Sketch

Chapter 14

Sorry.

I curled in Devon's arms, his t-shirt reaching a little past the middle of my thigh, and rested my head on his chest.

"So, are you ready to tell me what happened?" He asked lightly, tangling his fingers in my hair. I nodded again his warm chest and sighed.

"Mom showed up and was acting as rude as she normally was. Dad was waiting in the kitchen for her but, for some ungodly reason,  I started smiling. I thought it was so funny that after all these years of drinking to forget, she was going to face what made her into who she was now," I choked. "She wanted me to stop smiling and that just made it worse. I was laughing and... she slapped me."

"Natalia," Devon frowned, shifting onto his side and cradling me.

"I just got so mad," I whispered. "And I hit her."

He was quiet for a moment as he tangled and untangled his fingers in my hair. Then he spoke. "It's okay, Nat."

I froze.

"How is that okay?" I growled, pushing away from him.

"You're okay," He corrected, seeing that his statement upset me.

"I hit my mother Devon. So hard that I broke my hand. That's anything but okay. I'm anything but okay."

"I know you're upset, but-" Devon started but I cut him off.

"Upset?" I laughed harshly. "What makes you think you can tell me what's okay and what isn't?"

"Hey," Devon snapped, jumping up from his bed in obvious frustration. "You came to me!"

"Maybe I shouldn't have," I scoffed.

He stared at me in awe. "What's gotten into you?"

"Who knows? Maybe it's you," I snorted.

"Don't attack me! You've done enough of that already!" Devon shouted.

I stared at him, blink slowly. What am I doing? Why do I act like this? I saw a look of regret pass over Devon's face but it was too late. I bolted out the door and down the stairs, careful not to slam the front door behind me.

I found myself in a small park a few blocks down the street. I sank into the swing set and kicked my feet, tears welling up in my eyes. My dad had been right all those years ago. I hurt people. Devon only wanted to help me and I pushed him away. I hit my own mother for God's sake.

It wasn't until about twenty minutes of moping on the swing set did I notice that I wasn't alone. I instantly became aware of every sound and the fact that I was only wearing a big t-shirt.

"He-Hello?" I called. Yeah right, the rapist is totally gonna answer and ask if you want him to push you.

A boy, about five feet and ten inches tall, stepped out into the dim light of the street lamp. He had sandy blonde hair that curled around his ears and swept across his forehead.

"I've never understood why people do that," He snickered as he came to sit beside me on the swing set. I was frozen.

"If I did mean you harm, which I don't, I would answer you. It's be like a deer asking who's there and a tiger calling back," He smiled hauntingly and his dark green eyes twinkled.

"If you don't mean me harm, then what do you want?" I asked, regaining my voice.

"Well," The boy frowned, "Who wouldn't see if they could comfort a beautiful and obviously disheveled girl sitting alone in a park?"

"Normal people," I scoffed. "What are you doing out here at four in the morning anyway?"

"I like to take a walk to clear my head," He said thoughtfully. I noticed he had the slightest accent but I couldn't put my finger on it. "I always come here to watch the sunrise."

"Huh," I sighed and crossed my arms over my chest to warm my cold appendages.

He stared up at the fading stars and smiled. "What's your name?"

"Natalia," I replied. "And you are..?"

"Grayson," He smirked. Grayson shrugged of his jacket, which was two times as big as one of mine, and dropped it around my shoulders.

"Won't you be cold?" I asked, worried.

"I'll be fine," Grayson reassured. "I'm lived in Canada for years. This is nothing."

"I've always wanted to see Canada," I thought.

"My parents hated it there, but I loved it," He smiled, reminiscing.

"It sounds beautiful," I said, returning Grayson's smile.

"So are you," He smirked.

"I have a boyfriend, you know," I warned and fiddled with my bandages. "At least, I think I still do."

"That's fine by me. We've only just met. I just thought I'd make you aware of your beauty," He smiled brightly. "So what happened with your boyfriend?"

I eyed him curiously, sizing him up and seeing he was trustworthy. I settle on yes and I told him everything. I told him about my dad and my brother. I told him about my mother's drinking. I told him that I hit my mother after she'd slapped me. I told him about the horrible things I'd said to Devon.

"Jeez," He huffed,  running his hand through his shaggy tangle of light curls. "Looks like you've had an interesting life."

"Very," I snorted.

"I think the way you acted towards Devon was just your defense mechanism," He said, tapping his chin and eyeing the now brightening sky.

"I don't know why I did it," I sighed.

"You were upset and you felt trapped. I get it," He smiled reassuringly. "But he shouldn't have said what he said."

"He had every right to. He wasn't wrong. I deserved it," I frowned.

"You did, but it didn't make it right. You've been through a lot tonight. He should have guessed you'd be a little touchy."

"Touchy?" I snorted. "I was worse than that."

"You should go make up with him," Grayson urged. "From what you've told me, you guys have a special relationship. You don't want to ruin that l."

I sighed and lied my head on his shoulder. Not in a romantic flirty way, but in a friendly way. We'd only just met and I felt like I could tell him anything. He put his arm around me and we watched the stars.

"What the..?" A voice called from behind me. Grayson and I jumped apart and I was on my feet in seconds.

"Devon!" I gasped. "It's really not what it looks like!"

"It's looks pretty the opposite to me," He snapped.

"We only just met, Devon!" I pleaded.

"This is all a big misunderstanding," Grayson offered.

"No, I understand alright," Devon growled and stormed off. I shook my head in disbelief and dropped into the sand. I was losing him.