Looking Up

Elle's POV-----

Another Monday night off spent inside my small apartment. Instead of watching TV or going for a walk through the city, I lay here and watch the raindrops race each other down my window. I sigh loudly as I think of the 2-week absence of Steve. We talked on the phone and texted during them but it's not nearly the same as having him beside me, keeping me sane.

The day after we got back from my parents, he headed home to see his friends and family. He asked me to come with him but I was too worried about leaving the bakery shorthanded- even though Aunt Kate said I should go. I'm so used to being on my own, but with Steve everything is easier to deal with- and now, without him, for the first time for so long, it's hitting me hard. In the past two weeks, my father fell again, and started sleeping even more. I can no longer find refuge in my dreams ever since the day John cornered me in the grocery store- my dreams have been tormenting me with the memories of him.

All of the sudden a memory from that night flickers into my brain and cripples me. I leap up from the couch and throw my hands against my head. I run into the bathroom and splash water against my face.

"Why am I acting like this?!" I say angrily to myself, "I should be over this! I need to be!"
I make my way back to the window and watch cars and people stroll through the drenched city. "C'mon Elle, stop thinking about it- about him. It was so long ago- forget about that night-" I say to myself before I am interrupted by a rapid knock on my door. My stomach drops; could it be John?- has he come to haunt my present as well? Did someone tell him where I am living?!

My heart drops as I open the door and see who is standing there.

"Steve!" I gasp excitedly as he immediately embraces me in a hug. The raindrops on his jacket soak into my shirt, but I could care less. The scent of his cologne makes my heart flutter wildly. "I missed you so much!" he whispers into my hair. I look up at him and smile, "I thought you weren't supposed to be here for another 3 days!"

"Well, I wasn't but G and Coots said they were in the city for a couple days so we made plans and I decided to surprise you!" he smiles down at me and then presses his lips against mine. He kicks the back of the door closed and moves us out of the doorway. "I missed your taste so much," Steve says in between heated kisses. I move my hands up from his soaked jacked to his dripping brown hair. He wraps his arms tightly around my waist and kisses me slower. I gnaw on his bottom lip as he moves his hand underneath the bottom of my shirt; his damp cold hands sting against my warm skin at first.

Steve holds me close to him and pushes me against a wall with his large body. I start to panic having a flashback from that night, but I quickly manage to clear it out of my head. We start to kiss each other even harder than before and I let a moan escape my lips. I walk my hands down to his neck and strip Steve out of his soggy jacket. His left hand crawls further up my back and places the other roughly behind my neck.

"You need to come with me when I go back home on Thursday- you just need to" he pants as he looks down at me with hungry eyes.

"Oh? I neeeed to?" I say with a smirk.

"Yes- I hate not having you around- plus I don't like you being alone here- it's not good for you- especially with what you're going throu-"

"What?" I cut him off and drop my hands. His words cut through me like a blade, making me feel more vulnerable than I already am. "I'm not your pity party- You- you can't just invite me along because you feel bad for me! I'm fine here! I'm used to being alone Steve- I can deal with this without your help!" I yell before I can even catch my words. He steps back from me with widened eyes.

Why did I just say that? Of course I need him- his help, his strength, his everything! I hate when people can see that I'm in pain- I hate showing weakness- but why am I getting like this with Steve?

"I'm uh- I'm -" Steve starts to say.

I look down to the floor and search it as if it will give me a clue what to say.
"No. Don't be sorry- I'm sorry, that was so out of line- I can't believe I yelled at you like that. It's just I- I don't like getting help from people- it's not you- honestly- it's not."

"Well you better start liking help from me because I'm not going to stop," he lifts my chin up so our eyes can meet. "Please think about coming with me though, it'll be fun, I promise."

"Alrighty, I'll think about it." After a few moments of silence, Steve speaks up, "Listen, you should definitely go with me to meet G and Coots at the bar. I know they'd like to see you."

"You're just saying that," I laugh, "I've barely talked to them, but I'll go, just let them know I won't be taking any shots tonight." Once I get changed into a nice shirt and skinny jeans we head out to his car.

When we get there a few people have already recognized Claude and Sean, but they get a picture and leave them to their drinks. While the boys say hi to each other, I stand behind Steve zoning out- my mind preoccupied with my father.

"Elle!" Claude says giving me a crooked smile, waking me out of my thoughts, "nice to see you again!"

"Hey Claude, I already told Steve that I'm not taking any shots tonight," I laugh and then say hi to Sean.

