Keep Me Close

Chapter 3

Nalley P.O.V.

I can feel my breathing becoming shallow again and it feels like I'm not even present in my own body. It's as if I am watching myself break apart the pieces have worked so hard to keep together all night. The reality of what just happened has hit me like a train and I can't reel myself back into the present. The corners of my eyes are starting to be met with dark spots and images are becoming blurry.

It's not until I feel a gentle hand on my back that I begin to focus on my surroundings. I try to slow down my thinking by focusing on the cold hardwood flooring that I'm sitting on, and the brown door that has been locked tightly behind me. I focus on the gentle voice helping me count to ten as I slow down my breathing.

In 1, 2, 3...

Out 1, 2, 3...

Once I am calm enough, I begin to center in on the voice speaking to me and realize that Genesis is crouched down beside me rubbing circles on my back and keeping count of my breathing. This isn't the first time she's seen me on the verge of a breakdown and it makes me glad that I decided to come here instead of going back to my place.

Genesis has been my best friend ever since I started working at The Smoke Room. She started as a mentor and taught me the ins and outs of the club and its members. Her lively no B.S. attitude is what drew me close to her. I envy her courage more than anything she speaks her mind and isn't afraid to let someone know how she feels. She has been there for me through the good, the bad, and the dirty and has never judged my life choices. Even now, she let me into her apartment at an ungodly hour looking like I walked out of hell with no questions asked.

Without saying a word Genesis grabs my hand and starts leading me to the living room. She has me sit on her brown leather couch while she goes to get a blanket and make some hot chocolate for the both of us. I sit in silence as she leaves and begins reeling in what went down in the alley. I think back to when Giovanni dragged me into the alley and touched my lip as I remember how he had slapped me twice.

He had busted my lip on the second slap I remember the taste of copper on them. Then I think back to him slamming me against the wall and I touched my head in the spot where it had made contact with the brick. I could feel that a decent-sized bump had formed in the back of my head and I knew I would need to go to the hospital to ensure it wasn't a concussion.

Next, I started to recall his grimy hands on my body, and I suddenly felt the need to take a boiling hot shower and scrub every inch of my skin raw. I felt so dirty even before the alley when Giovanni had first paid for a lapdance. I didn't realize I had tears coming down my face until Genesis sat next to me and began wiping them from my cheeks. She had already wrapped a soft blanket around me and my cup of hot chocolate sat on the coffee table in front of me.

"Do you want to talk about what happened?" Genesis asked, concern drawn on her face. She knew me like the back of her hand and she knew that all I wanted to do was disappear and pretend like it never happened in the first place. So when I looked at her shaking my head 'no', she stood up and walked to her bedroom.

A moment later, she returned with a first aid kit and an ice pack. She sat in silence as she applied ointment to my lip as I switched the icepack from my cheek to my head. "May I ask who it was?" she asked wanting to know who was the cause of my disheveled state. I could only respond with one word, "Gio."

Genesis stopped what she was doing for a second as she took in my answer before packing away her first aid kit. "Do you want to sleep out here or in my room tonight?" She already knew my answer before she even asked the question. I didn't like the idea of sleeping in her living room knowing Giovanni and that man were still out there. With that thought, I stood up walked to her room, and lay down on her bed. Shortly after, Genesis lay down on the opposite side and turned off the lights.

***

Sleep never came as I watched the sunrise through Genesis' bedroom window signifying that morning was truly upon us. I knew I couldn't hide away the whole day. I had too much on my plate that kept me from locking myself away and throwing the key. With a heavy heart, I sat up on the bed and started to make my way to the bathroom so I could wash away the past couple of hours.

As soon as I enter the bathroom, I take a good look at myself in the mirror. My long dark brown hair is no longer in the flawless curls I had them in when the night began. Instead, it looks dull and unkempt, like I haven't cared for it in years. The right side of my face is slightly bruised from Giovanni and there's a split on my bottom lip. I have dark circles under my eyes, but that's typical when you're constantly on the go. I can't remember the last time I even had a full night's sleep since my grandmother's diagnosis.

Shit! I thought. I almost forgot about her appointment this morning. I rushed out of the bathroom to go get my phone, but I stopped in my tracks when I remembered that my phone was in my bag when I had dropped it. I quickly go to Genesis' room and locate her phone to check the time.

7:03 A.M.

Good, that still gives me enough time for a quick shower before my grandmother's appointment at 8:30. If I hurry, I might have time to make a quick breakfast to take with me on the go. With that in mind, I run to the bathroom and start the shower. Once I got in, I couldn't help the need to scrub my body raw to erase Giovanni's touch. Even after all that I still didn't feel entirely clean, but I couldn't waste another second or I would be late.

After making a quick breakfast sandwich, I wrote a quick thank you note to Genesis saying that I left her portion of breakfast in the microwave and then I rushed out of the apartment. I knew I would be seeing her later on tonight at The Smoke Room.