Until I Met You

  “Angelina,” a voice whispered from the trees.

  My feet froze as the face appeared to me from nowhere. A face I immediately recognised as one of my attackers from that night.

  “Brandon,” I said, shocked.

  Please, not another one.

  He sensed my fear and immediately put his hands up. “Please, don’t run. I’m not here to hurt you. I wanted to see you. I heard about what happened with Jaden and I want you to know, you’re safe. We don’t all feel that way. Trent thought me coming here was a bad idea. But I wanted you to know, and I wanted to apologise.”

  Realising just how pathetic he looked made my blood boil. I was no longer frightened anymore, I was livid. “What, for almost raping me, or not getting the chance to?” I seethed.

  I saw him cringe and he backed away slightly. “You don’t understand,” he began. “We were all so high on drink and drugs that we weren’t ourselves that night. It all just seemed like a dream to me now.”

  I suddenly wanted him to stop talking. Every time he opened his mouth I wanted to shut it back down again. “Well, I’m glad it feels that way to you, because I’ve been in hell since that day. I can tell you now that it wasn’t a dream; it was my worst living nightmare. I can prove it to you, Brandon, if you like? I know which one you were. I remember like it was yesterday. You were the third one to cut me. Do you want to see the nice shiny scar you have marked me with for the rest of my life? Well, do you?”

  I walked a little bit closer to him, feeling my adrenaline kicking in. I wanted to hurt him, and I wanted it more than anything in my life right now.

  “Please, no, no,” he said, putting his hands up again. “I’m so sorry for everything. I wish I could take back that night, wish I never took so many drugs. I’m so sorry, Angelina, and I’m sorry for Jack and David, too.”

  That was it, I was off. I ran towards him, kicking and punching him with all my might. Anger was at boiling point at the mention of the fact he was one of the ones who helped put my best friends in hospital. Right now I wanted to hurt him because of them, wanted some kind of morbid justice for the two men in my life who were like brothers to me.

  “You dirty, rotten bastard!” I began screaming. “How dare you come here and apologise to me for what you and your scumbag friends did to me and my friends. How dare you think that everything will be okay. It’s not okay. You ruined my life, you fucking arsehole!”

  I was beating and beating him until I thought the sob would come. The one that I held onto for years. The one I was determined not to escape me now. It angered me that he could reduce me to this—so much so, I just kept going.

  Brandon just coward in the corner, taking every kick and every punch I had to offer. I was screaming blue murder at him and I didn’t care who heard me. What was supposed to be a nice peaceful stroll had now resurfaced my nightmares. I hated him with all my might for that. Hated that he came along and spoiled my tranquillity. Hated that he made me spoil the peacefulness of this day, with only the birds singing and the crow’s squawking. I hated him for every painful day I have had to endure since that horrible night. Hated him for just about everything.

  I was so engrossed in my terror that I didn’t even realise a pair of arms were now invading me. I tried to struggle out of them, tried to charge at the now, sobbing, pathetic little creature who was crying his eyes out on the floor.

  “I can’t, I can’t!” I started shouting. “He won’t make me cry, I won’t let him see me cry!”

  “Shh, Angelina. It’s okay. I’m here.”

  His words soothed me instantly as I relaxed into his arms. He pulled me further away and cradled me, stroking my hair.

  “It’s okay, you’re safe,” he whispered.

  I buried my head into his shoulder and took some slow deep breaths. I could feel it rising, feel it burning my throat, but I was determined not to let the sob escape—determined not to give that to him.

  Turning my head to look at Seth, I could see the murderous look he was giving Brandon. Brandon tried to get up, but stumbled and fell. Blood was dripping from his nose and he was still crying. All of a sudden the anger subsided and all I felt was pity. I pitied the man who attacked me all those years ago. Pitied him, even after all those years of dealing with my pain. I realised then he was not someone I could be frightened of anymore. He was just a pathetic shell of a man. Someone who I couldn’t understand had once haunted me in my nightmares.

  Eventually he got up, stumbled a little bit more and looked towards us. His face was smeared with blood and tears, his eyes all puffy and red. He tried to wipe his nose, but winced. He looked up, sobbed again, and was about to say something when Seth beat him to it.

  “You better run, pal, before I finish off what she started.”

  It was then I felt that the tight grip Seth had around me wasn’t to try and keep me in check. It was to keep himself in check.

  Brandon did what he was told and found his feet quickly after that. It was one thing having me set upon him, but another thing entirely to have Seth beating the living shit out of him. After seeing him with Jaden, I knew full well what he was capable of. Brandon had a lucky escape with just me.

  Once we knew he was gone, Seth inspected my hands and I winced when he touched them. I had never beaten someone like that before, so it was a strange pain for me. My hands hurt like hell. I didn’t feel it at the time, but now they were throbbing like a bugger.

  “I think I need to take you to hospital. You may have broken your hand,” he said, caressing it as gently as possible.

  “Thank you,” I said, gazing lovingly into his eyes.

  “What for?” he asked.

  “For holding me back, and for you holding back for me. I know it took a lot for you to not charge at him.”

