<Sometimes all we need is a badboy in a shining jacket>

|9|

**Trigger warning: triggering scene ahead.**

TO ALL those thinking I stayed back to let Kian kiss me, you're wrong. Wrong with a capital W.

There was definitely no way I was letting him get my first kiss. Even if he was the finest guy on Earth and had the greatest personality. Less even if it was a dare. No freaking way.

For me to kiss a guy means that he has to be loved. By me. I'm a hopeless romantic and hopeless romantics hope they fall hopelessly in love with someone out there. Sue me then if I'm waiting for a soulmate.

Fantasy fantasy, bad mind sniggered. Shut up!

What I had kindly done was to run. Yes, I ran. Away from the party. There had been no other option, well, apart from allowing him to kiss me--- which was a total no no, slap him--- to get him returned to his senses and I think it would have worked but nah, I'll be dead before I know it, faint--- sometimes it came in handy or run. And run I had. I know, I know I make the worst decisions.

And the award for Worst Decision Maker of the Year goes to Olayinka Jamila Kincade! Cheers, people, bad mind whispered sarcastically. I mentally face palmed.

My breath came out in pants; I probably looked like a salivating dog, tongue lolling and starving for breath. Seriously, I need to start exercising more because the little run I had just participated in now had left my heart pounding. I tried to calm myself down by counting from 10 to 1. It kind of helped because my heartbeat slowly returned to normal.

I reached for my cap. Darn, it wasn't on my head anymore. It must have fallen off during my ridiculous run. Finally, that cap got its wish to leave my head. Traitor. I hope I still find it though. It was the best of all the caps I had. Dad had given it to me on my sixteenth birthday.

Where was I, I wondered. In my mad dash from that stupid party I had gotten lost. In a house that I wasn't even familiar with. Great.

I sank to the red carpeted floor with my back against the painted wall. The wall radiated coolness and cool was what I needed right now. I studied where I was. Lucky me, at least here it wasn't dark and things tended to go bump in the dark according to what I've read. And heard.

I must have reached the hallway in my blind run because millions and millions of closed doors leading to the unknown met my vision. Okay, I'm exaggerating but this house is gigantic.

Honestly, I thought as I looked upwards, how many maids were needed to maintain it? It must cost a lot of money. And not what I needed to think now, I had other important things to ponder about. Like that stupid dare for one.

Closing my eyes, I imagined what people that had witnessed my weird dash from the room might be saying or thinking. I wouldn't be surprised if they were laughing and making fun of me right now. And Kian might be among, perhaps laughing the most. He was probably wishing he didn't bring a dork like me to the party. What did he expect though? That I'll be okay with everything?

I heaved out a tiny sigh. Well, I shouldn't be bothered in any way. After all, I was the queen of freaks and I had just made a dramatic exit. So what? As the queen I had the right to do whatever I wanted. Queens made the rules and got away with anything.

That still doesn't justify the run, Olay, good mind hushed. You're supposed to be on my side!

Standing up, I decided to go back to the party, irrespective of what had occurred a few minutes ago. It was better there than here; at least I was surrounded by people. Staying here alone was already giving me the chills.

I left the hallway. It was no easy task finding that room, considering the fact that this place was pretty much unfamiliar. Oh Lord, get me out of here, I pleaded frustrated things weren't going my way. Everywhere was so quiet. I couldn't even hear any music again. It was like I was the only one around.

A guy that reeked of alcohol bumped into me. "Hey babe, watcha doing?"

It was that guy with the punk hair who earlier at the party had suggested that we play beer pong. Seems he had gotten his wish because he oozed alcohol.

Thank God. If he had come this way, it means the room wasn't any farther. I ignored him and continued my search for the party room but then he grabbed my hand, hurting me. What's with the grab?

"Hey mister! Hands off, thank you very much," I said, pricklings of unease going up my arms.

He came closer, breath stinking of garbage. "I want to put my hands on you. Won't you like that?"

