Trust Me (29 page)

“No problem. He just gets nervous about things like this, especially after Vegas. I know he’s a tad overprotective, but we’re trying to find a middle ground with each other. I’m still your best friend, and I’m always here for you.”

She comes and gives me a hug. “I know. I just miss you so much. I miss us hanging out all the time. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for you. You guys are good together. You keep his temper at bay, and he brings you out of that shell. It’s a good mix.”

“Thanks, Sam. I’ll always be your bestie.”

“And I’ll always be yours.” She pulls away with a smile. “I think we should head downstairs.”

“Let’s go, girl.”

Interlocking our arms, we leave the room. When we get downstairs, the party is in full swing. We must have lost track of time when we were dancing around in her room.

Sam retrieves both of our phones, and she hands me mine.
Damn, I forgot to charge it, and it’s almost dead.
As suspected, I have several missed calls and texts from Damien. I’m following Sam, but I fall back a little as I open only the last text since I need to save my battery.

Damien: I’m on my way. I will be there as soon as possible. Please stay near Sam and be safe. I love you. Keep your phone on you. Stay away from Brad.

Besides one apology text after Sam’s inaugural sorority function, Brad has completely left me alone. He’s the least of my worries, and I don’t understand why Damien is so bothered by him. I text back, hoping to ease his concern.

Me: I have my phone again. Battery dying. I love you, too. Will stay near Sam. No worries about Brad.

I feel better knowing Damien will be here sooner rather than later.
He’ll see that everything is fine, and hopefully, he won’t worry so much.

Catching up to Sam at the bar area, she asks, “Is everything okay?”

“Yep, Damien’s on his way. Shall we go show this party how to really dance eighties-style?”

She grabs my hand. “Let’s get this party started!”

Cheers erupt around us as we make our way out to the floor. We shimmy and shake and laugh while we attempt dance moves, like the elevator and the lawn mower. The fact that these are actual dance moves has me laughing the hardest as we try to replicate them.

The party is getting crazier and crazier by the minute.
Only two more hours at most until Damien gets here.
I’m anxious and excited to have him back.

Heading to the bar area in the kitchen, Sam and I snag two seats and grab some beers. Our pop-star diva outfits have been getting a lot of attention.

Another guy comes up to us. Leaning on the countertop, he drunkenly slurs, “You ladies are the hottest ones here.”

Sam responds, “Thanks, but I think there are some hotter ones on the dance floor.”

The idiot pushes off the counter and starts stumbling that way as we roll our eyes at each other. A bunch of girls from the sorority join us. While they’re talking to Sam about where she got our clothes, I notice Brad and a girl walking in through the back kitchen door.

He gives a slight nod toward me and then goes back to chatting up his newest conquest. It reinforces my feelings that he was just being a prick since I had turned him down a few times when I first started dating Damien. However, per my promise to Damien on the night we left the Hitchin’ Post, I send him a text.

Me: Hey, no need to worry. I’m with Sam, but I wanted to let you know that Brad just arrived. He’s with a date. Can’t wait to see you. xoxo

Of course, after my phone sends the message, it decides it is out of juice and dies
. Great, just great.

One of the guys who was with us that night we went to the Hitchin’ Post comes wobbling up to the counter. He flops his elbows down in front of me, and he reeks of alcohol. He slurs, “So, Allison, where’s that hotshot boyfriend of yours?”

“He’ll be here shortly.”

This guy is completely inebriated. He just nods and strolls off.
Weirdo.
He probably wanted to get some insider info from Damien, like everyone does when Damien attends events.

I turn back to the conversation at hand.

One girl says, “He actually thought by saying ‘Are you religious? Because you’re the answer to all my prayers,’ would get him a boob shot. Um, I don’t show these girls just for fun. You gotta work to get a show.”

We all start laughing as she shakes her boobs.
I’m glad I came.
I needed some group girl time. I can see why Sam puts up with all of this. The sorority is not my deal, but I see the reason behind loving it so much. The sorority gives a sense of sisterhood, and I’m so glad Sam has found this while I have Damien.

