Runaway // Matthew Espinosa

Chapter 12

Matt's POV.//

I got out of bed and ran across the hall to check and see if Zoe was okay. I was scared out of my mind. I skimmed her room, but didn't catch a glimpse of her. I walked around to find her on the floor, beside her bed along with shattered glass beside her.

I picked her up as she groaned in pain. She held on to me as I took her to the bathroom. She began coughing and ran over to the toilet.

I sat beside her, and held her hair back. So this is how its like when you drink too much. I rubbed her back as she finished up. I got her up on her feet and flushed the toilet.

I poured a little mouth wash into a paper cup and gave it to her, maybe it would make her feel better. She took it, gargled it, and spat it out. Just as I was about to ask her if she was okay, I noticed her bloody hand and gash on it.

"Zoe what did you do?!" I scolded her, yelling a little louder than I meant to due to how concerned I was.

She was still a bit drunk, and not quite sober yet. She was very sensitive sober or not. I had noticed this quite quickly for having only knowing her as far as I could remember as two days.

Her eyes watered and she let tears run down her face. She didn't hide her face, she didn't make a sound. That's made me feel worse. I felt like I had just scolded a 3 year old.

"I'm sorry Zoe. I didn't mean to yell." I apologized, feeling the urge to hug her, but I didn't.

I cleaned up her hand and wrapped it up. She got down from the bathroom counter and walked out. That gave me the memo that she was still upset with me.

I followed behind her, and grabbed her arm.

"Zoe, I really am sorry." I gave her an apologetic look.

"I don't like it when you yell. I get scared." She looked down.

I scared her? The fact that I had the power to scare her, wasn't something that I wanted. I'd want to scare everyone else but her. I don't know why, but she puts on this reckless act, when I can see that she isn't like that. Zoe is the type of person who is always happy with what she has.

"I-I don't want to scare you." My face softened.

"I believe that you don't but it happens." Her tiny voice came out.

I couldn't fight my urge to not hug her as much as I could. My hands pulled her towards me and engulfed her into a hug. She placed her arms around me, giving me this warm feeling.

She pulled away and told me, "I get scared but then you remind me how kindhearted you are with your actions."

Those words made me feel much better, causing me to crack a smile.

We walked to her room. I made sure she was in bed and then told her to stay put. After returning with a broom and dust pan, I swept the glass up and finished with a quick vacuum to be safe.

"Matt?" Zoe called me name.

I put the vacuum up and walked back into her room.

"What's up?" I replied.

"I want to sleep." She mumbled with her eyes getting heavy, causing me to chuckle.

"Then sleep, silly." I smiled back at her.

"I want to sleep by you." She spoke in a hushed tone. My expression changed. She really cared for me, maybe even loved me. The sad thing was, I couldn't back because I didn't have a clue about what my life was.