*Busts through the door* I'M BACK! Hi everyone! I am beyond thrilled to be back and updating again! Can you all ever forgive me for leaving? What do you think lies ahead for Kristen and Erik? I really hope all enjoy this next installment!
Chapter 26
After Erik was ripped from my arms, everything that happened was a blur. The next I remember was waking up tangled in the sheets of my bed, covered in a cold sweat with tears falling from my eyes. My hair was plastered to my sticky cheek. My mouth was dry and my throat burned and ached. I felt that my hand was tucked under the pillow, gripping Erik's mask. I pulled it out and stared at its silhouette through the darkness. Anxiety formed a gripping, painful knot in my stomach. Worries for Erik sent my mind spinning and my stomach churning. I certainly didn't have enough money to bail him out and I doubted no matter how I begged, the charges against Erik would not be dropped.
I tossed and turned for hours as I thought about him somewhere in town, locked up in a cell. Hopefully he was having a better time sleeping than I was. But knowing my poor man he probably wasn't. The nights events played over and over again in my mind, as if it were a movie. Erik's cries echoed in my head as if I were hearing them for the first time. I desperately hoped he was sleeping better than I. The image of his teary eyes would appear every time I closed my own.
Finally, the first pale lights of dawn broke mercilessly ending my miserable night. I squinted against the sunlight and heaved a sigh. The clock read 6:35 and I figured I had nothing better to do but get up and shower. As I rose, I caught a flash near my hand. Astonished, the mysterious ring from last night was still on my finger. I could have sworn that I had made that part up. Just a fantasy, something that I hoped would happen. No...no I was getting ahead of myself. There was no telling what Erik's intention behind the ring meant. I could not be jumping to conclusions. I'd have to let Erik explain it, when he wanted. I knew this was a ring in his possession and I would continue to wear it. At least I had some things of his with me.
I pulled myself out of bed and I felt the pressure of my troubles fall on my shoulders. Even the warmest shower my tap could produce couldn't make me feel any less numb with worry. I had been informed last night that the run of shows had been cancelled and the cast was being given a few days off school to recover. I didn't have a care to what I would wear, so I stepped out of the bathroom in black sweatpants and a white t-shirt. My unbrushed hair was thrown up in a ratty bun. I groaned when I saw my pale face and dark circles under my eyes. My looks fit my mood. I didn't even have an idea of what I wanted to do today. One thing was sure: If at all possible, I would try and check up on Erik. Maybe Mrs. Andrews would be in want of company. It had been such a long time since my last visit. I slipped Erik's mask into my purse, just in case he might want it to be kept at his house or wanted something else done with it.
I slipped into my mom's room. She was asleep, but worry lines marked her face as she grimaced.
"Momma?" I gently shook her shoulder.
She stirred a bit and gave a weak smile "Morning sweetheart. How are you?"
I ignored her question. I don't know how I felt. I didn't want to think about me. I just wanted to see Erik. "I'm going to see Mrs. Andrews and then Erik, if it's possible. I haven't spoken to her in a while and I want to see how she is. Do you need me to pick up something for breakfast."
Mom sat up, shaking her head. "No, you do want what you need to do. I can manage."
"It's settled then." I nodded. "I'll try not be gone too long. I love you." Gathering my purse, I started towards her bedroom door.
"Kirsten?" My mom's voice made me turn.
"Just be careful. I know this is hard for you, but try to be patient and kind. And I love you more."
I nodded, my smile wobbling with tears. "I love him, Mom. There will never be anyone else."
"I know that. And I believe that you love him. I will be honest you though, it wasn't your smartest decision to keep leading both men on." She gave a slight frown.
"I agree. It all ends today. Erik's it. He's all I need in this life. And I want him to be happy and safe. He's had such a difficult life. I don't want him to hurt anymore." Cold tears rimmed my eyes.
"And he won't when this is over, honey. We have to believe that something good will come out of this. If anything, you both will learn how to be a couple and how to love each other. You have to be there for him." Now Mom teared up. "Your father and I never learned that. You have that chance now."
I ran over and hugged her. "You don't believe what people were saying, right? That he's a monster?"
She picked up my hand. "No, sweetie. I don't think that. Yes, he has made some bad choices. But that doesn't reflect on the man he is and I'm sure it doesn't make you love him any less."
"You're right." I said firmly, already exhausted from my crying. "I'm going to head over."
"Good luck, Kirsten. Take your time, ok? Be careful." My urged.
I kissed her cheek. "I will."
