My Safe Haven (BxB)

Chapter IX - What Happened To Your Face?

Christian's POV – 20 June 2019

I sit in front of my mirror analyzing the bruise that Andrew had given me. His strength still shocks me, considering his small stature. Well, he is not exactly small, he is just small compared to me. Any who, I can't dwell on the bruise too much because for the first time in a very long-time, I had good night rest.

I had asked for a few days off from my uncle, so I can show some commitment to Andrew for the project we were given. He wants all my attention, so I'm surely going to give him.

But if I'm being honest, I was a little bit disappointed when he didn't call back, like he had promised. Maybe something came up because he didn't sound that well when I called him yesterday. I wonder what it is. Regardless of that, I just can't wait to tease him about it, just to get him flustered. Man, that boy is easily flustered. Just thinking about how his cheeks would get rosy when...

"Who has you smiling like that Chris?" Trust Isabella to ruin such a moment.

"No one" I lie.

"I'm not stupid, but I'll act like I believe that because we're running late" she says. The things Bella says sometimes really convince me that she is a grown woman trapped in an 11 year-olds body because this girl, really is way too smart for her age.

"Okay, are you ready to go?" I question, grabbing my backpack off the floor.

"If I wasn't, would I be here?" she asks in a "duh" tone.

"Is that sass I smell Ma'am?" I inquire, chuckling.

"It's whatever you want it to be. Let's go, I don't want to be late" she says, stomping her foot on the ground impatiently.

"Okay, let's go" I state, grabbing her hand and hopping out of the house and into the car.

"Backseat Bella" I say firmly.

"But you promised that you'd allow me to sit in the front this time" she questions, with her eyes wide open in disbelief. "Plus, I'm grown now..."

"Grown? A whole 11 year-old grown? You must be joking" I laugh loudly at her point. "Even if that was the case, you can't be the judge of your own growth, someone else needs to tell you that."

"Firstly, I'm turning 12 in a few days. Secondly, I can be the judge of my own growth and I am, so deal with it. Thirdly, you're lucky I don't want to be late so I'll just get in the back for peace sake" she states, as she slides in the backseat. God, she is such a bundle of fun, it's still morning yet she's already lifted my mood...

"Are we waiting for someone?" she asks, popping her head out of the window.

"Oh no" I respond quickly, as I get behind the wheel, and begin our journey to her school.

"Christian?" she calls out, her tone very serious all of a sudden.

"Yes Bella."

"Did you hear that mom was crying yesterday?" she questions.

Mom was crying yesterday? I'm pretty certain I would've heard, but now that I think about it I realize why I didn't hear it. After waiting on Andrew's call for hours, when he didn't reach out to me I figured I could just drown myself in a world of music. So I wore my earphones and blasted Palo Santo.

"No, I didn't hear a thing. Do you know why she was crying?" I ask softly.

"Not really, but she came into my room before she went to hers..."

"What did she want?" I interrupt Bella, only to get a shrug as a response.

"Did she say anything?" I question once more.

"No. I really don't know what was up with her last night. But we'll discuss this later, I'll see you Chris" she says, waving at me.

"What do you..."I take a look around and realize that we have arrived at her school. "Oh, okay Bella. Bye." I say waving back, as I take off to Sunny View.

On my way to school, I can't help my thoughts from running wild. What was causing my mother's breakdown? Why is she acting odd all of a sudden? But what scared me the most was the fact that she had entered Bella's bedroom, for what reason? After years of pretending like Bella doesn't exist, why was she doing this now? All that I know on my end is that I'm not comfortable with her being close to Isabella, with the substances she consumes, we can never guarantee what goes on in her mind.

My thoughts continue running until the school comes into view. I make my way inside and park at a random spot, I'm already waiting for this day to end so I can find answers to my questions. But for now, let's go find Andrew so I can tease the lights out of him. I chuckle at my cruel thoughts as I make my way out of the car and into the building.

"Did you see his face, he's messed up." "I hear he owes a mafia a lot of money, I thought his parents were rich." What the hell were these people whispering about now? That's the thing about high school students, they always had something to talk about. I'm pretty sure these were lies or over exaggerations. Let me get away from these gossipmongers before hearing worse stories, I think to myself before dashing into the restroom and the sight that stood before me proved that the students in the hallway were not over exaggerating, his face really is messed up.

"Pretty Boy, what happened to your face?" I ask wide-eyed. His face looks swollen, littered with bruises. Who did this to him? He's black and purple, that's a simple way of putting it.

My train of thought is interrupted when I see his eyes swell up with tears. My heart shatters at the sight, who did this to Andrew?

"Andrew, who did this to you?" I question seriously.

"I-I ca-can't say" he stutters, as he lets the tears go, breaking down. Instinctively, I pull him into my embrace, "It'll be okay Andrew" I say, attempting to affirm him as I rub his back soothingly.

He wraps his arms slowly around me, before squeezing me and crying some more. God help me find the person responsible for this, the pain I feel as I hear him cry is unbearable. Andrew is such a level headed person and hearing him cry so helplessly is not something one would expect. My history project partner is breaking down and there's nothing I can do about it.

The bell rings signaling the beginning of the first period but I know that Andrew is in no shape to be in class, so I knew what I needed to do.

"Come on Andrew, let's go." He just let me direct him without questioning me about where we were headed, even though the direction we were headed to was away from the history class instead of towards it.

Soon, we were standing outside of the small office. I knock and let myself in.

"Christian, why are you here so early...OH MY GOODNESS!" Pam exclaims when her eyes land on Andrew's face. "What happened?"

"I don't know Pam, but I don't think he's even supposed to be in school right now" I say, glancing at Andrew. "But because he's here, please take care of him."

"Of course, come over Sweetie" she gestures to the bed. I balance him as we head towards it and I help him settle down.

"Relax Andrew okay? I need to head to class but I'll ensure that I come back during lunch." I state.

"Okay, thank you" he says sadly.

"No need to thank me, just try relaxing" I add.

"I will."

We maintain eye contact for a minute more, before I see myself out of the office, not as eager to continue with the rest of the day now that the person I was planning on teasing was unwell. Gosh, I hate seeing him like this.