All of a sudden, two guys start pushing and shoving each other, and we all rush away from the kitchen bar.

One of the girls mutters, “Fucking Neanderthals.”

It’s a short-lived quarrel. When they clear the area, we all resume our seats and conversation. The girls are repeating the cheesiest pickup lines they have heard tonight. I’m trying to concentrate on the conversation, but my ability to focus is getting worse.

I look down at my cup, and I’m only halfway through my beer. Suddenly, my body starts to feel really hot and flushed.
Maybe if I splash some cold water on my face, I’ll feel better.
I don’t have a high tolerance for alcohol, but almost one beer shouldn’t affect me like this.

Leaning over, I tell Sam, “Hey, I’ll be right back.”

She shoots up an eyebrow in question. “You want me to come with you?”

“No, just going to the bathroom.”

She gives me a wink and resumes her conversation.

The music is blaring as I make my way up the stairs.
Man, I feel really off.
My body is becoming more flushed, and now, some dizziness has set in. M
aybe I’ll lie down for a minute.
Finally making it to the bathroom in Sam’s room, I lean on the sink, turn on the water, and wet my face. The cool water feels good, but it’s not helping.

Oh man, it’s just getting worse.
The room is actually starting to sway a little. I feel tired, and my vision is becoming blurry.
I’ll lie down for a minute, just a minute, and all will be okay.

Just then, I hear the bedroom door shut.
Oh, thank goodness, Sam didn’t listen to me.
I stumble out into the room and stop dead in my tracks.
Oh fuck!

“Hey there, princess. How are you feeling?” His voice has a vicious sneer. “I’m glad to see that your boyfriend decided to let you out of his sight, so you can play. I’ve been waiting all summer for this chance.”

Oh no, this is not good, not good at all.
I stumble to the side, and he mirrors my direction. It is taking every ounce of energy to focus on staying coherent and upright.

I have to get out of here.
“It’s good to see you, Brad. Gotta go. See you around.” At least, that’s what I hope I said in my slurred state.

Brad takes off his red leather jacket and places it on the bed. Next, his black T-shirt is whipped over his head, and then he undoes the top button of his red leather pants.

Oh shit.
I need to get out of here now.
My brain is on a delayed reaction. I make a move for the door, but he catches me by the waist, pulling my back to his front. He buries his nose into my neck and takes a deep whiff.
How disgusting.
I shiver at the contact and not in a good way.

“Oh, you smell so good. You’re trembling with want. Princess, I’m about to deliver exactly what you’re asking for.”

I can smell cigarettes and beer on him, and my stomach turns. I start to struggle and scream as best as I can in my state. “Let me go!”

The noise from the party is so loud. Brad spins me around, and slaps me hard across the face. I instantly see stars. If he wasn’t holding me up, I would have fallen to the floor.

“Not yet. I’ve waited so long for this, princess. We are going to enjoy this, and you will be quiet. Next time you scream, I’ll knock you unconscious.”

When I try to fight him again, he harshly throws me onto the bed, knocking the breath out of me.
What is wrong with me?

“You’ve been teasing me with your cunt since I met you. I was just giving you time, but then you started dating that bastard. He’s so possessive about you that you must be great in the sack. I’ll be the judge of that here in a minute.”

I whimper and try to move, but my limbs are so heavy. I am fading fast. I need to hold off until I can get out of here.

Brad is towering over me. “You won’t remember this in the morning. It will all be a hazy dream. The drugs should be running through your system by now. In a few minutes, you won’t even struggle, and you’ll welcome my dick in you. Better yet, you’ll like it, even more than that pussy you have as a boyfriend.”

I say a silent prayer to get me out of this situation. This is one of my worst fears coming to life.
Please, please, please stay coherent just a little longer.
I need to figure out how to get to the hallway.