Eww, like I would. I stepped back, trying to leave but my behind hit the wall. Nice one. I'm stuck between the wall and a creepy drunk.

"No and I'd like for you to step aside please. I have somewhere to be. Thank you." My voice was coated with plea.

The guy just grunted and pushed me to the floor, fumbling with his clothes. He wasn't about to do what I dreaded was he?

No, there was no way he was touching me. I strived to stand up but he grasped me with thick fingers and unfortunately his grip was tight.

"Leave me alone, please!" I screamed and cried. Someone save me from this maniac.

Playing deaf, he tore at my clothes trying to remove it, with me struggling to no avail. I sobbed silently, wishing it was just a nightmare. Sadly, it wasn't.

My feeble attempts to escape were not working so I waited quietly, my eyes closed, for the ugly deed to be done. Except it didn't happen because I heard groans and punches.

I opened my teary eyes. The guy who had been about to perform one of the ugliest activities ever was slumped down in a pool of blood. A tiny part of me wondered if he was dead and hoped he was, it would serve him right.

I glanced upwards to thank my rescuer. Kian. His chest heaved violently and he was favouring his right hand. Kian had rescued me? He kept on showing me his good side and for him helping me out, I was immensely grateful to him for that.

My clothes ripped, I refused to look Kian in the eye. I was loathe to see the contempt and scorn in his eyes.

He lifted me up. Tugging my face to his, he wiped away my tears, tracing a path down with his thumb.

Now that my face was on the same level as his, I had no choice but to look into his eyes. There was neither scorn nor contempt; rather I could see pity, tenderness and care. I didn't need the pity but care? He cared for me? No, the light was playing tricks on my eyes, besides I really wasn't seeing clearly at the moment, with the tears and all. I looked down not wanting to see those eyes again. They gave me mixed feelings.

"Thank you. If you had not come early enough I would have been. . ." My voice trailed off, on the verge of bawling my eyes out.

"Shh, you don't have to talk about it," he said and made a move that amazed me.

He hugged me.

Kian actually hugged me. I breathed in his comforting rosemary scent. The practical side of my brain couldn't wrap itself around the fact that Kian of all people was swallowing me up in his embrace. Heck, I couldn't too.

"It's my fault that this happened. If you had not come to the party, this wouldn't have occured but I had insisted and now, I'm so sorry."

I listened to him talk, all the while savoring the way his arms were wrapped around me. He seemed contrite.

He pulled away from me and removed his jacket. Emptiness filled up that aching spot in me now that he had moved away. What was wrong with me? Honestly, my emotions were all over the place today.

"What are you doing?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him. The last time I saw someone remove his clothes, that person had evil in mind.

"It's for you. Your clothe's torn," he pointed out.

I had hugged Kian half-naked? Okay not particularly half-naked but certain parts of my body were showing. The reason I loved my black skin comforted me. He wouldn't be able to see me blush, feeling mortified.

He handed the jacket to me. I wore it over my ragged hoodie, enclosing me in a warm cocoon. His jacket reached to my thighs and I felt somewhat better now that I was covered.

"I'm taking you home."

I nodded, too numb to say or do anything else. Handling me carefully, like I could break down any moment, he led us out the back door so people would not see me leaving in my tattered clothings.

"Where do you live?" he asked when we were in his car.

"5 Crescent street," I replied, still dazed.

"Okay."

The car ride was a silent one. There was no need for any petty conversation. We were each lost in our own thoughts.

In my unfeeling state I didn't know when we arrived home. I was still thinking, what if, what if. What if Kian hadn't come on time? Just what if?

"We're here. I'll take you to the door," Kian announced, granting me a reprieve from my what ifs thoughts.

He took me to the front door, knocking. Mom opened the door, allowing us in. She looked surprised to see how my clothes were. I sat down while Kian stood up.

"What happened?" she asked anxiously, her brows hiked up.

