Food. The delicious smell hit Roman as soon as he walked into catering. As always the room was filled with people and he didn't look at anyone but just made a bee line for the buffet. He grabbed a plate and loaded up on scalloped potatoes and a couple of slices of filet.
He turned around to walk back out to find a quiet place to eat as always but the sight of dark brown hair made him stop. It was her, he knew it was. She tried hiding away at a table in the corner, leaning forward enough for her hair to cover her face while she poked the food on the plate. Without thinking he walked down to the table and sat down on the empty chair next to her.
"Hello pretty girl," he said.
She looked up and his smile disappeared straight away when he saw the bruise on the left side of her jaw.
"What the hell happened?" He asked.
He reached his hand towards her jaw but she flinched back fast as if she was scared he might hurt her.
"Gemma?" He asked.
"I stumbled over my bag this morning and fell into the window shelf," she said.
Although the words left her easily, he knew she was lying. She probably had that little speech rehearsed if anybody was to ask. He wasn't sure exactly what had happened but he had an idea. A bad idea.
"Where's Brock?" He asked.
"Still on his bus," she answered.
"Right, he never shows up until last minute," Roman stood up and grabbed both their plates. "Come on."
She gave him a nervous look while she wondered what he had in mind.
"Where to?" She asked.
"Somewhere a little more quiet," he smiled. "Come on, pretty girl. Don't make me throw you over my shoulder while trying to balance two plates. I don't think the outcome will turn out pretty."
"You sure like that word," she muttered.
"I do," he chuckled. "Now, come on."
She stood up and followed him as he walked out of catering. She followed one step behind him and everytime he stopped or slowed down to get her up next to him, she stopped or slowed down too. He quickly just accepted it. At least she was following. That was all that mattered right now. He finally reached a fire escape at the end of a hallway and stopped.
"Mind opening that for me?" He asked.
"Are we allowed to use it?" She asked.
"I won't tell if you won't," he winked.
She looked at him for two seconds before finally opening the door. She stepped out first and he handed her the plates before pulling off his hoodie and put it in the doorway so the door couldn't close completely. He took his own plate from her before sitting down with his back against the wall. He looked up at her and smiled. Once again she hesitated for a couple of seconds before sitting down next to him.
"It's nice and warm outside today," he said.
"Yeah," she agreed taciturnly.
He started eating his food and a few seconds later she picked up her own fork and started eating too. For a while they sat in silence until they were both done eating.
"So are you gonna tell me the truth?" He asked.
"About what?" She asked.
"How you got that bruise," he answered.
"I already told you," she said.
"I know what you told me but you were lying," he said.
"I wasn't," she said.
"You're lying again," he said.
He balled up his fist and slowly moved it towards her face. He wasn't trying to scare her but she still flinched before closing her eyes and putting her hands up in front of her face.
"Please, don't! I'm sorry!" Her voice cracked.
"Easy, Gemma. I'm not gonna hurt you," he said.
His left hand closed around both her hands and he lowered them while his balled up fist gently touched her bruise. As suspected it seemed to be a perfect match.
"Is Brock beating you?" He asked.
"No," she looked down.
"Well, someone is. If not him, then who?" He asked. "Tell me, Gemma. I know it's him."
"You don't understand. I was out of line. He told me not to talk to anybody and he caught me with you and he just got so mad but it was my fault and..." The words left her fast.
"Hey!" He snapped.
She looked up at him with fear in her eyes. She tried so hard to hold the tears back but she couldn't. They slowly rolled down her cheeks while she looked at him. He gently grabbed her shoulders and pulled her close so he could comfort her with a hug. She didn't put her arms around him but she allowed him to pull her up against his chest.
"This shit ain't right," he said.
"It was an accident," she said.
"Bullshit! Don't make up excuses for him," he said.
"You don't understand," she said again.
"You're damn right, I don't. I'll never understand how a man can put his hands on a woman," he said.
"I owe him so much," she said.
"So buy him a new car or surprise him for his birthday. You don't owe it to him to be his punching bag," he said.
"I'm not. It was just this one time. I swear," she said.
"And you're back to lying," he sighed.
She started pushing her way out of his arms and he quickly let go. He didn't want her to think for one second he was holding her back against her will or that he would hurt her any further.
"I gotta go," she said.
"Yeah, I figured," he shook his head.
She hurried inside without another word or even a look back at him. He leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes for a few seconds. He wondered how a grown woman like her would allow her own brother to hit her. There was a lot he didn't know about this but he was gonna find out one way or another.