Apollo grabbed her rucksack from the sofa, assuming it was a change of clothes and handed it to her.
"I'm going to get some more pants and then you can go in my room to get dressed." He pulled away from her. "My friend rang me when you were in the bath to invite me for a drink. I don't think you should go out and I don't want to leave you alone. They asked to come here and I wanted to know what you thought about it."
"A drink sounds good right now, how many people?" Ema wanted his warmth again.
"Sixteen people – maybe more if they invite their partners…"
"I'd like that…"
"If you want to get away then just head into my room." He assured her.
"…Alright…"
He went in the room first, taking a pair of skinny jeans from his wardrobe. He quickly left again wanting to let Ema get dressed. He didn't think she realised but he had seen the cuts across her breast bone and the bruising on her shoulders.
"I'm off to the shop to get some beer then." He was grateful he was paid so well now.
"…ok…" he changed into the jeans and put his shirt back then made sure the door was securely locked.
-x-x-
Ema threw herself onto the bed. She wriggled free of the towel and lay there taking in his scent from the pillows. How stupid she felt, she was twenty six and was obsessing over the attorney like some hormonal teen. She turned onto her side, facing the flat screen TV mounted on the wall. His walls, curtains, bed and even his laptop were red. Geez this guy's got a problem. Her mind wondered.
Max had trapped her in the basement of her apartment building and had dumped a rucksack of clothes in front of her the first night. It was dark and damp in there and it sent a shiver down her spine even thinking about it. She hastily got dressed, her long sleeved t-shirt was going to make her sweat but at least it covered her wounds. She hadn't the guts to speak to Lana, she couldn't stand the crying mixed with the shouting at her. She grabbed her cellphone from her lab coat.
Sis, I'm in bad shape but safe. I don't want to go into detail about it but I'm pretty bruised and cut. Didn't run home cause Max knows where you live. Staying with Apollo. Ema xx
She knew Lana would ring Apollo now but at least she hadn't left Lana in the dark.
-x-x-
On the way to the shop Apollo contacted Tom. Tom was told to contact everyone else and let them know of the new plans.
"Good afternoon sexy." The teenage girl behind the counter purred. He was used to her doing that by now.
"Afternoon Jessica, is your mom around?"
"Sure is, she's in the aisle somewhere." She fancied Apollo and was a good friend of Trucy's. Apollo smiled at her before heading into the aisle for beer and pop.
3 crates of beer, 6 boxes of alcopops, 4 litres of cola and lemonade and a bottle of vodka later, Jessica's mom stared at Apollo in disbelief.
"How on earth are you planning on getting all this to your apartment? You don't have a car and there's a lot to carry." She asked.
"Can I borrow one of your plastic crates?" He chuckled. His cellphone shook violently in his pocket.
"Hello?"
"It's Lana. I've got a text from Ema. What happened?"
"Um…It's complicated." The crate was wide, he could just about grab both ends by spreading his arms wide enough. He packed the beer and boxes of alcopops on the left hand side and managed to leave enough space for the bottles of vodka and soda. "Thanks." He smiled at Jessica and her mum. Unbelievably he balanced his cellphone on his shoulder while listening to what Lana said Ema had text her and lifted the plastic crate with little effort.
"How'd you pick up that much in one go?"
"Big surprises come in small packages." He chuckled as he began to explain what had happened to Lana.
-x-x-
Ema picked up the bear in her hands. Why does a guy have a teddy bear? She noticed it was wearing the same suit Apollo wore in court and it was bright red. She caught the tag dangling off it.
Polly, you're a great lawyer. Me and my friends Jessica and Carla brought this for you. Hope you like it! Jess has a crush on you. Lots of love Trucy.
"That's cute." She laid the bear on his pillow, breathing his scent from it once more before going back into the living room. She didn't want to be left alone so she held the pillow on the couch close to her chest and reached for the TV remote.
-x-x-
He lowered the heavy crate to the floor outside his door.
