doing things to you right now, baby. Gosh, I never should have left you."
"I love you Zach," I whispered.
"I love you too," Zach sounded more frantic than me.
I loved the way Zach's body was smashed against mine and his strong arms around me and the way he called me baby and sweetie. No one had ever called me that before-only Zach. I loved the way he was kissing my head and touching my hair.
"Oh baby, I'm so sorry," Zach said.
"It's not your fault, Zach," I insisted.
"yes it is. If I never had left you, you wouldn't have to have gone through this," Zach looked at me with concern in his eyes. "Jesse didn't touch you or anything did he?"
I shook my head. "No. I would be more hysterical than I am now if he did."
"I'm so sorry," Zach repeated.
"Don't blame yourself-don't. There's not a chance in hell of you knowing that would happen," I told him.
"Yeah, but if-"
"Shh." I put a finger over his lips. "Don't say another word."
Then I pulled him down and kissed him gently.
Zach was silent for a moment. "Baby-I'm sorry. I love you. I'll never let youdown again."
I smiled. "Okay. I love you too."
Zach gave me a tiny smile. "I don't know what I would do if something had happened to you."
"Don't worry about it. Nothing *has* happened," I said, touching Zach's cheek.
"You call what just happened nothing?" Zach asked incredulously.
"Okay, it wasn't *nothing*. I was so scared-I thought you'd never come-"
"But I did baby. I did come," Zach said.
"I know you did and I love you for that. But we have to let it be okay? I'm scared to death of Jesse so we have to pretend it never happened," I said.
"I will stay by your side until you step into your house tonight," Zach said. "Every minute. I don't want anything else to happen to you."
"Even if I have to go to the bathroom?" I asked.
"Audrey will be with you. I would have both Daisy and Audrey escort you, but Daisy's not here," Zach said.
We began to walk back to the school. Zach's arm was planted firmly around my waist and I wanted it to stay there.
And stay there it did for the rest of the night. |
|
