The Hurt Game

❧ fifteen

The aroma of freshly baked cookies greeted me as soon as I stepped a foot in the house. My stomach immediately responded with a light rumble. The front door closed behind me, falling shut gently. I slipped out of my coat, hung it up on the rack and placed my bag to the side of the stairs.

I wandered through the living room and into the kitchen, where Daniela was cleaning the counter. Freshly baked cookies sat on a plate. Again my stomach grumbled in response.

Daniela looked up and a small smile appeared on her lips. "Hey! I didn't hear you come in."

"I know. I made sure I was quiet," I replied with a shrug and a small, forced smile. My spirits hadn't lifted after a night's rest and a day at work. My heart remained to feel heavy.

I walked around her and opened one of the cupboards to grab a glass, which I filled with water. I gulped half of the glass down. One drop slid down my chin. I wiped it away with my sleeve.

Daniela had her eyes trained on me. Her stare was gentle, watchful as she observed me and every move I made. Her eyes narrowed a little and she leaned against the counter with one hip, turning to face me.

"Is everything alright, Waverly?" she questioned me.

I hummed a little, looking up at her before I nodded my head. I forced another little smile on my face. "Fine."

"You don't seem fine."

A sigh escaped my body. My shoulders slumped as I placed the glass on the counter. My thumb traced along the edge. "Is it that obvious?"

"Considering you barely ate this morning. Walk around with an aura of sadness and you aren't as cheery as normal lately... Yes, it is quite obvious," Daniela enlightened with a soft smile.

A genuine, tiny smile appeared on my lips. I shrugged my shoulders as I gathered my thoughts in my head. What was I supposed to say? I screwed up. It was my fault he left angry.

"What's going on? Did something happen yesterday when I was gone? It isn't about your father, is it?"

I looked up at her and shook my head. "No, nothing about my father," I assured her.

"Then what is it, sweetie?" she said as she placed a hand on my arm, stepping closer. Her touch was familiar, warm and I wanted to fall into her embrace and hold her close. I wanted a motherly hug, motherly advice.

I licked my lips, swallowed thickly as I shook my head once more. "I screwed up," I murmured. Tears welled in my eyes and I blinked them away. "I told him to go away, to leave me alone. I screwed up. It is all my fault."

"Woah, hold up. Who did you send away?"

My eyes met Daniela's green ones. They reminded me of the forest, of freedom. Comfort was always a word that reminded me of her gaze, because she could always bring me comfort. A gaze a mother should be giving to their child.

"Royden. He came here last night, said he was just driving around. Later he told me he had wanted to see me though, but I sent him away..."

"Why?" Her voice was gentle, patient as she spoke. It was the exact way how she had always spoken. She never let her true opinion of the situation shine through her words and her tone. She was always calm and collected, and only showing emotions at the right time.

"Because he came too close. He... He was holding my hand, and then he was holding my hip. I could feel him breathing and he was leaning down, and then he was smirking. And he always smirks, so... so I thought he was just toying with me, playing with me and my feelings. I didn't want to get hurt. I don't want to get hurt, not anymore. But I ended up hurting myself by sending him away." I was rambling. I knew I was, but I couldn't stop myself. I kept going and going and going without knowing how to take a breath.