Knock Out

Story

Walker

I yawn and rub my eyes as I walk over to the bathroom.

Which is when I hear sobbing coming from Maeve's room.

After I piss and walk my hands, I walk out of the bathroom and gently knock on the door telling her know I'm coming in before opening it. "Maeve..." I walk over, sitting next to her on the bed. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?" I softly ask and she turns to me with the most heartbreaking eyes. "Mae..." I trail off.

"I'm so sorry." she weakly signs.

"Sorry? For what?" I chuckle. "You haven't done anything wrong!"

"For having breakdowns all the time." she sobs harder.

I shake my head. "Mae, we all have breakdowns! I don't know your story, but I'm still gonna be your friend! You're a GREAT person. You're a great friend too! It means a lot that you could even come spend the night with a group of guys you just met. You're a strong person, Maeve." I sadly smile.

She looks down, frowning, before looking back up. "I'm adopted." she clenches her jaw.

I smile. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with that! Gray is adopted too! There's nothing that I would see your differently for. You're a sweet and kind soul."

"I got adopted when I was thirteen. I became a selective mute once I got taken away." she begins. "Ever since I was six—" tears stream down her face.

"You don't have to tell me if you're not comfortable, Mae." I smile.

She shakes her head. "My dad... he molested me." she bursts out crying and my eyes widen. "Once I was eight, he started to rape me and my mom knew. She let him do it and they told me nobody would believe me so not to tell anyone. He raped me... Walker. And it's all my fault."

"Baby, it's not your fault!" I hug her immediately and she melts into my arms. "Never blame yourself, okay? You are so fucking strong and never deserved any of that. I'm so fucking sorry for everything you went through. But it's not your fault and I never, EVER, want to see you say it's your fault. It's not, baby, okay? That fact that you could trust me enough to tell me this is a huge thing and I'm so proud of you. But this will NEVER be your fault. You're safe from that now, I promise." I rub her back as a tear escapes my eye onto her shoulder. "You're perfect. Never let this define you."

She pulls her arms up to the back of shoulders as she sobs into my chest.

**

"WOOHOO!" Caden jumps into the water.

Gray takes off his shirt and goes up to the mini cliff, doing a front flip.

I throw off my shirt and Maeve carefully walks in with her shirt and shorts still on.

"Wanna go cliff jumping?!" I chirp.

She looks at me. "I've never done it before."

"Well, let's do it today!" I put my hand out and she softly smiles, hanging my hand and running up with me to the little cliff. "Want me to go first?" I let go of her hand.

"Can we go together?" she looks up at me.

"Of course!" I gently hold her hand. "Ready?!" I look down at her and she nods. "Three... two... ONE!"

We jump off the cliff with our hands together.

"WOOHOO!!" the boys shout before we hit the water.

We swim up and Maeve catches her breath. "You good?!" I laugh.

She nods with a big smile.

"SHE LOVED IT!!" we all shout in unison.

We continue hanging out by the waterfall and do some chicken fights along with obviously trying to drown each other because it wouldn't be a vacation without that, right?

I notice Maeve is having a good time and it makes my heart so full.

**

"Are you coming to the gym tomorrow?" I ask as I shut my trunk. Maeve nods with a smile across her face. "Okay cool! I have class tomorrow, but afterwards do you wanna hangout with us at my house?"

"Sure! Thank you so much for the fun vacation and especially for listening to me and not judging me." she signs.

"Of course! You're my friend, Mae. I'm never gonna see you any differently!" I ruffle her hair. "I'm always here if you need me, okay?"

She hugs me in response.

I hold her in my arms.

"C'mon lovebirds! We got prepping to do!" Caden claps his hands.

I pull away. "Shut the fuck up. I'm the one picking up my coaching license, not you!"

"Coaching license?"

I nod. "I just renewed it. I need it to take these kids to their match in a few weeks so I gotta go pick up my renewal today before it closes." I laugh.

"Ohh okay!" she signs with a cute face.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow!" I rub her back before walking off after she waves.

Caden and Gray walk over. "You have a crushhh!" they coo.

"I don't! She's our friend, fuckers!" I playfully smack their shoulders before getting into the car.

"I'm glad you were able to touch her." Gray says.

"What?" I look at him in confusion. "OH!" I refuse to tell them the story she told me. "She just needs time."

"Like how YOU are running OUT of time to get that renewal." Caden honks the horn from the backseat.

"OKAY OKAY!" I laugh, speeding off.