Kelly ran his hands lovingly up and down Stella's back. He wasn't sure what to say or if he should say anything. He just kept holding her close.
Stella closed her eyes, preparing herself to continue. "You know, most seventeen-year-olds usually feel shocked, surprised, happy, mad, sad, or some kind of emotion when they find out they're pregnant. I was numb; I didn't have any emotions. My aunt didn't say anything; the nurse was telling me about my choices and gave me information on what I needed to do. but my aunt just stood there. On the drive home, she didn't talk or look at me.
We got to the house, and she just got out of the car and walked into the house. She went to her room and stayed there the rest of the night. I wanted her to question me so I could say your boyfriend got me pregnant, but she never did. Sonny was out of town for work. Which was great for me; I got two weeks of him not touching me. My aunt went the whole two weeks without talking to me.
I came home from Devin's one night and heard the yelling. I crept inside, so no one heard me. As I walked to my room, I heard something that hit me like a ton of bricks. "
Kelly looked down at her and said, "Are you okay?" He asked after she got silent for a bit.
She sat up straight, looking into his eyes. "I heard my aunt yelling at Sonny. She said you weren't supposed to get her pregnant. She said I agreed to let you have sex with her but not to knock her up." Her voice was cracking.
"Your aunt knew what he was doing." Kelly was appalled.
" Yeah. I was devastated; my only aunt allowed her bastard of a boyfriend to have sex with me. Her only niece, she told me one time that I was her world and she would never let anything happen to me; she would take care of me like my mama would want her to."
"What the hell?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing—how could that woman do that to her niece?
"I kind of thought now that I was pregnant, I would be able to tell my aunt what he's been doing to me and finally be free." She sighed as her tears fell.
Kelly wiped away her tears. "Stella...
"But there is no freedom for me yet. Sonny was over the moon that I was pregnant. That night, he came to my room. I was facing the wall because I was crying and praying that all this would end soon. He lay behind me, telling me how much he missed me and how happy he was about the baby. He started taking my clothes off and said we were going to have a house full of kids. I kicked him away from me and jumped off the bed. "
"You fought him?"
"I don't know what came over me, but I was just tired of everything, and I didn't want to have sex. I wanted him to leave me alone. But...
"What did he do?" Kelly asked as he caressed her cheek.
" He grabbed hold of me before I reached the door. And he slammed me against the wall twice. I blacked out... I woke up to Sonny on top of me, fucking me. He smiled when he noticed I was awake. He said he was sorry for hurting me. But I've got to remember how to behave. I told him, I know my aunt knows what he was doing in my room every night. He said, Yep, she was afraid I was going to leave her because she doesn't have a sex drive anymore. So, I told her I would stay if I could fuck her niece whenever I wanted. And she said, Have fun, baby."
"How could she agree to something like that?" Kelly said, in a dismayed tone
Stella shrugs. " I asked her, and she said, you shouldn't have been sexy around him. Wearing short shorts and tank tops—that cheerleading uniform. She said, you knew what you were doing, and you got what you deserved."
"Fuck her; it wasn't your fault. You didn't deserve a damn thing that son of a bitch did to you." Kelly was heated; he wanted to have a conversation with Sonny. "I don't give a damn what you were wearing; no woman deserves a man putting his hands on them. just because he couldn't control his horny self."
Stella smiled at him and said, "It took me years to believe what he did to me wasn't my fault. I still battle myself over it."
"It wasn't you; he had a problem. And your aunt should never have told you that. I swear, I want to beat the shit out of all three of them."
Stella leaned in and kissed him. "It's really easy to talk to you. I like opening up to you."
Kelly smiled and said, "I'm glad; I want to know everything about you."
She laid her head back down on his shoulder. "I was twelve weeks pregnant; no one knew I distanced myself from everyone. Devin was trying everything to get me to open up to him. I liked him a lot, but I couldn't tell him I was pregnant with my aunt's boyfriend's baby, and my aunt is okay with it. I felt ashamed. I was four months away from graduating, not even sure how I would make it through school. High school was a total blur for me. I started making plans, got a part-time job, and decided I was going to save money and move back to Chicago once I was eighteen.
Devin and I were studying in my room one night. And I was telling him my plan—he wanted me to come to Florida; he got into Florida state, and I told him I would consider it. After he left, Sonny came to my room. And grabbed me by my hair and slammed me against the wall. He said you think you're taking my baby away from me.
He overheard our conversation and said, you aren't going anywhere. I was swinging my arms and kicking him. He wrapped his hands around my neck. My aunt came in, and I thought she was going to stop him. But she stood there. Watching him choke me. Paul came into the room and put a needle in my arm. I had no idea what was inside the needle.
