pulse || c. grimes TWD

18.

Max's pov

I heard the front door open and slam, and I heard Mark sit down on the couch, I got up from my bed and went out of my room, Mark already had a larger in his hands, I hadn't realized but I was staring at him through the archway of the door "Did you father ever tell you it's rude to stare?" He scoffed, I furrowed my eyebrows and looked away "What so you're just gonna stand there?"

I looked back at him not saying a word, Mark slammed his larger down and got up, and walked towards me "I'm fucking over this shit!" I yelled and tried to run out, I got to the hallway before he grabbed me and started to punch my ribs he kept punching and every single time it would be like he was stabbing me with a knife, The worst part is there's basically nothing I can do about it except wait it out.

Im pretty sure I heard a crack in my ribs, He took one last punch this time it wasn't on my ribs it was on my chin a black tunnel closed on me and I immediately blacked out

-.-

Nyla's pov

                       a couple of hours later

I couldn't sleep after hearing what Mark just did to Max, I wanted to go check if Max was okay but I was too scared to get out what if Mark was still awake, I hear a tapping noise on my window I got up confused, it was probably a bird I got up from my bed and looked out my window to see a face, It was Ron, I opened my window, I furrowed my eyebrows "Ron, What are you doing here?" I whispered, I moved aside so he could crawl through, "My dad's really tense he went outside and then he came back a few minutes ago, I don't really know why I came here I'm sorry, I could go"

"It's fine Ron, just be quiet I don't know if Mark's awake" I whispered, He looked at my eyes to see dried tears "Are you okay?" Ron whispered, I nodded "You don't look okay" He commented

"I need to tell you something" I blurted out, "What is it?" He asked

"Mark was beating on Max a couple of hours ago, I didn't hear him go back to his room I think he passed out or maybe-

His eyes widened, "Did he hurt you again?" "No" I whisper yelled, "I'll see how Max is in the morning I can't risk going out there and Mark seeing me, and you." I added 

"You can sleep here for the night if you want, but make sure you leave early I don't want to be in trouble" I offered, "Thank you, are you sure?" He whispered, "Yeah" I smiled and grabbed a box of extra pillows and blankets under my bed, I grabbed him two pillows and two blankets, I made him up a bed on the floor next to mine, "Sorry if it's uncomfortable, its the best I could do" I murmured

Ron whispered, "It's perfect." I couldn't quite hear what he said next so I just ignored it. "Will Mark walk in?" he whispered. "No, I don't think he's ever been in here," I replied. "Well, is it okay if I do this?" he asked, leaning in closer to me. His eyes lingered on my mouth, and I felt my heart racing. We were only centimetres apart, and I had no idea what to do. I'd never thought of Ron like this before.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. Then, slowly, I leaned in, feeling as though it was the only thing I could do. He met me halfway, and our lips connected in a soft, gentle kiss. I could feel his heart beating rapidly against my chest, and his hand on my hip sent shivers down my spine. As he leaned in further, he pressed his forehead against my bruise, and I winced in pain. "Ouch," I muttered, and he pulled away, his hands still on my hips. "I'm sorry," he muttered, looking apologetic. I looked away, feeling unsure about how I felt.

 "Can I kiss you again?" he asked, and I hesitated for a moment before reluctantly agreeing. 

Ron proceeded to kiss me again, but I could tell that he wasn't getting the message that I wasn't into it. I felt uncomfortable, but I didn't want to hurt his feelings. I started to kiss him back after a few seconds, hoping that it would make things less awkward. However, I couldn't help but think about Max the entire time. Ron deepened the kiss, and then finally stopped and went to bed. It was an extremely awkward experience for me, and all I could think about was Max

-.-

I woke up the next morning to see the bed I had made for Ron was folded and put in a neat pile, I got up out of bed and yawned, I was so tired since yesterday I barely got a blink of sleep, My mind jumps to Max, I got out of my room and immediately checked the living room for him he was there with Rio he only had a bruise on his chin, a purple one, "Max, Are you okay?" I asked

"Does he look okay?" Rio scoffed at me, I looked at him and then left the room, I went back into my room and got changed into gray jeans and a black tank top, and then added a black zip-up jacket, I went out of my bedroom and into the kitchen, I grabbed a peanut butter granola bar and ate it before I left I went on an afternoon walk which had seemed like an everyday thing 

I saw Carl sitting down on a bench, I turned my head to look at him, He was wearing a flannel that was buttoned up but two or three were left unbuttoned at the top, and a blue jacket I decided to sit next to him, "Hey Carl"

"Nyla, hi" He looked annoyed to see me, I looked at him trying to observe him "What's wrong?" I asked, "Nothing, It's just I haven't really seen you in a while" 

"So suddenly we're not friends?" 

"We are, it's just you've been spending a lot of time with Ron recently"

"You noticed that?" I asked, He stayed silent "I could say the same thing about you and Enid."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He turned to me, "Why do you go over the walls with her?" I asked bluntly, I saw his neck turning red I got up from the bench and started to walk away

-.-

thank you for reading!!!<3 

basically, Ron likes Nyla in a romantic way, but Nyla is unsure that she likes him in a romantic way but she feels too bad to tell him that.