“What the fuck… Oh, hello sweetheart? Something I can help youwith?” slurred a voice so heavily coated in alcohol that it almostmade her choke.
“Get off me!” she screamed, not recognizing the voice, unableto see his face properly in the dark. All that she could tell wasthat he was very heavy, covered in leather, metal clasps, andjewellery. Even in the dark she knew he was a Goth. “Help…please!”
“Hey, don’t be like that,” he said, breathing heavily againsther ear, leaning into her, giving her bottom a lusty thrust of hiships. “You’re in my bed after all, aren’t you? Were you thinkingabout me? Sorry if I kept you waiting. Had I known…" He paused,resting his large hands on either side of her head.
"Please… getoff me," she cried out, realizing in horror that no one would hearher over the sounds of the girl in the other room.
The man didn'tmove, instead, he rested his entire weight on her and nuzzled hisnose into the back of her head. Moments later, Becky realized thathe'd fallen asleep. This was her chance, she thought, squirming herway from underneath the drunken stranger.
The moment shewas free, she raced from her room. On instinct, she turned towardsKelley's door. She hesitated for a moment, though, wondering whatshe might find behind it. The last thing she wanted was to walk inon Kelley having sex with some random girl. She imagined it wouldbe something she’d never be able to un-see.
Hearing suddenmovement behind her, Becky decided to take her chances and ran intoKelley’s room.
Unable to sleepeither, Kell had given up trying to ignore the cries of passioncoming from Crispin’s room. Instead, he’d put on his headphones andsat up in bed listening to the droning sounds of Placebo’s, PureMorning. He had his eyes closed, his head resting back against thewall. He was just picturing Becky in his mind’s eye when he was hitwith the full force of her impact.
Relieved tofind him alone, Becky literally launched herself at theunsuspecting Goth. “Kelley…”
“Ugh! What the fuck!” Kelley gasped, nearly jumping out of hisskin. “Becky?” He blinked in disbelief and tore off hisheadphones.
“Kelley, it was awful!” she cried, wrapping her arms around hisneck, burying her face in his bare chest.
Instinctivelyswaddling her in his arms, he held her tighter to him. She musthave had a nightmare, he thought with a tender smile. “What’s thisall about, love? A bad dream?” Whatever it was he was glad that shecame to him. The way she clung to him, he’d never tire of it,never.
Becky shook herhead, catching her breath. “There’s a man in my bed.”
Kelleyinstantly stiffened and held her away from him to look at her face.“A man? What man?”
“I don’t know,” she said, swallowing deeply. “I was…sleeping.” She wouldn’tdare tell him the truth, that she was touching herself. Not that itshould matter. That wasn’t really the point, anyway. “…and this mancame into my room and fell on top of me.”
Without waitingfor any further explanation, Kelley set her aside and went off totake care of this so called intruder. How dare someone come intoBecky’s room? Whoever it was, he’d better be prepared to die!
Too shaken tofollow, Becky crawled under his blanket and waited with batedbreath. Moments later, shouting and scuffling sounded from herroom. Then, of course, it wasn’t long before she heard bedroomdoors opening, hurried footsteps followed by even more cursing. Sherecognized Crispin’s and Dorian’s voices mixed in with Kelley’s.Were they killing each other?
Suddenly,everything went very quiet. Then she heard a female voice callingCrispin’s name. Crispin? Really? Wow…
Curious, Beckygot up and tiptoed towards the hall. She peeked out just in time tocatch Dorian and Kelley standing in her bedroom doorway, talkingquietly and shaking their heads.
Crispin wasthere too with his arms around the loveliest Goth girl Becky hadever seen. She was wearing his shirt and was attempting to tug himback into his room. Whereas he looked a bit torn between followingher or staying in the hall with Kelley and Dorian. A moment passedand he finally gave in and followed the eager girl into his roomand shut the door.
Figuringwhatever drama had taken place was over, Becky took a tentativestep in their direction.
“Kelley?”
At the sound ofher wary voice, both Dorian and Kelley snapped out of theirthoughts and turned her way. Their facial expressions ranged fromfrustration to helplessness. Closing her bedroom door, Dorian thenpatted Kelley encouragingly on the shoulder before returning to hisown room.
Then it wasjust Kelley and her left in the hallway. He must have recognizedthe look of confusion on her face. He smiled thoughtfully as hecame towards her. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he silentlyspun her around and ushered her back into his room.
“Kelley? What’s happened? Did you see the man? Is he still inthere?” she asked as he sat her down on his mattress. He continuedto stare at her with his obsidian eyes, as if at a loss forwords.
Moments later,he knelt down in front of her and placed his hands on either sideof her face. One day she’d be in his bed for reasons other thanfear and the need for reassurances. Tonight, though, he’d keep hersafe and sound.
“Can I go back to my room now?” she asked, suddenlyself-conscious.
“No, love…” He slowly shook his head. “You’ll be sleeping inhere with me tonight.”
She played withthe seam on her nightie, looking up at him with concern in hereyes. His suggestion sounded heavenly to her yet she couldn’t helpbut worry. The last time she snuck into his bed, he had literallyrecoiled from her. The memory of it still stung. She wouldn’t wantto inconvenience him.
Misunderstanding her apprehension, Kelley leaned in and pressed areassuring kiss to her forehead. “It’ll be all right, just like oldtimes.”
She nodded butthen hesitated. “Why can’t I go back to my room?” she asked with apensive frown.
“Because it’s presently unavailable to you,” he said, sittingback on his heels. “I’ll explain everything in the morning. Nowscoot over, Becky.” He encouraged her further into the bed andfollowed her in, leaving his boxers on, wishing that he’d kept hist-shirt on too.
Of all nightsfor her to wear this flimsy little nightie… Not that her pyjamasweren’t cute, but
