Chapter 10

I sat down on the couch with a dramatic flop. *FLOP* Erik awkwardly stood at the other end of the sofa. Erik awkwardly stood at the other end of the sofa. He looked as though he were at a lost as to what to do. I looked at him, my expression questioning. Dude... WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING?

"I won't bite (probably), you know," I remarked gesturing for him to sit down. Erik sat down slowly, looking as though he was waiting to be told he was naughty. No Erik! Bad dog! Get off the couch! I sat a little closer. I had finally mustered the courage to ask the question that had been burning inside me.

"Erik, what do you think of me?" I murmured softly. He looked at me as though I had asked the stupidest question in the world.

"You are amazing. You are absolutely beautiful. Morgan, you have the voice and the face of an angel. You deserve better than this. You deserve better than Erik." The words poured from Erik's lips as though he had no control over them. He looked away from me, ashamed. WAIT! Keep telling me I'm pretty!

"Do you know what I think of you Erik?" I whispered. He looked at me and I knew his answer before he said it.

"That Erik is a monster. No. You're not. He has held you prisoner. I don't have anywhere to go. And tonight… Erik hurt you Do I look like a sissy?," he forced out the last three words.

I wanted to tell Erik that he had not hurt me. I was a back spot on my cheer squad. It was my job to keep the flyer off the ground, even if it meant throwing myself underneath her. I get sat on quite regularly. I was used to taking a beating, but I decided it would take too much time to explain what cheer-leading was.

"No, I don't think you're a monster Erik," Maybe I'm brainless maybe I'm wise, but you got me seeing through different eyes. I whispered, "You have been so kind to me. I feel like I can be myself around you. When I'm with you, I don't feel like a freak." Yeah I'm kinda odd. I talk with "big words" or that's what I've been told and I talk kinda formal. (most of the time) I watched Erik's eyes grow large as I described how I felt towards him.

I reached up and let my fingers run the length of his jaw. "Goodnight Erik."