I had no strength to talk so Kian narrated my horrible experience to her, making sure he left out some non-essential details like me running away from everyone.

When he was done, Mom came over to where I was. "Baby girl, I'm sorry you had to go through that. Thank God this young man here saved you right on time." She was crying now, stroking my hair softly.

I sobbed on her shoulders forgetting that there was an onlooker.

"Shh, stop crying. It's all over now," Mom said, rocking me and wiping away my tears and hers with her dressing gown.

There was a cough, one that had been done deliberately.

"Ma'am, Jamila, I'm sorry to say this but I'll be going now. I have to take care of something," Kian said.

Mom stood up, her voice tightening with emotion. "Thank you. I appreciate. May God bless you." From the way she said it, you knew she was really thankful.

Kian's frame was disheveled, that perfect cocky aura he exuded, gone. He seemed drained like me. "You're welcome. It was partly my fault that this happened to her and I'm really sorry about that. I'll go now. I hope you feel better Jamila. Goodnight Ma'am, goodnight Jamila."

I mumbled a faint goodnight not sure if he heard me. Giving me a tiny smile that I guessed was to reassure me he left, boots producing clomping dins on the wooden patio outside.

Dad wasn't around when Kian and I came in. He had an emergency so he'd taken off to the hospital. I told Mom not to inform him about the ugly ordeal I'd almost gone through today. At first, she'd refused but after I'd begged her she had relented. I didn't need him knowing how my very first party had gone. He had sounded so happy I was going to one and I was loath to wreck that happiness.

Mom stayed with me throughout the night till I insisted that she leave me. It had taken a lot of convincing but in the end, she left, placing a goodnight kiss on my forehead.

Scary thoughts played around in my mind now that she was gone. Those what if thoughts came back to haunt me.

My phone pinged, lifting my focus away from dark thoughts. A message from that unknown number, which means it's Kian. I needed to save his number, I thought blindly.

Unknown number: Hey.

Me: Hey

Unknown number: I thought you'll be asleep. How're you doing?

Me: No. I'm not. Can't sleep. I think I'm fine now.

I thought about his fist, the one he had used to punch the maniac. Was it okay? I needed to ask.

Me: And how's your fist btw? You seemed to be favouring it earlier.

Unknown number: Fine fine and don't beat yourself up about it, not my fist, but what happened to you. Try to sleep. Infact I'll be calling you right now.

Me: What? Why?

The phone rang out. I picked it up. Kian again. "Hey Jamila, I'll stay up with you till you go to sleep. I know you need someone right there and I can't be right now but I'll be with you virtually."

I said meekly, eager to end the call, "No thank you and that's ridiculous. I'm okay. You've done enough." He had already done enough.

"No." His voice was stern. "Lie back down and close your eyes. I'll sing to you," he ordered.

Sing for me? Forget that he had saved me but this guy must be going bonkers. Honest.

"No thank you. Seriously, I'm okay," I lied, hoping he'll get the hint and leave me alone.

He didn't listen, if he did, he didn't care to. "Do as I say."

Years of obeying him had me doing exactly as he said. No other option, I laid down, closed my eyes shut and cradled the phone closer to my left ear.

"Okay, I've done that." There, I hoped he was happy now.

He started singing softly. It was a melodious song. One that I hadn't heard before. His voice was husky and soothing, sending a trembling sensation down my spine. It was almost like he was right there, singing for me a lullaby. And that lullaby was working because my eyes were becoming heavy.

I didn't know when I hugged Theo drowsily whispering, "I like your voice." And off I went. Lulled to sleep by a certain someone.

A/N: Hee hee hee, you guys should know that Olay will not kiss Kian lol. While writing the almost rape scene I felt bad too... it was not an easy stuff to write honestly and it was pratically the reason I didn't update on time but I guess I had to. Meanwhile fast forward to the side Kian comforts her, dyu like this good part of him or dyu still think it's all an act? Please don't forget to vote and comment. Thank you so much.

Nita.