Say you love me

Twenty

POV TIVELLY

Chapter name: avoiding the truth

I tremble with my back against the door, my legs up to my chest as my forehead rests on my knees.

I didn't want him to catch on. Why would he catch on so quickly?

My mind goes back to a few years ago when I desperately wanted someone to find out, to help me.

"What happened to your eye?" Ray questions, gently touching my black eye. Tell him what happened. Tell him, please. Tell him.

"I..." I pause, struggling to speak the truth. He looks at me with curiosity. "I don't want to t-talk about it," I respond, hoping he will somehow figure out my adopted caretaker punched me.

I spot Chloe as she waves at me across the hall, Zane following behind her. I want to tell them. I want to tell them so bad.

"Another bruise on your porcelain face. Don't tell me you're being hit." Chloe jokes, having no clue how close she is to the truth.

"Tivelly?" A familiar voice brings me out of my memories. There's a light knock at the door. "Who is it?" I ask. I already know who it is.

I hear shuffling and then a cough before the person answers with the name Leo. I crawl towards the door, unlocking it as I stand. "Hey." That is all he says when I open the door, removing the barrier in between us.

"Where is Kaiden?" I question, regretting my action of kicking him out moments earlier. "He left a few minutes ago; I just saw if you were ok?" His eyes are kind.

"I just want a shower," I respond, looking down at Kaiden's shirt. "No... just give me a second." I tell Leo as I run past him, leaving the house.

I run to the end of the driveway, ignoring the painful hop/limp I'm doing. I spot Kaiden down the road. Without a second thought, I yell his name, catching his attention.

It only takes him a few seconds before he's back in front of me again. He questions why I called him back as his eyes look into mine; the wind blows my blonde hair forward, whipping around us.

"If you're so worried, then come with me to my house to get some of my clothes." I realize he has another shirt on, but I don't recall seeing him ask for one. My offer is probably stupid. Why would he come with me anyway? We just got into an argument.

My siblings should be at school, Presley is working, and if I have someone with me, then hopefully Mary will mind her own business.

"The house of the blonde Princess? Do I get to come in?" He asks. I nod, and a smirk sneaks onto his face, "I've always wondered what your house looks like." My stomach can't help but flutter as I look into his beautiful eyes. I think I like you.

I sit in the front seat of Leo's car with Kaiden driving. It was tough for Leo to hand his keys over. He's terrified of damage.

"Your siblings should be at school, right?" He questions, speeding in front of another car. "Yes, they should be." I don't know for sure if they are, but I do know that they wouldn't do anything with Kaiden around.

He questions where Bexley will be, and then my chest immediately tightens. She would be home, probably super angry with me for just leaving as I did.

"I... I don't know." I respond, worrying about how she will react. "You will show up to school, right? I know you won't be at home for a while, but that's no reason I have to repeat this school year. You have already been absent a lot." Kaiden pulls onto my street.