𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞 | steve harrington

011| sunlit smiles

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IT WAS PAST MIDNIGHT WHEN THEY FINALLY finished discussing everything. Her parents had been overwhelmingly worried which although made Briar feel loved also made her want to bury herself in the ground and lie still for the rest of existence.

Arlo was furious, he almost marched down to the police station at ten at night because of everything but after a long discussion they decided to not go to the cops. Although they all wanted Billy to pay for what he'd done, none wanted Oliver to get in the trouble they'd believe he deserved. He was already on a thin line from previous fights. If Billy ever came near her again he'd be facing a sea of red and blue but until that point they'd hope he'd get the message.

Briar couldn't help but feel guilty. Fearful that this would happen to another girl. This would haunt her from some time, the path she took held selfish morals of protecting her brother but she knew she wouldn't change anything. Briar also knew if she ever saw a girl getting close to Billy Hargrove, she'd warn them and pray that they'd listen.

Susanna cried about it a lot, that something so horrible had happened to her baby and Briar had hugged both her parents for a while, feeling like a broken child. It was hard how these things bubbled to the surface like boiling water. Briar still felt damaged, hurt. They'd have the week off school, Susanna was sure about this. Steve sat quietly when Susanna told them this. She spoke to Steve and Eddie like a mother but of course it wasn't that simple.

As time drew on, Briar found herself yawning loudly. Steve looked across at her as she hid her face behind her hand.

"I think Bri needs some sleep" Steve looked to her parents who were still discussing everything over and over again.

"Oh of course" Susanna nodded, "don't set an alarm, you deserve the rest"

"I'll get going" Steve got to his feet.

"Don't" Briar said immediately, "I mean... you can't let your parents see you like that they'll ask too many questions. Stay here"

"I've got dibs on the couch" Eddie stretched his legs out on the brown leather material.

"That's fine, you can share my room" Briar shrugged,

"I'll call your parents to let them know" Arlo suggested,

"They'll be asleep" Steve replied with a small smile, "I'll call them tomorrow"

"So you'll stay?" Briar smiled hopefully. The idea of sleeping on her own after everything, after seeing Billy punching blood from Steve's face, after the terror that hadn't quite moved from her. Steve nodded and she grinned.

"I can make some hot chocolate?" Susanna suggested.

"That sounds great but I actually think I'm going to crash right here" Briar yawned, "maybe tomorrow"

"Of course sweetheart" Susanna hugged her daughter one last time, "you're so strong baby, I love you"

"Love you too" Briar smiled before she hugged her dad who spoke similar words of reassurance, kissing the top of her head gently before she waved goodnight to Eddie and Oliver who were shuffling cards between them for some strange reason.

"Don't forget where I am if you need me" Oliver stated. Briar knew he hadn't just meant that night, he'd talked of forever. She smiled in response before her and Steve walked upstairs.

She got changed in her room while Steve went to the bathroom with a spare toothbrush and some of Oliver's old flannel pyjama bottoms. Briar brushed her hair and stared at herself in the mirror. There was a crescent moon bruise beside her eye with a small cut in the centre. Fingerprints littered her arms and more bruises sat beneath the flush of her cheeks.