Chapter 22

She ran down the boardwalk, aiming to put as much space as possible between her and the girl who asked too many questions. Her lungs burned, and her legs protested, she wasn't sure how much longer she could run, she ran down onto the beach, diverting under the boardwalk. She found a dark corner, stray beer bottles and cigarette butts littered the sand around her, she kicked at the rubbish clearing a clean space for her to rest, she slumped down in the sand, bringing her knees to her chest, leaning her weight against a wide wooden beam.

She wrapped her arms around her body, bracing herself against the frigid wind that whipped in from the sea, a group of people where walking down the beach, four guys and two girls, they were loud and sounded happy, like life hadn't punched them in the gut repeatedly like it had her. She scrunched her eyes against the wind, one of the girls looked familiar, she studied her closely, it was the girl from the alley, was that her family? They all looked young and strikingly different, close friends she considered family Daisy told herself, but even that was better than being alone.

She felt hot tears stinging at her eyes as she thought about the events that led to her coming here; she'd just finished school for the Christmas holidays, one thing she hated most about school was the holidays, it meant that she spent most of her time at home with her 'family'. She didn't have any friends, everyone thought she was weird because she jumped and flinched at every loud noise, she couldn't stand being in large crowds and found it really hard to speak to people, she was scared she would say something she shouldn't and that would be the end of her. She'd got home that evening from school, only her adoptive brother was at home, she hated him with a passion, he was the reason her life was such a mess. She'd been adopted by his parents when she was 5 years old, her mom and dad had passed away in a freak car accident, leaving her an orphan. She was only in care a few months before the Harrisons made the decision to adopt her, she met her adoptive brother the day they took her home, she was much older than her, he was 12, something about him intimidated her.

After only a few months of her living with her new 'family' she learnt the reason why she felt so intimidated, it all started with just a touch here or a mean insult there, but it wasn't long until he was molesting her at every opportunity he got, he always told her if she told anyone he'd kill her, and something about the way he said made her terrified it was the truth. When she was 10 the molestation turned into rape, every time his parents asked him to babysit, he'd take advantage of being alone with her and rape her repeatedly.

Tonight, was more than she could take, when she'd got home from school, he had been there with three of his friends, she'd gone straight to her room, unwilling to be the sheep in a lion's den. She thought she'd get a break seen as they weren't alone, but she was wrong, very wrong. She'd just gotten out of the shower, she was sitting on her bed in her towel, reading on her kindle, lost in the world of Harry Potter, when her brother came bursting through her bedroom door, she'd jumped up, hugging her towel around her, screaming at him to get out, but he wouldn't listen, instead he'd called his friends to join him. Sobs wracked her body images of the night flashed in her mind, he and his friends took it in turns to rape her, she felt like a chew toy just being passed around a pack of dogs. She'd tried to fight them off, but they'd fought back, being bigger and a lot stronger than her she had no chance. As soon it was over she'd thrown on the closest outfit, stuffed some cash and her card in her pocket and rushed out of the house. The first coach at the station was a coach to Santa Carla, and her she was.

She watched as the girl who'd found her crossed the beach, her arms wrapped around the waist of a guy with platinum blonde hair, even from where she was sitting she could see they were in love, the air around them just seemed to radiate warmth and comfort, she'd never experience those feelings for herself, but she'd read enough books and seen enough movies to see what people portrayed as love. Wiped at her eyes, she was tired of crying, she didn't have the energy, so she tried to take her mind off it by studying the group of strangers playing around in the sand like a group of kids. The girl she knew as Gemma was pretty much attached to the platinum blonde, another couple stood not too far away from them, from where she sat she could see the women was pretty, she had long dark straight hair, tanned skin and a slim figure, the guy she was standing close to had long wavy black hair, his features seemed to be of native American decent, he was tall and well built, but they seemed to just fit together. Then there were the other two guys, one was shorter, slim with curly blonde hair and a cheeky smile, finally her eyes wandered to the last of the group, he was tall, athletically build with wild blonde hair, he had a breath-taking smile, seeming to be the joker of the group as he danced around the others, roughhousing with the shorter curly haired guy.

