"we drink the poison our minds pour for us and wonder why we feel so sick.."
- atticus
•
It's been a few days since Amy, Ian and I's little trip to Westview Hill.
Nothing exciting has happened - I haven't seen Amy, and Ian and I have been chatting over text.
I miss them both, despite the fact that it's only been 3 days.
I'm going love crazy..
My phone pings, as if on cue.
"My house ASAP."
The message reads. It's from Amy.
I waste no time sprinting up and out of my bed, grabbing a sweater before rushing out of the door.
We've been through this moment already, when crap went down with Jake.
And something tells me we're about to relive that.
——————
As soon as I pull into her driveway, I notice Jake's car parked at the curb.
Shit.
I'm quick to hop out of the car - hustling towards the front door, barging right in.
In the middle of the room stands Amy and the devil himself.
"Jake."
I greet him with a cold expression.
"What's this dimwit doing here?"
He groans.
"She's always getting all up in our business."
His pants are basically halfway down his legs.
I cringe.
Who thought it was a good idea to wear pants like that? You might as well go half-naked.
"I invited her here."
Amy mumbles, crossing her arms over her chest.
As she does so, Jake pulls at her arms aggressively - forcing them back at her side.
"Jake!"
I shriek.
"Keep your hands off of her."
He turns towards me, my heart skipping a beat.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't afraid of this guy.
Something's gotten him really riled up, and that usually doesn't end well.
"You have nothing to do with this. So get out before something bad happens to you."
He sneers, squaring up.
Oh hell no.
I send Amy a reassuring glance, reaching into my pocket to take out my phone.
I can feel Jake's presence getting closer - which only makes me panic more.
I rapidly type a "Amy's house, hurry." message to Ian, just before my phone is ripped out of my hand aggressively.
Jake tosses it across the room - I cringe as it makes a hard impact with the floor.
"You need to calm down."
I murmur, my heart practically beating right out of my chest.
Jake isn't an abusive guy - at least not physically.
But we all know he's got a tendency to lose his cool when things don't go his way.
I'd hate to chance it.
"You need to get the hell out."
"Jake! Leave her out of this."
Amy pleas.
"You're the one that brought her here, you jackass."
He slurs.
Amy shies away.
Despite her outgoing personality, she doesn't handle brawls very well.
"Just let her leave, she won't come back."
Amy whines.
I can tell she's regretting inviting me here.
But Jake doesn't listen, instead closing in the space between us.
I put my hands on his chest - trying to push him back - but it's no use.
He reaches for my throat, grabbing onto it as he slides me up the wall.
Amy screams.
"You're going to choke her! Stop it!"
I grab onto his hands, trying to pry them off of me.
I begin to feel fuzzy.
"Jake!"
Amy cries out even louder.
Just before I lose consciousness completely, Jake's hands release.
I hear a thud before a familiar voice bounces off of the walls.
"You asshat! Get your hands off of her."
Ian.
I can't see anything, my vision still cloudy.
I attempt to catch my breath as I hear multiple punches being swung.
Amy shuffles over, latching her arms around me.
"Shit Ivy, I am so sorry. I shouldn't have called you over here."
I still can't speak - fading in and out.
"Don't pass out on me. Not here."
Amy pleas, shaking me gently.
The punches stop, as another pair of arms embrace me.
"Ivy, baby."
Both sets of hands are caressing me in someway, the only indicator that I'm still conscious.
"I-I can't see."
I choke out.
"Just relax. Breathe."
Ian's voice is soothing, fanning my neck like it often does.
Within a couple of minutes, everything clears.
I feel myself coming back into complete reality.
I sigh, leaning against Ian's chest.
He rubs my back gently.
"I am so sorry."
Amy repeats, over and and over again.
"It's okay."
I speak breathless, sniffling back tears.
I didn't even realize I was crying.
I then lift my head up, studying Ian's shirt.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make your shirt wet."
I sigh, rubbing at it desperately.
Ian chuckles soothingly, grabbing onto my wrist.
"Don't worry about my shirt, princess."
My heart flutters at the nickname.
Unlike last time, I could care less that Amy is sitting right here.
His words are too comforting..
I peer over Ian's shoulder, letting my eyes fall on Jake's unconscious body.
"Is he alive?"
I whisper.
Ian smirks.
"Barely."
Amy and I exchange overwhelmed looks, both of us shaken up by it all.
The room stays silent before I speak softly-
"You really need to get a restraining order against him."
——————
"Don't ever scare me like that again."
Ian groans, passing me some Advil.
He brought me back to his house, after we spoke to the local sheriff office about Jake.
Amy's been given a restraining order of 500 metres against him.
I feel safe myself, knowing that I won't have to put myself in harms way to defend her anymore.
"I thought I was loosing you."
Ian mumbles, kneeling down in front of me.
I'm sprawled out on his couch.
"You beat up a bartender and I got beaten up by a toxic ex-boyfriend. We both made it."
I giggle.
"I'd say we're not going anywhere anytime soon."
Ian smirks, placing a quick peck on my lips, before standing up again.
"Are you tired?"
"Mhm."
I hum in response.
I then feel a pair of arms lift me up from my spot on the couch.
"Where are we going?"
I squeal.
"My room."
He whispers.
~
Ian hands me one of his t-shirts and a pair of small boxers, ushering me into the bathroom so I can change.
Once I'm done, I walk back out to find him placing a wall of pillows between the two sides of the bed.
"What on earth are you doing?"
I question.
He turns back around, looking me up and down.
I shy away at his gaze - my outfit being quite revealing.
He shakes his head, realizing he's staring.
"Making a pillow wall."
He smiles, proudly.
I laugh.
"What for?"
"So I don't make you uncomfortable.."
He mumbles, scratching the back of his neck.
"Aww."
I sigh, swiftly tossing all of the pillows off of the bed.
"I appreciate it, but I don't mind being close to you.
He lets out a big breath.
"Oh, good."
He then leans down, his hands caressing my face, as our lips meet.
I take it all in, grateful for the much needed life I've been given.