Stolen Innocence

Chapter Eight

My heart pounded when I heard my name. I knew the voice, I turned around and seen Ricky walking towards me, holding a skateboard. I was nervous, and felt an urge to throw up. I know Ricky never hurt me, but I don’t think I could mentally handle any conflict with any of Colin’s family members. So I kept walking, pretending that I didn’t hear him talking to me.

“Emily Please! Wait!” I heard him calling out,

I picked my pace up, and was nearly about to run, I heard his foot steps getting louder behind me.

“Hey, Emily. It’s me, Ricky. I thought it was you” He said as he started walking beside me,

“Oh, Hi Ricky. I’m just going home.” I said stuttered nervously, as I tried to detour in a different direction,

“Emily? Are you okay? Your acting weird.” Ricky said as he followed me,

I pretended not to hear, I felt his hand on my shoulder,

“Please Emily. Is everything okay?” He said as he stopped me from walking.

I ripped my arm from him and yelled,

“Don’t you dare f*****g touch me Ricky! Don’t you think your brother has done enough!” I gritted my teeth as the words came out, my emotions took over, and next second I was wiping tears off my face, I didn’t even realise I had started crying. Ricky’s face was white, he looked scared of me, like I had hurt his feelings. My heart was pounding, I started wishing I hadn’t left my house now. I glared at Ricky, as I turned and walked away, confused, I don’t know where he went, I didn’t really care. I just wanted to be back at home and alone, safely behind my locked door.

I got to the front of my house, and Ricky was there, he was out of the car, and leaning against it, he watched me as I got closer. I stuck my arm in my bag and grabbed my phone out, I was ready to ring the police if I felt the need too.

“Emily, I’m not going to hurt you. Are you okay? You seem pissed off at me, have I done something wrong?” Ricky asked confused, he had his hands up in front of him, like he was surrendering himself,

“Upset!? Am I upset?! After what your f*****g brother did to me!” I found myself screaming at him through, I didn’t care if the neighbour heard me yelling.

“So its true? The rumours are true? What Cole did? Did he really do that to you?” Ricky asked with a shocked look on his face,

“True? You want the truth Ricky! Your BROTHER r***d me! He put something in my drink, and then he r***d ME while I was unconscious! Then on top of ALL of that, the next day he treated me like I meant NOTHING! Everything was one big LIE”- I was shaking in anger, and sobbing as I spoke. I didn’t care what Ricky thought, his brother caused all of it.

Ricky was just standing there, he didn’t say a word. He was just standing there with his head down looking at the gutter. I didn’t like the silence, he could of said something!

“That’s the f*****g truth Ricky” I said firmly as I started to walk over closer to him, “Why do you even care? Believe what you want, just like everyone else- I’ve heard the bullshit they are all say; I wanted it, I was drunk, I threw myself at him. I was drunk. Blah blah blah. They are all LIES- I broke up with him! Then he done it!” Ricky wanted the truth, so I told him the whole truth. He can go tell everyone what his scummy r****t brother did to me!

I heard him sigh and he looked up at me. His eyes were soft, I could see the tears in them.

“I had no idea Colin could do something like that Emily. Not to you. I wish I could of protected you, like that day in his room” His voice was soft and gentle.

We look at each other in silence for a minute. He did protect me that day, I shouldn’t be taking my anger out on him, he didn’t do anything wrong. I felt bad, but I just stop there silently.

“What a piece of s**t! I’m going to strangle him when I get home!” Ricky grunted, as he turned around and started punching the bonnet of his car. I don’t know how many times he punched it, but I counted at least ten. He threw blow after blow, and I could hear the metal getting pushed in with every hit,

I wasn’t scared of Ricky, obviously he was angry at his brother too. I stood there and watched him. A part of me wanted to tell him to stop, but he probably wouldn’t listen to me anyway. After he finished he slumped down beside his car, he was puffing and his hands were shaking. He put his knees up and flung his hand over them, he was staring out into space, lost in his own thoughts.

He looked empty, just sitting there. I walked over to him and knelt down in front of him,

“Are you okay Ricky?” I asked concerned, and I was concerned.

He didn’t move, he was just sitting there. I glanced at his hands they were all busted up. He had broken his skin in several places, blood was fun across down his finger tips, some of his knuckles had already gone purple and swollen,

“God Ricky! Look what you done to your hands” I said worriedly

Ricky let out a short little laugh,

“Seriously Emily, After everything you’ve gone through, your worried about me?”

He said “Don’t worry about my hands. They will be worse after I bash Colin for what he done to you” He spoke so calm, even though his jaw was tested up.

“I know his a wanker for what he done to me Ricky, and I honestly wouldn’t care if he dropped dead tomorrow, I’m sorry-I know his your brother.” I felt bad for saying that, but i was being honest “I don’t want you getting into trouble because of me. Please-Just don’t.” I pleaded to him,

Ricky stood up, shaking his hands in pain.

“Wow Em, even after everything. Your still such a sweetheart. Worrying about me, after everything.” He smiled at me.

I must admit, I felt my cheeks get a little flushed after he said it. I did feel a sense of relief that he wasn’t defending his brother, or trying to make excuses.

“I’m not letting what he done control my life Ricky. He doesn’t deserve that gratification. I will win, not him” I said confidently, as I noticed the blood dripping from Rickys hands,

“Would you like to come inside? I’m pretty sure there is something in the medical kit too wrap your hands up” I offered him because I felt concerned,

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” He asked confused, with his eyebrows up,

“Why not?” I asked him confused,

“Um, your parents probably hate me for what Colin did Emily. I wouldn’t blame them either.” He said ,

“Oh, my parents aren’t like that Ricky. You didn’t hurt me. Like the old saying goes- You can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your family” I said forcing a smile, “Plus my parents are at work anyways , they won’t be home for a couple more hours”

He was looking at me, but didn’t say anything. It was just silence, like he wasn’t sure what to do.

“Look. At least let me put some ice on it” I said it bluntly,

I didn’t mean to Lund so rude, but I also didn’t really want him going home just yet. He was obviously upset, because I witnessed him attack his car. If he sees Colin, who knows what he would do to him. I thought if I could distract him, he might calm down.

He looked down at his hands and sighed,

“Are you sure you don’t mind Emily? I don’t want you to feel like you have to” He spoke hesitantly, as he was watching himself try to open and close his hands.

I could tell he was in pain, but the face he was pulling as he moved them,

“I honestly don’t mind. Come on. Your getting blood all over the grass” I joked, with a smile.

“Fine, I’ll come in,” Ricky said with a fake moan, like a child that was being told what to do.