Part 8/ Horror.

"No,wait. Don't go in there..."

"I have to. It's the only way."

"Please..."

I look to my left slightly and roll my eyes to a point where i think i see my frontal lobe.

I look back at the horror movie we've been watching for the past hour,correction- I have been watching,and Lilly and Uriah have been making out through.

I lift my head off my pillow and throw it at them,hitting them both on their face,and causing them to pull away.

"Have you no shame? That man is getting murdered,while your hand is down her pants!"

They chuckle as they sit up after I turn on the light,they glare at me.

"Wait,the movie's over?" Lilly asks,adjusting her bra...

"Yes you horn dogs. The guy died." I pick up the empty bowls that previously contained chips and popcorn,putting them in the kitchen sink.

"Buzzkill." Uriah mutters as I stick my tongue out at him.

"So,how is it living with Stefan? Do you miss me?" Lilly asks putting glasses in the sink.

"A little. On the bright side,there is less hair everywhere. And no one is having sex in my shower."

She gasps as she hits my arm "You know about that?"

"Babe,the whole building knows about that."

"Besides,how did you accomplish that. I wanted to try It once. Didn't even get started.Never happening again."

She laughs "You just haven't found the right person. Besides,what happened."

"It's better I didn't. I could have hit my head against the shampoo shelf,and Travis couldn't have hold me,I would have slipped and almost cracked my head on a floor tile."

"Oh yeah,you've mentioned that." Uriah says casually.

"Travis? Seriously? The only thing smaller than his brain was his penis.I thought you didn't hook up with him."Lilly says as I laugh.

"I didn't.He was cute. Just a summer fling." I shrug,washing the dishes as Lilly dries them.

We hear the front door open and close,forgetting that someone was missing.

"Stefan's here." Lilly remarks.

"I hope you're hungry. I left you some-..."

"O my God!" Lilly shouts,causing me to look up.

It's Stefan,but It isn't Stefan.

He's barely walking,that's why Uriah runs to his side,helping him sit down on the sofa.

I run over too,grabbing the sides of his face,I scan it quickly.

His face is bruised in more places than one,a black eye, a cut eyebrow and lip.

"Stefan,are you okay? What the hell happened?!" I shout as he lies his head down.

"Who did this to you?!" Lilly asks too.

He groans "I'm fine. Some guys just decided I needed a bigger punishment for what they assume I did to Lydia."

"You couldn't fight back?" Uri asks concerned.

"There was like four of them. Football captain and some other guys."

"Martin?" Lilly says looking at me.

"What the fuck did that dickhead have against you?" Uriah asks.

I scoff "He's the one to judge. He puts roofies in girl's drinks like they're vitamins."

"Not helping Charlie." He says slowly.

"Sorry. Let's get you to a hospital." I stand up and grab his hand.

"I'm fine. I'm not going anywhere." He says pulling back.

"What the fuck do you mean?! You could have a concussion! Or a hemorrhage. Stefan,get up!"

"I said I'm fine! They were kind enough to only mark my face. Since that was the thing that attracted girls. Their words." He groans again.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Lilly and Uriah ask for the hundredth time.

"Its okay guys. Since he won't go,I'll clean him up. I have a kit. He can't say no to me.Go." I say giving them both a hug.

"Call us If anything happens."

I've come to the conclusion that both Uriah and Lilly have become very fond of Stefan.

Uriah had been spending a lot of time with him at work,obviously.

But they have also had a couple of boys nights,having their own inside jokes and stories.

But what surprises me was Lilly,who likes him a lot. After offering to help her with her homework,they have coffee together sometimes at the diner while I'm working.

So it's really heartwarming to know that they care about him.

"I can't say no to you?" He asks raising his head a little.

I roll my eyes and walk i to the bathroom to get the first aid kit in the cabinet under the sink.

I sit down next to him,and think for a couple of minutes as how I'm gonna clean his face.

I can't straddle his lap.

"Stefan? Could you lay your head on my lap please?" I ask.

"Charlie,you don't have to do-..."

"Lie down!" I say more insistingly,and he obliges.

I start off slow,putting antiseptic on his cuts,causing him to hiss from the burn.

I put some bandages over those,so he doesn't touch them.

I put eye drops i his eye,and disinfect the are around his eye,before putting a ice pack on it.

"You're good." I say and he moves so I can get up,laying his head down afterward.

"You're gonna eat something,take some painkillers,and get some sleep. I'll tell Uri to call your boss and say that you can't come in tomorrow because...-"

"I'm still going to work tomorrow." He say das I widen my eyes at him.

"Yeah,you definitely have a concussion if you think I'm letting that happen." I say crossing my arms.

"If I don't show up to class or work,they win. That means I feel ashamed for something I didn't do. So I'm going. Weather you like it or not."

I look at him for a couple of minutes as his eyes are closed and holds the ice pack against his face.

"You're still taking your painkillers. And I'm still getting revenge on those dickheads."

"Fine." He says with a small smile.

"You can sleep in my bed tonight. I'll take the couch."

"I don't need your pity Charlie. I'm fine." He says as I frown.

