24Me: Hey guys! I'm not gonna claim Toby at all, cause if I did I would be a selfish nugget. As much as I would like to own him (cause that would be awesome) I sadly do not.
Toby: From your comment of epicicosity above this I am going to assume that I am in this story.
Me: Yes Toby, you noodle. You are. But you must wait to find out how!
Toby: I hate to wait. *sad face* Roll the next clip Steven!
The street around me couldn't be more empty. The nearly shattered light above me flickered on and off as I waited for the taxi that I had called to arrive. It was strange to not hear a single sound in a street in Los Angeles, but hey, it was a small street. I was surprised I wasn't on a constant call with the taxi service to find were I was.
I scratched my arm as I waited, turning my head back and forth along the street. They claimed that it would only take about thirty minutes, but it had been about forty. I was just considering going back inside my shop in order to wait when I heard the loud noise of an engine peel down the street. My arm readjusted my purse strap as I leaned over the street, peering down the corner.
But it wasn't a taxi car, unless they looked like black trucks with mud caked around it. I sighed, falling back onto my heels. I turned to go to the store, my hand just reaching the handle when I heard a voice.
"Hey little lady. Need a lift?" The voice called, deep in tone. It had the slight uncertainness of someone who has had too much to drink.
"No thank you!" I called behind me, even though I know I probably shouldn't say anything. I turned to wave cheerfully goodbye to him.
As soon as my hair had whipped around I found myself face to face with a rough beard. The smell of beer and cigars filled my nose and I wrinkled it in an attempt to force the scent out. But that was when I noticed how closely he was pressed against me. I paused, attempting to tilt my head up, but I couldn't. I was pressed so tightly that I couldn't move.
His arms were pressed against the wall behind my head, squeezing tightly against my neck. His head was tilted so it rested against his arms, his nose breathing in my scent.
"You're so pretty." He whispered, angling his hips so they were tighter against me. "So pretty." His breath was horrible, smelling even worse than the rest of his body. He reached one of his hands down to my hip, sliding under my jeans.
Tears fell down my cheeks and I fought, trying to force my way out from under him. But he was too strong. When he felt me fighting he laughed, just pressing harder.
I heard a sound coming around the corner over all the pain I was feeling. It was the sound of rough wheels rolling along on the ground. I stood up on my tip toes, and in the moment I had well the man's face was kissing my neck, I called out. "HEL-" But I wasn't able to get the rest of the word out before he pulled my head back down so I couldn't make a sound. But it was enough for whoever had entered the street to hear me.
I heard footsteps pounding the pavement and I felt the man pressed against me being pulled away. But whoever was trying to help me wasn't strong enough to pull him away. But the fact that whoever it was was trying gave me a small amount of hope to go on.
The person helping me managed to pull the man's arm off of the wall. In the moment where he didn't have enough leverage to stay standing they pulled his other arm off, spun him around, and punched him straight in the face.
I slid down the wall, tears obscuring my vision. But I was able to see the person helping me punch the man again as soon as he tried to stand. He managed to land a punch on his head and the man fell back, dazed.
The man who had helped me kneeled down beside me, resting his hands on the pavement as he peered at me. "Are you okay?" He asked me. His voice was caring, filled with a worry for me. That was more than anyone had felt for me in a while.
I shook my head no in response. He smiled slightly, but it wasn't a laughing smile. It was one of understanding.
"I should have guessed. Is there anyone you want me to call? Any family nearby?" He asked me, understanding that I did not want him to touch me. I shook my head. "Can I bring you to my house, like until you're better and all? That might be safer them to just stand here alone."
I thought for a second. I had no idea who this man was, but he had just saved me. He didn't seem like he was about to hurt me. In fact, he seemed more like he was going to help me. I nodded.
The man smiled again and he reached out a hand. When I didn't take it he spoke again. "Can you walk, or do I have to carry you?"
When I didn't respond he brushed aside a bit of his hair. "I would like an answer about it, since you're awake to answer my question."
"Just take me away from him." I pointed shakily towards the man that was lying on the ground. The man who had helped me glanced at him before nodding. He reached out a hand, and this time I took it.
But when I stood I nearly fell over straight away. Thankfully he was standing there and his hands shot out to stop me from falling. "I think I should carry you…" He said as he helped me stand. I was wobbling on my feet, swaying back and forth. I nodded and he swung me up into his arms, bridal style. He held me tightly against his chest as he walked down the dark street. I rested my head against his shoulder as we walked through the street.
Soon I lost track of where he was going, but he seemed to know where he was heading. My eyelids kept drifting shut since it was so late, but then I shook myself awake. I kept telling myself that I needed to know where we were going. But soon I could tell that it was helpless.
I think I did fall asleep, since the last thing I remembered was him humming a strange song with a tune I didn't recognize. But I woke up as he was messing with the front door of his house open. It seemed as if he was attempting to unlock the door with a key that was sitting in his mouth. It didn't seem to be going well.
"You could sit me down in order to open your door." I mumbled sleepily, and he seemed to startle when he heard my voice.
"I didn't notice you waking up," He told me. The key in his mouth shook as he spoke, waving back and forth clutched between his teeth. "And I never thought of that." He set me down gently on the stone plates that were covering the front path. After I was down on the ground he pulled the key out of his mouth and stuck it in the key hole. As soon as it clicked he pushed the door open with his foot and turned back to me.
"Can you walk yet or do I have to carry you into the house?"
I pressed my hands to the ground and pressed myself up standing. I was still shaky, but I was able to stand by myself. "I think I can walk." When I took a step I wobbled slightly and he instinctively reached out to grip my hand. I smiled at him and he shakily smiled back. He led me into the house.
As soon as I walked in I was startled by the amount of white walls that filled the house. They were filled with colorful paintings but I was too tired to make out what they were of. They just seemed like colorful blurs to distract me.
I turned to him. "I don't even know your name." I told him, blinking to try and clear my eyes.
"Well, I don't know your name either. But mine is Toby. Toby Turner."