Dolly~ Slappy x Annabelle

Part 5

The rest of the day was a blur. All I did was sit in my bedroom, reading all of the love letters I made copies of, just in case she didn't get them. I wiped tears from my eyes as I held a box full of letters. Nine years worth, to be exact.

I plucked another out and read it. This one made me tear up.

When she walks by

by Your Secret Admirer

I always thought that love was strange,

The thought of having someone by your side,

Loving and caring for you at all times. 

I think much of it 

Untill the day I saw you.

Your eyes light up any dark sky,

your smile makes my heart cry,

The things you do make me long for more.

The way you walk makes me numb,

The way you talk brings music to my ears.

When she walks by,

When she smiles back,

Somehow I wonder if I'm dreaming

Or it's reality.

I think i'm in love with her,

When she walks by.

to: My love Annabelle

from: Your secret admirer

I felt those same tears run down my cheeks. Part of me longed for another chance at winning her heart. I was scared and alone again. And it was my fault for not being a wuss and confessing my love for her. I was ashamed and sad and angry. 

That's when I heard my bedroom door open. I looked sharply up, only seeing Wally at the door. He was the last person I wanted to see right now.

"What do you want?" I scowled, wiping again at the tears forming in my eyes.

"Listen," he said, "I'm sorry for what I said before. I didn't mean it. I was just tired and didn't know what to say to that."

I sighed. I couldn't stay mad at him. "It's okay," I said. 

"What's up with you?" He asked. 

"Nothing, I'm fine," I lied. 

Wally smirked and leaned against the doorframe. 

"I'm not leaving this room until you tell what's up," he urged. 

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. You know Annabelle, right?"

"That cute girl at school that you have a slight crush on?" Wally assumed. 

I sighed. "Yeah, her. I was just on the phone with her, and I think I may have just ruined my chances with her."

Wally suddenly looked struck, like someone had just smacked him across the face.

"I told her that Red didn't love her and that whoever wrote those letters belongs with her and not him," I explained. "I didn't say it was me, though. I kept my mouth shut on that."

Wally sighed. "I'm sorry, Slaps. Is there anyway that she'd love you just as much as you do?"

"Of course not. Not now," I sighed. 

Wally and I talked about it for a little while longer and then he went back downstairs. I sighed and flopped down on my bed. 

When she walks by...

I feel stunned and confused. 

and when she stops and stares...

My heart stops. 

She smiles...

I can't breathe. 

But when she walks away...

My heart follows.

The next day seemed longer than before. Papa called that night and told me he was coming back today. I told him what happened and he said he would talk to me about it when he came home.

I was lying in bed, still not getting up from my sleeping. Blankets covered my entire body as I lie on my side. I was chilly, but not cold. Warm, but not hot. At home, but not comforted. 

Someone knocked on the door. I thought it was Papa, then I realized it wasn't, when I looked up and saw those beautiful green eyes of the girl I fell in love with. 

Annabelle stood at the door, her dress in a mess and her hair unraveled at her shoulders. Her eyes were blood-shot, as if she hadn't slept in weeks. Her face was bright red with tears, her face smeared with mascara, her lips smeared with lipstick. 

But what caught my eye the most, was a big black and blu bruise on her thigh and arm. I jolted out of bed and came to her side.

"Annabelle!" I gasped. "What happened?"

"You were right!" She bewailed. I hugged her tightly and she buried her face in my shoulder. I hugged her as tight as I could.

"Shh, shh. Come on, let's sit down," I comforted. 

I led her to my messy bed and sat her down. I sat next to her and rubbed her back. She sniffled and then I grabbed a tissue out of my back pocket. Yes, I can generate random tissues out of my pockets, shut up!

"Here you go," I said, handing her the tissue. She took it thoughtful and blew her nose. 

"You were right, Slappy! He doesn't love me!" Annabelle bawled. 

"What happened?" I asked.

"I was looking at the love letters that person wrote me and he read one. He got upset and..." She trailed off.  She wiped tears from her eyes.

I suddenly realized what she was about to say, by the way she looked and the bruises on her body. 

"And what, Ann?" I said in a comforting voice.

"And he whipped me," she mumbled.