AJ stared at her, speechless. “What? Oh god...are you sure? Wait a minute...of course you’re sure! What am I saying?”

She was shaking violently, and tears were falling down her cheeks. He hugged her tightly. “When?”

“I went home...this morning...and he was there...and...and...” she stopped unable to continue.

“This morning? Where were you all night?”

She looked away. “I was at Nick’s house and...it got late...so I just slept there.”

“Hold on a sec...you slept at Nick’s house and then, he went to your house and raped you???”

Her head shot up. “WHAT? No...it wasn’t Nick...it...”

He hugged her again. “Who was it?”

“Josh...” she whispered almost inaudibly.

He stared at her in complete shock. “I’ll kill him.”

He got up to leave, but Michelle grabbed his shirt. “No...please...don’t leave me.”

He looked into her eyes. He saw the all the fear and pain she was in. He hugged her and stroked her hair, then he handed her to his mom and went to talk to the police.

“Have you found him?”

The police looked at him apologetically. “We can’t find him...we are searching everywhere...but at the moment...we have nothing.”

AJ sighed. “How could he do this?”

“I don’t know, son. I don’t know.”

“Well...thanks.”

AJ went back to Michelle. She looked up at him. “AJ...could you call Nick?”

AJ stared at her in surprise. “Ummm...ok.”

He went and picked up the phone, wondering why she would want to contact Nick.

“Hello, Carter residence...you can talk to Nick, or you can call back later.” Came a goofy voice from the other end.

“Nick? It’s AJ.”

“What’s wrong?” asked Nick, sobering up.

“You need to get over here. Michelle wants you.”

“Why is she there? What happened?” he asked frantically.

“Josh raped her.”

“WHAT?!? Oh god...”

“She wants you to come here.”

“I’ll be there in a second.”

Before he could say anything else to him, Nick hung up. AJ went back and sat next to Michelle on the couch. He put his arm around her. He felt her tense up.

“What’s wrong?” he asked worried.

“Nothing...” she muttered pulling away.

He sighed. “I’m so sorry, Michelle.”

She shrugged, her eyes fixed on the floor. “Uh huh...”

He grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. Fear appeared on her face. “Let me go.” She whispered.

“Michelle...please...don’t treat me like this!”

“I can’t help it!” she replied tearfully.

She fell into his arms sobbing. “AJ...it was so awful! I couldn’t move and I was trying...but he...I tried to run away, but he caught me and then...”

AJ rubbed her back soothingly. “Shhhh...it’s ok...”

Just then, a breathless Nick ran into the house. “Michelle!”

She got up and he hugged her tightly. He kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”

AJ sat watching them. He felt a strange feeling creep over him. He wasn’t sure what it was. Just then, Calista knocked on the door.

She walked in. Astonishment appeared on her face, seeing AJ sitting on the couch, staring at Nick, who appeared to be comforting Michelle.

“Guys...what’s going on?”

Nick didn’t even look at her. AJ coughed. “Uhhh...Michelle had a little...run in with Josh.”

“Who’s Josh?”

“My step brother.” Michelle said, softly.

Calista sat down next to AJ. “What happened?”

Michelle stared at the ground. Nick smiled at her sympathetically. Calista looked at AJ questioningly, but he was looking at Michelle for the answer.

Michelle looked back at her. “Uhhh...” she suddenly reached out and held onto Nick for support.

“Michelle?”he asked concerned.

He picked her up and laid her on the couch opposite the one AJ and Calista were sitting on.

AJ got up quickly and knelt down in front of her. “What? What is it?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know...just a dizzy spell, I guess.”

Nick looked at her carefully, but didn’t comment. He helped her sit up, and she hugged him tightly.

“I’m glad you’re here.”she whispered. He answered by kissing her softly on the lips.

Calista stood up. “Would someone PLEASE tell me what’s going on??? I’m so confused!”

“AJ...tell her...”

AJ took Calista by the arm and led her out of the room to tell her.

Just then the police officer stepped in. “Excuse me mam...but...we haven’t been able to find him yet...and your parents are still unable to be contacted...so, I’ve talked it over with Mrs. McLean and she said that she’ll look after you until your parents are back.”

“Thanks.”

He nodded and left. Mrs. McLean reached down and hugged Michelle. “Oh honey...I’m so sorry.”

Michelle swallowed.

“Well...I think that we should be taking care of you...but...I have to go on a business trip...it concerns the boys’ next tour...so...you can just stay here with AJ. He’ll take good care of you.”

Michelle nodded tiredly. “Ok...thanks.”

“It’s alright...don’t worry about anything.”

Then she went outside to say goodbye to AJ and to tell him what was going to happen.

Michelle burried her face in Nick’s shoulder. “Oh god! This is such a terrible nightmare.”

Nick stroked her hair. “I know...I shouldn’t have left you alone...”

Michelle looked up into his distraught eyes. “Oh Nick! It wasn’t your fault...I made him angry...I shouldn’t have said anything to him.”

Nick shook his head. “He shouldn’t have touched you. Oh god...I’m so sorry I wasn’t there.”

Michelle shook her head at him. “It wasn’t your fault...if it hadn’t been today it would have been tomorrow...oh god...why didn’t I see this coming?”

