CHAPTER 27 #2
Dinner is wonderful. The food is delicious, and everyone is so happy to have Eli home.
It's impossible to not love this man. Everyone is laughing and joking and sharing food.
I sit beside Vaughn so Eli's mom can be next to him, but I feel the distance.
I can't imagine how Vaughn must be feeling because I just want to soak him up and never stop hugging him. I think he has this effect on everyone.
We arrive at the bar nearly 45 minutes later than we had planned, but Vaughn called ahead and prepared everyone so they're ready with a raucous "Welcome Home" when he comes through the door.
We reserved the whole place for the night, and it's filled with all of Eli's closest friends and family.
The bar rental was my less sentimental welcome home gift for my dear friend.
We decorated this morning and V sent out reminder texts to everyone who RSVP'd.
There are far more people here than I anticipated though and my heart picks up a little bit when I see the crowd.
As though he could hear my blood pumping faster, Eli turns to me with a 'you okay?
' head nod. I give him a reassuring smile and a wink.
He gives me that big grin and winks back with pride in his eyes.
I don't want to let him down. I can do this.
Even more people show up as the night wanes on.
Too many people. My palms are sweating, and my heart has been racing since I got here.
I've decided to break down and take my medication.
It's not a panic attack, but I don't want it to turn into one either, so I go to the bathroom where no one will notice me taking it.
When I come back to my table, there are three partygoers that I've never met sitting there.
I consider going somewhere else, but every other table is even more full, so I steel my spine and walk over.
They all greet me when I get to the table.
"Would you like to sit?"
"Y-yes, thank you."
"Sure."
Midnight Cowboy has a wood and leather vibe.
Very Eli. A chair is pulled out for me, and I sit.
The girl beside me goes through the polite introductions for everyone at the table and I eke out "Eve" with an awkward smile.
They look at one another and I know they noticed.
I'm different. I'm weird. I put people on edge.
That's what puts me on edge. It's like their fear heightens my own.
I have to be ready for their reaction. I don't know these people.
What's keeping them from banding together, deciding I don't belong and doing something about it?
Stop it, stop it, stop it. It isn't even real.
I look around the bar as my breaths come quickly and my hands start to tremble.
The guy directly across from me reaches for me and I dart my hand forward to respond to his attack but, he’s only reaching for his drink, and I knock my water over with my jerky movements.
The water quickly spreads across the table, and everyone jumps up looking at me with shock, anger, hostile intent, I don’t know what.
I look from each one of the three to the other, quickly attempting to gauge what their reaction will be. Will they attack?
No. They aren’t attacking. They’re...confused. There’s no hostility. It’s... sympathy. For me. They feel bad for me because I am obviously out of place here.
“I-I am so sorry. I have to go.”
I turn and walk toward the exit. They try to speak to me before I exit, but I can’t make out what they’re saying over the thrum of blood rushing in my head.
Bursting through the exit, I feel the cool crisp air of the night.
It burns my lungs like I've been doing calisthenics for the past hour.
I lean against the rough brick wall, close my eyes, and place both fists to my chest in an attempt to control my breathing.
"It's okay. I'm okay. This is just bad weather.
There will be sunshine," I tell myself quietly under the yellow light of the streetlamps.
Eventually, I feel my heartbeat calm. My breaths are deeper.
My head clearing. My hands are more steady.
I'm doing it. My nightmare just came true in there and I am over here surviving it.
What was that saying? They can't eat you?
Well, they can't. And they didn't. It's just bad weather and the sun will shine on me tomorrow.
Should I go back in? Easy there, Jackie Chan. We survived this stunt. Let's call it a win and live to scale a building another day. I pull out my phone to text V and Eli in our group message.
Me: I'm wiped. I'm going to stay at Eden House tonight so you guys can have some privacy.
Big Bear: Where are you?
Vaughn: Did you leave?
Me: I'm just outside. I spilled a drink. I just needed some air.
Big Bear: Coming.
Me: No. Please don't!
Me: Please enjoy your party. I'm Okay. Really, I am.
Vaughn: Are you sure?
Me: 100%. Please just have a good time. I'm tired. I'm going home to go to bed.
Big Bear: I don't like this. How will you get home? Just let us come out and talk to you.
Me: I'm getting an Uber. I'm good, I swear. Please don't leave your party.
Vaughn: We love you. Please be safe.
Me: I love you both. Have fun. I'll bring lunch tomorrow and you can tell me all about Eli's drunken karaoke.
Big Bear: (laughing emoji) You know me too well. Text us when you get there to let us know you made it.
Me: Will do, Big Bear. (Kiss face emoji)
HONK! HONK, HONK!!
"WooHoo there, sexy. Need a ride?"
The middle-aged dumbass is hanging out the passenger window and all I can think is TLC taught me better, jackass.
Flipping the scrub the bird, I open the app and order my Uber. Not wanting to draw more attention to myself by standing in front of the bar, I put in an address I know two blocks down. I love nights in this city. The air is fresh, and the heat has calmed to a balmy low 70s.
