Angel
by Aerosmith

I'm alone
yeah I don't know if I can face the night
I'm in tears
and the cryin that I do is for you
I want your love let's break the wall between us
Don't make it tough, I'll put away my pride
Enough's enough, I've suffered and I've seen the light

Baby, you're my angel come and save me tonight
You're my angel come and make it alright

Don't know what I'm gonna do about this feeling inside
Yes, it's true loneliness took me for a ride, yeah, yeah yeah
Without your love, I'm nothin but a beggar
Without your love, a dog without a bone
What can I do, I'm sleepin in this bed alone

Baby, you're my angel come and save me tonight
You're my angel come and make it alright
Come and save me tonight

You're the reason I live
You're the reason I die
You're the reason I give when I break down and cry
Don't need no reason why
Baby, baby, baby you're my angel come and save me tonight
You're my angel come and make it alright
You're my angel come and save me tonight
You're my angel come and take me for a ride
Come and save me tonight
Come and save me tonight
Come and save me tonight
Come and save me tonight
Come and save me tonight

 

I had been in a relationship that lasted three years. I thought we were meant to be, but things started going down hill between me and Ian. Our final fight ended with him telling me that I was ugly and worthless. With tears stinging my eyes, I drove back to my apartment. As I walked down the hall to my door, I ran into my friend, and neighbor, Bryan Clark. "You ok, Jo?" "No, I'm not ok, but I'll live." "Is there anything I can do?" I finally looked him in the eyes. "Do you think I'm ugly?" "No. Why?" "Ian just said I was ugly and worthless." "He's a fool." I gave Bryan a weak smile. "You're sweet, or you're lying to get me to leave you alone." "Actually, I was going to see if you wanted to have dinner with me. Now, I insist." "I wouldn't be very good company tonight." "You'll want to talk to someone. I have a big shoulder you can cry on," he offered.

Well, he didn't give up until I agreed, but I did very little crying. I helped him make dinner, and set the table. He surprised me when he pulled a bottle of white wine out of the fridge. "Do you always have a bottle in the fridge," I asked, teasing Bryan. He smiled. "Like I said, I planned on having you here for dinner. I thought you might like wine more than beer." "That was very sweet of you." He smiled, and blushed a little. "Are you flirting with me?" I just laughed.

We ate, exchanging small talk occassionally. Once I finished, I sat back, and said, "thank you. That was wonderful." "Thank you for sharing it with me. I get tired of cooking for one." "We'll have to do this again. But next time, it's my turn to cook." "Alright," he chuckled.

He sobered, and turned to me. "Do you want to talk about Ian?" "Ian who?" I smiled at him. "I just want to cut my losses, and move on. I could see that it was coming. It just hurt once it happened. Thanks to you, I've gotten over it quickly." "Anytime you need me, I'm right next door to you." I stood up, then he stood, too. "You're not leaving already, are you?" "I was thinking about it. I've had a rollercoaster of a day. I'm just ready to curl up on the couch and watch a sappy movie." "You can watch it over here with me, if you want to. I can hand you tissues," he laughed. I thought for a moment. "Why don't you come with me? I can put on an action flick with a sappy under-story, and make some popcorn." "Sounds good to me."

We walked next door to my apartment. After I opened the door, I saw Ian standing in my living room. "What the hell are you doing here?" "I came to apologize. What is he doing here?" "That's none of your business, anymore. It's over between us. I want you to leave, now." "Baby, please..." "I don't want to hear it. Get the hell out of my apartment!" "Jolyn, you're not giving me a chance." "I believe she asked you to leave," Bryan said from behind me. Ian looked him over, then turned back to me. "Fine. I'll go, but I'll be back tomorrow." As Ian walked out the door, I said, "don't bother," then slammed the door shut. I turned around, and leaned my forehead on Bryan's chest. "He is such a dick," I muttered. He laughed. "Come on. Let's start the movie." "Pick one out, and turn it on. I'm gonna start the popcorn, and get out of these work clothes."

