Chapter Six
My Hero
The rest of the week passed quickly, and before I knew it, I was sitting in my room Friday night going over some of my assignments due on Monday. I had stuck to my word, working on assignments and studying Wednesday and Thursday night, and it appeared I was going to be doing the same tonight. What a way to spend my Friday night, I thought to myself as I sighed for the thousandth time and threw the book shut.
Amber had a date tonight with Alex, the guy she had met at the sorority party, and Rachel was nowhere to be found, so I was on my own for the night. I stood up, deciding I could at least make a trip to Starbucks and get some caffeine in me for an all-night study session. I grabbed my car keys and headed for the door, leaving a note for Rachel in case she came home and wondered where I went. I was walking down the stairs, dreaming of a Pumpkin Spice latte, when I ran into Logan.
“Hey, where you headed to?” he asked cheerfully.
“I’m going to make a run to Starbucks, I need caffeine if I am going to get any work done tonight.”
He rolled his eyes at me, “You and your caffeine addiction, as much coffee as you drink you would think you could manage to drag yourself out of bed in the mornings on time.”
“There is nothing wrong with my caffeine addiction, but since you’re being so rude, you can guarantee I won’t be bringing you a cup back.”
“Somehow I think I’ll survive.”
I chuckled to myself as I waved goodbye and made my way out the door to my car. Things had been less strained over the last few days with Logan and I was thankful to be getting back to normal with him. Both of us had been busy, but we still managed to at least text each other a few times throughout the day.
I started my car and headed across town to get my coffee fix. Lucky for me it was only a little way across town and before I knew it, I was pulling into their drive through and ordering my latte. The boy opened the window to take my money and I almost passed out from the coffee smell coming from inside. I would live here if only I could afford it! He handed me my coffee and I noticed a help wanted sign hanging in the window.
“Hey, can I have an application too please?”
He smiled and grabbed an application from under the counter. “Here you go, get it back as soon as you can, we’re desperate!”
I took the application and thanked him. I decided to pull over and fill out all the information in the parking lot. It was pure luck that I had a major Starbucks addiction and since I had worked at the one back in my hometown my senior year, I already knew how to make most of their drinks.
I got out of my car and headed toward the doors. As soon as I opened them, I was assaulted with the coffee smell again. Yeah, I could definitely stand working here. I marched over to the counter and handed my application to the woman standing behind the register. I noticed her nametag read Janet as she looked over it, noting I had already worked at a Starbucks.
“Can you start on Monday evening at five o’clock sharp? We need someone for the evening shift, and based off your schedule preferences it should be perfect.”
I almost jumped up and down. I had been contemplating getting a job and this one had all but fallen right into my lap.
“Sure, I’ll be here!”
She told me what I was expected to wear and I thanked her as I walked back out the door, all but skipping to my car. I guess my coffee addiction had finally paid off. I couldn’t wait to tell Logan.
I jumped back in my car and made my way toward the exit. Just as I started to pull out I noticed a bar across the road - Gold’s Pub, where Drake said his band played every Friday night. I glanced at my dashboard. It was almost nine o’clock so surely his band would be playing soon. I made a split second decision before pulling across the road and into the bar parking lot. The lot was packed and I had to hunt for a spot, finding one in the very back, next to a shiny black 1983 Mustang. I guess that answered my question about him already being here.
I grabbed my coffee and headed inside. Once the guy by the door, who looked like he was an escaped convict on the run, let me through without carding me, I managed to find an empty table in the back. Just as I sat down, I saw Drake and his fellow band members take the stage. My breath caught when I noticed him, he seemed to look sexier every time I saw him.
Glad to be hidden by the shadows in the back, I openly stared at him as they started into their first song. It was fast but heavy, and had me entranced at once. At the party they had covered other bands, but this wasn’t a song I knew, and being heavy into Rock music, I assumed it was one of their own. His voice was as amazing as I remembered it, and he knew it. He gave a cocky look out across the bar and to the women already standing by the stage. When he got to the chorus he belted the lyrics out, almost screaming.
