Chapter 7: Because of Me

A swift kick to the face was all it took to make him fall off of me. I quickly pulled my jeans up and tried my best to stand up. My legs were shaking and my body ached but I didn't care. I didn't look to see who had just helped me I just ran. Ran as far and fast as I possibly could.

The woods were so dark and crowded. I made my way through brush and trees hoping to find a road somewhere. I slowed my run into a fast pace walk hoping to catch my breath. The rustle of leaves in the background quickly made me change my mind. I ran once more through the crowded woods trying my best to find an exit. I was stopped by the sight of headlights... It was a road. I hauled ass towards the oncoming lights. I found the road just as the car past. I tried to flag it down but they didn't see me. I felt a hand on my shoulder and immediately screamed.

They spun me around and pulled me into a deep embrace. I pulled back quickly and tried to run away. They again stopped me but this time by there voice. "Peyton... It's okay... I'm here now... no one is going to hurt you." I turned quickly to face him and ran into his open arms and cried. Someone actually heard my call and came to help me. He wrapped his arms tighter around me and just let me cry. He didn't ask me what happened or how I wound up here... he just let me cry.

I pulled away from him a few minutes later and looked up at his concerned face. "Thank you" I whispered as I wiped away my tears. "Don't thank me... You did all the work trying to get me here. You made the call and told me where you were. All I did was get him away from you" I began crying again as he pulled me back into a hug. He held me so tight and so close and I began to feel safe again. Like nothing could touch me.

"Lets get you out of here" He whispered into my hair before we turned around and walked towards his truck.

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While sitting in his truck I racked my brain trying to figure out how I had gotten his number. I don't remember calling him. I sat there in silence and went through the events of the night. And then I remembered.

FLASHBACK

"So are you gonna call me or are you just taking my number because you feel bad for me?" He asked sincerely

"I'm gonna call... see watch" I dialed his number and listened to his phone ring. He opened up the face to show 'Peyton Sawyer' flashing across his screen.

"This doesn't count you know... you actually have to call me after this"

I flashed him a smile before turning around and leaving.

END FLASHBACK

I had called his phone before I left to prove to him that I would call. He probably thinks I'm a baby now, but I don't care. All I cared about was that I was safe at the moment.

It had been silent for a long time. Neither of us saying anything. Him just staring at the road, and me just looking at anything but him. He broke the silence just moments later. "Can I ask you something?" I nodded my head slightly before he spoke again. "How did you get away long enough to call?" I looked at him solemnly before answering "I didn't. When he was dragging me up to the house I opened my phone in my pocket and hit the send button twice. I didn't know it was going to call you... I didn't know who the last person I called was, and I just wanted to get away from him. I'm sorry"

He looked at me oddly and then smiled. "You really don't need to be sorry about calling me. I'm just happy that I was able to get to you in time and get him away from you. I'm glad you're safe" This brought a smile to my face just like every other conversation we have.

Ever had a feeling so deep in your gut in makes your stomach do back flips? That's how I was feeling right now. I hardly knew him but it seems like every time I'm around him I get all jittery and stumble over my words.

He's so cute and has such a genuineness to him that I have never seen in anyone. He helped me even though he didn't have to. He got me away from this horrible person and made me feel safe. Not even my boyfriend has been able to do that.

Nathan was a good guy, he really was, but he never gave me butterflies or made me unable to speak at the meir sight of him.

I was pulled out of my thoughts moments later as we pulled up to his house. I took one look around and freaked as old memories came flooding back to me. I shut my eyes tightly trying to push the thoughts back but it didn't work... it just got worse. I could feel myself starting to cry but I didn't care. I had to get out of here.

I looked at him with my now tear filled eyes. "Can we please leave" I said it barely above a whisper but he heard me. He nodded his head and climbed back into his truck. He sped off as I shut my eyes trying not to look down the road I had been trapped on not so long ago. He placed comforting hand on my shoulder. I flinched slightly at his touch but soon shook it off. He stared at me with worried eyes searching for answers in my eyes. I turned my head and looked out the window avoiding his gaze.

He was facing the road now. The only words spoken being where he was going and how to get there. It felt awkward but I couldn't bring myself to talk. Not about tonights events or any event prior. It was all to hard. No matter what memory I thought about I was always brought back to those 2 months. I wanted so badly to just forget about it, but it was all to hard.

