I got too distracted by my manager's email last week that I never ended up booking my drone slot for class when I had planned on it. The one time I was on top of things to sign up right after class. But then, like always, I forgot.

We get to keep the drones out for two days, but I wasn't able to pick mine up until after 8:00pm on Wednesday. The poor TA who was tasked to be in charge of drone distribution definitely judged me for getting my drone at the last possible minute.

It's not like I would have even had time to work on this last week. I feel like I was busy almost every second since Bawdy showed up at my work.

Although, my week is a bit foggy from drinking so much. I guess I did fill a good amount of time getting drunk, but it was called for after losing my fucking job. Once I finish up this project, I need to actually sit down and find myself another job.

I'm not super low on money, but I'd better not put this off for too long or I'll fuck myself over.

I walk out of the pick-up building lugging the huge bag that I have filled with the drone and all of its gadgets. I'm usually pretty good at figuring out cameras, so hopefully this technology isn't impossible. Iris already got hers done, so at least I have someone ready to help if I can't figure it out.

I really want to take a drive down to the beach and get some cool shots, but that's going to be pretty hard to make time for in the next two days. I need to get the photos done tomorrow, so I can spend all of Friday putting together the project. I'm supposed to go to an event with Bawdy on Saturday, but I've been ignoring most of his texts since I last saw him after dinner at my parents.

I just don't want to get too attached and then he leaves me for another country.

It's upsetting me more than it should, but I can feel myself getting closer to wanting to respond. Then again, I also felt a bit off put by how he kept pushing to fuck me in the limo.

I just need a little time to process.

Finally, I make it to my street. This bag is getting heavy, and I know I can't drag it on the ground no matter how much I want to. I pause to switch arms and find myself being stunned by a flash.

"Miss, is it true that you're dating Bawdy?" A man with oily hair and a large camera shouts in my face.

He takes another photograph. "Huh?" I mutter.

"Has it finally happened?" he asks into a small recording device. "Has Bawdy settled or is he still on the market?"

How the fuck did the paparazzi find me? My heart rate accelerates as I see him wave over another man with a camera who was down the street. I nervously gulp.

The second man gets in my face immediately."Is it true that Bawdy has a secret child?"

I've never even heard that rumor before. There's no way. I hope.

"Um, I'm sorry, no thank you," I say as I try to walk past them. I shouldn't even be apologizing to these fuckers, but I need to be polite so they don't get angrier with me.

"Please, miss, what's your name?" The first man says, following me and snapping more photographs.

I try to speed up, but the larger man grabs onto my wrist. My eyes widen and I hold my breath, unsure of how to get out of this. I can feel the tears welling in my eyes.

Crying isn't going to help me. There's no way this is happening to me.

With his hand on my wrist, the man growls. "Just answer a few short questions." He tugs me backwards, and I almost stumble. "Now, what's your name? Why have you been spotted with Bawdy on multiple occasions?"

"I do not want to answer!" I scream. "Now leave me alone! Get away from me!" The best that I can think to do is scream and get attention from people. If I run, they'll definitely catch me. Besides being able to whack them with the drone bag, I don't stand a chance.

His grip tightens on my wrist. "It won't take long."

"I don't know who you are! But please! Listen to me and leave me alone!" I yell again, looking around with panic for anyone.

I see a group of people walking down the street towards us. The one good thing about living near campus is that people are always out walking, even at night. Although I wish I wasn't walking alone in the dark. At the site of the group approaching, the man releases me, and they start to walk away grumbling.

I look the opposite direction of the group where my house is, and I see more people out walking. I don't think these paparazzi maniacs would hurt me with witnesses around.

Using all of my built up adrenaline, I start speed walking as fast as I can with this huge bag. I don't stop until I'm safely in my building.

Fuck, maybe I shouldn't have went inside if they were watching and now they know where I live. But, they were already on my street, so they must already know my address. How the fuck did they find it? I start breathing faster until I can barely catch my breath.

