Hell Hath No Fury

Part 3

"Kim? This is ridiculous. This is the third time I've called you and you haven't returned any of my messages. Just to let you know, I am seriously worried. I am coming over there as soon as I can. Whatever is going on...maybe I can help. I'll see you later."

Kim listened to Amber's last message. She was truly sorry for blowing her off today, but she hadn't been ready to face her yet. And judging from the message, she didn't have a choice now.

'What am I going to say?' She asked herself. 'I'm O.K. I was only raped by your boyfriend, that's all...no way! She'd be devastated! She loves Clay, son of a bitch that he is, and she'd believe him over me anyday.'

She got dressed in jeans and a long sleeved shirt, wanting to camouflage the bruises on her arms. She looked herself over in the mirror.

"Not bad...for a woman who's been raped." She told herself.

Just then, she heard a knock at her door. She jumped, fearing it may be Clay coming back for more.

"Kim? It's me, Amber. Are you in there?"

She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She still didn't know what she was going to say to her.

"I'll be right there!" She called out.

Outside, Amber breathed a sigh of relief and leaned her forehead against the door. 'At least Kim is still alive.' She thought. 'Maybe she just wasn't feeling well.'

Seconds later, Kim opened the door. Amber immediately rushed to embrace her.

"Kim! Girl, I was so worried about you."

Kim reached up to hug her back. "Amber..."

"You'd better have a good explanation why you haven't returned any of my calls! Obviously, you're not dead...so what's going on?"

"I..." Kim couldn't bring herself to tell Amber she had been raped, much less by her boyfriend. "I just haven't been feeling well today."

"Really?" She nodded. "Was it something you ate? Something you drank? I know...is it 'that time'?"

Kim had to smile at her friend's compassion. "No, no, and that just ended."

"O.K. None of that, so...what is it?"

Kim sighed. "It was just a bad day for me, that's all."

"Let me get this straight. You were feeling bad for whatever reason, so you just stayed home, and refused to answer any of my calls. Is that right?"

"Yeah..."

"Kim..."

"Yes?"

"You should have told me. I could have called in, come over and we could have spent the whole day feeling bad together!"

Kim laughed. "Amber!"

"What? Can't a woman be concerned about her best girl?"

"Yeah, but-"

"But nothing, Kim. You know I'm here for you. Anytime you're having trouble with whatever...you know where to reach me. I'll drop everything and be there faster than you can say 'Simon is an assclown'."

Kim laughed. It was the first time she'd done so all day. "Thanks, Amber."

"No problem. Listen, honey, if you don't need me here, I'm going to head back to the office for an hour, then I've got to go to the store. If you want to talk...just call me. I'll come right on over."

Kim hugged her. "Thanks." She walked her to the door. "Amber..."

"Yeah?"

"I just wanted to tell you...that I'm really grateful to have a friend like you."

"Oh, Kim..." Amber hugged her. "You'll always be my girl, no matter what."

"Same here. girlfriend."

Amber smiled and walked down the stairs.

Kim smiled to herself. 'You'll always be my girl, Amber...even if your boyfriend is a loser and a rapist. And speaking of which...'

Clay heard a knock at the door. He knew Amber was coming over later on. He looked at his watch.

"Well, she's always punctual. But she's early this time. Oh, well..." He shrugged and went to open the door.

"If it isn't my beautiful..." His smile faded when he saw Kim standing there.

"That's right, Clay. Your beautiful rape victim."