His Scars

25. Promise.

Hello, hello. 

Update time. Tell me why I'm listening to the Brother Bear playlist as music to write to.

There have been some new readers over the past few weeks. Welcome <3

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I hope everyone is having a good Monday. 

Lots of love.

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KANE

She walked into class, all bright smiles. The mess he'd made of her face was gone. One week seemed too short a time for healing plus fading of bruises. When she sat down next to me, I noticed the makeup and the dark lipstick. She never wore lipstick to class. It was always lip gloss. Usually clear or with a pink sheen. When she smiled at me, I noticed it wasn't as wide as usual. Her lip must have been hurting her.

My fists clenched in my lap.

"Hey!" She greeted me, as though she hadn't just been through the scariest ordeal in her life. As though I hadn't set my demons on her.

"What happened?" I asked, feigning ignorance. "We haven't heard from you all week. We haven't been allowed to see you. We've been worried sick."

Something flashed in her eyes. But then she rested her elbow on the desk and her chin on her palm, batting her eyelashes at me.

"Awww, have you been losing your mind with worry over me?" She asked.

"Yes," I growled. Surprise replaced the humour in her eyes.

She smiled gently at me and it made me want to put my fist through something. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you guys. I just came down with a viral fever and the doctor said it would be best to stay quarantined."

The professor came in then and I turned away, not looking at her for the rest of class.

Gina almost leapt over the table at Sage at the cafeteria and Matt had to hold her down. I'd never seen Gina so angry; even Matt was unusually cold. After begging them for forgiveness though, they threw their arms around her, with Gina getting teary-eyed. I couldn't bring myself to participate.

I couldn't even look at her. Not without seeing the picture Grubb had shown me. The image of what they had done to her beautiful face was seared into my memory.

Our last class wasn't together, so I texted her to meet me in front of my truck in the parking lot before she went home.

I waited for her, my back resting against the hood of my truck, my arms crossed and my eyes closed against the sunlight that was currently beating down on me.

"Kane." She called. I opened my eyes to see her jogging towards me, her long black hair whipped behind her, falling over her shoulders when she came to a halt before me.

"Let's go." She had assumed I was dropping her home and moved to the passenger side. When she opened the door, I slammed it shut again from behind her. She turned in surprise and froze at the proximity. Her nose was inches from my chest. I watched as her cheeks turned pink and my heart clenched.

"How come you're wearing so much makeup today?" My voice must have given something away because her eyes darted to mine and then quickly away.

"I still look a little pale so I thought I'd just add a little colour."