He said this was your punishment. They laid me on the bed and took my clothes off, and he squeezed my breast hard, and Paul was between my legs. I was crying, and he would slap me every time I cried or say, Stop. Sonny kneeled on the bed naked and kept putting his dick near my mouth. I refused to open my mouth. He kept yelling at me to open my mouth, but I wouldn't. He said, you're going to learn how to suck dick today, and my boy Paul is going to fuck your tight pussy. He's been dreaming about fucking you; it's his birthday, and I'm letting him fuck you as his present."
Kelly closed his eyes, trying to calm the anger that was building inside of him.
"My aunt tied my arms to the bed; my fucking aunt was helping them rape me. I still don't understand why she did it. Sonny kept trying to put his dick in my mouth. I kept my mouth shut; I didn't want it in my mouth. I didn't want him or Paul touching me. Paul jammed his dick inside me hard—so hard it hurt. But I kept my mouth closed. Sonny was yelling, Bitch, open your mouth; help me out, babe. My aunt came over to the bed and punched me repeatedly in the stomach. I screamed out, and Sonny told her to do it again. She did this time harder; he put his dick in my mouth. I was crying. The pain in my stomach was so bad, I..."
"Hey, it's okay... Sssh, I got you." Kelly tells her as he holds her tightly.
Stella cried into his chest, "The pain was so bad. I was kicking my legs and trying to get up; my aunt was punching me; Paul punched my legs, so I bit his dick.
Kelly's eyes widened. He was glad she did it honestly; the son of a bitch deserved it.
He screamed, and my aunt and Paul hit me; Sonny punched me in the mouth. My aunt punched my stomach again. Paul jumped off the bed, yelling, There's blood I was bleeding, and the pain was unlike anything I've ever felt before. I heard my aunt say she had a miscarriage. I woke up in a hospital."
"I'm glad they had the common sense to take you to the hospital," Kelly tells her as he kisses her temple.
Stella sighed. "They told the nurse I was attacked and I had amnesia. And they told her I was on drugs, talking out of my head, hallucinating, and making up stories. And the nurses and doctors believe my aunt because it was her hospital—the one she worked at—that I was at. I tried to tell the nurses that Sonny raped me, but they would just give me a sympathetic smile and say, everything will be okay. They all thought I was lying."
Kelly shook his head. "I can't believe they didn't believe you."
"No one believed me; I got out of the hospital and made a decision. I wasn't going to let Sonny or my aunt touch me again. So, that night I called Devin and told him to meet me in the next street over from my house. I told him not to have any questions and just do as I say. I packed up a little bag and waited until everyone was asleep, and I left."
"You got away from them?" Kelly said it in a joyful tone.
Stella looked up at him and said, "I did for a little bit, but not for long."
Kelly sighed. "Where did you go?" He asked, then kissed her forehead.
"I got the nerve up and told Devin everything that Sonny, my aunt, and Paul have done to me since I came to New York. I didn't want to keep the secret anymore; I wanted to tell people I was tired of it all and wanted to be free. Devin was determined to get me far away from them. I went to the police and filed a report, and Devin's mom allowed me to stay with them. But Sonny was friends with some of the police officers and the chief; he told them I was on drugs and I'd been making up stories. They didn't even investigate. Two days later, my aunt came to Devin's house, and his mom and my aunt got into a huge disagreement. Sonny came with the cops, and I don't know exactly what they told her, but she came to me and said she was sorry, but she had to put her family first. She said I couldn't stay there anymore. I could tell she didn't want me to go, but she was scared. So, I left. "
Kelly couldn't believe it; she had been through so much that he swore she was one of the strongest people he had ever met.
Stella wiped her eyes and said, "I was back at my aunt's house; I hated them all. But I was stuck; I had no money, nowhere to go, and everyone seemed to be against me. Except for Devin, who was so pissed his mom made me leave, he showed up at the house, and he and Sonny got into a huge fight. Cops arrested him. I was screaming at the cops, the neighbors, and anyone who could hear me that Sonny and Paul raped me; my aunt helped them. But no one tried to help me. No one cared. I was alone and so scared, I wanted to die."
Kelly cupped her face. "I hate what they did to you, and I wish I could change it for you. But I truly believed you survived all that because you were destined for greatness. You are so strong and so brave; your mom would be so proud of the woman you are. I'm proud of you."
Stella cried, "You're wonderful; you know that." She tells him as he wipes her tears away. "I'm glad I met you."
"Me too." He tells her this as he kisses her softly. They held each other for a while.
