Denver had driven through the rain trying to figure out what to do next. Her stomach was churning and her heart was still hammering in her chest. She had been driving around aimlessly for the last hour trying to figure out what to do, and the smell of her arousal was making her nauseous.
A dull headache was starting to throb in the back of her head and the pounding seemed to be beating with the rhythm of the rain hitting her windshield. Her eyes were puffy making it difficult to navigate through the rain, but she didn't want to go home yet, sure that her brother would be waiting for her. She drove around town, and when she stopped she was sitting in front of the liquor store. Thinking of nothing better to do, she grabbed her stuff and locked up the car.
Quickly she navigated the isles of the liquor store, found what she wanted and left. If she stayed in there long enough, she was bound to see someone she knew, and she didn't think that was the best idea in her current condition. Standing on the sidewalk next to her car, she rummaged through her bag looking for her keys. The rain had started again and drop-by-drop it was making Denver's hair stick to her face and neck. A chill ran down her back as the wind howled and blew her hair into her face.
It almost seemed fitting that she never saw the man approaching from her rear. It seemed comical really. The man was nice but insistent when he asked for her purse and Denver had actually laughed out loud -- surely this couldn't be happening.
"Ohh, I'm so scared," she said over her shoulder mocking the man behind her. "I'm not in the mood for this." She said still rummaging through her bag. She hadn't heard enough of the man's voice to tell which one of her friends it was, but she definitely didn't need this right now.
Finally her fingers brushed along the metal ring and she pulled her car keys from her bag. Denver stepped from the curb to walk around the driver side of her car but before she could move further, she felt her neck snap back. Her eyes widened in fear as she realized the man behind her wasn't a friend and at the moment he had a fist full of her long brown hair.
"I'm not kidding cupcake." Denver could feel the man's hot breath tickling her ear, as he pulled harder on her hair. White dots danced in front of her eyes as the pain in her scalp grew more intense. Without thinking, she dropped her bag and reached back behind her head trying to pry the fingers from her hair.
The fear that was mounting in her forced her heart to beat out of her chest and finally it occurred to her to scream. She inhaled deeply prepared to cry out for help when a rough and calloused hand clamped over her mouth. Reacting without thought, she bit down on the side of the man's hand until the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.
"Ow!" The man yanked his hand from her mouth and she tensed waiting for him to silence her for good. "You stupid bitch, you broke the skin." Denver opened her eyes in time to see the back of the man's hand collide with her face. Denver fell to the ground wrapping her hands around her head, waiting for the next blow. She was still lying on the wet pavement when she heard the sound of her tires screeching away. She stood, tried to fix her hair and walked back into the liquor store.
"Call the police," she said to the woman behind the counter, bile rising in her throat. "I've just been robbed."
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It took about four minutes for the cops to get there and she couldn't imagine why no one had called them before. In her mind the event had stretched on forever, but she knew it couldn't have taken more than a few minutes because no one else witnessed what happened.
The police took her statement and reported her car, purse and credit cards missing. The EMTs checked her vitals and bandaged the small cut she had on her cheek and gave her a couple aspirins. The scene was starting to clear and Denver drew a deep breath.
"Would you like me to drive you home, miss?" Denver smiled but shook her head not at the officer.
"Thanks, I'm gonna walk. I kinda just wanna be alone right now." He nodded his head and handed her a card with his name and number on it. She slipped it into the pocket of her jeans; the fact that she didn't have a purse to put it in wasn't lost on either of them.
"If you need anything ma'am, feel free to call."
She smiled. "Okay." She watched as the few remaining police officers got into their cruisers and pulled off. Her eye caught sight of a red mustang sitting on the corner and if she had any tears left in her she probably would have burst into hysterical sobs. Denver wanted to turn and run but her adrenaline rush was gone and she was left feeling sluggish and tired. So she stood with her feet planted on the pavement and watched as her brother approached her; hands in pockets.
He looked worse since the last time she'd seen him. He still had the same jeans on but now he had on a sweatshirt. Something Denver whished she desperately had. His hair was a mess, his eyes were red rimmed and the beginning of stubble could be seen. She watched as he stepped up onto the curb not exactly sure what to say. If Denver had her way, it would have been weeks before she was ready to talk to him, but apparently the universe had other plans.
"Den-", he started, looking down at his feet.
"How did you know I was here?" She watched as his face flushed, and she could already guess what he was about to say.
"It doesn't matter." He said with a sigh dragging his eyes to meet her gaze. "If its okay, I'd like to take you home."
"Answer the question, Mikey."
"I went out with the girl from the liquor store a couple times. She called me after she called the police."
Denver threw her arms in the air and started to walk away. She knew it wouldn't get rid of Mike, but she had to distance herself from him. She could hear the sound of his shoes coming after her but she didn't slow down.
"Denver. Denver, c'mon don't be like that, it was a long time ago," Mike said grabbing at her arm.
"Don't be like that?" she said her voice rising. "Don't be like that? You just don't get it do you?"
"No! No I don't, please explain it to me because I have no idea what your problem is."
Denver spun around and smacked into her brother's chest. She hadn't expected him to be standing that close to her.