Alyssa-
I had finally arrived in San Diego, my apartment overlooked the ocean. I sat down and took a deep breath, it was quiet and that was okay. I wasn't afraid of someone coming into the room and hitting me, throwing me against the wall. I hugged my body and cried. After a year, four months, and ten days of therapy I felt good enough to live alone without some fear.
"Aly", I looked towards my door and Brie stood there.
I wiped my cheeks and she came over to hug me.
"It's okay, he can't hurt you anymore Alyssa, I promise", she whispered.
"I'm sorry, you're getting married next week and here I am crying, but to ease your worry, these are happy tears", I said, wiping my cheeks.
She smiled.
"It's okay, I'm here whenever you need me, just call", she said.
I nodded and stood.
"I should start fixing this place up", I said.
"Need some help? I could pop open a bottle of wine", she said.
"Sure", I smiled.
"I'll be right back", she said, heading towards the kitchen.
I put a box on my bed and opened it. Folding my clothes as I took it out. I heard a knock at the door.
"I got it, it's just Roman", she said from the living room.
I've only met Roman a handful of times, but I liked him. He was a good guy and never minded that I hung out with them.
"Hey, finally", he said, walking into the room, Brie by his side.
He hugged me. He didn't feel me flinch. It happens every time a man is near me. My therapist said it was a normal reaction and I'll continue to have it till I'm more comfortable with the person.
"I promise you are going to love working at the station and Dean is a really nice guy, a little sarcastic and rude, but once you get to know him, well he just grows on you", he said.
"He's your friend so I trust your word", I said.
He nodded.
"Hungry? I brought food", he said smiling.
I nodded. I had told Brie and Nikki not to tell their boyfriends anything about what happened with Dolph. I didn't want to start my new job with everyone feeling sorry for me. This Dean guy was going to be my new partner, I still haven't met him. Roman said he was on vacation in Ohio. I wouldn't be meeting him till the day of the wedding rehearsals.
"Are Nikki and Seth coming over?", I asked.
"Seth had to work, but Nikki should be over soon", Brie said.
I nodded.
"This apartment is kinda small. Are you sure everything is going to fit? You have a lot of boxes", Roman said, looking around.
Brie and I laughed.
"I'll make it fit and if it doesn't I can leave it in the boxes in storage", I said
He nodded.
Dean-
I was sitting at home watching a game, when my front door opened and Seth walked in. He shut the door behind him and looked around, hands on his hips.
"Dude my girl's coming over, can you at least pick up after yourself", he said, picking up a couple of my shirts and tossing them on me.
"You're messing up my zen", I said.
"Dude, come on, stop sulking", he said.
"I am not, I'm on vacation", I said.
He shook his head.
"Dude she left you, get over it. You told me you were breaking up with her anyway", he said.
"You think I care that she broke up with me? I don't. I'm pissed because Hunter is giving me a new partner. I don't see why I have to lose you to Randy", I said.
"I'm touched, you love me, you really do love me", he said, putting his hand over his heart.
"Randy's so boring", I said.
Seth laughed and tossed a few more of my shirts in my lap.
"Why is all your clothes out here instead of your room?", he asked chuckling.
I shrugged.
"Come on man, Nikki is coming over", he whined.
"Alright, don't go getting your panties in a twist", I said, standing and picking up.
"Why did you tell Roman you were going to Ohio?", he asked, putting his gun in the safe in the hall closet.
"Because he's going to force me to meet this woman and I don't feel like playing nice with the chick", I said.
"Her name's Alyssa and she's not bad or bad to look at, don't tell Nikki I said that", he said.
I snorted. He walked into his room and I heard the shower go on.
"So you are going to wait till you go back to work to meet her?", he asked.
"Nope, Roman's wedding", I said.
"Right, next week", he said.
"You forgot your own future sister in law's wedding. How dare you, I'm telling Nikki", I said.
"Ha", he said, shutting the door to the bathroom.
Alyssa-
After everyone left, I sat in my room and just stared at the wall. We got a lot done, but I still needed a few things. I quickly got up and made sure the door was locked. I looked out the window and then went back to my room, locking my bedroom door. I heard my phone start to ring. I jumped and quickly grabbed it.
"Hello", I said.
"Hey, how's San Diego treating you?", Dwayne asked.
I took a deep breath.
"Pretty good, view from my bedroom window isn't so bad", I said.
"We miss you around here", he said.
"I miss everyone too", I said.
