I have a bad case of writers block with this fic...aarrgghh. Anyway heres an update. It ain't that long..or that good for that matter...sorry
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DISCLAIMER - This story is fictional and in no way reflects the actions or day to day activites of the characters involved. In other words..ITS MADE UP!Eloise felt her stomach tighten at James question.
Even though that time in her life wasn’t that long ago in the grand scheme of things, it felt like a lifetime ago.
She was a different person now…she had grown up a lot since then and had discovered her strengths and weaknesses.
“If you don’t want to tell me about it I perfectly understand,” he added nervously as he noticed the almost vacant look in her eyes. He gently brushed a loose curl behind her ear and smiled at her reassuringly.
“No…no…it’s not that I don’t want to tell you about it…it’s just hard for me to think about again that’s all.”
“It’s Ok El…maybe another time…when you’re ready. I certainly don’t want to pressure you.”
“I don’t know where to start really,” she said apprehensively.
“How did you meet him?” he asked her gently.
“At uni…first day…first lecture actually. He was running late and the last available seat was next to me. His name was Todd…he was intelligent, good looking, charming...we got talking after the lecture, had a coffee together. We really did hit it off straight away and we started dating. It was great for the first couple of months,” she said softly, not looking at him as she absentmindedly played with his fingers.
“What happened to change that?” he pressed further.
“I don’t know really. Slowly he changed…became more and more possessive….smothering. It started when he didn’t want us to go out with friends in a group anymore. He said he wanted me all to himself…and then after that he would get angry with me if I was talking to other guys… just guys in our course. He would accuse me of wanting to be with others constantly,” she explained further.
“So is that when you broke up with him?” he asked as he pulled her tighter into his chest.
“Unfortunately no, and when I think back on the whole situation that’s what makes me so ashamed. Instead of being strong and standing up for myself, I let him completely brain wash me. During that time I became this door mat and I spent my whole life trying to please him and not upset him. I lost friends, and I even started questioning my own behaviour. I wondered…am I really flirting with these guys…maybe I am. Could his insecurity be my entire fault? I lost all my self esteem, and I was too scared to break up with him. I hated who I had become but I didn’t know how to get out of it.”
“But you did Eloise,” he said encouragingly.
“Yeah but only after I didn’t have a choice,” she almost whispered.
“What do you mean?” he asked nervously.
He could feel her hesitate and her body tense up.
“He hit me…punched me actually…in public,” she said with shame in her voice.
This time it was her turn to feel him tense up.
“He
whaaaat,” he spluttered incredulously. The thought of anyone hurting her made him sick to the stomach.
She rolled over and looked at him for the first time since the conversation began.
“I was coming out of my final exam for the year and one of the guys walked out with me to my car. Todd was there waiting for me. I could see the fury in his face when we approached him and after my friend said his goodbyes he…he just punched me,” she told him as she caressed his face.
“Well what did you do then?” he asked urgently.
“This overwhelming surge of hate overtook me...and finally…after all that time...I found the courage to tell him what I thought and that I never wanted to see him again. But that wasn’t the end of it. He still wouldn’t leave me alone. For weeks he kept calling, texting, following me…and that’s when I moved down here. I had to get right away.”
He listened intently…still stunned at what she had just told him.
“Were you scared of him?”
She thought about his question carefully.
“I think I was too angry and disgusted with him to be scared, and I was too angry at myself for wasting a year of my life. But now I can honestly say that the whole experience has made me a stronger person,” she smiled weakly.
“Well that’s just like you isn’t it...you always see the positive in every situation,” he commented as he gently stroked her bare back.
“I think most people do…you would go mad if you don’t. And you know what the best thing is…I found you. I probably wouldn’t be here if it hadn’t happened,” she said thoughtfully.
“Fate huh?” he smiled.
“Yep,” she agreed.
“Thanks for telling me Eloise. I know it must have been hard for you to talk about, and now when I think about how I carried on about Rob…well it’s a wonder you ever spoke to me again,” he said with sadness.
“James there is a world of difference between you and Todd…trust me. But I have to admit it certainly bought back some bad memories,” she said sadly.
He tilted her face so he looked in her eyes.
“I’m so sorry…and I promise you that I will never treat you like that again,” he said intensely.
At that moment she was overcome with love for him and tears welled up in her eyes.
“I know that,” she whispered as she gently kissed his lips.
“I love you,” he told her as she snuggled into his chest tightly.
“I love you too,” she sighed contentedly. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this happy.
“So have you got any dark secrets I should know about?” she said yawning.
“Ummmm…I stole a can of drink once,” he said seriously.
She snapped her head up and stared at him…trying not to laugh.
“Oh my God James,” she said open mouthed.
“I know…and I didn’t mean to. I grabbed it doing the shopping and drank it on the way around and threw it in a bin before I left…I never payed for it,” he said trying to be serious.
“And when did this happen?” she demanded.
“Last week,” he sighed, “but I have serious guilt about it.”
“I don’t blame you...in fact…I’m sorry...but I really don’t think I can see you anymore. That kind of behaviour is just unforgivable,” she said solemnly.
“What if I go back and pay for it,” he said pretending to sob.
“Then that would be seriously lame…and I definitely wouldn’t want to see you again,” she laughed.
“So are you going to dob me into the checkout chic?” he asked cheekily.
“No way,” she laughed, “I have no doubt they all fancy the pants off you and would love to drag you into the office and ‘punish’ you.”
“I don’t think so,” he laughed.
“Mmm…I know so. I see how the young girlies are around you,” she said getting out of bed and heading for the bathroom.”
“Where are you going?” he said quizzically.
“To call the cops,” she teased sticking out her tongue.
Just as she walked out the door Eloise’s phone rang. He picked it up and saw Sal’s name flash up on the screen.
“Sal’s morgue…you kill em, we chill em,” he answered grinning mischievously
“Haha,” she answered drolly, “you’re game answering El’s phone at this time. It’s almost 1 am. Wouldn’t people ask questions?”
“I’m not that dumb….I saw your name flash up. And you’re even more game ringing her phone at 1am. You know she hates being woken up.”
“I’m not that dumb either you know…but I have some pressing business to discuss with her,” Sal said just as Eloise came wandering back in to bed.
“I can’t imagine any business that pressing that’s it’s worth calling her at 1am,” he said as he grinned at Eloise and she looked at him wondering who it was.
“Just put the mother on for fuck sake,” she said exasperated.
“It’s Sal,” he laughed quietly as he handed her the phone.
Immediately she feared that something bad must have happened.
“What’s wrong?” Eloise asked concerned.
“You need to get down here to the hospital straight away…it’s time.”
Tbc…..
DISCLAIMER - This story is fictional and in no way reflects the actions or day to day activites of the characters involved. In other words..ITS MADE UP!