Leave No Trace

Chapter 29

Allison

She was sitting in her wheelchair as he was sitting on the couch beside her. She was trying to read, but she kept glancing up. She was so close she could see every freckle.

"So, Allison, I want to get to know you," he said with a smile, and she turned to look at him.

"No one said you had to know me" she replied absentmindedly.

"I feel I'm supposed to know who you are," he commented.

"This isn't anything to do with fate or destiny, is it?" she asked, unamused.

"Nah" he made a face "Not really, more like a horse." he lounged back in his seat, smiling at her. She actually had to smile at his stupid Tangled reference. "So what is your story? You don't strike me as the mysterious type, that's more your friend's deal." He glanced at the table, where Mira and Derrick were talking, heads bent.

"I'm an open book" she replied quietly. Open enough that a bully could get in my head and manipulate me from there until I hated the sound of my own name she thought to herself, but didn't voice it.

"So be open" he said softly "Am I allowed to ask what happened that put you in a wheelchair? Or is that crossing the line?"

"A bad person" she whispered "And no one was there to help."

"I wouldn't exactly take you for the helpless type there, Ally."

"I swear, I'm not, but...." She closed her eyes against the impending flashback. "His name is Dean" she said softly.

"Dean. And is he dead? Because knowing my brother...." He trailed off, "He wouldn't let a defenseless girl be hurt like that and not react."

"I would love it if he was dead, but he's alive. A bullet in his shoulder but alive nonetheless."

"And how did this bastard end up hurting you? You seem too street savvy to be kidnapped."

She flinched, "No, Wes, that's where you're wrong. I'm stupid enough to be kidnapped. And he was.... My boyfriend."

"God," he muttered, staring at her, "And here I thought you were going to be a cat lady for fun,"

"I'm not exactly done considering it." she warned, and managed the tiniest of smiles.

He laughed, his eyes crinkling, before becoming serious. His eyes were beautiful in their depth, and how blue they were. But in a second, all the joy was gone from his face, "And what did this bastard do to you?"

She immediately frowned. This was dangerous, "He and his older brother, his accomplice, they abducted me. Beat me, tortured me." Her voice dropped to a whisper "raped me."

He stared at her for a few minutes, and then dropped his gaze, "I'm so sorry, I never... I never would have guessed."

"Just because I don't act it, doesn't mean I don't feel it." She said quietly.

He ever so lightly touched her hand, a simple gesture, a repeat of the same gesture Mira had shown at dinner, but somehow it felt.. different to her.

"Tell me about yourself a little more, Ally. A survivor like you.. there has to be more to you than that." He said, and she realized he was putting on the act for her sake. Pretending that everything was okay.

"I'm a writer. I was a writer. I don't do as much writing anymore."

"Music?"

"Everything and anything, from Fall Out Boy to Disney soundtracks," she smiled as she explained, thinking of Disney movies, which led her thoughts back to Mira as usual. And how happy Mira was. Which in turn made her happy.