Somehow just sitting here with Lucas made it easier for me to relax. I may not have been completely relaxed but at the moment I was as close as I could get.

I felt my eyes grow heavy as I stared at the long road ahead. I didn't want to go home but I didn't want to stay at his house either so I suggested that we just drive. He agreed and here we are. Exit 39... 100 miles away from home. It felt so good to get away, even if it wasn't permanent.

We pulled into Flash Foods on exit 12 to get gas. He jumped out of the truck to go pay. I stared out the window and noticed a couple of guys staring. I immediately freaked out. Lucas came back to the truck quickly to ask what was wrong. I looked out the window signaling to the 2 staring guys. He smiled and walked over to my side of the truck. He opened my door and grabbed my hand and led me out of the truck.

He squeezed my hand assuring me I'd be fine. He kept his hand in mine as he wrapped the same arm around my back pulling me closer to his body. I smiled at the comfort I was feeling. This was a good change from how I have been feeling.

He walked to the counter and released my hand grabbing his wallet. I looked over towards the door and noticed them walking in. I froze and moved closer to Lucas. He immediately wrapped his arm back around my waist. I wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my head in his chest. He felt him turn his body slightly looking around to see why I was freaking out.

I'm assuming he saw the 2 guys since he wrapped his other arm tightly around my body. I felt so safe in his arms... like nothing could touch me. But how? I hardly know him. I didn't really care... all I cared about at that moment was that I was safe. I looked up at him as he finished paying for the gas and some food. I whispered to him that I had to use the bathroom. He looked around searching for one and nodded towards the back of the store.

He walked with me to the bathroom and stood out the door while I went. I washed my hands and looked at my reflection in the mirror. What had I become? Some piece of meat in the eyes of a horny guy? I sighed lightly before opening the door to be greeted by Lucas' arms wrapping around my body.

I let myself sink into him burying my head into his chest once more. "You're gonna be fine... I'm not gonna let anything else happen to you" He whispered into my hair. I smiled at the thought of being protected. He pulled away just moments later and grabbed my hand and began walking towards the door.

We made it halfway to his truck before he was jumped by both the guys that were following me. I watched in horror as one of them hit him square in his face while the other one kicked him in the back of the legs causing him to fall to the ground. I felt so helpless. What do you do when the person trying to protect you is getting beat up because of you? You help!

I remembered the baseball bat he threw in the back of his truck before we got in. It wasn't that far away so I ran towards it, not looking back only looking forward. I reached the truck within seconds. I grabbed the bat out and turned around to face one of those guys. He grabs the bat in my hands and tries to take it away.

I hold on with everything I have. I kicked him the only place I knew would bring him to his knees. I kicked him square between the legs as he came crashing to the ground at my feet. I raised my foot to his face before running after Lucas. By now he was beating the other guys face in with his fist. "STOP!" I screamed while running towards the two. I waved the bat in the air so he could clearly see it.

He backed away from Lucas slowly and wiped the blood from his nose. "You're not worth my time anyways BITCH!" He grunted towards me before walking off. Tears began flooding my eyes as I stared at Lucas. To be honest I thought it would be worse than it actually was but the fact that he was hurt because of me made me feel absolutely horrible.

He walked towards me quickly and engulfed me in a hug. I cried "I'm sorry" into his shirt. He pulled away and lifted my face so he could look me in the eyes. "Don't be... I told you I wasn't going to let anything happen to you and I meant it" He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead and led me to his truck.

The whole ride back all I could do was think. Think about what I kept putting people through. People I loved, people that just wanted to help me, all of them. I couldn't keep doing this to them. None of them deserved what was happening to them because of me. I broke Nathan's heart because of what happened. I lost half of my friends because they were to scared to be around me, and now I let the one guy trying to help me get beat up because of this. It wasn't fair... to anyone. This was my problem and I had to do something about it before everyone I cared about and everyone who cared about me get hurt.

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So there is your next chapter! I hope you liked it! The next few chapters won't be as "abusive" so to speak as these past few were. I had to get these chapters in here in order to get to the real point of the story!

LOVE SHELL