Stella sighed. "That night, Sonny started putting needles in me every night."
"What was in the needle?"
"I didn't know at first, but as time went on, I was starting to crave the needle; it was like I couldn't think straight, I couldn't do anything, and I had a desire and a need for it."
Kelly closed his eyes. "They were drugging you."
Stella nods, "Heroin."
" Damn..."
"I was so messed up. Devin tried to help me, but Sonny had me wrapped around his finger. I broke things off with Devin and quit going to school. I was so hooked on whatever Sonny was giving me that I was trading sex for drugs with him. I don't remember much, but I remember the night Sonny told me there was an accident and Devin was killed. His mom blamed me; his friends and family blamed me; everyone blamed me. Sonny said it was my fault too. And I believe them. Months passed by, and I was getting more and more into drugs and alcohol. Sonny and Paul knew I was addicted. They were giving me drugs; I don't remember much about that time frame. I was so out of it. I don't remember my eighteenth or nineteenth birthday; everything is just a blur. I missed out on two years of my life because of all the drugs I was on.
My aunt died of an overdose when I was eighteen. At least that's what they told me. I don't even remember her dying. One night, a police officer found me on the ground, and I was taken to the hospital. Where I found out I was pregnant again. The nurse wanted me to get help, for the baby's sake. I was signed into rehab and was doing pretty well. I was four months pregnant and in rehab. I got my GED and was taking some college classes. My life was looking up; I went close to two months sober—no drugs, no alcohol, no Sonny or Paul. Life was going well. Till I went to my aunt's house, I wanted my stuff, so I thought I could get it all before Sonny came home. I was in my room, grabbing the photo album of my mom... When I heard look who decided to come home. Sonny was standing in the bedroom doorway. Are you pregnant? he asked with a big, creepy smile. It's mine, isn't it? ... Kelly, I don't know why I did it, but I...
"Hey, it's okay," Kelly assures her. "Babe, what did you do?"
She took a deep breath. "I told him no, it's not his. His smile faded, and he charged after me, calling me a whore and other names. He just started kicking me in the stomach and punching me. He picked me off the floor and threw me on the bed, ripping my dress off. I was crying and shaking. I knew he was going to kill the baby. I could feel it. He raped me again. It hurt so bad; he kept slamming into me hard; he punched me in the eye, my face, stomach, and chest; he squeezed my breasts so hard that they were bleeding. He kissed my neck and kissed his way back up to my ear and said, I'm sorry for hurting me. I'll be gentle. then said your pussy is so tight, even after all the sex we've had. Your pussy is my favorite. Yours is better than Stacy's.
I looked up at him. What are you talking about? He said that night, Stacy stayed over. Paul, two of my other friends, and I had a little gang bang party with your friend. We took her virginity too; she loved it."
Stella pulled back, saying, "My friend committed suicide because of me. It was all my fault. I didn't even know it happened; I was asleep. What kind of friend allows that to happen?"
"It is not your fault, Stella; you had no idea what was going on."
She jumped off his lap and said, "I got my friend raped; if I had spoken up sooner, Stacy would probably still be here." She yelled as she walked over towards the fire.
Kelly stood up and pulled him to her. "It's not your fault. None of this is your fault."
She cried, holding on to him and screaming. "Everything is my fault. All of it." Her knees got weak, and she collapsed onto the floor. Kelly picked her up in bridal style and carried her to the couch.
"It's not your fault; it's not. You've got to stop blaming yourself, Stella." He laid her down gently and kneeled beside her. "No more talking tonight; calm down; I'm got you; you're safe, I promise." He assured her as he caressed her cheek and held her hand.
She drifted off to sleep soon after. Kelly sat there and watched her sleep. Life sure has been unfair to her. She has been through more hell than he could imagine.
But that's what gives her beauty an edge. You can't touch a woman who wears pain. Like the grandest of diamonds around her neck. He was falling hard for this girl and all her baggage. His mom told him years ago, you know you love someone when you can spend the entire night just sitting by the fire watching them sleep. He wants to make her realize that during the times when she's calm and at peace but slightly broken and sad, he will be there. When she is furious with raging strength, wiping out everything around her, he will hold her close and love her even more. He kissed her forehead. As he covered her with a blanket. And he watched her sleep.
The next morning, Stella awoke to the sound of birds chirping. She lay there for a moment, and she noticed Kelly lying on the floor next to the couch, holding her hand. She smiled down at him as he slept. He has been so supportive while she tells him what she has been through, but there are still a few things she needs him to know. But she's not scared anymore; She's starting to see that he means what he says—he's not going anywhere. She's not sure if she could be the person he needs or love him like he deserves. She remembers something that Misty told her a few years ago. When Stella told her she couldn't love anyone or be in a relationship. Because of what she's been through.
