Unwritten Rules (4 page)

In my head I was yel ing for help, though I couldn’t make a sound. I was frozen –immobile from the horror of what was happening to me. I looked around frantical y for someone, anyone to help, but the street was now deserted. The panic made me numb; the fear left me rigid. When my attacker thrust his fingers into the elastic armband which held my iPod in place, it took me a few moments to react. I pul ed my arm back, whimpering when I found my voice, and the floodgates opened.

“Help!” I screamed, fighting with everything I had in me.

The man fought hard, determined not to let go of my arm. My skin was pinched between his fingers, and the pain made my eyes fil with tears. I couldn’t see what was happening, though I wasn’t going to give up. I kicked out with my feet and tried desperately to bring my arm back to my side.

“Please, help!”

He was strong and pinned my shoulder to the

bricks with his huge hand. My throat began to close as the reality of the situation sank in. He was going to hurt me, and no one was trying to stop him. Why me? And why now?

Only five minutes ago the street had a smattering of people; people who could have helped me. Now I was alone. I winced when he raised his hand, his fist coming down on me in slow motion.

Oh my God!

I waited for the first painful contact.

But it never arrived.

There was a scuffling, fol owed by a bel ow of rage. My heart was thundering against my chest as I cracked an eye open. The man was no longer near me, in fact no one was. I exhaled with relief and stared around in confusion. I rubbed my arm where my attacker had gripped it, wincing in pain, as I tried to work out what had happened. The whole incident had been so quick – so furious, that I couldn’t seem to piece everything together.

“Are you okay?”

That voice...Jonah.

I whirled around to see his anxious expression. His chest was heaving as if he’d been running too.

“I..um...uh...”

“Did he get anything?” He questioned further. “Did he hurt you?”

Jonah’s tone was dominant, his expression fierce. It was a complete contrast to his usual demeanor.

“You saw him?”

“I ran after him. I tried, but I lost him. I’m sorry.”

I cringed as he reached for me, backing up a

step, my body trembling in shock. I stared at him, completely bewildered by what had just happened.

“El e, let me help you upstairs. We need to cal the police.”

At the sound of his soothing voice, my heart gave a double beat then slowed. The ringing in my ears quieted as the nausea began to disperse. He held his hand out to me, waiting until I took it.

A few people now began to walk past. A couple

whispered to each other, looking straight at me. I felt like a car crash. Jonah nodded in their direction, and they immediately hushed. The mumbling resumed as they walked further down the road. I took a step closer to Jonah, my legs trembling. I was too upset to be amazed when his arm came around my shoulders. The connection with his body made my arm tingle, and I snuggled closer to his warmth.

“We’l take the elevator; you’re stil trembling,” he breathed into my ear.

I shivered, both in fear and at the intimacy. We’d only said a few words to each other, and here he was, being my knight in shining armor. He was treating me like a china dol , making me feel fragile. Jonah was just what I needed right now.

I stayed in his embrace as we rode the elevator to my apartment. He continued to stroke my arm and give me gentle squeezes of comfort. I should have been concerned by his proximity, because I was sweaty after my run, but I was not bothered enough to care. I was taking every ounce of solace he had to offer, as wel as any warmth because the chil was now bone deep.

My brain wasn’t functioning right; I was stil back on the street with the guy pul ing aggressively at my arm. My damn iPod wasn’t even the issue – he could have had it, and on reflection, I realized I should have just given it to him. It just had seemed like he wanted more at the time, and it had frightened me.

I whimpered, my body shuddering as we walked

toward my front door.

“We’l get you settled inside, and then I’l cal the cops.”

He bent down, his eyes connecting with mine.

They held sadness but also a warmth that calmed me. I nodded as he held his hand out for the key. I had to move away from him to retrieve it, instantly feeling the loss of his soothing heat. He pushed the door open and placed his hand on the smal of my back, escorting me in. To his credit he waited at the entrance, not wanting to step inside without being asked. I smiled at him and cocked my head. I didn’t think my voice was strong enough to actual y verbalize anything.

Jonah stepped into the room. It was clear he was uncomfortable from the way he shuffled around. His sharp, blue gaze took in everything in one sweep. He frowned when it rested on my makeshift office in the corner.

“Two screens?”

I took a seat on the smal bench near the window, wrapping my arms around my midsection.

“I’m a web designer. It makes things a little easier sometimes. You should see me when I have my laptop on there too.”

He nodded, coming closer and kneeling before

me. He touched my arm just above the iPod pocket, grimacing. I turned, noting the rawness of my skin, before Jonah took hold of the lycra band and met my eyes. His words were gentle; his gaze intense.

“I’m going to remove this. Your arm looks sore, so it might burn a bit.”

I nodded, bracing myself as he gently slid the armband down. He placed it on the floor next to his feet and touched the reddened flesh on my bicep. I bit my lip to stop from yelping.

“There doesn’t seem to be any lacerations. It’s going to turn into one bitch of a bruise.”

“Thank you,” I wheezed out.

“Don’t thank me. I wasn’t exactly going to leave you, was I? I just wish I could have caught the bastard!”

When I looked down, he muttered an apology. It made me snicker. He was apologizing for cussing in front of me. I was certain no one had done that before.

“Where’s your phone?”

He stood up and began to look around the room. It was the first time I had been able to see his clothes. He was in plaid pajama bottoms and a simple white T-shirt. He must have been col ecting his mail and heard the commotion outside.

“You don’t need to do that,” I whispered.

“Huh?” he asked, but comprehension dawned and

seconds later I could see he understood what I was referring to. “El e, you have to report this.”

“He didn’t steal anything, and I’m just a bit sore. He didn’t do any damage, Jonah.”