Just follow me,
I’ll take you there,
Stand by me,
Have no fear,
When we’re together the world stands still,
Just follow me,
Stand by me,
I’ll make it worth your while,
Have no fear,
Just follow me,
I’ll take you there
The lyrics were catchy and I instantly started swaying in my seat to the music. Drake could definitely control an audience, he had the women eating out of the palm of his hand with the smoky, sexy looks he was giving them. When the song ended, they all started screaming out his name. He grinned at them, signaling the guitar player to start the next song. Soon the drummer, a girl amazingly enough, started in, followed by the guy on bass.
This was a slower song, and as Drake started singing the lyrics, his face took on a thoughtful, almost helpless look. He closed his eyes as he sang, almost whispering on some of the lyrics. It was the most beautiful, heartfelt song I had ever heard. The second time he sang the chorus, I already knew the words by heart.
Hold me close,
I need to feel you there,
When the rest of the world’s gone,
All I need is you in my arms,
So hold me close,
Keep me safe,
I need to feel you there
I loved the song, and I loved watching Drake perform it. He was absolutely amazing, and I wanted to tell him so. As he finished the song and started back into another fast heavy song, I decided I would catch him after the show and let him know. The band played a few more songs before finishing up. They grabbed their instruments and jumped off stage as I pushed through the crowd to approach them.
He didn’t notice me at first, since he had more women than I could count gathered around him and the other guys. I saw the girl who played drums grin and roll her eyes as the bass player grabbed a girl and headed out the door, holding his guitar in one hand and her on the other. Drake had an arm around some blonde girl in a skirt shorter than my dress the night of the party when he glanced up and saw me. He untangled himself from her, whispering something in her ear as he continued to stare at me.
She pouted as she glanced up at me, but nodded and headed over to a table with her friends, throwing glares my way as she went.
He walked over to me with a huge grin on his face, “Hey! You made it!”
I smiled shyly up at him, “Yeah I was in the area and thought I’d stop by. You were amazing, even better than you were at the party, if that’s possible.”
He gave me one of those Earth shattering grins that made my knees weak.
“Thanks. I’m going to hang out here and have a couple beers, care to join me?”
“Uh, yeah sure, I can stay for a few.” My stomach was in knots as he took my hand and led me across the room to the table the girl drummer was sitting at.
Drake motioned to me, "Jade this is Chloe. Jade is the drummer in our band."
I smiled and nodded in her direction, "Yeah, I noticed you playing! You're really amazing!"
Jade gave me a quick once over, smiling as if she approved.
"Why thank you! I've been playing since I was ten. The drums have always been my thing."
She had the cutest southern accent when she talked, and I instantly liked her. She was a pretty girl, with warm brown eyes and dyed black hair that had red streaks running through it. It fell half way down her back in gentle waves. I had noticed earlier that she was tiny, probably three or four inches under my five foot, five inches, but she gave off an air of confidence that told me she was not someone to push around.
Drake stood up and headed to the bar. "I'll get us a couple beers, be right back."
I watched him walk to the bar, and noticed several other women staring at him as well. He reached the bar and the bartender, a woman of course, skipped over the people already standing there and went straight to Drake. She grabbed him three beers and handed them over the bar, leaning forward enough that he had a full shot down her low cut shirt. I rolled my eyes and turned back to Jade before I lost my Starbucks.
Jade seemed to notice my discomfort, and gave me a sympathetic smile but didn't say anything. I knew from the short time we had spent together that Drake tended to have lots of women around him all the time. That is, lots of willing women around. We sat in silence as Drake made his way back to the table. I couldn't help but to notice how well he looked in his fitted black t-shirt and distressed jeans that hung low on his hips. There was no denying the boy had a body and I found myself thinking yet again about how he would look with his shirt off.
I shrugged the thought off, knowing that probably every girl here was wondering the same thing, or in some cases, not having to wonder at all. I'd seen him start to leave with the blonde after all, and as sexy as he was, he had to be getting some on a regular basis.
