I watch Cian making a fool of himself, ogling that blonde haired woman in front of everyone. He’s an embarrassment not only to himself but he’s letting everyone around know that he’s an asshole and that Piper is being taken advantage of. Pisses me the fuck off. I knew I didn’t like him but this just proves what a prick he is. I catch Piper out of the corner of my eye, making her way around the bar, and I can tell she’s been crying. She knows. Looking back into the eyes of those listening to me sing and play the guitar, I try to concentrate yet I want to go after her. I continue until I finish the song, even though I had said I had a couple more, I quickly put my guitar into its case and excuse myself. I need to go to her. Looking around as I jog toward the door, I notice Cian is missing. Maybe he took that other woman somewhere. Such a scum bag. When I get outside, holding the handle of my guitar case tightly, I start to walk to the cross walk when I hear muffled noises coming from around the corner. What the fuck?
As soon as I round the corner, anger swells inside me instantly. What I’m seeing makes me sick. Cian has Piper pinned against the wall, strangling her with his hand around her throat. I see her body go limp as his cock begins to enter her half naked body. Motherfucker! I move quickly, grabbing the bottom of my guitar case, lifting it up and swinging it into the side of his face – hard. I move to catch Piper as she begins to fall to the ground but Cian surprises me by jumping to his feet and tackling me. We both go down, my guitar case crashing against the wall. Straddling me, he begins hitting me over and over, making my eyes go in and out of focus. My head turns as the impact of his fist hits, his ring cutting through the skin on my forehead. I see Piper lying on the ground a few feet away. Lifeless.
Adrenaline flows through me. Anger envelopes me as I grab his wrists, pushing him back as I stand. I begin hitting him with renewed strength, wanting to kill the evil bastard.
“Oh, my God!”
“What’s going on?”
Voices start penetrating behind me as I continue my onslaught. Suddenly, I’m being pulled away from him and as I struggle to get free, I watch him fall to the ground in a bloody heap. “Hang on, man. Cops are on their way.” Johnny’s voice rings in my ear but I turn to Piper, only one thing on my mind.
Sirens begin to grow louder as he releases me and I slide down on my knees next to Piper. Pushing some hair behind her ear, I lean down, checking for a pulse in her neck. “Piper,” I whisper. No movement. Her face is battered, blood streaming down one side. “God. Piper?” Everything is a flurry after that. Cops trying to pry me away from her. Paramedics gathered around her. I’m struggling in the hold of two police officers, wanting to be closer to know what’s happening. They keep asking me questions but all I can do is watch. They lift her still body onto a gurney, an IV bag placed on her stomach over a sheet. I watch in horror as they take her away. My eyes meet Johnny’s. Fear. Anguish.
“Carl. Let him go with her and question him at the hospital. I can vouch for him,” Johnny says as I watch the paramedics place her inside the ambulance.
My arms are released and I start to walk toward the vehicle. Stopping, I look at Johnny. “Thanks.” He nods and pats my back as I go to the ambulance and climb inside.
As we ride to the hospital, one of the paramedics tends to my cut and all I can think about is Piper, lying there still unmoving. She wanted to be popular, have some true friends, while I wanted the opposite, to be alone and do what I long to do – play my guitar and sing. Doesn’t she realize she has me as a true friend? Am I not enough? Why do people want more of something they don’t have, not realizing they have so much more than others? I’d give anything to have a happy home, parents who show their love for me. She has so much more than she realizes.
The hospital wait is agonizing. I answered all the police officer’s questions as I wait for news on Piper. Between that and some witnesses I hadn’t known were there, the point when I found Piper and Cian, they let me go with no charges and told me they were taking Cian in. They said they would need a statement from Piper as soon as she was able to give one. An hour and a half is what it took before someone came out to tell me I could see her. They think I’m her boyfriend. Said she’d been asking for me even before she regained full consciousness. That must mean something, right?
The nurse told me she didn’t need to stay overnight as long as I could stay with her. She has a slight concussion, along with five stitches in her cheek, bruised ribs and a bruised windpipe. She told me she’d give me a list of instructions and pain pills. That son of a bitch! Anger hits me hard all over again until we walk into her room. Seeing her lying there, a bandage covering her right cheek, black and blue bruising already forming around it, and a handprint around her throat changed my anger into concern instantly. I was told as soon as she wakes up, sleeping from the pain pill they gave her, I could take her home.
Home. Which home should I take her to? I want to take her to mine, but I’m not sure I’d have everything she needs there. I’ll take her to her apartment, but I won’t leave her side. Guilt hits me hard as I sit next to her bed, holding her lifeless hand as I think about how I could have saved her from this. From him. I should have told her about him. Warned her. Would she have listened to me? She was pretty smitten with him, and I could tell she loved her newfound popularity. I cringe. Popularity. It’s not always what people think it is. Not as great as she’s been thinking it is. At least not for me.
“Uh…” She moans and suddenly her eyes flutter open. “West?”