"To me, much of anger is an extension of extreme sadness. It's a lot easier to be angry at someone that it is to tell them that you are very sad, or that you feel hurt." - Alanis Morissette

A few hours later, Taylor was still at the library, wandering around. He had been procrastinating terribly on his term paper for English, that was why he was still there, after three hours. It was nearly ten at night, and he was just putting back all of his books. The library was empty, and it was beggining to creep him out. The librarians were making their rounds, putting the books away, but most of the students had left hours ago.

Taylor walked to the end of the isle he was in, and someone caught his eye. There was Christina, packing up her books. What is she still doing here, Taylor wondered. She had her back to him, as she got up and shoved her books into her bookbag. Taylor watched from behind some shelves as she put her books away and then picked up her sweater from the back of her chair. She slung her bookbag on a shoulder, then started for the stairs. Taylor followed secretly at a safe distance.

Although he could tell she was pissed beyond belief at him, he still cared for her. As much as he wanted to deny it and forget about her, he couldn't. Christina was a part of him, as she always would be. He watched as she said good by to the librarian and then walked out the front doors.

Christina sighed as she stepped out into the cool, night air. She shamed herself on not bringing her car, but it was only half a mile away from her apartment. She could use the exercise. Seeing Taylor had made her angry and flustered. She hadn't really been able to think about anything else for the remaining three hours she stayed there after talking to him. All she could see were his striking blue eyes, and his flushed face, staring back at her.

He seemed sorry, but she just didn't know if she was ready to speak to him. As much as she wanted to, she was still very angry, but mostly very hurt. She didn't really understand all of what had happened, but she had a feeling she would never know.

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when she heard a sound behind her. She turned around and looked behind her, switching her bookbag to her other shoulder. She suddenly was aware that it was late at night and she was by herself. She continued walking, this time at a faster pace. She didn't see any other people out, and she suddenly was afraid.

The first few monts post-Taylor had been very hard for her. He had been so close to her for so long that she had become completely dependent on him. She wasn't used to being by herself and not having anyone to talk to. It was very strange and scary at sad at first. Just when she was starting to get over him, he showed up. Firgures, she thought.

She heard another sound behind her, and she turned around just in time to see a man jump at her. She screamed, and he covered her mouth. She shut her eyes tight and screamed again. She suddenly doubled over when she felt a blow to her stomach. Images of Michelle and her tear streaked face looking at Christina from the hospital room the night she was raped were stained to her mind. She felt him grab her arms behind her back. He started to punch her repeatedly to the stomach and she felt more scared right then than she had ever in her entire life.

This is it, she thought. He's either going to punch me to death or rape me, or both. She cried out in pain and sadness as he punched her more.

"Please..." She cried. She could taste the warm blood seeping into her mouth. She shook as he punched her, just praying that he would stop soon. He fists pounded into her stomach and ribs, and occasionally he would smack her hard across the face. Her body ached already and her face was throbbing. She finally lay limp in hopes that he would go away. She really got scared when he picked her up and started to drag her. Suddenly she fell to the ground, blacking out for a few moments before realizing what was happening.

Taylor ran as fast as he could. He coudl see one thing, and one thing only. It was the man that was punching Christina. He had been following her from a safe distance when a man jumped out from behind a building and started punching her. They were in the middle of the park, and no one was out. He had only been following a little too far away.

He yelled out as he tackled the man, who was just finishing on Christina. Taylor could only feel the rage that was pumping through his body as he rolled on the ground with the man. He punched him the best he could, but the other guy was bigger than Taylor, and he threw a couple of good punches also. They rolled on the ground for a few moments, struggling and grunting with force.

Taylor managed to pin him to the ground and sit on him, and he only could see red as he repeatedly punched the guy in the face for all he was worth. When he lay limp, Taylor stood up, holding his bloody jaw. He looked over at where Christina was laying on the ground. She sat up, and her face was already turning a bit purple, and she looked scared and sick. Their eyes met, and he walked over to her slowly.

He stood in front of her, and she looked up at him. He held out a hand and helped her up, not taking his eyes from hers. She held onto the hand that he helped her up with. She wordlessly threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. A few seconds later, his arms were around her. No words were spoken as the two embraced. Soon tears of fear and relief fell from her eyes. She sobbed into his jacket as the scene flashed in front of her eyes and the situation sunk in.

"Shhhh...." Taylor said soothingly, stroking her head.

She cried as he rocked her for a while, just trying to calm her down.

"Thank you." She said, still hugging him. "Taylor, thank you so much."

"It's okay." He said, rubbing her back. She wiped her eyes and sniffed, pulling away from him.

"I was so scared."

"I know." he said, taking her hand.

"If you hadn't been there...."

"But I was." he said, looking into her eyes.

"Thank you." She whispered, hugging him again. As he stood there hugging her, everything that happened didn't matter. All that mattered was that he had been there, and she was still alive, and they were together again.

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