  He squeezed me in tighter to him and smiled. “It was hard—really hard. But I didn’t want you to lose something of me I hope you have.”

  “What’s that?” I asked, searching his beautiful face.

  “Your respect. I knew that if I did start on him, I wouldn’t have been able to stop. If I had killed him—which I truly wanted to—I would be no good a husband to you locked behind bars now, would I?”

  “What you say is true, Seth, but I could never lose respect for you. Not in a million years.”

  I don’t know why, but I suddenly started laughing. The euphoria was back because Seth was here, but this time it was added by the fact I had just kicked the living shit out of Brandon. Something I had replayed over and over again in the past. Something I always wished I could have done.

  Seth’s worried, angry baby blues were replaced quickly with a glint of humour at my sudden outburst. “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “I’m more than okay, Seth. You made sure of that last night. I can’t wait to be your wife and no one, not even that scumbag, can take that away from me. I’m not going to let him. I kicked his butt!” I shouted, laughing again.

  “You sure did, Angel. You sure did. You never cease to amaze me. Have I ever told you that before?” he asked, cupping my face in his hands.

  “I think you may have once or twice,” I said, giggling this time.

  He kissed me gently and all thoughts of Brandon were quickly erased from my mind. I tried grabbing at his t-shirt, completely forgetting about what just happened. I was quickly reminded when my hand cried out in protest. “Oh my fucking God, this hurts!”

  “Come on, Angelina. We have to go now and see to that hand.”

  We got back to the house where my mum and dad could tell straight away that something was up. I told them about the whole story and my dad nearly hit the roof. It looked like he was about to go running after Brandon, until I told him I was fine and just needed to get my hand fixed. As soon as I told him this, he relaxed a bit and took a look at it. He confirmed too what Seth already thought, so we quickly climbed into my dad’s Jag and headed off to hospital.

  I didn’t really want to go, but I knew it was fruitless. The only times I have eve
r been in a hospital was because of those arseholes. It was starting to become a regular pattern.

  Once at the hospital, my hand was x-rayed, after waiting for nearly two hours to be seen. It was once we were outside waiting for the results that a couple of policemen walked by. I thought they were here for something else, but then they walked up to me and asked me if I was Angelina Bradshaw.

  “That’s me,” I said, confused.

  “We’ve just interviewed a very shaken Brandon Thorpes. He was found by a passerby who saw him unconscious on the floor of Tregye Road. He has slight concussion, but other than that he’s fine. You’re lucky he doesn’t want to press charges.”

  “You what?” Seth said, standing to attention.

  The two police officers immediately stood guard, ready to pounce if Seth kicked off.

  “Seth, please. It’s okay,” I said, trying to calm him.

  “No, it’s not okay, Angelina. It’s very far from okay. You listen here officers, you’re lucky he didn’t get more than just a bit of concussion. Do you have any idea what he did to her when she was only fifteen? A child for fucks sake! And you have the gall to come over here and say that Angelina is lucky she’s not being charged. He was following her, did you know that? He was waiting in the shadows so he could corner her. Surely he’s the one that should be locked up. Surely he’s the one who is in the wrong.”

  “Sir, I would suggest you calm down. Brandon Thorpe served his time for what he did. He is able to come and go as he pleases, as long as he doesn’t break the law.”

  Seth snorted. “Yeah, so following and frightening the life out of the very victim he was put in jail for is perfectly okay, I take it?”

  “It would seem that Miss Bradshaw here was far from frightened after witnessing the state Mr Thorpe is in.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” my dad shouted. Both he and Seth were now squaring up to the officers and I could tell they didn’t like it one bit.

  “I suggest you two calm down before I arrest you both under the Public Order Act.”

  Seth was about to shout at them again, but I pulled him with my good hand to try and stop him. My mum was crying at this point and I knew things would very quickly get out of hand if I didn’t try and do something soon.

  “Please, Seth, Dad. He’s not worth it. If you get yourself arrested over that man, I would never forgive myself. Mum’s getting upset and I really don’t want to see the two most important men in my life get carted off to a police station.”

  What I said seemed to sink in. My dad immediately sat down with Seth, and my dad placed his arm around my mother. I nodded my thanks to Seth and turned my attention back to the policemen. “Unless you’re arresting me for something, I think we’re about done here. But I will say something before you leave. I was out this morning minding my own business when Brandon suddenly appeared. I haven’t seen that guy in eleven years, and he just turned up, trying to talk to me about that night he attacked me. I was frightened, yes, but I was also thinking about my own survival. Also thinking about what he had done. I don’t know if any of you two have children of your own, but you think just for a second about how it would make you feel if your daughter had been attacked as a child, and the attacker suddenly turned up out of nowhere. Just think for a second what it would feel like to be helpless when a policeman turns around to you and tells you that you’re lucky your daughter wasn’t charged for attacking her attacker. Just for a moment, put yourselves in our shoes. You know—human beings? People who actually think and feel normal emotions that obviously seem to have been lost on the two of you.” I sighed and shook my head.