He finally made it to the table and set our beers down in front of us. "Here ya go guys. So I can see you two were in deep conversation over here, don’t let me being here stop you."
Jade and I both laughed, knowing neither of us had said a word to each other while he was gone. It wasn’t her fault really, I was always so shy around new people and I never knew what to say.
Jade started talking to him about some show they were doing in a couple weeks and they were deep in conversation before too long, completely ignoring me. As I sat there watching them talk so freely, I suddenly felt out of place. I looked around the room trying to distract myself and noticed a rest room sign across the room. I stood, excusing myself and hurried across the room and into the bathroom.
I stood at the sink looking at my reflection in the mirror above it. With no makeup and in my old University sweatshirt and torn jeans, I looked completely out of place here. All the other women in the bar had dressed to impress and I had no clue how Drake had even noticed me with a room full of them.
I sighed, wondering why Drake had asked me to sit with him, and then had completely ignored me. If this was some kind of game to him, I had no intention of playing. I knew I had developed an attraction to him as soon as I saw him, and it had grown stronger over the week as I talked with him, but I wasn't about to put myself out there to get hurt if all I was to him was just a game.
I left the bathroom and started walking back to the table. As I walked by the bar some guy caught my arm.
I stopped and looked at him questioningly, "Yes? Can I help you with something?"
He smiled at me, "I was just wondering if I could buy you a drink?"
I started to decline, but decided why not. "Uh, sure but only one, I’ve got to drive home in a few."
I sat down at the bar and ordered a Coke and Rum.
The guy looked at me surprised, "Wow, most girls go for the girly drinks."
I shrugged my shoulders, "I'm not most girls."
He grinned at me as the bartender set my drink in front of me.
"Obviously not. I'm Nick by the way."
"Chloe, nice to meet you Nick."
I took a sip of my drink and winced a little as it burned its way down my throat. I didn't know why I had suddenly gotten so upset over Drake ignoring me, and something strong would take the edge off. Nick and I sat and talked for a while, mainly about my school, my soon to be new job, and just random things. He had informed me he had recently graduated from college and was working at a local advertising agency as their accountant. I was impressed that he had already landed such a great job so soon after graduating.
As we talked he ordered me another drink, then another. The first two I was ok with, but the third one made me nervous. I did have to drive after all, and I told him so.
"I forgot about that, I’m really sorry. But you've already had two, and I'm sure they will catch up to you soon, so you might as well enjoy this one too. I'll pay for a cab for you, that way you're safe."
He seemed genuine so I nodded, “Alright, that sounds reasonable, but I'm not drinking anymore after this one."
The other two, and my beer before, were already starting to make me feel dizzy, and even though Nick seemed like a nice guy, I was not about to get stupid drunk with him. We kept talking and I started to feel like I was floating. I was laughing at everything he said, even if it wasn't that funny. Somehow his hand had ended up resting on my leg and I hadn't felt the urge to move it.
I turned and glanced around the bar, and caught Drake staring at us with a pissed off look on his face. I waved at him but he didn't return the favor, he just kept staring at us.
I turned back around, suddenly uncomfortable, and looked at Nick, "I think I'd like for you to call me that cab now, it's getting kind of late."
He seemed disappointed but nodded and pulled out his cell phone, calling the cab company. He hung up a minute later and stood.
“They'll be here in a few, I’ll wait outside with you."
I nodded, "Ok sounds good, let's go."
I stood and started walking toward the door when I remembered I'd left my purse at Drake’s table.
"Wait I need to grab my purse from my friends table. I'll be right back."
I made my way across the room and walked up to Drakes table, stumbling as I went. I realized I really was drunk.
"Hey, I’m heading home. Thanks for inviting me to stay."
Jade smiled and said good night but Drake was glaring at me.
"You are not driving home Chloe, you can barely stand up!”
I flinched at the anger in his words, "I'm not driving, Nick called me a cab. It's probably outside waiting by now, so I'll see you later.”
I grabbed my purse and attempted to march across the room before he could say another word. I managed to reach Nick without falling, but just barely. I stumbled into him as we started out the door and he had to grab me and hold me around the waist to steady me as we went. He kept his arm around my waist as we walked across the parking lot.
