𝑀𝓎 𝑀𝒶𝓃#1~When Love Lasts

An hour later, I'm sitting in the Cedrics truck, parked in front of my house. We have been sitting here for what felt like ten minutes. Cedric making no move to get out of the truck, just giving me the time I need to put my big girl panties on.

“Babe. I know you're scared, but we need to be quick.” Cedric reminded me.

“You're right" I whispered, opened the passenger door and jumped out, chest growing tight with fear.

What if, whoever it is is watching me?

“Avery. I'm with you. Nobody is going to hurt you. Do you understand? I won't allow it. He would have to go through me to do it.” Cedric growled, walked up behind me and pulled me into his chest. “Let's get you inside and get this done.”

I didn't reply to him. I let him guide me towards my house, over my steps and to my front door.

“Got your key?” He whispered, giving me a supportive smile.

“Yeah.” I whispered, dug inside my pants and handed him the key.

“I'm right here.” He reminded me before turning to unlock the door, but his back straightened as he inspected the door. “Did you lock your door before leaving?”

“Of course. I always do.” I informed him. I always lock my house. I watch far too many crime shows to ever leave my house unlocked, or my windows for that matter. “Why?” I asked, worried. Why did he ask me that?

“It's already unlocked.” He growled, pulled out his gun that I didn't even know he was hiding behind his back, and pulled me behind him. “Stay behind me.”

Stay behind him?

Is he serious?

We can't go in there.

“Cedric, maybe we should wait for the cops.” I whispered, scared that whoever broke into my house could still be in there.

“Babe, I am a cop. Hang on.” He grunted and pulled out his phone, bringing it to his ear. “Lucas, I need you at Avery's house now. It's been broken into.” He looked at me right before opening the door slowly. “Stay behind me and do whatever I tell you to do. No attitude.”

“Okay.” I groaned, terrified.

“Maybe I should bring you back to the truck. You're scared-” He turned us around, but I dug my feet against the rug in front of my door.

“No. I'm not leaving you. I don't want to be alone. What if his watching?” I cried, fear gripping me tight like a cocoon.

“Okay, okay, babe. Just remember what I said.” He growled before taking a step inside my broken into home.

He slowly walked us through my living room and kitchen. He kept asking me if I have seen anything out of place and my answer was no every time. Possibly, I forgot to lock up. Nothing looked missing. My house hasn't been trashed.

We finally made it into my bedroom, and my legs almost gave out when I saw the state of my bedroom. My bed looked like it had been slept in. I always, and I mean always, make my bed after getting up. My grandma taught me that. She forced me to make my bed when I was little, and now the habit just sticks with me.

“Cedric.” I whined, nails digging hard into his back. “My bed-” I whispered but couldn't find the word's, I was too scared.

“Babe what? What's wrong with it?” He asked, gently, trying to pry my body from behind me so that he could look me in the face. “You have to tell me, so I know what's wrong.”

“My bed. It's been messed up. I always make it. I made it before leaving my house. I made it.” I shouted, feeling myself having a panic attack, pain shooting across my chest.

“Avery. Avery baby, I need you to breathe, okay? I'm right here. Nothing can hurt you. Do you understand? I'm right fucking here.” He growled, grabbed my face, and forced me to look into his eyes. “You are safe.”

“I don't feel safe, Cedric. Someone was in my home-” I wheezed, trying to get control of my breathing.

“I know, but you are safe. Whoever it is will not hurt you.” He whispered, brought his face closer to mine. Our lips' barely touching. “I will keep you safe, baby. Trust me. No motherfucker is going to touch you.” He growled before smashing his lips against mine and kissed me deeply.

I was shocked as soon we felt his warm lips against mine, I didn't kiss him back right away. I just stood there, feeling all my emotions swirling around deep in my gut.

Fear.

Anger.

Confusion.

Protected.

Cared about.

I finally wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his back, giving him every emotion that I was feeling, including the ones I was currently feeling about him.

We heard cop sirens getting closer, and we pulled away from each other. Cedric breathing hard, and me looking up at him, both speechless about what just happened.

“Cedric?” Lucas called out.

“In here. Bedroom.” Cedric shouted at Lucas, but kept his eyes on me.

“We will talk about that later.” He informed me before heading towards my doorway to meet with his partner and best friend.

I don't know if I want to, I don't even think we should. Maybe that was just our emotions getting the better of us?

“What happened?” Lucas asked as soon as he walked through my bedroom door. “It doesn't look broken into.”

Not this again.

“Her house was already unlocked. She said she locked it. She always locks it. Her bed looks like it's been slept in, and she said she makes it every morning. So yes. It's been broken into.” Cedric growled. “We need to find out who is doing this. Do you understand?”

“Lock it down. Now isn't the time,” Lucas demanded Cedric. “We will find him.”

I wanted to leave. I no longer felt safe in my own home. Somebody was in here.

I decided to do what we came here for. I quickly rushed towards my closet and grabbed my suitcase. “Your right. It's not safe here.” I told Cedric as I dumped random clothes into the suitcase, barely paying attention.

“She will stay with me. Whoever did this may come back again. For the fucking third time.” Cedric snarled and slammed his fist into the wall.

“Calm down Ced.” Lucas ordered. “I know you're pissed, but punching holes in walls will not help.”

“Makes me fucking feel better.” Cedric grunted.

I didn't pay them anymore attention, I focused on shoving everything I could into my one suitcase. I had boxes still from moving, but one suitcase is enough.

I just need a few things.

Sleep clothes.

Work clothes.

Bar clothes in case Anna wants to go out to the Sleepy Sheep again.

I slowly opened my underwear draw, feeling a little embarrassed that I had random men inside my room watching me, that I just grabbed a fist full and started to put them into my suitcase without looking at what I actually grabbed.

Right before I went to lift my hand out the suitcase, I felt something on a pair of my panties. It's crusty. Something dry.

What?

Curiously, I picked up the pair that felt dirty and looked down at it, trying to be discreet.

The pair of panties is black, so as soon as I looked closer, I noticed the white stains splattered against the black.

What the hell?

I always wash my clothes.

What is this?

I stared at the white stain a few seconds longer, and then I remembered.

The call.

The call I received at the center, the one with that man moaning and thanking me. What if he was doing this when he called me?

“Oh god.” I cried and dropped the panties, disgusted that I had even touched them.

“What?” Cedric called for me and rushed over towards me, pulling me into his arms and for a minute, I felt safe again. “Babe?” He asked me again because I was standing in front of him speechless with a crazed look in my eyes.

“The call Cedric.” I whispered, trying to form the words that would make him understand my fear.

“What call Avery? You need to tell me what's wrong so that I can fix it.” Cedric demanded and gently shook me.

“The prank call I received at the center today, I had got calls from kids, but the one that I was referring to was a man Cedric, and he was moaning into the phone. At first, I thought he was hurting but the sounds he was making it wasn't painful noises it was more like he was pleasuring himself.” I took in a deep breath before I added. “He even thanked me.”

“What?" Cedric asked, his face growing red with his anger, and he looked ready to kill.