As I took the familiar roads to Erik's home, I noticed my cell phone was still sitting in the cup holder nearest to the steering wheel. I picked it up and saw that I had received 50 text messages and missed 20 calls, and all of those callers left voicemails. I groaned, no even wanting to look through them. I gingerly set my phone in my purse and concentrated on the drive. It was crazy to think only a few short months I had stood on that familiar porch, ringing the same doorbell nervously waiting meet my new vocal coach. Here I was now, knowing that the man I loved wasn't waiting on the other side of the door.
Mrs. Andrews answered the door, her long gray hair tied in plait down her back and still wearing her dressing robe. She was almost in tears.
"My child..." Her voice was soft and weepy. She hugged me right there on the step. "I was hoping you'd come."
"I'm sorry to come by unannounced. I didn't know the home number, I only have Erik's personal cell." I said, wiping my own tears away.
She pulled me inside with a firm hand, holding on to me as I if I were going to disappear into thin air. "I've missed you so."
"I'm sorry I've been away. The musical was time consuming, but I was being so foolish about Rory and Erik I just had to cut ties. I thought it would make things easier but it only made it worse." I spoke as she led me to the kitchen. I plopped down in a wooden chair. "If I hadn't been so stupid none of this would have happened."
"Nonsense, Kirsten." bustled around the stove, fixing a pot of tea. "Erik had his own hand in it all. I don't agree with what he did, but I'm glad he's found someone he loves." She smiled to me.
"Have you spoken with him?" I asked eagerly.
The elderly woman shook her head. "I have not."
"Do you think I would be able to go by the station?"
"I don't see why not, dear. Have you had any breakfast?"
"No.." I told her. "I'm not hungry. I didn't even sleep last night."
"Neither did I, sweet girl. Seems like both of us are worried sick." She set a tea cup before me, filled it, and took a seat across from me.
I took a sip, the warmth slowly unwinding a small amount of my nerves. took me hand. "How are you doing, love?"
I sighed at the weight of her question. "I'll be better if and when I see Erik. For right now, I'm just anxious for him. Because of all this I feel so protective of him. I don't want anyone hurting him anymore."
She smiled sadly. "I know why you feel like that. You forget, Kirsten, that Erik is a grown man. He will be able to take care of himself. You just have to be his side and support him."
"You're right." I smiled, feeling somewhat better. I picked up my bag which sat at my feet and pulled his mask from it.
"Erik's mask came off in last night's mess. The police made me keep it. Should I give it to you? Or should I ask Erik to see what I should do?" I pushed it across the table.
She skimmed her fingers tenderly across the white fabric. "See what he wants. He has a few others upstairs in his room, but this is his favorite."
"Sounds like a plan. And how are you doing?" I asked.
"I'm holding up." She swallowed. "It's hard. Our life was so quiet until you came around. I don't think you'll ever know how happy your presence makes him..and me." grinned.
"I love being here. This house is my home away from home." I looked around. "It was like that since the second I walked through the door."
"You will always have a home here." She insisted. "Erik and I love you. You are our family too. Always remember that."
I clung to the hand she offered. "I'll never forget it."
After finishing tea, I picked my phone out of my purse. I skimmed through the texts and voicemails and was astonished at what I found. Message after message was filled with threats and accusations. I was called a tramp, a whore, brainwashed and a fake by my fellow students. A few of the voicemails were newspapers or news stations trying to reach me for a statement. One or two were from Maggie, her watery, trembling voice asking how I was doing and saying that she was here for me. Everything hit me like a ton of bricks. I decided the best thing I could do was give it to police and have them deal with.
"Umm.. thank you for sitting with me this morning. I'm going to try the police station. I've got some nasty things left on my cell phone and hopefully they can help me."
The woman frowned. "Shame on them! If there is anything I can do, please be sure to let me know."
"I will." I promised. With one final hug, I was back on the road.
As I drove back through town, I gave my best friend a call.
"Kirsten?!" A panicked voice greeted me.
"Hey there girl." I answered, trying not to sound too melancholy.
"How are you? Last night was a nightmare! Oooh I could just strangle those stupid, ignorant.." My feisty friend was clearly irritated.
I smiled a bit upon hearing her hotheadedness "I know, I know." I'm not great, but better than last night."
"How's Erik?"
"I don't know, but I'm going to see him now." I told her as I turned into the town square.
"They're letting you see him?" She questioned.
"I certainly hope so." I bit my lip in nervousness.
"That's it girl! Fight for your man." Maggie spoke with a confidence I did not posses.
"Hey, listen I'm almost here. I'm going to turn in my phone to the police. I got some crap from a lot of people. So if you want to reach me just use the home number, ok?"
