Chasing Him

Chapter 3

The next day I woke up with a splitting headache. The rest of the evening had been a blur, I found Kiara and told her about my r**e, and after that I spent the rest of the evening drinking and crying on Kiara's shoulder occasionally. She called me a taxi and offered to come with me, but I wanted her to enjoy the rest of the evening. As I laid in bed, alone, I regretted that decision. Events with Adam unfolded in my mind like tidal waves, his hand on my thigh, the way he slapped me, his breath on my ear. It was too much. I got out of bed and went to the kitchen, intending to get myself drunk as soon as possible. When I got there I was surprised to see Kiara, sleeping peacefully on the sofa. I stood and watched her for a while. She was so beautiful, not just conventionally so, but she had a certain aura of sweet yet confident, and it was enough for anyone to fall in love with her. I had a crush on her when we first met, but she didn't feel the same. Looking back I'm glad about that - everything would have been so much more complicated if we'd started dating in sixth form. God knows we would be broken up and not in contact by now. Kiara's eyelids fluttered and this interrupted my thoughts. 

She sat up and stretched, smiling lazily at me. Her hair had been hastily tied up and she had smudges of makeover left on her face, but that made her even more gorgeous. 

'Morning sleepyhead' I smiled at her and walked over to sit on the sofa. She grabbed my feet and started massaging them, rightly assuming I wasn't quite prepared to receive full blown physical comfort. 

'Hey, how are you feeling this morning?'

'I feel like absolute shit.'

She stoked my foot, waiting for me to continue. She didn't need to push me, she's the only person in my life I can talk to about anything and, when I can't, she'll be patient until I am able.

I carried on. 'I woke up and had flashbacks of last night, and that was so so s**t'. My voice cracked at the last part, but I willed myself to continue, I took a deep breath.

'My head absolutely kills. But I don't even care. I just, I cant think straight. All these thoughts run over each other, you know? I-I LET him, I-he-I-' I broke off at this point. Again, I took a deep breath.

'I just cant stop thinking about how I allowed it to happen. I tired so hard to get away, b-but after a while I just couldn't. He didn't even have to ask me.' By the time I finished talking my uncontrollable sobs had returned, and Kiara couldn't bear it anymore. She threw her arms around me and pulled me in for a cuddle. This was definitely not a well thought out plan. Flashbacks sent me reeling and I had the urge to throw up again, my body spasmed away from her and I jumped up.

'Sorry, I'm going to be sick'. I darted off without waiting for a reply.