"Thanks for tonight, I had fun," I barely finished the sentence when I stumbled again. "Maybe too much fun.”
Nick laughed at me as he led me to a car on the side of the lot, "We can stand over here by my car until the cab gets here."
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close, tilting my head up so he could see my face. Before I knew what was happening he leaned down and kissed me roughly. I tried to push him away, but he was stronger than me and I couldn't get him to let go.
"Stop!” I yelled into his mouth, but he only laughed and pushed me up against his car.
His hands started traveling down my body and he reached behind me, grabbing my ass. I started to cry as I tried to shove him again.
"Please stop. Please," I begged him, but he ignored my pleas.
This could not be happening to me, not again. I could not be standing in a bar parking lot being molested by some nice man I had just met.
"Just shut up. You know you want this."
He grabbed my hips and pulled me away just enough that he could get his hands to the front of my pants. He held me against the car with his body and put one hand over my mouth as he started undoing the buttons. I was sobbing uncontrollably and still trying to push him off, but the alcohol had made me fuzzy. I knew what was going to happen, and I wanted to die before he touched me. I made one last attempt to break free when suddenly he was pulled off of me. I slid down the side of his car to the ground as I watched someone holding him to the ground, punching him in the face over and over.
"You stupid f*cking a*shole! I'll f*cking kill you if you ever come near her again."
My heart rate increased as I realized Drake was my savior. Nick was attempting to fight back, but I could tell he was no match for Drake. Drake straddled him, keeping him pinned to the ground as he sent blow after blow down onto Nick’s face. After what seemed like hours, he gave Nick one last punch, knocking him out, and stood up. He turned to me and approached me slowly, as if he was afraid I was going to run.
"Chloe, it’s me, Drake. Are you alright sweetheart?"
I nodded as he finally reached me and sat down next to me, pulling me into his arms as I realized I was still sobbing uncontrollably.
He just sat there and held me as I soaked his shirt with my tears until my sobs started to subside. Even after I stopped crying, I leaned into him, unwilling to move away from the safety his arms provided.
"Chloe we need to call the cops before he comes to, which I'm assuming will be soon."
I looked over to Nick on the ground and a chill went up my spine. The police would be called, I'd have to press charges, tell my whole story to a bunch of cops, stand in a court room and be berated by some attorney. I didn't have it in me to go through all of that, to have other people see how vulnerable I'd made myself. I just couldn't do it.
I looked up and him and shook my head, "No, I can’t do it. I just want to go home. We were both drinking and I'm sure he wouldn't have done it otherwise."
Drake looked like I'd smacked him across the face. “Are you kidding me right now? That piece of shit tried to rape you. Drinking or not, it doesn't matter, what he did was wrong."
I couldn't stand to look at his face and see the disappointment. I lowered my gaze as I shook my head again, "No, I’m not doing it. I just want to go home. I'm calling a taxi and leaving before he wakes up."
I grabbed my cell phone out of my pocket and started searching for the nearest taxi service.
"You're really serious aren't you?"
I glanced up at him and saw the anger radiating from his eyes. "Yes I am."
I started dialing the number when he grabbed my phone from my hand.
"Well you're not going home by yourself. I live right around the corner; you can stay with me tonight.”
Before Nick I would have been practically jumping up and down to have this opportunity, but now I refused to go with him. I felt so much shame because he knew what had almost happened to me. Underneath that, I felt fear. Even though he had saved me, he was a male as well and I didn't even really know him all that well.
"No thank you. I would rather just go home. I'm not feeling as drunk, but my head’s starting to throb and I just want to go to bed."
He stepped forward, grabbed my arm, and all but started dragging me across the lot.
"Well I'm not taking no for an answer. You shouldn't be alone after what happened tonight. You can go to my house and sleep in my bed."
I jerked my arm from his grasp, "I'm NOT sleeping with you."
He sighed and turned back toward me, "I know you're not sleeping with me. You can have my bed, I’ll take the couch."