Like I Would

I wake up to a sleeping Brian, with his arms wrapped around me. His eyes slowly open and he gives me a small smile.

"Hi, Tara."

"Hi, Brian." His smile fades away.

"What time are you leaving today?" I look at the clock and it says 9:26.

"Around 2:00." He nods, but goes silent.

"What's your problem with Luke?" I ask curiously.

"I told you, I don't trust him. I don't want you to go because he might try to touch you or something."

"Brian, I appreciate that you don't want me to get hurt, but I can handle myself, okay?"

"Fine."

"Even if he tries to come onto me, I can just tell him I don't feel that way. No big deal."

"Yeah, true." He gives me a quick peck before letting me pick my clothes up and go back to my room through the bathroom.

So convenient.

I leave to get breakfast (leftovers) and watch TV.

~

My dad drove me to the movie theater and before I got out the car, he said, "If he tries anything kick him in the balls!" It made me laugh so hard, I don't even know why. Now I'm walking to the front of the theater, waving at Luke when I see him.

"Hey Tara."

"Hey!" He gives me a hug. We get our tickets before walking inside. Our tickets are checked and he slows his walking down.

"Do you want popcorn?"

"No, thanks."

"Okay."

We make our way inside the theater and sit all the way in the back. I check my phone before the movie starts and I have a missed call from Brian. I roll my eyes as the movie starts, making me put my phone away. Luke puts a hand on my thigh and my heartbeat speeds up.

"You sure you don't want anything? It's on me."

"I'm fine." He pulls his hand away and his attention is put towards the movie.

That was f****** close. Take that, Brian.

After a while, he looks at me.

"Tara," he whispers. I notice that he puts his hand back on my thigh. He ignores me telling him to stop and starts to choke me.

I raise my hand and without any second thought, I strike at his face and get out of the theater as fast as I can while he clutches at his reddened cheek. I flee to the restroom, trying to call my mom with shaky hands. I walk inside of a stall, locking it before my legs pretty much give up on me and hot streaks of tears stream down my face. Brian was right. Brian was f****** right.

"Hello?"

"Mom, I need you to pick me up," I say with a trembling voice, still scratchy from when he choked me.

"Baby? what happened?"

"Why didn't I just listen? He told me not to go alone, but I didn't listen."

"Honey, you need to tell me what happened."

"Please don't be mad at me..."

"I won't be, honey. I'm worried, just tell me."

"Luke..."

"What happened to him?"

"He tried to touch me... And when I made a noise, he choked me..."

"My baby... That little batstard- are you with him right now?"

"No."

"Go somewhere safe. I'm on my way right now. And don't hang up."

"I'm in the restroom."

"Good. How did you get away?"

"I hit him as hard as I could."

"So what were you saying about not listening to someone?"

"Brian... He told me not to go with him and I just thought he didn't want me to go for some childish reason. But he was just trying to make sure I was safe. And he wasn't here to protect me because I wouldn't let him. He even called me before the movie probably to make sure I'm fine, but I ignored him." Every time I think about him, I cry even harder.

"Tara, you don't need to beat yourself up over this. I get that you feel guilty, but take it easy, okay?"

"Okay."

"What did Brian say?"

"He said that he didn't trust him and he might try to do something. And I didn't believe him. If I ever told him that this happened, he'd be mad and I don't want him to be."

"Seems like he actually cares about you."

"I know what you're trying to say, Mom, but he's still just a player, even when he seems to give a crap every now and then."

"Everyone deserves a chance." There's what feels like an eternity of silence.

"I'm here," she says, before hanging up. After a little while I hear footsteps.

"Tara?"

"Mom." I open the stall door, immediately rushing toward her and hug her tightly.

"I'm so glad you're okay." She wipes my tears as she leads me outside. My eyes widen as I see Brian waiting outside for us.

"Brian." I run to him and wrap my arms around his neck and sobbing more on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

"Your mom had the speaker on her phone." I guess that means he heard everything I said.

"Are you mad?"

"I am. Not at you, I'm pissed that he not only touched you, but he physically hurt you. It's a totally different story than if he had just stopped. I'm happy that you're okay, though." I smile and I'm almost tempted to kiss him.

"I just thought I should let you know," he says. I'm lost in my thoughts as I stare at his lips. I want to kiss them so badly, but Mom's here and she'll think we're dating.

"What the f***?" I jump from the familiarity of the voice. Luke. Brian looks up, furiously. I don't want to let go of him because I know he's going to start something with Luke. I don't want any fighting, I just want him to go away. I let go of him and reach for my mom.

"Don't f****** come near her ever again, you a******."

"And why do you care so much? Is the little slut f****** you? Is that why?" He asks, pushing Brian. Brian subtly runs a hand through his hair before giving Luke a swift punch to the jaw. He stumbles until he falls to the floor and we all get to the car as quickly as possible. Brian sits with me in the backseat, holding me close to him.

"I'm sorry I didn't believe you," I say, my voice still in a whisper.

"It's okay. You didn't know what would happen."

As soon as we get home, my mom helps me out of the car and we walk inside. My dad sees us, greeting our despaired faces and then realizes that something is wrong.

"Why does everyone look so sad?" My mom tells Brian to take me to my room before pulling him to the side and letting us leave to tell him. I walk inside my room.

"Lay down. I'll be back, okay?" I nod my head and he closes the door, letting me get undressed.

Brian POV

I closed the door and walked back to the living room. F***, I wish I was there so I could beat his a** for touching her like that.

He'll never touch her like I would.

Tara's parents look at me and her dad gives me a hug. I don't know why, I'm pretty s****y for not actually doing anything.

"I know you weren't really there, but you did what you could, and I thank you, Brian." He puts his hand on my shoulder as he goes to check on Tara.

Tara POV

After changing into joggers and a hoodie I buried myself under my covers, deleting every trace of Luke. Deleting him off of my social media and most importantly, blocking him. I hear the door open and I peek out of my covers to see who it is. My dad sits at the edge of my bed, silently.

"Come here, Tara," he says, beckoning me with his hand. He wraps his arms around me and kisses my forehead.

"I'm so sorry about what happened, baby. We're going to make sure you never have to see him again." I nod.

"You did the right thing by getting away by all means necessary. If he had the chance to hurt you more, I don't know what I'd do..." His eyes start to tear up.

"Dad, don't cry... You're gonna make me cry so stop. I'm fine now." He smiles and holds me tight, kissing my forehead once more.

"I love you, baby girl."

"I love you too, Dad."

"Get some rest now, okay?" I nod and he leaves my room, closing the door behind himself. I get back under the covers and then I hear my bathroom door open.

"Hi..." Brian says.

"Hi."

"Can I lay down with you?" I slowly nod my head as he gets under the covers with me in a spooning position. He runs his hand up and down my arm.

"I'm sorry, Tara."

"For what?"

"Come here." I turn around and lay my head on his chest.

"I'm sorry that I was an a****** to you ever since we met. I don't think I want to be an a****** to you anymore, though. You've been through enough."

"Thanks. It means a lot." I lean in to plant a kiss on his lips.

"I wanted to do that when you came, today."

"Me too, I just didn't want your mom to see. She already thinks we're a thing waiting to happen." I giggle a bit before yawning.

"I'm gonna take a nap, now, okay?"

"Yeah, it's cool, I'm staying." I close my eyes, giving into the darkness of sleep.