"Are you kidding?!" She shrieked. "People hating on my BF? Oh heck no!" Mags sounded livid.
"Stay with me here, chica." I tried to reel her back in. "I really don't care about it. The only thing I'm worried about is my Erik. Right now, nothing else matters."
"You're so right." She sounded calmer from the other end. "Give him a hug for me, ok?"
"Roger that." I smiled. "I love you."
"I got your back, sister. Always will. Love ya too." I could tell she was smiling.
"I appreciate that. Call me later if you want."
"Ok girl, good luck. Got get 'em!" The line clicked dead.
I laughed to myself, and the sound pierced my gloomy mood. I couldn't remember the last time I had that. Nerves overtook me again when I parked and got out of my precious blue bug.
"Just go in there and kick butt." I muttered myself in a lame excuse for a pep talk.
At the front desk sat a young man I knew quite well. Jackson Reid was a few years older than me and participated in school plays and drama club at school. He was handsome enough, with dark hair and even darker eyes. After graduation he went straight to the police force. Maybe he wouldn't give me a hard time.
"Hi Jackson." I tried to sport a confident smile.
"Hey Kirsten." He gave a brilliantly white grin. He lowered his voice and asked carefully, "How are you doing?"
I groaned. "Does everyone know?"
Jackson grimaced. "The whole town was there. And word spreads fast around here."
"No kidding." I pulled out my phone. "I got a lot of threatening messages last night and I only saw them and our ago. Can someone take a look?"
"Sure thing." He took it from me. "I hand this over to Sheriff Dotson. I'm sure he'll straighten this all out. And listen, we didn't mean to make you so squad felt terrible about how it all went down. We should have been more sensitive."
"Thanks Jackson. That's kind of you. But whats done is done. Is there any way I can see Mr. Donovan?"
He nodded. "The Sheriff said if you came by we'd let you talk. I'll have Ian go get him for you." He gestured to one of the officers behind him, who nodded curtly. "If you'll have a seat."
I did as he asked, breathing a sigh of relief. I would see him in a few short moments! Within a few minutes the officer came back and nudged Jackson. He stood and said,
"Kirsten, if you'll follow me. I had Ian put him in one of our interrogation rooms so that you'll have some privacy. Mr. Donovan is unchained too, so that'll be more comfortable for you." He spoke as we walked.
"Thank you, I'm really grateful. And please tell the Sheriff how much I appreciate this." I gave him a hug at the door.
"Of course. Enjoy your visit." He smiled sincerely.
I took a deep breath and reached for the medal door handle with a trembling hand. I as stepped inside, Erik's head jerked up in surprise.
"Kirsten..." His voice was barely audible.
"Hello Erik." My voice wavered. We rushed to each other and he caught me in the arms I had missed so much.
I felt him sigh when he held me. "They told me I had a visitor...but I assumed it was a lawyer or someone...I didn't think you would come.
I looked up to his towering form. "You didn't think I'd come? Of course I would. Erik, I wanted to be right here since they took you away." Tears pricked my eyes. "I haven't stopped crying or worrying since that moment."
"Kirsten, honey I'm right here." He whispered, his malformed lips brushing my ear. "I'm right here and I'm not letting you go, not ever." I could feel his tears trickling into my hair. "I love you.
"I love you too." I whimpered. "I love you so much." The tears started to fall.
He held me and rocked me, as if I were a child. "Sssshhhh.
After a few moments there, I broke our crushing embrace to reach my hands to cup his face. "How are you?"
"To say I'm fine would be lie." He said darkly. "I'm scared, but darling, you don't need to worry about me."
I stroked his face, finally getting my emotions under control. We just looked at each other in silence, taking it all in. I gave him a small smile, which he returned with a little chuckle.
"You're perfect." I said softly, as though the atmosphere around us would shatter.
"I'm nowhere near perfect, but I've learned to never argue with a woman." Erik's smiled widened.
"Good idea." I stretched on my my tip toes to kiss him. He returned my kiss with a fierceness, his arms winding around me and he lifted me right off the ground. In that moment, I swear I would melt.
"I've waited so long for that." He breathed heavily, setting me down.
"Me too." I was surprised I could even form words because my head was whirling.
He released me, and pulled out a chair "You should sit, love. We have things we need to discuss."
So sorry for the abrupt ending, it just felt right. This is my far the longest and fastest chapter I've EVER written. And it was such a joy to write and bring these characters back into my life. Hope you all enjoyed! PLEASE REVIEW AND SEND ME FEEDBACK PLEASE! I desperately want to know what ya'll think. Once more I must apologize for my horrid hiatus. I LOVE YOU ALL MWAH.