She wondered what time it was, it must be getting late, the crowds on the boardwalk from what she could hear seemed to be thinning out. She sighed heavily, her stomach groaning, she hadn't eaten since lunch, all the running had worn her down and she longed for a something warm and comforting, even if it was just a hot drink. She was fantasizing about a greasy pizza and coke when she froze, the girl from before, Gemma she was staring straight at her, "Shit" she hissed to herself, she quickly hauled herself up off the floor and walked hastily back towards the boardwalk,

"Hey, hey Daisy, wait, hey!" she heard the girl calling from behind her, she debated running but she really did have zero energy, she stopped walking, her legs already aching from the few steps she'd taken and turned to face the girl who seemed to be insistent on helping her.

"Hey Daisy, I thought it was you." Gemma smiled, panting a little as she tried to catch her breath.

"Yeah, what do you want?" Daisy asked icily.

"I told you, I wanna help you. You look like you could do with some help." Gemma replied motherly.

"Why do you care?" Daisy pouted, crossing her arms across her chest, feeling self-conscious as she noticed the other's Gemma was with were now staring over at her.

"See those guys over there?" Gemma asked her, gesturing towards the now staring strangers.

"Mmhmm." Daisy answered,

"Well I was in trouble not so long ago, I needed help and those guys literally saved my life, if I didn't have them I wouldn't be here right now, and you look like you are in trouble, and maybe you need someone just like I did, so that's what I'm offering, I'm offering to help you." She explained.

"Maybe I'm not worth saving." Daisy whispered sadly.

Gemma dared to step closer to her, gently stroking her arm making Daisy flinch, physical contact always made her nervous, even though she could tell this girl meant her no harm she couldn't stop her body from reacting.

"I'm sorry, did I scare you? I just, I just know how you are feeling right now okay? I felt that way too, but luckily I had someone to tell me I was worth it." Gemma told her,

"You mean that blonde guy you were with?" Daisy inquired.

"Yes." Gemma affirmed, her face lighting up, "His names David, he is my absolute world." She gushed.

Daisy smiled slightly, she knew she was right about the love she saw between the two, but she couldn't help but feel alone and unloved, like she really did have nothing.

"Daisy, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do, I'd offer you a place to say tonight but something tells me you won't except, but I want to help you in some way. Are you hungry? Do you have money?"

"I uh… I have enough money to probably rent a room in a crappy motel, or enough to eat, not both." She shrugged.

Gemma rummaged around in her pocket, pulling out a $100, she held out the money to Daisy, "take it." Gemma told her with authority.

"I can't take your money, you don't even know me, plus I can't pay you back." she whispered.

"I'm not asking you to pay me back, I don't know you now, but I want to know you, I think we'll be good friends." She shrugged,

"I could do with a friend." She mumbled,

"So, you now have me, take the money Daisy, get a motel room and something to eat, there's a motel just up the boardwalk, it's decent enough, if you want I can meet you tomorrow just give me a time and a place, we can talk." Gemma offered.

Daisy reluctantly took the money, folding it neatly and placing it in her pocket, "Thank you I really appreciate it, I'd like to talk, shall we meet at the diner, say 1pm tomorrow?" she suggested.

"Sure Daisy, I'll be there. Take care of yourself okay? Make sure you put that money to good use. Night." Gemma smiled, waving as she turned to walk back over to her family.

"Night." Daisy uttered, watching as Gemma walked back into the guy she knew was now called David's arms, feeling her heart clench as she watched them embrace, him kissing her lovingly on the cheek. She sighed, turning to make her way over to any place she could get a hot meal when she noticed the guy with wild blonde hair looking her way, he looked to be considering her, his gaze travelling over her body, she felt naked under his stare, a shiver ran down her spine as she frowned, hoping he noticed her discomfort and continued on her way.