Someone Like You

14

Warnings:
-Mentions physical (child) abuse

Clay's POV

I stepped out of the shower and dressed up after drying my body off. I walked back to George's room and smiled as he laid on his bed with my hoodie and sweats. They were way too big for him, but it looked cute.

He scooted to the side of his bed and tapped it. 'You can lay down here if you want to, but I can also uh- I don't have an extra mattress.'

'It's fine,' I smiled. 'But you need to hold me so I don't just roll out of my bed. It's fine to me, I like cuddles.'

'I like cuddling too, I never hugged anyone next to my parents.'

I laid with him and laid on my side that wasn't hurting, looking at George. He grinned and stared at me with a happy face. I wrapped my arms around his waist to hold him so I couldn't fall down and he curled himself up as he rested his head on my chest.

'George?' I started quietly, looking away from him. 'I sometimes uh- wake up in the middle of the night while crying. I think because I sometimes have nightmares. If this annoys you, I can leave.'

'No, don't worry. I will be here to make you feel calm again if that happens.'

'Also, I need to put on makeup again tomorrow morning, because no one is allowed to know about my dad and my bruises, okay?'

'Of course. What time do you want me to set the alarm?' George asked as he looked up at me and then to his phone.

'I don't want to wake you up early, though. Does your mother have makeup?'

'She doesn't, I'm sorry. It's fine, I wake up early a lot. I can set the alarm at 6:30,' he suggested.

'You're really sweet. Thank you for being this kind to me even though I've been such a dick. Thank you for not hating me and for forgiving and believing me.'

He didn't answer but hugged me tighter to show me that it was okay. I never used to feel this tired this early, but now I was laying down in his arms, I felt all the hidden exhaustion come out.

I closed my eyes when we laid down and cuddled up with him as I saw he did the same as me. I didn't know how long it took George to fall asleep, but I dozed off within half an hour.

~~~

I yawned as I stood up the next morning, stretching myself as I sighed. I vaguely remembered that I woke up from one nightmare last night, but I fell asleep very quickly after that since George calmed me down.

I was grabbing all my stuff since the alarm didn't wake George up. I wanted to leave to put on makeup and let George sleep. He needed his sleep if even the loud alarm didn't wake him up.

I smiled as I knelt down in front of his bed. 'Thank you for letting me stay,' I whispered very quietly. 'You're the only one I trust.'

He didn't wake up, but he smiled in his sleep and reached out to grab my hand. I held it briefly and then let go to go to my place.

~~~

I entered my house very quietly, not expecting to see my dad sit on the couch this time. He wasn't there luckily so I took a very deep and relieved breath as I snuck to the stairs. I knew my sister was going to hate me for going into her room, but I needed makeup. My girlfriend didn't notice I just used hers and then left before she woke up.

I went up the stairs and very quietly knocked on her door. She started groaning and mumbled something annoyedly as I walked in slowly.

'I'm so sorry,' I whispered. 'I need makeup again.'

She sighed and closed her eyes again after pointing to the bathroom that was attached to her room. I quickly walked there so I wouldn't wake up again and grabbed the bag, accidentally dropping it on the floor.

All her makeup fell over the floor with a loud sound and Drista scoffed as she sat up. 'I'm trying to sleep!'

'I'm sorry, I stayed with a friend and I took off the makeup at night so I need to replace it.'

She sighed again, but didn't say anything until we heard footsteps. My sister immediately knew this was our dad and she jumped up, grabbing the makeup. She closed the bathroom door and I heard her laying it down on her floor to make it seem like she dropped it.

I heard her door open and I held my breath as I pressed my back against the wall, hoping he'd believe that she dropped it.

'Drista, what was that? Don't tell me Clay did that, RIGHT?'

'I haven't seen Clay, dad.'

'Why are you up this early? The sound came from the bathroom, I'm not crazy!'

'I dropped it in the bathroom and then I took it to my room to put it back since I have a soft floor,' she lied, but it sounded really genuine.

'If you're lying to me, Drista... Clay won't get away with that.'

'What would Clay have done wrong if I would lie? Chill out, he's not here. I thought he was with his friend or whatever yesterday evening? I heard him say that to you. I don't think he's home already.'

It was quiet for a little while. 'If I notice that you've lied to me, Clay is going to face the consequences. He can't let his sister stick up for him just because he's too much of a pussy to deal with some hits.'

My sister went quiet and then the door closed. She waited for longer until she was sure dad was gone and then walked into the bathroom.

'I'm doing the makeup and then you need to leave immediately, okay?' she whispered as she started putting the stuff on my face. 'Just sneak down the stairs and then run.'

'Okay,' I mumbled.

'Don't talk. You have a low voice and he might be able to hear you when you talk,' she stopped me.

I nodded slowly as she put on the makeup. Once she was done I thanked her, snuck down the stairs and then grabbed my bag downstairs just to run away as fast as I could. It was actually so stupid... I was escaping my own house because I was scared of my dad.

1098 words