Chapter Nine

"Shit, Chloe, why would Ashleigh do this to you? I mean, I know she was super pissed at you, and the rumour about you was one thing, but this is just horrible. I wouldn't even do something like this to my worst enemy."

"Either would I." I replied. "Ashleigh obviously would. Man, I really must have pissed her off. What a bitch."

"I can't beleive you have to go through all of this, just because of me. I am so sorry."

"It's not your fault Zac."

"I feel kind of responsible. I mean, I came between you and your best friend. And now all of this terrible stuff is happening."

"Well, I am glad you came between us. I can't believe I was friends with someone for so long that is so horrible, and I didn't even know it."

"I guess that's a good way of looking at it."

"Yeah. But Zac...I am really scared. I don't want to see Josh. I can't stand to. What are we going to do?"

"Well, I guess we just stick together all the time. I don't want to leave you all alone in your house, knowing that he is around. And, if he comes around or starts to bother you, then we call the cops if we have to. I'm not gonna let him hurt you Chlo, I promise."

I managed to smile a little. "You're the best." I said.

He squeezed me tightly and kissed me on the nose. "Well kid, let's get some sleep. Tomorrow morning, we're going to your place and you're going to pack up some things. I want you to stay here for a while, until he is gone. Ashleigh has never been here, she doesn't know where I live. It's safer."

"Oh Zac, that's so sweet but, I don't want to put you out like that. I'd feel awful."

"We agreed to stick together as much as possible." He said.

"I know...but, we can stay at my place."

"Chloe, you stay overnight here all the time."

"I know, but I mean...never for like, a super long time. I'll feel like a freeloader."

"You are not a freeloader. You're my girlfriend, and you are welcome to stay here at any time, for as long as you want. Especilly in a situation like this."

"...Okay...are you sure?"

"Yes! Seriously. You're staying here until we know for sure he is gone."

"I don't even know for sure when he is getting here." I said. "All she told me is that he was coming up in a few days."

"Well then we can assume that it won't be long." He replied.

***

The next few days, it was like walking on egg shells. I was so paranoid, everywhere I went. Mind you, Zac was with me almost all of the time, which did make me feel a lot better. However, he did have to go to work sometimes and while he was gone, I would spend the entire day inside his house, usually in his bedroom practically hiding under the covers. I know it sounds crazy but, I was so afraid of Josh. He really left a mark on me. For all I knew, he could care less about me now and wouldn't even try to find me, but on the off chance he still wanted to make my life miserable, I didn't want to risk running into him.

I will admit that staying at Zac's house did make me feel a lot safer. I knew that if I was in my own home, where Ashleigh knew where I was, I would feel a lot more scared than I already was. At night time while we slept, he made sure to stay awake until he knew that I was asleep. He also made sure to hold me extra tight.

One evening, Zac and I decided to go out to a restaurant for supper, just to get out of the house, since we had been couped up a lot recently. I felt horrible for being such a drag recently, so I suggested to Zac that we go out that night.

"Do you really want to?" He asked "You sure you'll be okay?"

"Yeah." I responded, "I'll be fine. Don't worry."

We got into his car and drove to a fancy Italian restaurant a few blocks away.

"This place has the most amazing pizza." Zac said as we pulled into the parking lot and climbed out of the car.

"Good, that's exactly what I need." I smiled as he came around to my side of the car and grabbed my hand before we headed inside.

We went in, and actually had a really good time. It felt nice to get out, and for a while there, I actually forgot about everything I had been worrying about. After all, we were in a really big city. What were the chances of even running into Josh? When we were done eating, Zac paid for our food, and then said he had to go to the bathroom.

"Okay," I said, "I'm going to go wait in the car."

"Here," Zac said, throwing me the keys. "Make sure you lock the doors while you are in there."

"I will." I said, then headed outside.

I stepped out into the parking lot and started toward Zac's car.

"Hey Chloe." I heard a familiar voice say.

I turned around. There they were. Ashleigh and Josh were leaning up against the side of the restaurant, by the take out window.

"Oh shit." I said under my breath.

"It's been a long time, Chlo." Josh said, stepping a little closer to me. I backed up.

"Leave me alone, Josh." I managed to say.

"I'm not doing anything." He said, stepping a little closer. "I just want to give my old pal Chloe a kiss."

He reached for my face, grabbing it and pulling me into him. I could hear Ashleigh laughing hysterically in the background as I tried to push Josh off of me with everything I had.

"Ohh, you fight back now, I see." He laughed.

"Let me go!" I yelled, spitting in his face.

"Bitch, what the hell did you just do?" I had no time to think. The next thing I knew, his massive fist slammed against my cheek, and I flew back against Zac's car. I landed on the ground with a thud, and he kicked me in the stomach.

"Josh!" I heard Ashleigh yell in the background. "What the hell!?"

It was then that Zac strolled out of the restaurant doors. He saw me on the ground holding my face, Josh standing over me. He looked over at Ashleigh.

"Ashleigh, what the hell have you done?"

"It was just supposed to be a joke to scare her." She said..."I didn't think he would actually hurt her. He told me he changed! I didn't mean it Zac, I swear!"

Zac didn't reply to her, he ran over to me as quickly as possible. He bend down and helped me sit up, then gently took my face in his hands and examined my cheek.

"You're bleeding." He said. "How is your stomach?"

"I'm fine." I tried to say. It was hard because I really wasn't. My insides hurt bad. He knocked the wind out of me, and I could feel that I was starting to bruise.

Zac stood up so that he was face to face with Josh. "What the hell is your problem?" Zac yelled.

"Oh, no problem anymore." Josh said. "I just took care of that."

Zac just stood there for a moment. His jaw was clenched. Suddenly out of nowhere, he swung his fist at Josh's face...hard. Josh fell back a little, and then lunged at Zac, throwing him against the car and then punching him back. Zac then punched him several times in the stomach, and Josh kneed Zac in his, then punched him in the nose. It was then that Zac got several more punches in on Josh, to the point where Josh was on the ground.

"You piece of shit!" Josh yelled, holding his face.

"Come on Chlo, let's get out of here." Zac said, grabbing my hands and pulling me up. He helped me into the car, and then he got in and we drove away, Josh still on the ground.

"Are you okay?" I asked, looking at Zac. His nose and cheek were bleeding pretty bad.

"I'm fine."

"We're calling the cops as soon as we get home." Zac said. "They'll shit that asshole back to Maine right away, I'm sure."

"Yeah, No kidding." I said.

CHAPTER TEN >>>>
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