Out Running Demons of the Past

Chapter Five

Derek

"Derek, did you know? I mean you met her first, so did she say anything to you before?" Matt asks me, but how the hell was I supposed to know. She's new here and I only met her the morning before everyone else.

"Why the hell would you ask me that? When would I have found something like that out? She was new here, I bumped into her. That's how I met her, we didn't share all our dirty secrets with each other. I mean f**k, how does one recover from that?"My voice raises a bit while I talk, but I'm not mad, I'm anxious. What do I even do to help her. I have to do something, we were just curious to know more about her. "I gotta go find her. Just don't follow, if all of us show up it won't help her." before anyone could say anything I leave the cafeteria. I don't think she would go to her locker, she'd want some privacy.... Girls Bathroom.

As I walk into the girls bathroom I hear her crying in the handicap stall. I try to open the door but she has locked it. Knocking on the door she asks who's there in such a small timid voice.

"Just me. Derek. I wanted to see if I may be of some help in any way." How am I going to help her, damn it. I feel so useless. "Levi let me in. Please let me in. You're gonna regret it if I have to slide under this stall on this filthy floor." It doesn't bother me to have to do this, I was just hoping she'd open the door, but looks like I'll be going under.

As I move into the stall I stand up and pull her into a smothering hug. With doing this I feel her legs go limp on her and I gently lower us both to the floor, all the while still keeping her in my arms.

"I killed him Derek. I killed him." she sobs, " He was intoxicated and so was I, but fear took over when he was forcing himself on me." She buries her head into my chest more trying to control her ragged breathing.

I can feel myself starting to get claustrophobic in this bathroom stall, and I can feel my heart start racing. This is not the time for this s**t. I make sure to take deep breaths and just focus on Levi.

We've been in here for about 10 minutes already, I've noticed she has started to calm down significantly.

"You ready to go back out there? Levi? Or would you just like me to take you home?" I stand up and then help her to her feet.

"I'd just like to go home if that's ok... Derek, do you think I just lost the guys as friends?" She asks just above a whisper.

"Honestly, I don't know... I don't know."

As we get out to my car, the guys are all leaned up against it, waiting for us. I can clearly hear her gulp at what might happen.

"We're sorry we pried into your life. We didn't know something so terrible happened to you." The guys all group hug her. I stand there for a moment before a random hand shoots out and pulls me into the hug.

"I'm so sorry guys. You all accepted me without hesitation. Then when you want to know more about me, I blow up in your faces. Will you forgive me. I would love to still have you all as friends." she asks while still in the group hug. Of course everyone accepted her apology, she has a demons. We all do and we all want acceptance and to move on from things that aren't pleasant. Myself included. Hell I go through mine every day.