Polygraph eyes (Abandoned - Feel Free To Continue/Finish)

Reunited with Riley

Ava's POV

We walked to the bus after Dom had eaten the sandwich. Adam and Michael were talking about how great the concert had been, but Dom was oddly quiet.
"Dom, the quiet songs, who were they for?" I asked.
I knew we hadn't talked that much about personal stuff, but I figured he would've told me.. it seemed to really bother him.
"Not someone you know" he put his arm around my shoulder.
I nodded, understanding.
"Ava why didn't you eat the sandwich?" He asked.
I shrugged.... I didn't really know. I just wasn't hungry... But I should've been.
Maybe I was relapsing... I just didn't realize.
Riley had talked to me about this... She had noticed, and maybe now Dom was noticing too. But why would he care?

"You need to eat, ya know..." He sighed. I nodded.
He was right. I hadn't realized how bad it had gotten, but I can't remember the last time I've had a full meal, without feeling the guilt. "Promise you'll eat" he demanded. I nodded "promise" I said I'm response, to reassure him that I was being genuine.
"Good" he said. As we arrived at the bus he removed his arm from my shoulder and unlocked the door.
He opened the door and waited for me to step inside before he stepped inside as well.
The others came in right behind us, and they all say down at the table, but I was feeling tired.

I walked to my bunk and climbed in.
I could hear the others mumbling. They were probably trying to stay quiet in order to not bother me when I was trying to sleep.
"No, I'll check on her right now" I then heard Dom say.
I sat up and pulled up my blanket up to cover me, even though I was wearing an oversized t-shirt.

Then I heard the expected knock on the bunk frame.
I pulled the bunk curtain aside to reveal Dom's face.
"Hey uh... I was wondering if you're alright?" He asked.
I nodded. I was alright... I thought I was, but was I really? I felt the lump in my throat telling me that I was laying to Dom... To myself too.
I wasn't alright. I was relapsing into my eating disorder, but I didn't wanna tell him, he would just start keeping an eye on me.
I sighed. Even having that thought was evidence that I needed to tell him for that exact reason... So he could keep an eye on me.

I shook my head.
"Scoot over" Dom said. I did and he climbed into the bunk and sat next to me.
"Wanna tell me what's bothering ya?" He asked.
I shrugged. I didn't really know for certain... I had some idea... I saw my ex boyfriend in the halls at school almost everyday of the past couple of weeks... I don't know if his schedule had changed, but he smirked at me every time he saw me, and after what he had done to me, it felt like a taunt.
But I wasn't sure that was the reason... I was stronger than that, right?

"You don't know?" Dom asked.
I couldn't look him in the eyes. I was afraid I'd see my own reflection in them... I didn't wanna know how pathetic I looked right now.
I shook my head.
"Well... If you ever wanna talk about anything, you know you can tell me, okay?" Dom said, putting his arm around me and pulling me in, so I was leaning my head on his chest.
This felt so comfortable.
Warm, safe and comfortable.
"You're a great friend of mine and I really do care how you're feeling" he added.
Friend.. I could feel my heart drop. I hoped he was genuine. I couldn't bear it if I was just some charity case...
Maybe that's part of why I was spiraling a bit too.
I was afraid everything I thought and felt wasn't reciprocated. Dom really was one of my best friends right now. I had never felt cared for like this before.
"About the not eating, Ava..." Dom started, then he paused and waited for me to look up at him, so I did.
"Is that an issue for you? Do you need help?" He asked.
He was being so gentle and so respectful about it.
I could feel my eyes tearing up from sheer happiness that someone even cared.
I knew Riley cared, but that was a given by now.. not that I took her for granted, but we always had each other's back.
I bit my lip and didn't realize that I was crying till I saw a tear fall from my face to Dom's leg.
He wiped my eyes with his sleeve.
"Am I supposed to take that as a yes?" Dom asked.
I nodded. "You promise you'll let me help you then?" He asked again. I nodded again and sniffed.
He kissed my forehead and my heart fluttered.
He was sending so many mixed signals.
In most ways he just seemed like he was being friendly. He even said that I was a great friend.
But then he goes around kissing my forehead and putting his arm around me... I guess friends could do that too, cause he couldn't possibly want more  than that... Not with me at least.