All Better Beautiful (Payton's Heart) (4 page)

Time had
passed I wasn't sure how much when I thought it was safe to move. I kept an eye
out for any movement behind me a car following.... anything. It was silent I
made it a point to stay near the ditch in case I needed to hide fast. I walked
until in the distance I seen a light on at an old Farm house down the road a
little further. I decided it had to be close to 6 am maybe. Hoping that I could
find help I turned in the direction of the home and began running. Barefoot and
exhausted I pushed forward. I finally was within reach and I heard some music
coming from the barn…I cried out, "Help Me." Once I saw an older man
come into view of the opened Barn door and a small woman directly behind him I
knew I was safe and I collapsed on the driveway.

When I
had woken up I found myself in the old farmhouse the sun was up and I was
wrapped in a blanket. I heard talking in the room to my right and then as I
focused my eyes I seen an officer walking in my direction. He knelt next to me
placing his hand on my shoulder. I began shaking uncontrollably and he quickly
removed his hand and asked in a gentle voice, "Can you tell me your name, is
there someone I can call? Can you tell me what happened?" All I said was
two words "Karen Andrews!" I sat up wrapping the blanket tighter
around me and stared at three people looking back at me. Slowly the officer
walked back into the kitchen followed by the man from the barn earlier. I could
hear them talking but I was unable to understand them clearly. A kind voice
from my right whispered, “Honey can I get you anything, maybe some water?"
I turned to her and her eyes were so caring, "yes please," I
whispered as I pulled the blanket in around my chest. She left the room
bringing back with her a small glass of water placing it in my hands before
exiting the room and back into the kitchen.

"Payton,
Oh my god what happened," Karen's voice came out of nowhere and I hadn't
noticed but my mind must have wondered off in the time it took for them to call
her and for her to drive here. She sat down next to me on the couch and then I
saw him. Dylan was here with her. He knelt in front of me on the floor without
touching me just looking into my eyes he said, "It was John all along
wasn't it?" Tears began to fall and they fell so hard I couldn't stop
them. I just shook my head when I had finally caved, crashed and let it spill
over. I would no longer continue to protect him. If I ended up in foster care
or on the streets it had to be better than the hell of my past 6 years, the
hell that my mother had left me to live through. Dylan took me into his arms and
I didn’t hesitate…as Karen held onto my hand. I am not sure how long he held me
but I had never felt more safe then I had at that very moment.

The police
took my statements regarding everything that had been going on from John
hitting me and then with what happened today. Karen walked out she couldn’t
listen any longer. She hurt worse with every word knowing that for years this
was going on and she had no idea. Dylan never left my side he sat next to me on
the couch holding me close. He tensed as I gave the details and at one point he
rested his chin in the crook of my neck taking a deep steady breath. It all
came out so easily. I really had no idea what was going to happen to me or
where I would be this time tomorrow but being free from John and the abuse was
an amazing feeling. Dylan helped me from the couch and led me out to Karen’s
car climbing into the backseat next to me. He wrapped me tightly into his side
with his arm securely around me he placed his lips to my forehead and I felt a
tear drip onto my cheek. I turned to look up at him and seen that he too was
crying. "I am so sorry you’ve been hurt Payton. I’m sorry I should have
pushed Casey harder for answers." He placed his hand onto my cheek as he
looked me directly in the eyes, "I'll never let him hurt you again".

