Savage's

CHAPTER 30

*Daisy*

I was surprised when Gray offered to help me look for my swimsuit, and I didn't want to say no, though I knew I should have. I found myself enjoying his company, as well as craving more and more of it. I was so used to not liking attention, this feeling of enjoying it was... invigorating.

Both of us were digging through my boxes of clothes, which was only about five boxes, and hanging other clothes in the process. There was idle chit chat in between, but nothing extensive. I desired to know him better, but didn't know how to ask any personal questions. Though Gray has been so welcoming toward me, I still can't help but feel like I'm beneath the rest of them. It's been cemented into my brain to feel this way.

"Whoa..." I heard Gray mumble, and as I turned around I noticed he was holding up a black swimsuit, "Is this it?"

"Oh gosh..." I grumbled, burying my head in my hands.

Granted, it was a one piece, but probably the slinkiest one Alexa could find! The part that covered the breasts looked so thin, I couldn't imagine mine fitting. The entire thing looked two sizes too small for me, and I'm not that curvy of a woman, but compared to this thread I was!

"Wow..." Gray studied the swimsuit with raised eyebrows, "This is... something."

"That's an understatement." I grumbled, folding my arms across my chest.

Gray glanced at me, a small frown on his face, before he stood to his feet. With the swimsuit in hand, he walked out of the room, and I followed closely behind. He located Alexa, who was unpacking in her room, and immediately ambushed her.

"What the f**k is this, Alexa?!" Gray demanded, throwing the swimsuit at Alexa.

"Whoa--" Alexa yelped, catching the swimsuit, "Oh..."

"You couldn't find something with a little more coverage?" Gray growled, and I stood there with wide eyes, I didn't mean to get Alexa in trouble.

"It was all I could find!" Alexa shouted back, throwing the swimsuit back at Gray.

"Bullshit! Maybe all you could find in your expensive boutiques! Did you ever think that someone who has been sexually assualted probably doesn't want to flaunt their body?" Gray yelled, his voice booming.

It didn't take long for some of the others to hear the commotion, and soon Caz and Alistair arrived. I was hoping they could help to de-escalate the situation, because I didn't want the fight to continue. I know Alexa wasn't trying to do anything bad on purpose, and Gray should know that too, but he's defending me... I didn't expect him to become so upset. I felt like I was stuck in the middle, unsure of what to say.

"Hey, what's going on here?" Alistair asked, walking in the room.

"Alexa got this for Daisy, it's supposed to be her f*****g swimsuit!" Gray roared, chucking the swimsuit at Alistair.

"That's hot." Caz muttered, nodding.

"See! That's my f*****g point, Alexa." Gray growled, folding his arms across his chest, as he paced the room.

"I didn't mean to Gray," Alexa snarled at Gray, and then turned toward me, "I'm sorry Daisy... I really didn't think about it."

"It's okay, I know." I smiled at her, and glanced at Gray with a worried expression.

Gray glanced between Alexa and I with a look of remorse, before he stumbled out of the room. Alistair ran after him, while Caz stayed, still holding onto the swimsuit. Alexa shamefully exited the room, with her head down, and Caz looked at me with worried eyes.

"I'm going to go check on her," Caz said, setting the swimsuit down on the bed, "I'll be back later."

"Okay..." I muttered, watching him leave too.

I stood there, staring at the article of clothing that caused such chaos, and wondered if I over reacted? I didn't mean to cause so much damage between everyone, and I never thought it would. This entire thing was unwarranted, and I feel obligated to make it right.

I walked down the hall to find Alexa, and noticed she was talking to Caz. They were sitting on the floor, and he had his arm around her, while she was crying. I remained in the doorway, about to speak up, until Alexa started talking. She curled into Caz's arms, and began ranting.

"He's always been an asshole, that's nothing new..." She growled through heavy tears, "But I forgot what he was like when he got pissed."

"It's not your fault," Caz consoled her, "You didn't intentionally buy that swimsuit to make Daisy feel uncomfortable."

"I would never!" Alexa pleaded, "Daisy has been through so much, stuff I don't even know about, and I would never want to hurt her... I just wasn't thinking..."

"Let's go find a new one, and make it up to her." Caz offered, and Alexa looked up at him in shock.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Alexa asked, squinting her eyes, "What's gotten into you?"

"Because I like you," Caz smirked, "You couldn't tell by my playful teasing?"

"Seriously?" Alexa scoffed, "that was more like berating me..."

"You think?" Caz asked, rubbing his chin with his fingers, "Well, I might be a little rough around the edges..."

I smiled, realizing they're having a moment together, and I didn't want to disturb that. I can talk to Alexa later. Instead, I returned to my bedroom and finished putting clothes away. I picked up the black swimsuit last, and held it in my hands. Gray is right, I have to learn my limits. Walking into the bathroom, I shut the door and locked it behind me. I stripped off my clothes, and changed into the swimsuit.

Taking a deep breath, I turned around to face my reflection. Immediately, I stopped breathing the moment I saw myself in the mirror. There was so much skin showing, I felt my heart pounding rapidly against my chest, and my legs starting to tremble. I was so afraid to look at my own body, and before I didn't know why, but now I do... because it reminds me of what I've lived through. I can look at my arm, and remember Harold running his dry tongue up and down my bicep, or Tom bitting my stomach... or any of the others.

I didn't realize how long I was in the bathroom, until I heard a knock at the door. "Yeah?"

"Are you okay?" Gray asked, his voice soft and gentle.

"Uhm... yeah." I lied, quickly wiping the tears from my face.

I felt vulnerable, raw, and exposed. Though my body was exposed, my emotions felt even more bare. I took another deep breath, and walked over to the door to open it. When I did, Gray's eyebrows shot up, and he helplessly studied my body. His eyes trailed from my feet, all the way up to my face, but when he reached my expression, his eyebrows furrowed.

"What's wrong?" He asked, again with his soft tone of voice.

"I'm broken..." I responded, "And, I don't know how to fix myself..."

I couldn't help the tears flowing freely from my eyes. Gray was instantly craddling me in his arms, and I gave up control. My sobs were loud, drawn out, and messy. I was losing myself, and I didn't know how to stop it. Gray lifted me into his arms, and carried me back into the bathroom. He shut the door behind him, and sat on the tiled floor against the wall. I sat on his lap, with him to my left side, and burried my head against his chest. One hand was holding me close, while the other lightly massaged my back.

After a few minutes, I settled down, and pulled away from him. We stared at each other for a moment, and I searched deep within his eyes. I couldn't find an ounce of evil in him. Everyone gets angry, and can be mean, but that's different than being evil. I don't know that I've ever felt safe around a man, but I know I do with Gray.