Strong

Chapter Twelve

"Ow," Maria cringes away as Alex dabs her scars with hydrogen peroxide.

Alex had sat her on the closed toilet and gotten a first aid kit. He had made sure to dry his tears before Maria saw them.

"I'm trying the best I can," he whispers.

"I know," she mumbles.

They both stay silent as he cleans her wounds inflicted by her father.

***************************************

"I should change," Maria whispers, her voice strained from pain.

"I won't look," Alex replies quietly, while closing his eyes.

Maria limps over to her closet and grabs gray skinny jeans and a black T-shirt.

She takes off her under shirt she had used as a pajama top, leaving her in her dark purple bra and pajama shorts.

Alex peeks through his fingers and sees that Maria has her back turned to him, but that's not what scares him. It's the dark bruise that consumes her entire back that does.

He knew something had happened by the way she moved, as if she was in pain.

Maria slowly turns to see him staring at her with a horrified expression.

When she turns, the sight isn't any better. There is another bruise that takes up her side.

"Why did you open your eyes?" She whispers with tears in her eyes.

Alex slowly walks over to her, fighting back tears. He gently grabs her waist and pulls her in for a small, gentle hug.

Maria hides her face in the crook of his neck, as if trying to hide from the world.

He traces the bruise on her back, delicately, as if she could break at any moment.

"Don't be ashamed," he whispers in her ear.

"But I am," she says, her voice cracking.

Tears pool in Maria's eyes and several spill over and land on Alex's collarbone.

Alex tries to fight back tears, but one lands on her shoulder.

Maria looks up into his ocean blue eyes. He looks at her and forces a small smile, then gently places a kiss on her forehead.

"You are my beautiful princess," he whispers, wiping away a tear that escapes her eye.

"How can I be a princess when I'm so broken?" Maria asks, choking back sobs.

Without saying anything, Alex takes her hand and places it on his heart.

"I'm broken too," he says quietly.

Maria looks at his hand that is placed over his, just above his heart.

Alex grabs Maria's shirt she had laid out earlier and hands it to her. She smiles gratefully at him and puts it on.

"Close your eyes," she whispers before taking her shorts off.

He places his hand over his eyes obediently.

"You can look now," Maria says seconds later.

He removes his hand to see her fully dressed with black and white converse on.

Maria walks into her bathroom and applies her makeup lightly.

"You don't need that," he says as she applies her eyeliner and mascara.

"Yes I do."

"Nope."

"Yep."

"Stop adding more."

"Stop bothering me."

"Make me," he smirks.

Maria finishes with her makeup and starts walking toward him. He stands his ground even when she stands directly in front of him.

She places her hands on his chest and starts pushing him back against the wall. Maria goes up on her tippy toes and leans forward.

Alex smiles and leans in, expecting a kiss, but she goes past his lips and towards his ear.

"Well this worked didn't it?" She breathes into his ear.

Alex has a disappointed look on his face when she pulls back.

"That's not where I thought this was going," he laughs.

"Maybe later," Maria smiles.

"We should get outta here," he says.

Maria nods her head in response.