I'm leaning against the back of a bus bench when I hear someone walking nearby. At first, I don't look up. I don't want to make eye contact. Doesn't that make me an easy target though? How have I never thought of that? If I can't see them coming, they have the upper hand. They can strike first.
Looking up in the direction I hear the steps coming from, I see a man in black joggers and a black zip up hoodie.
He has his hands in his pockets and he's looking down at his feet as he walks.
He looks unthreatening like he isn't paying attention, but I get a twinge of.
..not fear...but...readiness. My body is poised and ready for action.
My brain is running through simulations.
What is my brain not doing? Panicking. My brain is not panicking.
I have such clarity. What is this familiar feeling?
It's volleyball. This feeling is volleyball.
I'm in my element in this desolate street with this stranger.
I'm confident and I am ready for anything.
I turn my gaze away from the stranger because I don't want to be the creep who can't stop staring at the innocent bystander.
His steps slow and he says, "Hey, you okay?"
Turning to look back at him, I see that he's stopped a few feet away from me. He's looking at me with concern etched on his face.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Thanks. I'm just waiting for my ride. It'll be here any minute."
"You know, this isn't the best neighborhood to be hanging out in at this time of night."
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I won't be here long enough to get up to any trouble. Like I said, my ride will be here any minute. They're just around the corner."
I look down to my phone at the open Uber app to see if I'm telling this guy the truth when I hear him move.
The stranger scrapes the sidewalk with his shoes as he lunges for me.
I attempt a sidestep, but I'm not quick enough and he's able to cover my mouth and get an arm around my chest. Instinctively, I shrink in on myself, folding my shoulders inward, making my body smaller and his grip looser. I drop to the ground, wrapping both legs around one of the newly dubbed dick-stain strangers’ legs.
I then wrap both of my arms around his other leg hanging on for dear life as he reaches down and grips me around the waist, trying to pull me up off the ground.
He can't. He's at an awkward angle and using only two arms while I'm using the full strength of my entire body braced against the ground.
All I have to do is hang on until my ride gets here and I can scream for them to call the police.
That's not all I want to do though. I want to hurt this shit-rolling dung beetle.
I scrap the risk vs. benefits analyses that I know I should conduct before making a move on this bargain bin villain and I just react.
I lean my head in toward the meatiest part of his calf while he continues to focus on pulling me up and I bite, HARD.
He cries out in pain and attempts to take a step, but I still have him by the legs, so he stumbles.
I bite him again and this time, I feel the skin burst beneath the thin material of his joggers.
He cries out again, only this time it's shrill.
That's right, asshole. You fucked around and now, you're finding out.
He falls backwards onto his ass and reaches for the leg that I'm still gripping with every bit of upper body strength that I have left. It's then that I hear a woman yelling.
"Hey! What's going on?"
"Call the police! This man attacked me!"
The low budget Captain Hook is cussing to himself, and it sounds like he's crying.
Keep crying you piece of shit. I'm no Tiger Lily.
I'm Peter Fucking Pan! I hear the woman on the phone with a dispatcher describing what she sees.
She doesn't seem sure about exactly who the attacker is in this scenario.
"Let me go you fucking bitch!"
"You attacked me, Buffalo Bill! Welcome to the consequences of your actions, asshole!"
He tries to kick, but I won't budge so he repositions, and I anticipate the punch before it can connect.
He swings forward and I jerk my head backward as he hits the concrete where my face had just been.
He squeals in agony, and I loosen my grip when I hear the sound of sirens closing in.
I scramble to my feet and, leaving nothing to chance, I deliver a hook kick to the would-be abductors' temple.
His body falls limply to the ground, and I inhale a deep sigh of relief.
The police encourage me to call a friend to pick me up but there is just no way I'm putting all this on Eli and Vaughn right now. This would ruin their night, and they wouldn't want to let me out of their sight ever again. I suppose I'll have to tell them at some point though.
Once the police have looked at the available evidence, it seems to line up with my story, so they take the generic Bundy into custody. They hope to get surveillance video from some of the nearby businesses to make the case more solid, but for now, I get to go home.
They let me know there may be a trial and, if that happens, I know there'll be no keeping it from Vaughn, Eli, or Adam.
Adam. He is going to lose his mind over this.
I wish there was a way to keep this to myself but if I end up having to testify in court and I wait until that moment to tell him, his reaction will be so much worse.
I'll tell them. I'll tell all of them. I just won't do it tonight.
Using the key Adam left me, I let myself into Eden House.
I'd feel much safer at home with Eli, but I don't want to have to explain why I changed my mind or why my skirt is ripped, and I look like I went nine rounds with a rabid honey badger.
I take a quick shower and climb into bed.
I worry that the events from the night will make it impossible to sleep but the last thing I remember is laying my head on the pillow before being blanketed with a perfect and quiet peace.