Dark and Light

Chapter 17

Running a hand through his mop of curls, Chad breathed out heavily. “What did you hear exactly?” Chad demanded.

Ignoring his question I replied, “I won’t think anything less of you Chad.” I reached out a caring hand.

Chad jerked his hands away and crossed his arms over his chest. His voice rose, “You have to promise me!”

I believe I even heard his voice shake. I was slightly expecting tears. My mind began to wander to what Chad could tell me.

“Aubrey!” Chad’s voice boomed.

“Chad, I promise!” I nearly yelled back to him. As soon as I heard my voice shout I felt bad.

Jerking my hands away from my lap Chad tightly gripped me. With his free hand, he turned my chin towards him. “Don’t you fucking raise your voice to me like that again.”

“Chad I’m sorry. I didn’t mea-“

Chad cut me off, “Aubrey just shut up. If you want me to tell you then just be quiet.”

I decided on keeping my mouth closed and not saying another word. I shook my head up and down waiting for him to speak.

“I assume you’ve notice that I have a bad temper,” Chad looked me right in the eye.

Not wanting to talk I simply nodded again.

“Aubrey, I’ve had a rough childhood. My parents…. A-a-abused me.” Chad spoke the words cautiously.

My hands flew to my heart in compassion. I felt water push against my eyes trying to find a way out. “Chad I’m so sorry.”

I was lost for words. Knowing nothing I said would make it better I stumbled with my thoughts as I came up with a comforting phrase.

“Sh, let me finish or I’m not telling you.”

I nodded for him to go on.

“Every night I’d lock myself in my room hoping they wouldn’t get in,” Chad was literally choking the words out, “But they always did. Both of ‘em. My mom and dad. Isn’t that terrible? I was afraid of my own parents.”

I could feel the water push through the wall and dribble down my cheek. I sniffled as my tears fell.

Too concentrated to notice Chad went on, “ One day when I was 13 I knew I had enough. I spoke up, showed someone my bruises. You can figure out the rest. Social services took me away; found me a good foster home. That obviously failed. I got bounced around from home to home as I was growing up. Each house always got a little worse. I started working out and fighting when I was 15. I got into girls too. Sleeping with any girl desperate enough to throw her body at me. I went into drugs for a bit. You know to see if they took the pain away. That just started it all. And I guess a bad temper develop through the years…” Chad trailed off and his eyes looked glassy.

I could tell I was still crying, as I tasted a salty tear. “Chad I don’t know what to say besides I’m so sorry.”

I moved my body closer toward Chad.

“I don’t want your sympathy Aubrey. And I sure as hell don’t need an apology from you. You didn’t do anything.”

“I know but still. Just stop acting tough for once Chad and come here,” I let it out.

As soon as the words spilled from my mouth and into his ears he crawled toward me and pulled me into an embrace. Chad’s hurt face burrowed into my hair and his long arms wrapped tightly around my waist. I slowly rocked our bodies back and forth and whispered comforting words.

Pulling away from me Chad sternly grabbed my neck with his large hands. He stroked my cheek with the other.

“Don’t move,” his raspy voice had come back lighting up my heart.

Chad inched his face toward mine and softly kissed me. Our lips pressed into each other.

Chad broke the kiss away as fast as he made it, “Let’s sleep. Tomorrow I’m taking you to where I work.”

---Author’s Note---

Hey everyone. Thank you all so much :D it means so much to me that you are all reading this. So I have something for you guys to do(: If you’d like please leave me suggestions as to what you want to happen in the story from what you know. Leave predictions, thoughts, feelings, etc. Once again, I’m having a slight writers block on some of the things I’m planning for the story so leave a suggestion that is realistic to the characters and so far plot. Thanks love you all. Xx