The Race Director's Daughter (Sebastian Vettel)

26. Leah's Story

A/N: please be aware that the following chapter will have Leah going into details about her rape. Please don't read if this may be something that upsets you.

Seb froze, Leah's words shocking him to his core. She'd been raped? Suddenly everything seemed to make sense. No wonder she'd run scared. He didn't know what to say to her. What could he say? His brave, beautiful Leah.

Leah waited for him to say something but he didn't. She felt his body tense up. He thought she was tainted, didn't he? Choking back a sob, she pulled away from him and dropped down onto the sand. She ran, the sob finally escaping. She had to get away. He knew her darkest, deepest secret and she couldn't bear to hang around and face his rejection. 

The tears ran down her face as she ran and ran, with no idea where she was going. 

Seb unfroze.  He took off after her.   She was sobbing her heart out.  He had to catch her and reassure her that what she'd told him made no difference to him and how he felt about her.

"Leah!" he called after her. "Leah, wait!"  Damn, she was fast.   He began running faster.  

Leah carried on running, she could barely see in front of her, her eyes were so blurry from her tears.  

"Leah, please!"   She felt a strong pair of arms snake around her and spin her around.  Seb pulled her into his embrace and held her tightly, pressing kisses to the top of her head.  "It's ok, it's ok my lovely Leah.   It's ok. I've got you."   She let herself melt into his embrace.  Her sobs shook her whole body.   "Let it out.  I'm here."

She cried and cried, more than she'd cried for a long time.   Seb just held her, murmuring words of comfort in her ear.  

Finally, she stopped crying.  She wrapped her arms around Seb's waist and they just stood there in the dark on the deserted beach holding each other.  

"He destroyed me.  I'm not the girl I once was," Leah eventually said. 

"Leah, you're beautiful, inside and out.  He can't change that."

"It's hard to explain.   You don't understand."

"I'd like to understand.  That's if you want to tell me."

"I do, but it's not easy.  I've spent so long trying to forget what happened."

"You don't have to.  Just know that I'm here for you."

She shivered, the temperature had fallen and her thin blouse wasn't the warmest of garments.  Seb noticed straight away. 

"Look, shall we go somewhere? My hotel isn't far from here.  Or I could walk you back to yours.  We can talk.  It doesn't have to be about this.  We can talk about anything you want."

"Right now I just want you to hold me," she admitted.  Seb kissed the top of her head.  Inside he felt sick.   He was full of rage towards the monster that had violated her.   He wanted to find him and hurt him.   Leah was so beautiful and kind and amazing. How could anyone hurt her like that?  Especially someone she'd called her best friend.  

"Let's go back to my hotel.  I promise you you'll be safe.  I won't try anything. You can trust me."  

"Ok," she conceded.  Seb released her and they began walking back down the beach in silence.  

Seb held his hand out to her. She hesitated for a second before taking it. She knew she could trust him. 

Seb squeezed her hand reassuringly.   He was fighting his feelings of anger. He didn't want Leah to think his anger was directed at her. It was all for that bastard.