She said Stella, People who have been through messed-up life events and experiences are the most empathetic. Sure, there is a dose of jadedness to it all; we've seen how cruel the world can be. Yet, we've seen the true, complicated nature of other people; we've experienced a broad spectrum of emotions and pain; and those multifaceted experiences broaden our deep-rooted empathy for others. And those with empathy make the best partners. People with baggage are the realest of them all.
So, maybe, just maybe. She is ready to fully try to love someone. She wants him, and she wants to try to be with him. Maybe she can love him.
"Morning, beautiful," Kelly said, as he opened his eyes and saw her looking at him.
"Morning..."
He sits up and leans in to kiss her. "Did you sleep well?"
"I always told myself I don't need a man." She said this instead of answering his question. She sat up straight.
Kelly's smile dropped; he wasn't sure where she was going with this.
"I wanted one, you know, someone to have in my corner, someone I could trust and possibly love one day." She caressed his face. "I want you to be that man. I chose to be with you because I know you're strong enough to survive the hurricane that I am."
Kelly smiled as he got up on his knees.
"I need you to remember this. One day, I'll want you close to me, giving me the love and protection, I need, and the next day, I'll want my independence. You had to want to be with me on my good days and my bad days. Kelly, I want to be with you. I've never felt such a connection with anyone in my life. But you have to remember that there may be times I push you away. I don't mean to, but I'm scared, and pushing people away is all I know. You have to respect my time alone and realize that it's not something you did or said; it's me dealing with my issues."
Kelly wrapped his arms around her waist and said, "Stella, I won't let you push me away; I want everything with you. I want to be that person for you. This is all new territory for me, and I'm scared I'll mess it up, but I promise I will give it everything I've got. I want you to, I believe we can make it work. "
"I think we can too," Stella tells him. Maybe moving to Chicago would be the best thing for her.
Kelly kissed her sweetly, and Stella wrapped her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss.
After spending the day together at the cabin, Kelly and Stella got back to Gabby and Casey's late that night.
"Well, we thought you guys got lost," Gabby said as they walked into the living room.
"Hey, I sent you a text so you knew your girl was safe with me," Kelly said.
"Well, we've got news we want to share." Casey, he said as he got the champagne. " So, we're glad you guys are here finally."
Stella smiled and said, "Wow! It must be huge news, Matt pulled out the expensive champagne." Stella joked.
Kelly laughed and asked, "What's the news?"
Gabby stood up. "I'm pregnant," she yelled.
"That's awesome," Kelly said as he hugged Gabby and Casey. " Congrats."
"Yeah, my dream is coming true," Gabby said. " I can't believe I'm going to be a mom."
" And I'm going to be a dad." Casey chimed in.
The three were too busy celebrating to notice that Stella had left the room. "Where is Stella? Gabby asked, looking around the room.
Kelly put down his glass. "Maybe she's upstairs." He went upstairs. "Stella," he said as he got to the guest room. He turned the knob, but it was locked. "Stella, are you okay?"
Stella sat on the floor, crying, "I'm fine."
"Stella, you don't sound fine," Gabby said. Giving Kelly a worried look.
"Stella, please open the door," Kelly begged.
"I need to be alone; please let me be alone," Stella yelled.
"Come on, let's respect her wishes," Casey said to his wife: Gabby looked at Kelly, who was staring at the door.
"What did you do?"
Kelly looked at her. "I didn't do anything."
"She spent the last two days with you, and now she is locked in her room. You did something; tell me what you did to my friend." Gabby yelled.
"Hey, this is not helping the situation," Casey said. As he pulled Gabby to him.
"You have no idea what the hell you're talking about; we had a great two days together. She was fine till we got here and you delivered your news, so if anyone upset her, it was you, not me."
" Don't try to place blame on me, it's not my fault you p...
The door swung open, stopping Gabby from finishing her sentence. "Stop it!" Stella yelled. She was crying and looked fragile. "It's not Kelly's fault; it's not Gabby's fault; it's my fault." She tells them. "I'm the one who can't control her emotions about certain things. I'm the one who gets upset easily because she hates that she's so broken she can't be happy for herself or her friends. Life turned me into this bitter bitch. And I hate myself. I'm trying to get better, but I wasn't prepared for what you said, Gabby. I'm sorry," she cried.
Kelly reached out to her, but she slapped his hands away. "Gabby, I love you. I do, and I want to be happy for you and Matt. I do, but I can't. I'm sorry... I'm so jealous of your life; it's not fair. You have this perfect life, and you're so happy, and I'm jealous... I hate feeling this way, but I can't help it."