"I'm just trying to be nice you ass." I say as his lip twitches again.

"Thanks."

"Sure."

"I've never had a friend like you. I guess I'm luckier that I think." He says as I help him to my bed.

"Knock on wood." I say as he chuckles.

Later that week, somehow Martin and his other friends ate some weed brownies,and were suspended from the team for three months,making them miss their big thanksgiving game.

Also,somehow,hair removal ended up in their shampoos.

Strange.

***

"Hey,I didn't hear you come in." I yawn and rub the sleep from my eyes because of my afternoon nap.

"Hi. I didn't wanna wake you up. How was your day?" He asks picking up his pens and papers from the sofa.

"Okay. I have some studying to do. I have a virology test Friday." I sit down next to him,and bring my knees to my chest.

"Do you need help?" He asks shading...a table on his notebook.

"No,I know most of the stuff since i pay attention in class and from my notes.

Just have to go over it again." I turn by head and see a couple of bags on the kitchen counter "What are those?"

He looks over "I bought some groceries. You didn't have any coco puffs." He says as I smile.

"Thanks. You still owe me a new pot though. That was my good one." I remind him as he smiles.

Let's just say Stefan's attempt to make chicken,was unsuccessful.

I have a hole through my favorite dish,and a poor chicken was cremated in my oven.

"Whatcha doing?" I ask leaning over his shoulder and look at what he's drawing.

"My professor is having us draw something simple,a table. We have to heavily detail it,and then build it in class. And I can't fuck up."

"Sorry,I won't bother you." I try to get up but he grabs my hand.

"You're never a burden Charlie." He says with a smile "Besides,I'm finished. I wanna go for a run."

"Isn't it gonna get dark now,and cold." I look at my watch.

"I'll be fine. I'll give you some time to study. Being poor is getting me fat." He says jokingly.

"You look fine to me..." I mumble under my breath as I turn on the TV.

***

I can't breathe.

I can't move.

I look up and see Stefan,he's smiling.

I frown and look around to see what he's smiling at,but realize It's me.

I'm laying down in bed,and he's on top of me.

He's holding my hands down...

I struggle against him but realize that he's holding my whole body down.

I struggle and scream but he doesn't let me go,keeping me from moving.

I scream again and again,and all I get from him is a sadistic smile.

"Stefan please! Please!" I scream again and again,over and over.

"Shh,Charlie. Relax." He says through his teeth,the room getting darker and darker until all I can feel is pressure.

I open my eyes again and see Stefan on top of me again.

I scream again and push his chest,trying to get him off me.

"Stop! Get off me!" I scream again and again.

"Charlie,what.." He let's go of me at once and backs away.

"You feel asleep on the couch,I was just..."

"Please get out!" I scream at him as I sit up straight and pull my knees to my chest.

He closes the door behind him,leaving me alone,breathing in and out,trying to calm down.

Bad dream. Horrible dream.

They say that dreams are your subconscious's thoughts.

So, am I scared of Stefan?

Not in the flesh,but I've always been...cautious.

Never getting to close,closing my bedroom door when I sleep.

That night when I slept on the sofa,I barely got any sleep,I was...scared.

But maybe I shouldn't be,he certainly doesn't deserve to feel the way i just probably made him feel.

I wipe the sweat off my forehead and get up,to walk to the door.

I crack it open slightly,and see him sited on the couch.

He's hunched over,elbows on knees as his face is in his hands.

"Fuck...fuck!" He mutters over and over again,as I feel horrible.

I close the door and lay back down,hugging the pillow to my chest and think.

How can I know for sure?

How can I reassure everyone and myself?

Or at least,prove that everyone is right...

***

I gather all the courage and unlock my bedroom door,and walk inside the living room.

But,there's no one here. He must have left early.

I don't blame him. I would feel the same way.

For the second time today I gather courage and pick up my phone and dial a number.

It rings for a couple of seconds ,and then I hear a voice.

"Hello?"

I clear my throat "Hi uncle Fitz. It's Charlie...Reynolds."

"Charlie? Hey kiddo! How have you been?" I can feel his smile over the phone.

"I'm good. How have you been?"

"I'm great. I have a son." He says as I smile.

"I heard. Congratulations."

"Thanks kiddo. So,what can I do for you?" He asks.

"Um...I need a favor. I was hoping you could get me a copy of a police file,which may or may not be classified." I mutter.

"Sure kid. Name?" He says as I hear him taping keys.

"Stefan Finn." I say and wait for a couple of minutes.

"Yeah. Got it. It's classified,but there's no problem for me. Text me your email,and I'll send it from an account that can't be traced." He says as I sigh in relief.

"Okay. Thank you so much uncle Fitz."

"No problem sweetie. "

"And uh...could you maybe keep this between us. I don't want dad to know."

"Sure.You should come over someday,I miss you kid." He says as I smile.

"I will. Say hi to Cara for me." I say before hanging up.

After a couple of minutes,I start cleaning the kitchen and the other rooms since it's my day off and have classes in the afternoon,while waiting for the email.

Eventually,I hear a ping on my laptop and forger everything I was about to do.

Okay.Let's do this.