Afraid to love

Chapter 21

I'm running through the woods, there's someone behind me. A tall, dark shadow. He has no face, no name. Branches break beneath my feet, a thud, I fall, I scream, my eyes fly open. I scream again, a tall shadow is standing over me in my room. Daniel bursts inside, I scream once more, pulling the blankets all the way to my neck, I bring myself to a sitting position, scrambling to the corner of my bed, knees to my chest.

Daniel grabs George around the collar, George tries to stab Daniel with a knife, but Daniel is quicker. He snatches the knife out of George's hand and is about to plunge it into him, when I scream so loudly the whole room goes still, Daniel glances over at me, George uses the opportunity to take a few steps back, as many as he can in the tiny space,

"Tell him to get away from me!" George yells, panicked,

"What were you doing in my room?" I cry, staring at George with fear and question,

"I fell asleep in the kitchen, waiting for Nina. When I woke up, I thought she must be home. I thought this was her room" he speaks quickly so he can get it all out,

"Yeah right you did" Daniel hisses, he makes it as if to go after George, who pushes my desk in front of him,

"Daniel, don't" I say, I'm still trying to get my head around what actually happened. I was sleeping, I had a nightmare of being chased by my stalker in the woods, and then I woke up to see George leaning over me. Daniel came running in when he heard my scream. But why is George here? How did he get in?

"My room was locked, George" I say,

"It wasn't" George says, Daniel's furious eyes dart to George, "I swear it wasn't!" he repeats defensively. I'd be scared if I was him, too. Daniel looks furious, he's shirtless, barefooted, only wearing sweatpants. His muscles are on show, taut biceps and a very clearly defined six pack. He must have woken up from my scream and ran straight over,

"Is Nina home?" I ask, still sitting up in bed with the blankets raised to my chest,

"I don't know... I thought she was" George says,

"What are you doing in her room?" Daniel demands, "why did you have this knife?" he lifts his hand, holding George's knife up, I look at George questioningly,

"Not to do anything to Sofia! That's insane! I always have the knife handy, in case someone attacks me!"

"You're lying, asshole" Daniel moves towards George, I jump out of bed to stop him, George pulls my desk in front of his own body for protection from Daniel. It all happens in an instant. Daniel doesn't even notice me, but the desk infuriates him further. He lunges forward, I have to stop him for George's sake. So, not really thinking it over, I spring forward, positioning myself in his path, my hands pushing on his chest.

Daniel pauses, he glances down at me. His eyes rake over my body. I'm not wearing a bra, just a close-fitting white crop top and tiny shorts. Now that he's looking at me, I feel naked. And his bare chest is as hard as rock under my fingers. I quickly snatch my hands away, hugging my arms around my upper body,

"Don't hurt him" I say quietly, Daniel's eyes move back to my face. There's that fire in them again. The heat I felt before.

"You had no reason to be in her room" Daniel says finally, looking back up at George,

"I told you, I thought it was Nina's room!"

"But you saw which room I went to when I was going to bed" I accuse,

"I must have been drowsy from sleep, I don't know, Sofia! Surely you believe me?" he looks me straight in the eye. I stare at him for a long moment. The image of my attacker comes to mind. I shake my head. I'm just seeing things that aren't true. Off course I believe him, he's George, my friend, Nina's boyfriend. I've known him since forever,