Once we get our beers, and play a few round of darts, we play pool- Claude and I against Sean and Steve. After a few games I decide to get our third round of beers,"I'll be right back!" I say leaving them at the table.

I make my way over to the bartender, "Hey, I'll have 3 Bud lights, and a Corona- thanks." Thunderstruck plays over the speakers while I wait patiently for our drinks.

"So, you're sleeping with Claude Giroux or something?" I hear a deep voice say. I turn to my side to see a dark haired guy with a dark blue v-neck and washed out jeans on - obviously looking for an easy lay- standing next to me.

"Excuse me?" I state angrily.

The man takes another swig of his beer, "You heard me- so what's it going to take for you to sleep with me?" He smiles at me as I search for words to say but I'm too angry to even think. "Cause I figure," he drinks another sip of his beer, "you're a slut- willing to do anythi-"

"WHAT?!" I blurt out, "Listen, you ca-"

"Do we have a problem here?" I hear Steve say and break my focus from this tool's shocked face. I look to my side and see Claude, and Steve progressively moving closer to the guy.
"Uhm- uh- no- there isn't a problem- just was asking her-" he stammers out before Claude cuts him off. "Leave- don't speak to her or look at her again," he pronounces menacingly.

Once the guy back off they both turn to me, "Are you okay? What did he say to you exactly?" Steve says worriedly.

"He wanted to know what it would take for me to sleep with him- and then called me a slut," I shake my head.

Right away, Steve's face becomes troubled, he turns the other way and starts to walk towards the guy who came up to me. "Hey! NO!" I reach for his shoulder to stop him but he keeps going. Thankfully, Claude steps in front of him and stops him from beating the guy to a pulp. "It's not worth it Mase- he's a piece of scum."

"Fine. You're right," he says and then turns to me, "But if he even looks at you- I'm going after him."

"Alright macho man," I say under my breath and Claude and I start to snicker.

After a couple of hours, Steve finally calms down but I can still see that he's shaken up about what the guy said to me. It was getting late so Steve and I decided to head back to my apartment. Once I hug Sean and Claude goodbye, I head out to the truck to start it while Steve talks a little more and says goodbye to them.

It had luckily stopped raining so hard so I didn't have to run to the truck. All the sudden, my feet weren't the only ones walking through the parking lot. I start to walk a little faster and unlock the truck with the remote- 'only a little more till you're there' I tell myself, 'don't panic.'
"Hey! Your boys aren't around anymore!" a familiar deep voice yells from a row of cars in front of me and my heart starts to pound hard and slow inside my chest. I search for his face in the dark.

"What happened? Didn't want to sleep with you? Hard to believe with that body you have." I start to walk backwards but he dashes in front of me and gets a hold on my rain jacket.

"Let go of my jacket, NOW" I demand loudly.

"Don't be like that, trust me I'm a nice guy," he grabs my wrist tightly and tries to pull me in but I pull back as hard as I can.

"ELLE!" I hear Steve yell and see him sprint over to me. The man lets go of my jacket and holds up his hands, backing away from me- fear is clearly written on his face.

"What did we say about talking to her?!" Steve snarls. Just as the guy is about to answer, Steve punches him in the face- laying him out on the wet pavement.

"Let's go Steve, he's not worth it!" I yell as the man moans in pain.

"But he was-" he starts to say standing over the man's groaning body.

"HE'S NOT WORTH IT!" I yell again trying to get it through Steve's enraged mind.

"Fine" he says harshly. He breaks away from my gaze, looks at the guy once more and walks over to the truck in silence.

The ride over to my apartment is quiet the entire way. It is not until he gets into my bed to go to sleep that he actually says anything to me.

"I'm sorry I lost my cool back there. I just couldn't just say stop to him and walk away with you happy and him not learning a lesson," he whispers.

"I know, it's okay, I just didn't want you to kill the guy," I giggle.

Another few minutes go by without him saying anything. Steve wraps me in his arms and pulls me in tighter, "you know the offer still stands for you to come back with me to Oakville if you want."

"I'd love to go, Steve." I whisper back and I can feel his smile in the darkness.

Notes

Hey guys! I am SO SORRY it has been taking me so long to update! I've been starting school, working a ton, and crocheting a huge Flyers blanket! I wrote down a summary of the next three chapters so all I have to do is type them! I'll most likely having another chapter up by next weekend unless my professors load me up with a ton of homework!

Thanks for sticking with the story even though I've been terrible with updating! Please comment, rate and subscribe! I really hope you like this chapter! I love feedback!