I changed into a cami top and shorts, then went to the kitchen. I took the popcorn out of the microwave, dumped it in a bowl, then grabbed a couple beers from the fridge. As I handed him his, he said, "I thought you liked wine better?" "No. I said that was sweet of you, because you thought of what I wanted. Not because you were right," I teased. I sat down next to him, and pressed play on the remote.

Sometime after opening my third beer, I must have fell asleep. I awoke as he was trying to scoop me up off the couch, evidently, to put me in bed. "Bryan?" "It's ok, Jo. You passed out." I wrapped my arms around his neck. "I fell asleep," I protested, as I looked into his eyes. "Can you do something for me?" "What," he asked. "Don't let me go." I slowly leaned forward, and kissed him. Bryan returned the kiss. "Make love to me," I whispered. "I can't. You're drunk. I wouldn't want you to regret it later."

He picked me up, carried me to my room, and laid me down on the bed. Before he pulled away, I grabbed the collar of his shirt. "Please stay with me, Bryan." He kissed my forehead, and said, "I'm going home. Get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning." I watched him lock the front door, and close it behind him. Tears slid from the corners of my eyes, as I fell back asleep.

The next morning, I got up and showered. After getting dressed, I went next door to his apartment, and knocked on the door. When he answered, I stared at his bare chest, then slowly moved down to his boxers. I cleared my throat, then said, "may I come in?" "Sure," he said as he opened the door wider. After he closed the door, I turned to look into his eyes. "About last night..." "Don't worry about it." "You don't understand..." "Yes, I do. You were hurt by your ex, and drunk, so you wanted to sleep with me." "No, you don't. I am stone sober, and I still want you to make love to me. I've wanted you for months, but I didn't say anything because of Ian." He looked at me, as if absorbing what I said. I stood on my toes, and pulled him down to meet me. "Please, Bryan."

I didn't receive any hesitation from him. My arms wrapped around his neck, as he picked me up, and carried me to his room. After he laid me on the bed, he began stripping away my clothes. As I lay before him, naked, he ran his hand down my side. "You are beautiful." I ran my hand over his hip, and tight butt, sliding his boxers down, as I did so. "You are so sweet, and sexy." Bryan joined me on the bed, and took the time to touch and taste me all over. Our blue eyes met as we became one. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and kissed him. His thrusts were slow and methodical. His kisses were soft, yet unyeilding. And, he drove me mad with passion.

"Oh, Bryan..." "Jolyn..." As we came together, he kissed and nuzzled my neck. He pulled away just enough to look in my eyes. I ran my fingers through his hair. "How could I ever regret that." He smiled, and kissed me. A crash from the other side of the wall put an abrupt end to our afterglow.

"Oh, shit! Someone's in my apartment!" Bryan jumped out of bed, and put on a pair of jeans. "Did you lock the door, before you came over," he asked. "Of course." "Who has a key?" "Ian." As soon as I said his name, I jumped out of bed, and put my clothes back on. Before I could finish getting dressed, Bryan ran out the door, and went to my apartment.

When I finally made it inside my apartment, Bryan was holding Ian over his head, ready to throw him through the wall. "Bryan! Set him down!" He set Ian on his feet, but held his arms behind his back. I walked over to Ian, and pulled his keys out of his pocket. I quietly took my key off, then threw the rest in his face. "Alright. Do what you want to with him." "Call 911. He's going to need a doctor." Bryan picked him up again, and rammed his head into the wall. Ian dropped to the floor with a thud, and laid still. I thought he was dead until I saw the rise and fall of his chest.

I called 911, and asked for police and an ambulance. When they arrived, I told them that he was tearing up my apartment, and came after me, before Bryan attacked him. There was no way I was going to let Bryan go to jail for protecting me. I also told them about the confrontation the night before. With my statement, they decided to let Bryan go, but warned that he would go to jail, if there was another confrontation between them.

After everyone left, I wrapped my arms around his waist. "Thank you, Bry." "Hey, what are friends for?" "Yeah," I mumbled, as I backed away and looked down. "Friends." "Hey," he said as he pulled me back in his arms. "Even lovers are friends." He kissed me, and held me tight against him. "Come on, baby. I'll help you clean up."

 

The End