"How are you?", he asked.
"Afraid. I know he doesn't know where I am, but I just can't shake it or him", I said.
"It's gonna take some time, but trust me he can't hurt you anymore. Don't let him keep controlling your life. It's okay to be happy, meet someone new, and have fun, get wasted", he said.
I laughed.
"Well not too wasted", he said.
"Tell Lillian I said hi, maybe you guys can come down some time and visit. Sea World and The Zoo are close by", I said.
"Tempting offers you put on the table, I'll talk to Lillian. I know for sure my kid is gonna want to head down there", he said.
"Good", I said.
"Try to get some sleep Alyssa, please", he said.
"I will", I said.
"Goodnight", he said.
"Night", I softly said.
I hung up with him and set my phone on the night stand. I stood and went through my make up bag, pulling out a bottle of sleeping pills my doctor prescribed to me. I took two and laid down.
"He can't hurt you", I whispered to myself.
I tossed and turned, waiting for the pills to hit the spot.
Dean-
I covered my face with a pillow trying to drown out the moans and groans from Seth's room. He and Nikki were going at it pretty good, at one point I thought their bed was going to break down my wall. I knew Nikki was close because she kept yelling yes yes and screaming. I knew this because this isn't the first time I've heard them, man I missed sex. It got quiet and I took the pillow off of my face.
"Finally", I said loud.
A knock at my door, it opened and Seth walked in, a pillow covering him.
"Hey man, got anymore condoms? I just ran out", he asked, breathing heavy.
"Are you trying to knock her up? You guys have sex like every time she comes over", I said, going through my drawer.
He smirked.
"My girl's very bendy, if you know what I mean", he said, wiggling his brow.
I chuckled and tossed him a few packets. He nodded.
"Colorful", he said, lifting them.
I sent him a nod. He turned, giving me a full view of his ass.
"Dude", I said loud.
He laughed and closed my door. I couldn't take another round of listening to them. I grabbed my sneakers and sweater, putting them on. I knocked once on Seth's door.
"Going for run", I said loud for Seth to hear me.
"Got it", he said back.
I grabbed my beanie off the counter and put it on. Walking out the front door and locking it. I put my earphones on and went for a jog on the beach. After about an hour, I stopped and just walked, watching the waves crash. I looked over to the apartments along the beach.
"Must be nice", I said to myself.
I looked up and I could see a woman sitting down in a chair on her balcony. The only light was from her phone, but I could see her outline. She sent me a wave and I sent one back. I started running again.
Alyssa-
I made a mental note to remind my doctor to make these pills stronger. They weren't working anymore, either that or my body is fighting them. I was playing Candy Crush on my phone when I noticed someone walking on the beach, I froze.
"Dolph", I whispered.
Grabbing my glasses and putting them on, I looked again. No not Dolph, my body relaxed. This guy looked up, I sent a wave and he sent one back. Looks like I wasn't the only one who couldn't sleep. I watched him run until I couldn't see him anymore. I sighed, feeling the effects of the pills. I stood and went to bed.
Dean-
It was almost three am when I got back home. My shirt and sweater soaked in sweat. I grabbed a Gatorade from the fridge and took a long drink. Seth walked in, I was glad he was wearing shorts.
"How was the run? You were gone for about four hours. Where did you go?", he asked.
"Beach", I said.
"You ran all the way to the beach, that's new. Everything okay?", he asked worried.
"I'm fine", I said.
"Dude", he said.
I shrugged.
"I guess, don't you ever feel like you're missing something but you just don't know what it is", I said.
He nodded.
"I did, then I met Nikki. I don't feel like I'm missing anything now", he said.
I took another drink and then licked my lips.
"So you're saying I need a girlfriend?", I asked.
He shook his head.
"You asked if I ever felt that way and I did, then I met Nikki. I never said that was what you were missing", he said.
I nodded.
"But it wouldn't hurt for you to meet someone. Someone you actually want to be with, not like those other girls you've dated", he said.
"They weren't so bad", I said.
"Two of them tried to run you over, another set fire to your clothes, and Renee cheated on you and left you for another guy", he said.
I lifted a finger up.
"Don't forget the girl who trashed my car", I said.
He laughed and leaned against the counter.
"Man, you have bad luck with women", he said.
"Did you ever stop to think that I pick these women so I don't have to stick with them", I said.
"Wow Ambrose", Seth said.
I shrugged.
"Goodnight", Seth said, walking away.