Stolen Innocence

Chapter Ten

That night at the dinner table, I told Mum and Dad about Ricky. I don’t hide anything from my parents. They sounded a little worried and hesitant about me talking to Ricky, and contact him, but they made it clear that it was only because they cared and worried; after all it was Colins brother.

They did agree that it was great that I had ventured out of the house, and talked to a real person that wasn’t them, Ella or Catherine. By the end of our talk they agreed that it a good thing for me to hang with someone and feel some sort of normal. So they said he was welcome to to come over as long as I felt comfortable with it.

After I left the table, I felt myself smiling as I walked to my room. It was the first time in a long time I wasn’t walking feeling sorry for myself; I felt somewhat normal. I couldn’t deny that I kept thinking about Ricky, it was all flashing through my head, from the moment I met him, and the time he defending me against his brother, and now calling us friends, I like that.

I had a shower, and found my mind wandering and day dreaming about Ricky. How could something feel wrong, yet feel right. I’m sure he was being nice, but I hope he wasn’t doing it just because he felt obligated to or out of pity. My stomach dropped at that word ‘pity’ I don’t want people feeling pitiful towards me. Maybe that’s all it is.

Jumping into bed, I got nice and snug under my blankets, I loved the comfort of a nice thick quilt. Turning on the Television I started scrolling though to find something to watch. A series caught my eye, it was called “Surviving Evil”, reading the captions for it, I couldn’t believe all the horrific situations these people had lived through. So I decided to watch them.

After watching a few episodes I was hooked! The stuff I went through with Colin was minor compared to what others had suffered. r***s, tortures, murders, they were appalling, heinous, gut-wrenching and unbelievable situations- but they survived them! They were lucky that they survived. If they could survive after everything they went through, then I could survive too!

I picked up my phone, not realising I had been watching the series for a few hours now, and I had a couple of missed calls and messages. I forgot to call Ella and tell her about my day, and about Ricky. It was too late to call her now, so I’ll give her a ring tomorrow. I started reading messaged and there was a message from an unsaved number:-

“Hey, ‘Rose’ its just Ricky here. It was good seeing you today. I lost my s**t at Colin, I could look at him, knowing what he done. So I smacked him around a few times. But I don’t want you to worry I never mentioned you. I just wanted to tell you that I thumped him a few extra times in the face, just for you. His lucky his mummy saved him. Anyways I just wanted to tell you that I’m here if you ever wanna talk or just hang out, or you get bored. From Ricky”

I had the biggest smile reading it. Suck s**t to Colin, I hope his face is busted! I hope he was hurting and sore.He wasn’t going to control my life anymore, or my nightmares, the dreams, the flashes I get of the moment he r***d me, the fear I had for him was vanishing. The control he had over me was loosening.

All I wanted was to live a normal life, I wanted happiness and love. I wanted to be comforted and held, like Ricky had. I wanted a future. Snapping out of my thoughts I realised I hadn’t replied.

“Hey Ricky, It was great seeing you too. Thanks for making me feel normal again. I’m glad you beat him up, I smiled when I read it. But please don’t make any more trouble for yourself. I don’t want you getting kicked out.”

It was later tight so I sat my phone down, I wasn’t going to wait for a reply. So I pressed play on another episode then heard my phone make a vibration noise.

“Anytime beautiful. I was going to ask you today, but I dint have the guts. Would you like to catch up over the weekend and go do something? Only if u feel up to it. You don’t have too” he replied,

I felt my stomach drop as I read it. Catch up? What do he want to do? Where did he want to go? I don’t want to do anything in this town, everyone knows each other, there would be rumours flying around real quick. I decided not to reply just yet, I mean going out sounds fun, and i enjoy being around him. But I felt nervous. I put my phone down while I thought about the reply.

A couple minutes later I heard my phone vibrate again,

“We don’t have to do anything in this s**t-hole of a town ‘Rose’. There’s a carnival a couple towns over if you want to go to that? My shout.”

I read the message and thought about it. I was scared, and nervous, but I remembered a quote Catherine told me,

“Thinking will not overcome fear, actions will”

I understood it now, A carnival sound great, and going with Ricky sounded even better. I took a deep breath and wrote what some to my head,

“A carnival sounds like fun! I like fun! It will be good to get out of the house. As long as its not all night, and if anything happens and I don’t want to be there anymore, can you bring me back home?” I sent it

“It’s going to be a good night because you will be there. If anything happens and you feel uncomfortable or want to just leave TELL ME and I will take you home straight away!” He replied quickly.

“Okay deal. I would love to go with you.” I replied smiling, I couldn’t believe I said yes! I was nervous and excited at the same time. A carnival sounded really fun, the rides the Ferris wheel, it all sounds amazing! I couldn’t wait to go.

I felt excited, and I needed to tell Ella. I looked at the clock, it was just after midnight, but I decided to send her a message anyways. I knew she would ring me first thing in the morning. I didn’t go into details it was short and I only told her the basics. My phone buzzed as Ricky messaged me again.

“Great! I’m glad you said yes. I can pick you up Saturday afternoon around four? It will take nearly two hours to get there. You will be safe with me, I promise. If something happens and you want to leave just let me know. I promise we will leave straight away.”

I couldn’t contain the smile on my face, reading it made my heart flutter. There was something about Ricky, and I really like whatever it was. I couldn’t help but be excited, what was I going to wear? Oh god, I better find something tomorrow. I hadn’t worn anything nice since the “Paddock Party”.

Everything felt different when I thought about going to the carnival. I wasn’t anxious, or worried. I felt excited, and happy. Two hours in a car will be a long time to talk and get to know each other. I couldn’t wait for the weekend!

I replied,

“Thank you Ricky, It means a lot to hear that. I’m really looking forward to the weekend now.”

He replied,

“So am I. Good night beautiful” He replied,

“Goodnight Ricky” I sent,