Once inside my apartment, I drop my bag and lock myself in my bedroom. I notice that my hands are shaking as I pull out my phone. I know Kennedy is going to be studying for an exam basically all night at the library with some people in her class.

My tears start dripping out my eyes. With blurred vision, I click to call Bawdy.

It's been ringing for a bit. He's not going to pick up. He's probably busy. And, regardless, I haven't even responded recently to him. He must think I'm annoyed with him. Or maybe he's upset with me.

As I'm about to give up hope, he answers. "What's up?" He asks casually.

My voice cracks as I say, "I'm sorry to just call."

His tone changes immediately, "Gianna, what's wrong?"

I choke out what happened, freaking myself out as I recount the event. Before letting him ask any questions, I add, "I'm sorry to call, really, but I just don't want to be alone right now." I need someone who is going to make me feel safe. If any of my girl friends come over and one of those psychopaths breaks into my apartment, it's not like they'd be able to help me fight them off too well.

I hear people talking in the background of the call. "Oh, baby girl. I'll come right now."

"Thank you," I say in between sobs. "How long?" I ask.

"I'm at dinner like 25 minutes away."

"Oh, please don't leave if you're not finished."

"Don't even say that. I'm leaving right now."

I hear him tell whoever he's with that he's leaving, and he leaves cash on the table.

"Thank you. I'm just really freaked out. Let me know when you get here."

"I'm not going to hang up this call. Until I know you're safe in my arms, I'm staying on the phone with you."

His words are probably the only things that prevent me from drowning in a full blown panic attack. My thoughts would have eaten me alive waiting for him to get here. Every little creek or noise from outside my apartment is increasing my heart rate.

Bawdy gets up to my front door and doesn't hang up the phone until my arms are wrapped tightly around his waist. We step inside. He soothes me. "Shhh, baby girl. Please don't cry. You're safe now."

I lead him into my bedroom and lock my door. I burry my head into his chest, hearing his heart beat and feeling his body fill with air on every inhale. "I'll find out who those idiots were. They'll never bother you again. Fuck, I'll get you private security if I have to."

I don't know what he'll do to make them never bother me again, but I don't even care to question. Whatever it takes.

"I don't think I need a body guard," I say still latched onto his body.

"If something like this ever happens again, then you will. Listen," he lifts my chin up towards him with his hand. "I've been dealing with this shit for years. I've had some creeps try shit with me, so I know what to expect. I can't believe they'd put their hands on you knowing who I am."

"I just don't want to think about it any more," I say. If I keep replaying it in my head, that's only going to lead to me thinking of future hypothetical situations.

"Let's get you in something comfy." I look down at my jeans, but I don't want to let go of Bawdy. "Come on. Sit on your bed." He says while easily picking me up onto my bed. I feel almost frozen, and I sit with my arms tightly wrapped around myself.

Bawdy goes to unbutton my pants. While it's usually a sexual maneuver, it makes me feel safe and cared for. I lift up my butt to help him pull them off. I grab the pair of sweatpants that I slept in last night and pull them on. I replace my shirt with a larger sleeping shirt. Bawdy watches as I change, but he's not staring at me like he wants to fuck me. He's staring at me in a way that I know he cares about my well being. He doesn't want to take his eyes off me in fear that something will happen when he's not looking.

"Shit, I called you here without warning. What are you going to wear? You have none of your stuff," I say realizing that he's also in jeans.

"I made a list of things to be dropped off for me. Don't worry." He says and pulls off his pants. I pull myself under the covers and immediately go into a little ball.

Bawdy lifts up the covers and wraps his large arms around me, completely consuming me in his warmth. The initial shaking shock has fully worn off. But I still feel like I could cry at any second.

He smoothes his hand over my hair. Slowly, my eyes close and my mind shuts off as I drift into sleep, finding safety in his arms.