Brad bends over me and rips my corset from my body. When I try to get away, I receive another hard slap across my face. The pain radiates from the same place as before.
This cannot be happening.

He starts to go for my skirt, and I muster up everything I have and kick ferociously. I land one solid kick to his groin with my stiletto boot, giving me the chance I need to escape. I fumble off the bed and land on my knees. Instead of wasting the energy to stand, I crawl on all fours across the room.

Brad is moaning in the background.
I hope I impaired that asshole for life.
I finally reach the door. My world is definitely closing in. Using my hands, I pull myself up and fumble to unlock the door as a fog starts setting in. Forcing the knob to turn is almost too hard.

Brad yells, “You bitch! Get back here!”

His voice spurs me into action. Using my adrenaline, I wrench the door open and stumble clumsily into the hallway. Brad continues to curse louder and louder in the background. Just as I am about to reach the stair landing, I consider throwing myself down the steps. Suddenly, I see Damien bounding up the stairs at an unprecedented pace. His eyes and face look worried, and his motions become frantic when he sees me.

“Damien,” I slur.

He’s at me in two strides, and I collapse into his arms. Finally, I can let the oblivion take me under. I know I’m safe with him.

“Alli! Alli, what’s wrong, baby? What happened?” He’s searching me over with his hands and eyes, desperate to see if I’m okay.

I can see the panic on his face, and I feel the tension in his body.

“Brad…drugged…me.” It’s all I can get out as my eyes close. The darkness is calling for me.

“Fuck! Alli, baby, stay with me. You have to stay with me. You are going to be fine.”

I want to respond, but I can’t as I go farther into the abyss.

Beep…

Beep…

Beep…

I vaguely hear a sporadic beeping noise in the background.
What is that?
I see vague images, but they’re like a fuzzy black hole. I can’t see past the darkness.

The last thing I remember is being at Sam’s party. Everything after that is just blank, regardless of how hard I try to hold on to it. I try to open my eyes, but it causes me more anxiety because it feels as if two-ton weights are on each lid. I hear another beeping noise that’s slightly faster. Lethargically, I will my eyes to open. It’s semidark in the room, and it takes me a moment to adjust my vision. Then, realization dawns. I’m in a hospital room.

The monitors surrounding me cast an ominous glow. My head hurts so badly. I have an oxygen mask on.
What happened to me?
When I turn my head slightly to my right, I see Damien resting in a chair next to me. His eyes are closed, and his hand is holding my hand on the bed. He looks exhausted. Sam is sleeping on a couch behind him.
I wish I could make sense of this
. My mind feels so choppy. I use my other hand to slowly push the oxygen mask off my face.

“Damien…” It barely comes out in a croak. My throat is so dry.

Damien hears me and immediately leans forward. “Baby, you’re awake. Oh, thank God. Do you need anything? How are you feeling?” His blues eyes are bloodshot as he looks at me with worry and so much love.

When he leans down to give me a kiss on the forehead, I realize he is in one of the most disheveled states I have ever seen him in. His clothing is severely wrinkled, and he looks like he hasn’t shaved for at least a day. I want to reach out and comfort him, but I can’t with how heavy my body feels.

By this point, Sam has heard the commotion, and she is at my other side with tears streaming down her face. Still in her costume with ratted crimped hair, she looks just as atrocious as Damien does. From the looks on their faces, I guess that this is really serious. Other than the drowsiness, nausea, and headache, I feel like I’m all intact.

Damien is staring at me, waiting, and I realize belatedly that he asked me a question.

“Water. What happened?” My voice still sounds all hoarse and crackly. It honestly feels as if sandpaper has been rubbed up and down my throat.

Damien punches the button above my hospital bed. “Please send in the doctor. Alli is awake.” Grabbing my hand, he starts rubbing those circles. “Hold on, baby. I’ll get you some water as soon as the doctor looks you over, okay?” I nod. “We’ll explain everything in just a moment. I just need to know you’re okay.”