Me and Steph!

Jack choked back tears and sighed. He rubbed his face quickly and looked over his shoulder at her. "Lilli, you pretty much threw me to the wolves that night. Why are you just suddenly turning tail because a guy rejected you?" he asked, a tear falling. "I have a girlfriend..so far, it's going great. Every time I'm near you...I feel like dying." he said, his voice weak as he looked away.

She nodded and slowly, shakily took a breath. "Well... You know what college I'm going to." she said, taking a step back. "Thanks for the memories." she said, just standing there. Her mom had some case and she left right after graduation. She was there alone.

Around four years passed, Jake was then 21 and had gotten his bachelor's in media arts. He wanted to be involved in making logos and such. He did like to draw a lot so, it came to him naturally. Still, he had gotten his own apartment, and pretty much was living on his own. What sucked was, he was alone. He had broken it off with Allie once her overpossesiveness got in the way. It was too much really. He still had Lilli on his cellphone, or rather, new cellphone. He couldn't make himself delete her number, it was too much for him. He loved her still. He sighed as he laid in bed, staring at the ceiling. The weekend was his only time to relax before going to work on Monday. "What to do.."

Through those years, Lilli tried to get Jack off her mind. Tried to make herself forget. His number was still in her phone, her new phone. Like him, she couldn't make herself delete it. Like it would matter though, she had it memorized. Things were bad though. She had gotten into some unwelcomed company. A guy who wasn't what she wanted. One night, he had gotten drunk and wouldn't sleep with him. She was on her period and didn't want it. needless to say, he beat her badly then left. Crying in the corner, she called the only one she knew would come get her. Jack. She was shaking and bleeding, really needing her best friend.

Jack felt his hand stiffen and his heart skip a beat. Someone was calling him. Either it was his parents or.... He sat up quickly, looking at his phone on the nightstand beside his bed and stared. Lilli. "It's been years....come on." he smiled, answering. "Hey, girl." he said cheerfully, remembering old times. What happened was in the past, right?

"Jack... I need your help. Would you be able to come get me?" She asked. Her voice was soft and scared.

"Lilli? What's wrong? Where are you?" Jack asked, noticing that she sounded scared. He got up, grabbing his keys and rushing out the door.

She told him where she was, almost breaking down in tears. "I've gotten into some bad stuff and I just need you to come get me. Please Jack?" she asked, she didn't know he was leaving already.

Jack grunted, angry. How could this happen? Years ago, he would've prevented whatever it was that happened. "I'm already on the way, Lilli, just stay on the phone with me." he said, driving a bit faster. Luckily his radar didn't detect any police radars around either, so he went as fast as possible. Within half an hour, he arrived and was by her door. "I'm here." he said after hanging up and knocking on the door.

Lilli opened her door and launched herself at him. Her lip had been bleeding and she had a good sized bruise on her cheek. She had a cut in her eyebrow that had blood going down her face. "Oh my god... I missed you so so much."

Jack held her gently, nuzzling her neck. She just looked so torn up. "Come on, we gotta go and get you into a hospital. Did he hurt you anywhere else? Goddamn bastard.." he hissed, looking over her and rubbing her cheek gently as he could, getting even more angry.

She shrugged, leaning into his touch. Now, she let her tears flow, but not enough for her to sob. "My ribs hurt a little. Jack, I don't want to go to a hospital, at least not here. Please don't make me..." she begged, her whole body shaking.

Jack nodded, sighing. "Ok, let's just get you home. You have anything you want to take?" he asked, looking around and feeling sick to his stomach. To think his best friend was beat up. That bastard was going to pay, big time.

She nodded and took a step away from him, grabbing a stuffed duffel bag with all the things she could stuff into it. She wiped a tear away and took his hand. "thank you for coming to bet me. I know things are bad between us but I didn't know who else to call."

Jack sighed, being reminded of old scars. Great. She just had to mention things were bad between them still. It had been how many years?! "It's fine...I'm closest anyway.." he mumbled, taking her to his car and getting in. "How did this happen?" he asked as he started it up.

"I wouldn't sleep with him." she mumbled as she buckled up. "He was a little drunk and I wouldn't..." a tear fell down her cheek and she looked out the window.

Jack didn't know whether to ask or if it was too inappropriate. "Did he..rape you?" he asked as he started to drive.

She shook her head. "No. Just whaled on me... I should have left the first time he slapped me..."

Jack wanted to say some things but, now wasn't the time. "Yeah, you should've. But at least I came so..let's just not talk about it. I'll call the police when we get to my place, safe." he said, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

"You'll really take me to your place?" she asked, looking over at him. "Oh Jack... thank you so much."

Jack nodded, sighing and raising the volume a bit for the radio. Thankfully the ride home was quiet and smooth. Getting to his small apartment, he opened the door and helped her inside. "I'm gonna need you to take off your clothes, I sorta took a health class in college by mistake for a while but, I got some good tips on injuries and such." he said, shrugging as he put the keys on the counter in the kitchen which was right by the door.

She shook her head. "I'll be fine Jack." she said, setting her bag on the floor.

Jack nodded, knowing she would try to be tough when just an hour or so ago she was bawling her eyes out. "Ok, you can stay in my room while I get the extra room ready, I hope it's not too messy." he said, though it was barely messy at all. He was pretty clean usually but the dishes didn't get put into the dishwasher and he still had his plate on the table. Otherwise, he was good with his apartment. "Sit, relax." he said as he hurried off to the other room. It was a two bedroom and one bath apartment so, small but yet spacious too, which was a plus.

"Can I use your shower?" she asked. "I could really use some hot water..."

Jack yelled, "Yeah, go ahead.", then getting back to setting up the single person bed that was in his small office. He had turned the room that was spared into an office, but he had a feeling he would end up in this room rather than her. She had enough problems. "God..." he mumbled, shaking his head and feeling his chest ache again. All that while ago seemed so fresh now..the pain..