His eyes widened. I realized it was the first time I had said his name out loud. I adored the sound of my name on his lips and wondered what he felt hearing his own name from mine. I watched his chest rise then fal deeply when he expel ed a large gust of air.

“What if he tries again? Maybe this time the

woman won’t be as strong as you.”

I guessed that was a back handed compliment

and stopped a smirk from forming across my lips.

“I have nothing to tel them. It al happened so fast. I bet you don’t have a description, do you?”

He mussed his hair and shot me the cutest pout I’d ever seen. My chest clenched.

“I guess not. But you stil need to cal them.”

I remained silent, studying him as he shuffled uncomfortably around the room. I was tried to concentrate on breathing in and out as he continued to distract me. He fil ed the space with his presence, my body sensing him no matter where he was in the room. He entranced me with his slow, steady steps around my furniture. I grimaced when he handed me the telephone and eventual y buckled, cal ing the police.

Jonah waited with me until they arrived. He

continued to pace around the room, averting his eyes from mine, but blushing each time they met. When the cops arrived, Jonah sat on the armchair facing me, prompting me when he thought I was struggling. He then offered up his version of events to the officers. I kept my tears at bay, desperate not to seem too weak to him. It took every ounce of strength I had not to lose it once the police left my apartment.

“Should I get you a drink?” Jonah asked.

“No, it’s fine. I want a shower. I feel real y gross,” I replied with a sigh.

He looked me in the eyes; his jaw rigid.

“Can I do anything for you? You look like you’re going to pass out, El e.”

I stood and walked toward him on wobbly legs but tried to put on a facade.

“You’ve already done so much.” I braced myself and rose up on my tiptoes, kissing his cheek. “Thank you, Jonah.”

I gasped in surprise, when he wrapped his arms around my waist, bringing me back into his embrace. On a whim I placed my arms around his neck and hugged him close.

My body sprang to life.

It was as if a charge of electricity surged through my body. Every cel demanded more – demanded Jonah. I wanted to stay here with him surrounding me, making me feel so much better.

For one moment in time, I forgot what had

happened in the street below.

Al too soon it was over, and he was pul ing away. He’d become self-conscious, trying to get to the door as fast as he could. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, as if he wanted to say something but didn’t know how. I thanked him again, and eventual y he relented.

“Can I check on you later?”

I exhaled, liking his concern. “I’m good. I promise.”

He turned the handle on the door, adding before he left, “I’m sorry that this happened to you, El e.”

The door clicked closed, I crumbled.

I col apsed onto the floor and sobbed, rubbing my arm where my attacker had tried to wrench the iPod from me. I’d never felt so violated.

Meow prowled across the floor, coming to rest on my lap and sniffing up at my tear stained face. He purred loudly, trying to comfort me in his own noisy way. It only made me weep more.

I’d spent the rest of the day in bed, crying and hoping to fal into an exhausted sleep.

It never arrived.

I tossed and turned, trying everything I could. The mixed up images continued to swirl in my head. The whole assault was one big blur. The only thing that made any sense was Jonah.

He’d rescued me.

I turned onto my back and stared up at the ceiling. He’d knocked on the door earlier, wanting to make sure I was doing al right. I couldn’t answer it; I’d stil been crying and didn’t want him to know how bad off I real y was. I now felt worse for ignoring him. I’d heard him playing his piano shortly afterward. The tune was sad and haunting. The attack seemed to have affected us both. I closed my eyes, hoping his melody would soothe me to sleep, and though it had for a while, I was no longer tired. I contemplated cal ing J.J. and picked up my cel . It went straight to voicemail. She was obviously asleep or busy with Elijah, her latest boy-toy.

“Hey,” I said timidly. “It’s me. I just wanted to talk. Something happened and I just needed a friend. Can you cal me when you get this message? Thanks.”

I wasn’t sure how long it would be until J.J.

returned my cal , but I hoped the sound of my voice would alert her to the urgency of it. I wanted to talk to someone, yet I didn’t want to cal my mom. It would only add to her anxiety about me living here. It wouldn’t be fair to burden her in such a way, because she couldn’t come to comfort me. I had considered going back home, but leaving would feel like defeat on my behalf, and I didn’t come here to give up at the first hurdle.

Grunting in annoyance, I shoved the comforter off me and climbed out of bed. I retrieved my oversized sweater from the back of the smal chair I kept near my vanity and walked into the living area. It was eerily quiet with only the low hum of the computer disturbing the silence. I wrapped my sweater tighter around my body and padded across the floor. My iPod lay discarded on the floor, stil in the armband; I hadn’t moved it from where Jonah had placed it. I could barely even look at it. I was hurting. I had just wanted to be alone to lick my wounds.

I shivered at the memory of it.

Though I wanted to talk to someone, the only

person who seemed to be awake and available was living above me. I wasn’t sure he’d want me knocking on his door so late at night. In fact, I didn’t know if he’d want me at his door at al . I just didn’t want to be here.

Alone.

Meow strol ed out of the bedroom and glared at me. He mewled wanting to be picked up, and without question I did as I was asked. I stroked his head, feeling his purrs vibrate across his bel y. He was a comfort. I wanted more. I needed human interaction right now. I swal owed my anxiety I col ected my keys and cel . Keeping hold of Meow, I walked from my apartment and locked the door. The corridor was dark and horribly quiet, so I scuttled to the elevator as fast as I could. I didn’t want to walk up those stairs alone, and reasoned the elevator was safer. Meow pawed my chest, trying to get comfy in my arms, but he only managed to claw at the skin beneath my sweater. I hissed, adjusting him as the metal doors closed, and tried to get him to retract his claws, al the while attempting to talk myself out of this insane plan.