"Take good care of her!" Lana snapped, soon she calmed. "Tell her I'll see her in the morning…"
"I will." He unlocked door and shut his cellphone. Ema jumped in shock as the door swung open, when she saw Apollo's familiar hair she relaxed. "Ema, can you hold the door for me?" She ran up and grabbed the door behind him, giving the chance for him to drag the crate in.
"How much did you buy?"
"Enough."
"And you carried it?" She cried in shock.
"Yep."
"How?"
"I'm stronger than I look." He smiled at her as he took the bottles of soda and vodka from the crate.
There was a few minutes of awkward silence before Ema pulled Apollo towards her and pushed him against the door. He squirmed and tried to get free. She tried to kiss him and he managed to stop her. Her eyes were full of hurt as he guided her back to the couch.
"Why'd you?" Her eyes sparkled with tears.
"You don't want that now. You've been hurt bad; I don't want to hurt you more." It stung Apollo's heart to reject her but he needed her to calm. "By kissing me you'll get hurt more. What if Max finds us?" He hushed her. "I didn't mean to upset you, I'm just trying to stop you from getting hurt alright?"
"…Alright…"
"Oh, Lana told me about the text you sent her, she said she'd see you in the morning." Something dawned on him. "You're not homophobic are you?"
"No why?"
"Two of my friends are gay, they come on to me as a joke quite a lot as well."
-x-x-
The two gay guys – both muscular and smooth talking were the first people to have turned up that night. They were Kevin and Danny – one a science teacher the other a doctor. Danny had been going out with Kevin since he started living in what was effectively a mansion style house that Apollo and his friends lived in. Of course – they spoke science – Ema's language. Next came Tom – he was older than anyone else and had left the house before Danny moved in – around a month after Apollo moved in. Tom was a womaniser while at college and took advantage of the attraction women had to Apollo. He came in with Ellie, she was the latest arriving of his friends in the house while he lived there. A sweet and gentle brunette who had a fierce tongue and was capable at fighting (as was Apollo) she was an actress now. Ellie was Tom's fiancée and she'd had a little bit of a past with the attorney.
All of the sixteen (seventeen counting Apollo) studied different things while at college and the diversity of cultures and race was shocking to Ema. She liked the two guys who were obviously gay. Towards the end of the night when all but Danny and Kevin were left and Apollo was waving Tom and Ellie off, Ema couldn't resist asking the two guys why all the woman stared at Apollo the way she did.
"Why?" Kevin chuckled as he took a swig from the beer. "For the same reason we called him hot stuff as soon as he walked through the door."
"95% of the women Apollo associates himself with have this thing for him." Danny, the blond doctor was a lot more alert than his partner. "I know you do too, just by the way you look at him."
"Dan leave her alone and stop teasing her." Kevin hit him. "I'm not sure, he's one sexy son of a bitch though."
"I heard that!" Apollo called as he tossed the empty bottles and cans in the plastic box.
"I'm not sure what it is, but trust me on this – all women may be attracted to him but looking at him I don't doubt he's loyal."
"…Thanks…"
"Listen honey, there's just something about him that oozes sex appeal, he has no clue what it is either." Danny yawned. "Come on Kev, we should be heading off as well. I've got work tomorrow."
"Sure, see you later hot stuff!" Kevin called to Apollo.
"Bye Kevin, bye Dan."
Ema hadn't touched any of the alcohol all night. Apollo took the last two bottles of alcopops and offered one to Ema.
"Drink up. It might make you feel a little better." Curiously she took a sip from the bottle. "Where'd you want to sleep tonight? You can sleep in my room or the pull out bed…"
"Your room." She replied quickly. "I-I-If that's ok of course."
"That's fine."
She drank half of the bottle before yawning and asking to turn in for the night.
"I know it's stupid but you don't have anything I could wear to bed do you?"
"I might have a t-shirt and some shorts or something for you." He followed her into the bedroom and rooted through his draws and wardrobe. He managed to find something for her and left her to rest.
He set up the pull out bed from the couch and soon settled for the night himself. Something told Apollo that it would be a long night.