They
arrested John and the drunken stranger who attacked me immediately following my
statement. I spent the remaining part of that day sleeping and having Casey
watch me like a hawk. Every single movement I made she was checking on me. I
was fine I was just exhausted. I woke up on and off throughout the day and
night. About midnight I got up and went to the kitchen to get something to
drink and I saw Karen sitting at the kitchen table in the darkness. It startled
me at first. She turned when she heard me gasp, "Payton it is okay I just
couldn't sleep." She rubbed her hands together nervously and then placed
them back in front of her next to her glass of water. "Come sit with me,"
she waved me over. I had grabbed a bottle of water and went over sitting in the
chair next to her.  For the next few minutes we sat in silence. Karen
lifted her hand out and touched mine, "Why didn’t you ask for help? I
would have helped you. We could have gone to the police together. Has this been
going on since your mom left?" Tears filling hers eyes before spilling
over. I was so unbelievably grateful to this woman for everything she has done.
She has welcomed me into her home not just tonight but anytime and every time
over the last six years. I owed her an explanation. I lifted my gaze from table
and look directly at her and told her just why, "Karen it wasn’t always
this bad, I mean he was never really nice but just over a last couple years it
became more frequent. I was scared to say anything. If I told anyone I didn’t
know what would happen to me. I wasn’t sure where I would end up. I didn’t want
people to look at me differently, to look at me as a victim. That poor girl
abused and almost raped. I hate the idea of the unwanted attention. I was
scared." After it all sunk in Karen replied, "Payton, honey you
always have had a place to run to. You have always been and will always be
welcomed here. You are part of our family. We all love you dearly and I never
want you to feel alone again. I am here for you!"

After
Karen and I had talked for a while I found my way back to Casey’s room. I
crawled under the covers and turned toward the window. The glow from the street
light was giving off just enough light. I tried to push away the demons from
that day. I was just lying there trying to calm the heartbeat that was racing
within my chest. I was beginning to realize that tomorrow people will start talking
and whispering as I walked by. All the fears I had about people showing their
pity will begin, now comes the next hurdle in my life. I had to face all my
peers at school, face the public. It will get out and everyone will look at me
differently. I refused to stay home from school even though Karen told me I
should for a day or two. I thought 'why should I hide' I had done nothing
wrong.

Casey’s
alarm went off at 6 am. "
Ahh
No Case seriously,"
I groaned pulling the pillow over my head. I was so not ready to get up. I knew
there was no way I was going back to sleep though. She yanked the pillow from my
hands, laughing out, "Morning 'my little sunshine' it’s time to get moving
or the boys would steal the shower and all the hot water, then you'll have to
go to school stinky." As much as I hated her at that moment she was so
right. Dylan and Carter both are worse than girls they take entirely too much
prepping time. They are both naturally adorable so I am not sure what takes
them so long anyway. Casey showered first with me immediately following. I
finished quickly and was on my way back to Casey’s room when I turned the corner
colliding directly with Dylan. My hands immediately came up to protect my towel
from falling we both just stood there for a second looking at each other before
he spoke first, "Sorry, how you feeling today?" He seriously looked
concerned and I know I lightly blushed with the thought that here I was
standing in the hallway in just a towel with Dylan. He had one of his hands
lightly resting on my waist. I was wondering if he even thought about this
situation or if it was in fact nothing to him but a brother figure showing
concern for a sister. Getting out of that zone with him has been an inner
battle of mine. This guy made my heart skip a beat every time he spoke directly
to me. How was I ever going to stay here daily and make him realize I want
more, and if I did tell him would he even care that I did?. I must have trailed
off in thought once again because he was still looking at me waiting for a
response but now seemed more concerned than before. He leaned in a little
closer bringing his other hand up to my cheek, "Maybe you should just stay
home today and rest." Responding quickly in return, "I'm fine really I
just want to move on from it. He's taken enough away from me over the years.
Now it's time to face the gossip right?" I shrugged and moved down the hall
toward Casey’s room.

I wasn't
able to get any clothes from the house but Karen and Casey both have opened
their closets to me so between the two I was pretty sure I would be okay both
of them have a serious shopping addiction and have more than enough to choose
from. Casey just seems to cover herself a little less. "Go for it
babe...Be who you want no reason to hide anymore. You got it flaunt it,"
winking from the doorway she entered wearing a tiny little mini skirt and tight
fitting shirt not leaving much to the imagination. After looking through the
closet a second time I decided on a pair of jean shorts faded and patched with
an Abercrombie red slightly form fitted shirt. I found a cute pair of sandals
with a small heel. I felt good about myself. After doing a look over one last
time in the mirror I grab a rubber band off Casey’s dresser for my hair later
and went off to meet her in the kitchen. Grabbing a quick breakfast and out the
door we went.

