"Only Your Smile (Kills the Dark in Me)" ~sequel to Dear Diary~

Chapter 11. Just A Dream

Vincent's POV

I felt sick as Sinéad told me about her encounter with Eirnin earlier this afternoon. He was a terrible man and now Sinéad was caught up in a mess with him. And it was all because of me.

"Why don't you go flirt with another teacher, like...oh I don't know...Maybe Mr. Blackmore!"

Why the hell did I ever even say that to her. I know I was upset, but that's the last thing I ever should have said to her. After that, I knew that she was using him to make me jealous, but Eirnin was "in love" with her and that made matters even worse.

Eirnin was capable of terrible things. There was a very good reason that the two of us hated each other. We were in high school- they were seniors- and he was "in love" with a close friend of mine- Kirstie. At first, everything was fine. They were a happy couple. But then he would get jealous whenever she was around other guys. Then it turned into being jealous when ANYBODY had her attention. He had pushed away all of her friends and family, making Kirstie feel isolated and alone.

She was supposed to meet me to talk about what was going on one afternoon. I knew she wasn't happy with him, and I recalled seeing bruises on her, which she failed at trying to keep covered. When she didn't show up, I got worried. I called her phone and it went to her voice mail. I ran to my car and drove straight to her house, barging through the door. I asked her mom frantically if she was home.

"No. She mentioned something about going to Eirnin's, I think," she answered me calmly.

Damn! Was the woman blind? How could a parent not see this going on with their child? Did they not notice her bruises? Or did they even care?

I drove until I reached Eirnin's house. Again I barged through the door. His parent's weren't home- typical. They were probably out drinking, doing drugs, or God knows what. From down stairs, I could hear Kirstie crying. I quickly made my way to his room where I was greeted by a locked door. Without a second thought, I kicked the door down to find Eirnin straddling my friend- both completely naked. She was crying and struggling to get free from him and then he slapped her hard in the face. It was a sick sight to see and I could feel my adrenaline rushing even more.

Within seconds, Eirnin was on the ground as I my fists collided with his face constantly. Kirstie pulled me away from him before I could manage to kill him.

"IF YOU LAY A HAND ON HER AGAIN...I WILL-" I started to yell in his bloodied face.

"Vincent, please stop!" Kirstie begged from me and I looked at her, confused. "Please. I just want to go home and forget everything that's happened." She said softly. "Please."

I sighed and nodded. I caught sight of her clothes on Eirnin's bed, they were torn to pieces, so I took off my shirt and jacket and offered them to her until we could get her home.

That was the last I had seen of Eirnin. He dropped out of high school and he seemed to have disappeared- until he showed up this year at school as the new art teacher.

I believe though that one of the sickest things about the entire situation with Eirnin was that once, he and I were best friends.

***

"Promise me that you'll text me as soon as you get home," I made her promise again before leaving my house.

"I promise," she said back with a smile and I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

I thought about Eirnin as she drove off. I didn't really think he'd do anything-not yet at least. But I still wanted to know she was safe.

*****