Nick gently kissed her cheek. “Forget about it...He’s not ever going to lay a finger on you again.”

“How do you know?”

“Because if I ever see him, I’ll kill him.”

Michelle wondered why the words sounded so familliar. Just then, AJ and Calista walked back into the room. Calista looked distressed.

“Michelle...I’m so sorry.”

Michelle nodded. “It’s ok.”

“How can you say that? It’s not ok!” Calista said.

Michelle sighed. “He was drunk...”

“That’s no excuse!”

“I know! But...he’s my brother...”

“Step-brother.” AJ answered automatically.

Michelle shivered. “I think I need to sleep for a while.”

Nick nodded. “Alright...do you want me to stay?”

She kissed his cheek. “No..it’s ok...you should go home...your parents are going to be back.”

He smiled regrettfully. “Oh yeah...”

He kissed her on the lips, said goodbye to the others and left.

Michelle sighed and lay back on the couch. She covered her eyes with her hands. All she could see was Josh leering at her, and all she could feel were his hands on her body. She shuddered at the thought.

“Michelle? Are you ok?” Calista was standing over her looking scared.

Michelle sighed. AJ had left the room. She sat up. “Calista...” her voice cracked. Calista sat next to her.

“Do you...want to talk about it?”

Michelle started to cry. “Oh god...it was so awful...I was so scared...” her body trembled.

Calista stared at her and then tentatively reached out and hugged her. “Don’t worry about it...the police’ll get him.”

“But, what if they don’t? I close my eyes and all I see is him...but when I open them...he’s still there.” She whispered.

Calista looked at her sadly. “I’m sorry this had to happen to you.”

Michelle looked at Calista carefully. “Do you really mean that?”

Calista looked her in the eye. “Yes. You know...”

Michelle cut her off. “I know...the day I kissed AJ was the worst day of your life...I’m so sorry...about that...I don’t know what came over me...”

Calista smiled. “No...I’m sorry...about that scene in the hospital...that wasn’t very smart of me.”

Michelle gave her a small smile. “So...friends?”

“Of course.” Calista hugged her again. “Michelle...anytime you want to talk...I’m here.”

Michelle smiled at her gratefully. “Thanks.”

~~~~~~~~~Later that night~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AJ and Calista were lying on his bed, talking about everything, from their lives to Michelle’s and Nick’s. Then there was a terrifying scream. Calista stared at AJ.

“AJ...what was that?”

AJ shrugged. “I don’t know...” He said slowly.

Then the scream came again. It was louder and more heart stopping than before. AJ jumped off the bed and ran into the room Michelle was sleeping in. She was sitting up in bed, tears pouring down her cheeks.

“Michelle?” he asked, switching the lights on.

She was shaking and the tears seemed to be falling down her cheeks even faster than before.

AJ walked over to her. “Michelle?”

He sat next to her. “What is it?” he asked.

“He was there...” she sobbed uncontrollably. AJ reached out to hug her, but he noticed the way she flinched at his touch. He quickly drew his hand back.

“Do you want anything?”

“Call Nick...please...”

AJ nodded, and went to call his friend. He felt so hurt. Michelle had never been afraid of him before...and he was supposed to be her best friend...why did she want Nick?

“Hello?” asked a tired voice.

“Nick? It’s AJ.”

“AJ? What’s going on? Is Michelle alright? Why are you calling so late?” Nick sounded more alert.

AJ wanted to scream at him. “Yes, it’s me Nick...Michelle woke up screaming...she said that she wants you here.”

“Be right there.”said Nick, with no hesitation.

AJ went back into Michelle’s room. Calista was trying to comfort her, but she was too scared to listen.

A few minutes later, someone banged on the front door. AJ went down to answer it and returned with a frantic Nick.

He pulled Michelle into a tight hug. “Are you alright?”

She shook her head. “Nick...he was there...I could feel him...he..” she collapsed in a fit of sobs.

Nick rubbed her back. “Shhhhhh...it’s ok...”

“Nick...please don’t leave me!” she whispered in his ear. He hugged her tighter.

“Never...I’ll stay here...I promise.”

10 minutes later she was asleep. Nick stared down at her tear streaked face. Gently, he touched her cheek and sighed. AJ entered the room with Calista.

“Is she ok now?” asked Calista worried.

Nick shrugged. “I don’t know...”

AJ sighed. “I’ve known her practically all my life, and I’ve never seen her act like that before.”

Nick rubbed in eyes, tiredly. “Hey, AJ? Alright if I crash here tonight?”

AJ nodded. “Sure...want a bed or something?”

Nick shook his head. “No...I want to stay here...in case...”

AJ shifted his eyes. There was a time when Michelle would have only wanted his comfort.

“Sure...whatever man.”

Nick kissed Michelle’s cheek and then lay down next to her, pulling her closer to him.

AJ took Calista’s hand and led her out of the room.

Nick held Michelle lovingly.

“Stop!” she said in her sleep. “Don’t! Let me go!”

Nick sighed, knowing what she was dreaming about. It was killing him to see her like this. She calmed down and moved nearer to him. He kissed her gently on the lips.

“I love you.” He whispered.

She didn’t answer him, but he knew that she had heard, from the way she snuggled closer to him. He sighed and tried to fall asleep.