The Nature of Things

Chapter 11

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Molly spotted Cynthia sitting in a back booth at the diner and made her way through the crowd and sat down. Debbie waved at them and Molly glanced at the menu. She hadn't been to the diner very often, but for some reason she felt safe here.

After ordering patty melts and fries with chocolate shakes, Cynthia and Molly relaxed and let themselves get to know one another a little better.

"Brian tells me you graduate this year. I remember how exciting that was."

"Yeah."

"Have you applied to colleges?"

"I've been accepted at NYU, Columbia and Georgetown."

"Have you decided which one you want to attend?"

"Well I'd like to go to NYU. I'm not sure if I'll go this fall or not."

"Molly, I know it's scary to think about being alone in a city as big as New York, but you have to get out there. Don't let this destroy your life."

"I don't know how to do that, Cyn. I close my eyes and I can feel his breath on the back of my neck and I'm so scared that I just freeze."

"That will happen a lot. But you have to be strong and when you think you just can't go on, you pick yourself up and keep pushing on."

"How did you get past it?"

"I let Brian show me that I was worth saving. He just helped me realize that if I gave up, then that monster won and I'd be damned if I was going to let that happen."

"There's a chance I could be pregnant."

"Yes, there is always that chance. Have you thought about what you will do if it happens?"

"I don't know. Were you worried about it after, you know?"

"Well, I'll let you in on a secret. After I was raped, I found out that I was pregnant. I really thought about all my options and I made the choice that was best for me."

"Did you have an abortion?"

"Yes, I did. But like I said that was the choice that was right for me. You have to make the right choice for you, Molly."

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Brian rang the doorbell and waited impatiently for Michael to answer. Ben pulled the door open, stepped outside and just looked at Brian expectantly.

"Um..Can I come in?"

"No."

"Quit fucking around Professor. Where's Mikey?"

"I honestly don't have a clue."

"What are you talking about? Is he at the store?"

"I don't know Brian. He moved out a week ago."

Ben left Brian standing dumbfounded on the front step, slamming the door behind him.

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Justin woke up in Casey's bed unaware of how he could've gotten there. Hearing his cellphone beep, he knew he had a message. Grabbing it he was shocked to hear that there were twenty-seven messages waiting. It wasn't until he was halfway through listening to them that he realized he'd somehow lost two days.

His head was pounding and everything was fuzzy. He felt hungover but couldn't remember the last time he'd had a drink. It wasn't his style to get drunk and stay that way for days. Maybe everything was catching up with him.

He forced himself out of bed and showered. Stepping out he caught sight of a bruise across his back and wiped the mirror until he had a better view. He was shocked to discover bite marks on his thigh, and a cut across his face.

Wrapping a towel around his waist, he went to his room, locking the door behind him. Throwing on sweats, Justin grabbed his phone and dialed Brian. Getting the machine, he hung up and called Emmett.

"Justin, sweetie, where have you been? I've been calling you for days."

"Emm, are you at home?"

"Yeah."

"Good, stay there. I'll be there in ten minutes."

"Will do."

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Molly and Cynthia were at the support group when Molly had a panic attack. Cynthia and the group leader helped her to calm down and Cynthia took her back to her apartment to rest.

Molly was sleeping in the guest room and Cynthia was making coffee when Jennifer called.

"Cynthia, it's Jennifer Taylor. I was wondering if Molly was there. She never came home from the meeting."

"She's here. She had a panic attack, so I thought it was best to bring her back to my apartment since it was closer."

"Is she all right?"

"She'll be fine. Mrs. Taylor, this is normal. It can be really hard to be out in public, especially in a place you aren't used to and don't feel really safe in."

"But I thought the group was in the church."

"It is. But, there are other meetings that go on in other parts of the church as well. I think Molly just got frightened by the number of men that were in the building."

"Did something happen?"

"Well, we were just wrapping up when someone stumbled into the wrong room. He was looking for the AA meeting down the hall, but Molly just freaked out."

"I'm coming to get her. What's your address?"

"Why don't you let her sleep here tonight. It will be good for her to be able to spend the night somewhere she is familiar with. She can't hide out at home. She has to get back out there and live her life."

"I know, but maybe it's too soon."

"It's never too soon, Mrs. Taylor. She needs to be able to rely on herself."

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"Honey, what's wrong?" Emmett wrapped his arms around Justin and held him close while the younger man cried. "Sweetie, don't take this the wrong way, but you look like shit."

"Thanks Em."

"Well if you can't tell your best friend the truth, who can you tell? Now come on, sit down and tell Auntie Em what the munchkins did to you to make you look like that."

"I'm not sure."

"How can you not be sure?"

"Well I woke up this afternoon in Casey's bed and apparently I've been asleep for two days."

"What did you take?"

"Nothing. I got home, had a drink, and next thing I know I'm waking up in bed two days later."

"And where was Casey when you woke up?"

"I have no clue. I got the hell out of there when I saw the bruises and bite marks."

"What bruises and bite marks?"

Justin disrobed and showed Emmett the marks he'd found. After close inspection Emmett told him they were going to the clinic immediately.

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Casey came home to find Justin gone. Searching the house he found wet towels on the floor of Justin's room and most of Justin's clothes were gone.

"Fuck." Grabbing the phone he hit the speed dial and waited for an answer. "He's gone."

"What the fuck do you mean he's gone?"

"He isn't here."

"Where'd he go?"

"If I knew that I wouldn't be calling you now, would I?"

"Find him and bring him home. I'm not paying you to lose the little faggott."

"I'll do my best."

"You'd better do better than that, Casey."

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