Our Broken Girl

Chapter Six

(Hey guys, sorry for the long wait but here it is. Hopefully it is decent enough for your liking!)

(Matt)

I come back out in to the living room after thirty minutes of staring at the wall and deep breathing. I had forced my mind to clear itself so I could have a sense of peace for a little while at least. When I walk out it's to find Sam and Lily still in the living room, Sam administering some first aid to some of Lillys more stubborn cuts. They both smile at me as I walk in and I give them a half-hearted smile back. I plop down on the couch and lean my head back to rest on the back of the couch. It causes me to stare at the ceiling. I stare up and just let my mind drift, not truly and consciously paying attention to what was playing in my head. I sat there for a few minutes before I feel a soft tap on my knee cap. I looked down to see Lilly sitting on her knees by my feet. She wouldn't look at me in the eyes but she was still looking at me.

"Matt?" She says softly in a tone implying she had a question for me.

Though I badly wanted to reach out and stroke her hair I refrain and just give her a comforting smile. "Yes baby." I say letting my eyes take in her appearance. Her skin looked better and not so dark. The hollows under her eyes had lost most of the color but still held some dark color from all her sleepless nights here recently. The cuts were healing nicely and thank to whatever God-like being is out there, none were infected.

"...Is Richard angry with me because I haven't spent much time with him?" She cocks her head to the side, her fingers nervously picking at each other in her lap.

I sigh, "I don't think he is mad at anyone. He just really misses you, when you went missing I thought I'd never see the Richard that is my best friend. He was reverted back to the Richard I met in high school. The Richard that was scared and violent. The Richard who didn't know how to let people in, the man I fought so hard to help him overcome. He was so beaten down." I search her face but it was blank of any emotion. "As much as he would love for you to be open and comfortable with him, he knows what you went through wasn't easy. He knows you'll heal and come back to him on your own. He just hates not being in control of the situation." I give her a smirk and she smiles back at me.

With a sigh she rest her chin on my knee. "Do you think I should try and talk to him?" She ask, for the first time looking into my eyes.

I reach out slowly to stroke her hair, when my hand touches her face she leans into my touch. It makes me smile, "I think you should do whatever it is you feel ready to do." She nods against my palm and then kisses my wrist. She leans into my legs and we stay like that for a while. Neither one of us talking, just enjoying each others company. At one point I look over and catch Sams eye as she watches the interaction. Her eyes are squinted slightly causing wrinkles to emerge around her eyes, she gives me a look that says how worried she is about Lilly but wipes her face clear of the look shortly after. I glance down at Lilly and run my fingers through her hair once more.

"I think I want to talk to him." I hear Lilly say softly, muffled by my jeans. Again, Sam and I look at each other and if I had to guess we both wore identical looks of shock.

"Um, okay baby. If you want to that's your right." I say as she stands to her feet. She gives me a nervous smile before leaning down and giving me a gentle kiss. She straightens and takes a deep breath before hesitantly walking around the couch.

Though I knew she had nothing to worry about with Richard I still felt nervous and protective of her. I never wanted to let her out of my line of sight again, but I know this is something she has to do on her own. So I watch her retreating back as she walks to his bedroom and knocks on the door. She waits for an answer before slowly opening the door and disappearing inside.