"Stella, my life is far from p...
"Look, I need to be alone; it's nothing against you three. But I need some alone time. I'm sorry," she said as she closed the door, not once looking at Kelly.
"I don't understand what brought that on; she was fine," Kelly said as he slid down the door frame. "She was letting me in, and I thought we... He trails off.
Gabby and Casey just look at him nott sure what to say.
Stella cried as she heard him say, "I'm sorry, Kelly." She whispered. She grabbed her bag and started packing. Maybe she was wrong; Chicago wasn't where she belonged.
The next morning, Stella found Gabby and Casey in the kitchen getting ready to leave for their shift. " Morning"
"Good morning, Stella," Gabby said as she gave her friend a sad smile.
Stella took a deep breath. "Look, I owe you both an apology. I didn't mean what I said last night. Sometimes I say things without thinking, and I'm sorry. I'm happy for you both." She said this as she took Gabby's hands into hers. " Gabby, I love you; you are like the sister I've always wanted, and I'm so happy that you and I found each other again. I have missed our bond. I am honestly so proud of the life you have built for yourself. You are going to be a great mom. Life for me has been such a struggle, and sometimes I get jealous of my friends. I'm trying to better myself. "
"I love you too, and I am beyond happy that we connected again. But you don't have to apologize for anything. I might not know everything about what you've been through, but I know life hasn't been good to you. And I'm here if you ever want to talk. You are going to have a big part in this baby's life, Stella; he or she is going to need their godmother."
Stella smiled and said, "Me, Godmother."
"Of course, you're my best friend. I know if something were to happen to me. You would take care of my children like they were your own. And you would love them too no matter what."
Stella cried. "I would; that means a lot, Gabby." She told him as they hugged.
"Look, I hate that I have to go to shift today, but the chief is short-staffed. With Hermann being out and one of the other firefighters being out,"
"Hey, it's fine; I'm a big girl; I've been left alone before."
"My keys are on the table by the door, if you need to go anywhere or if you want to stop by the firehouse." Later."
"Okay, you both have a great shift and be safe," Stella said as she hugged Gabby again. And surprised everyone by hugging Casey. "Thank you for loving my best friend and making her happy."
"I'm grateful she allows me to love her. She makes me happier than I ever thought was possible." Casey tells her as he looks at Gabby. "She's my miracle."
Stella watched the two share a kiss and said, "You guys better go before you're late."
"We will see you in the morning," Gabby said as she and Casey walked out of the kitchen.
Stella closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Two down, one to go." She whispered. She turned when she heard Kelly's voice.
"What does that mean?"
Stella gave him a small smile and said, "I mean, I apologized to Gabby and Matt. And now I need to apologize to you."
Kelly walked over to her, and he wrapped his arms around her waist. "You don't owe me any apologies. You told me that sometimes you need alone time, and I need to respect that. Are you okay? I was worried about you all night."
She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm much better now. Thank you for everything. You have made this week one of the best weeks I've ever had."
"I'm glad; thank you for letting me in and showing me the real you. It's crazy; it's only been six days, and I feel like I've known you forever." He kissed her softly.
"You're going to be late," she tells him.
"I'd rather stay here and kiss you some more."
Stella smiled and spoke. "Me too, babe, but you need to go save lives today." She tells him as she is pushing him to the door.
"Fine, but can I get one last kiss?" He asked as he pinned her up against the door.
Stella bit her lip. If only he knew how true his statement was. "Of course." She whispered. As he captured her lips, she deepened the kiss, putting everything she had into it. This was going to be their last kiss, and she wanted to leave her mark.
" Wow!" Kelly said as he pulled away. "That was incredible."
She smiled and said, "It was. Now go to shift."
He pecked her lips, then her forehead. "I will see you in the morning; you could wait for me in my bed, and we could pick up where we left off," he said with a smirk.
"I'll think about it," she tells him. In a flirty tone, "Goodbye Kelly," she said, trying to hide the sadness in her voice and giving him a big smile.
"I guess I'll go and save people and all that stuff. Bye, beautiful. " He said this as he kissed her again.
She laughed as he blew her a kiss from his car. Once he was out of sight, she let her tears fall. She went upstairs, grabbed her suitcase, went to Kelly's room, and left the letter on his bed. She went to the kitchen and left a letter addressed to Gabby and Matt on the counter. She heard the cab horn blow, and she looked around the house one last time. She made sure the door was locked as she shut it behind her. And took a deep breath, and just like that she was gone...