  “I don’t envy men like you. In fact I pity you. Just like I pity that pathetic excuse for a man hiding away somewhere in one of these hospital rooms. I don’t know, maybe once you felt empathy for victims of crime and you’ve been doing it for so many years now that it’s frazzled your heart. Maybe, put it simply, you just don’t have one. But if it’s my first assumption, I would suggest you find another job, before it’s too late.”

  I looked away from the now subdued police officers who had their head dipped in what could have been shame. Seth was practically beaming with pride, and my mum’s sobbing had immediately been replaced by an open wide mouth of shock.

  The policemen went by without another word, leaving us all alone again to wait on my results. Seth grabbed my mother’s hand and apologised profusely for swearing in front of her.

  “I more than forgive you, Seth. You know that,” she said, squeezing his hand back. “I couldn’t be more proud of you now than I am at this moment. I’m so happy you’re going to be my son-in-law.”

  She immediately started crying again and my dad was there offering her the comfort she needed.

  “Angel,” my dad began. “That was just about awesome my girl. You definitely showed those two what for. I can be proud that I’ve brought up such a wise little egg like you.”

  “I didn’t know eggs could be wise,” I said, chuckling back.

  “They know when to hatch, dear Angelina.” He winked over at Seth and me, and we all seemed to relax that little bit more.

  I went in to see the doctor, and sure enough I had broken knuckle connecting my little finger on my right hand. I had to have it bandaged together with the finger next to it, so it would heal correctly. I was given medication to help with the pain and sent on my way with a promise I would go to my local hospital in approximately four weeks time.

  Despite what had happened, and the pain I felt, I was feeling better about it all. It was almost as if I had been given the therapy I needed to finally move on with my life. Instead of seeing it as a bad sign—like I normally do—I took it as a sign to be thankful for what I have, and get on with my life. Allow myself to be happy for once.

  The rest of our stay there was uneventful. Well, almost uneventful. When Seth and I went shopping once I ventured off to get some drinks, when I bumped into Brian. It was very awkward at first as I hadn’t seen him since that time with Veronica. He spotted my ring and asked me about it just as Seth turned up to put a possessive arm around my shoulder. I thought Brian was going to be nasty, or demand to know why. I thought it was only right of him, after turning him down the way I did, with promises that I’ll never marry anybody. Instead he wished us both luck and told Seth he was one lucky man. Seth took it on the chin, thanking him gracefully and telling him he had no doubt himself just how lucky he was.

  I felt a new found respect for Brian now and I genuinely wished him all the happiness in the world, with most affectionate hug I had ever given him. I felt he at least deserved that from me.

  Apart from that the rest of the stay was pleasant and uneventful. It was just how I wanted it to be after the last couple of days. I was travelling back to London with my fiancée. I never thought I’d ever say that in a million years!

  Chapter 18

  A couple of weeks went by and I was as delirious now as I was two weeks back. My hand was healing well and Seth and I were more in love than ever. We still couldn’t keep our hands off each other, which everyone around us noticed, but we just didn’t care.

  We went out for a meal with Shelly and her new beau one evening when she made a comment about us being at it like rabbits. Seth and I exploded with laughter at what she said, and we were laughing so hard she couldn’t understand why that was so funny. It was the irony of the whole thing.

  Seth told his family about our engagement and they wanted to throw us a huge engagement party, one where my family and friends would be invited. I didn’t relish seeing Melissa again as we had met a couple of times since that first meeting. To say they weren’t as fraught with tension as the first one was an understatement. I knew this planned party wasn’t something she was organising by a long shot. If it was a ‘Getting rid of Angelina,’ party, then she’d be all for it.

  I accepted, as there was really no other choice. I had my family there for support and they promised it would be a low-key affair. Family and very close frie
nds only.

  We scheduled it for Saturday, and all that morning I was fidgeting and playing with my hair. Seth noticed I was on edge and asked me why, but I just made an excuse saying that I was nervous about our parents meeting each other for the first time. He tried to calm me the best way he knew how by distracting me. He told me the hair playing thing turned him on and proceeded to feel me up. All of a sudden, my hair playing and nerves didn’t seem so appealing anymore.

  We took Seth’s Jag as I said I was feeling too nervous to drive the DB9. Truth be told, I didn’t want to rub my present in Melissa’s face. I could have done it just to be spiteful, but that’s not the person I am. Besides, the present means more to me than just a car.

  Once we got close to the house, we received a call from my mum telling me that they were close by. She told us what street they were in and Seth knew exactly where to go to meet them. Once we all spotted one another, I saw my mum and Julia waving like a mad thing towards us, as my dad and Jack just sat there, smiling.

  We got to the gate and someone quickly opened it up to let us in. There was an eagerly awaiting Paul, Joey, and Belinda standing at the foot of the steps. We gave each other hugs and kisses and introduced them all to one another. Joey was there with his big bear arms engulfing me as usual. He was still always bugging me about his mum and how rude she is. She actually classed me as ‘only an estate agent’ once when Seth was out of earshot. Joey heard her, and I knew he had a go at her after. Joey was right, she really was quite venomous.

  “Where’s mum and dad?” Seth asked Joey.

  “They’re out back, getting everything set up. Looks like it’s going to be another nice autumn day today. Dad thought it would be nice to eat outside.”