Chapter 4
Aly tossed and turned, she let out a cry, and then she woke up. Her tank top was sticking to her in a cold sweat. Her whole body was shaking. She sobbed as images from her dream came back: Tom, a hand coming down, seeing herself screaming for him to stop… she started sobbing harder, her whole body convulsing.
“Aly,” Jason cried as he jumped out of his bed and ran over to her, sitting down and pulling Aly close to himself. He stroked her hair gently as she sobbed into his chest.
She tried to say something, anything, but her sobs weren’t allowing her to get out any words. She desperately tried to say his name, but instead another sob just came out.
“It’s ok, baby,” he whispered rocking her back and forth, running his hand through her hair. The more she cried, the more vulnerable she felt to him. How could he only know this girl for less than a day and already feel as if he was falling for her?
~~~
After five minutes Alison was able to calm down. She took a sip of water that he had brought her. She pulled her knees up to her chest. Her face was bright red. She knew she needed to explain everything, but she didn’t even know where to start.
“You ok?” he asked his hand on her knees.
“Better, yeah, thanks,” Alison said softly.
“Do you want to tell me what your dream was about?” Jay asked as he took her hands and stared into her eyes.
“The relationship I didn’t want to tell you about,” she cleared her throat, ”it was abusive.”
“Abusive?” Jay’s face was one of shock and confusion, “You mean he hit you?”
“Yeah. Abusive emotionally and physically,” she explained, “it wasn’t bad at first, then he got to be really jealous, if he saw me talking to another guy, he assumed I was cheating on him, so he’d hit me or say awful things. Then it got to be if I did anything wrong or just got in his way at the wrong time he’d beat me, hard. I was too scared to get out of the relationship. I…I thought he would kill me. I finally told Max, she couldn’t believe I hadn’t told her. I mean, she's my best friend. She helped me find the strength to get out of the relationship and away from him, that’s the main reason we’re here. He kept leaving me messages and sending me things, I needed to get away. Then I started having these nightmares where Tom would find me and hurt me…”
“I’m so sorry,” Jason said as he pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, “I had no idea.”
“You couldn’t have,” she looked into his eyes and smiled, “thanks Jay.”
“For what?” he asked softly.
“For listening, for being there.”
Jay rubbed Aly’s leg that finally had stopped shaking, and sighed, “I guess we should be going to bed.”
“Jay, wait,” she cried as she grabbed his arm as he started to stand up. Her face burned a brighter red as she looked into Jay’s curious eyes, she looked down quickly and put a strand of her hair behind her ear feeling nervous, “I know this is going to sound like a 5 year old, but can I sleep in your bed with you tonight. I feel safe when I’m near you.”
Jay felt flattered, all his life he wanted somebody he could be with and protect, and now this beautiful girl told him she felt so secure around him. A wave of happiness waved over him and he smiled down at the vulnerable looking Aly, “Of course,” he said smiling, she grinned happily back.
The two climbed into Jay’s bed and she got as close to him as she could. He wrapped his big, strong arms tightly around her waist and pulled her close. Aly sighed feeling protected by Jay’s powerful arms, never in her life had she felt so safe with someone. Jay smiled as he heard her sigh, and tightened his hold on Alison, feeling responsible for her. He knew Alison needed him, but he also knew he needed her. He needed her for companionship, he needed her trust, but most of all he needed her for what could develop in the future.
Chapter5
Chapter 3