Pulling
into the parking lot she parked her car and I took a Deep Breath before opening
the door and climbing out. Seth was right there to meet Casey and I could
already feel the eyes on me.  She grabbed my hand and squeezed it,
"Don’t worry about them Payton, just ignore it." I went through the
day shielding questions and looks. Some people actually showed real concern and
others well others just wanted something to whisper about. I heard one girl
actually say, Can you believe she slept with her own dad. Wow where did she get
her information. I tried to ignore it as much as possible but by third period I
had heard enough for one day. I asked Mr. Hansen my chemistry teacher if I
could go to the nurse. I claimed a migraine and they tried to call Karen but
she wasn't home she worked a double and would not be home until after 7pm.
Dylan was just walking in the door when he noticed the answering machine
blinking and after listening to the messages he called his mother at the
hospital. He told her to call the school and let them know that he was on his way
to pick me up. About 15 minutes later I walked out the front doors of the
school and climbed into his truck. We drove back to his house only speaking a
few words along the way, "Thanks for coming to get me," him responded
with, "No problem."

I could
feel the shift in Dylan one moment he was being so sweet and caring and then
the next he was so distant and cold. I grabbed a book off the shelf in the
family room a James Patterson mystery and headed outside to lounge by the pool.
I had been reading for a while when I heard the slider come open off the
kitchen and Dylan appearing next to me. He handed me a Pepsi and said, "I
thought maybe you were thirsty," taking it from him I smiled. He took a
seat next to me on my lounger. He was only a short distance away and he just
looked at me for a few seconds and then he shocked me with his next statement.
“Payton you are so beautiful. I just want you to know that. You’ve been hiding
behind those baggy clothes and behind John’s anger for too long. You just seem
different like you are a new you. You have always had a certain glow about you
that even John couldn’t dim but you are shining so much brighter now and I just
needed to tell you that." After that he leaned in and lightly kissed my
cheek. I know I must have had one of the most surprised, shocked looks on my
face. I sat there in complete shock for some time. I looked down at my watch it
was now 2:30 and I knew Casey would be home soon. I got up gathering my things
and I went inside to maybe watch some TV while waiting for Casey to get home. I
started for the hallway when Dylan came out of his room and down the steps. He
was shirtless and for a moment I thought I had forgotten how to breath he
looked over at me and without saying anything he gave that sexy melting smile.
He turned toward me and slowly approached. He got within inches of me and I
could hear him breathing, my heart was beginning to race. He towered over me and
I lifted my gaze to his. Our breathing had picked up a bit and he lifted his
hand placing it just under my right cheek onto my neck. He leaned in further I
could feel his breath, "Payton, you’re so pretty," before I knew it
his lips were lightly pressing against mine. Gently he pulled me into him by
placing his other arm around my waist resting his hand on my lower back. He
pulled back just barely enough to make eye contact and to get reassurance that
this was okay. He had no idea that I had dreamt about this moment for so long
and that there was absolutely no reason I was going to resist. He placed his
lips to mine again and moved so slowly. He lightly brushed his tongue across my
lower lip. I parted my lips slightly and our tongues met for a brief moment as
if we were testing the waters. I raised my hand up and placed it on the back of
his neck and ran my fingers up into his hair. Placing my other hand on his
Bicep I pulled him in tighter. He dropped his hand from my cheek and slid it
around to the base of my neck tilting my head back just a little more. Granting
him better access to my lips still parted and devouring his sweet gentle kiss.
I got lost in the moment and a small moan escaped only causing Dylan to moan in
approval. His ran his tongue along mine and continued to devour my mouth. He
tasted amazing and felt even more perfect. His kiss was even sweeter than I
could have ever imagined. And as quickly as it started it was over. I began to
question the abrupt ending when I heard Casey coming inside with Carter right
on her heels. Dylan turned quickly toward the refrigerator making it look as if
he was getting something which left me standing there still dazed from his mind
blowing seduction.