The next thing I knew, I was in Braedon's arms being carried across the gym floor. He burst through the back doors of the school. Behind the school, Maura, Delanie's mom, sat parked in her large white Chevy Suburban. The trunk opened automatically, and Braedon sat me in the back, wrapped in a blanket. He started to walk away, but I grabbed his arm lightly.
"Stay with me?" I asked, wiping tears from my eyes. He looked beyond me as he bit his lip. He looked back to me, then climbed into the trunk with me. He sat me in his lap, playing with the ends of my hair. My head lay on his chest, listening to the consistant thud thud of his heartbeat. I almost believed that everything was okay, that everything would be okay, until I saw that truck. I would recognize it anywhere. That white, Ford truck that would take me to the farm on Easter. The same truck that would take me fishing from sun up to sun down. Now, all it brings back are the bad memories. The slamming of doors, tearing off down the driveway late at night after one of his rages. Now, it was me leaving. Everything was quiet in the car for a while as we drove. I didn't know where we were going, we had already passed the street to my house. My best friend's siblings looked back at me, and deep sorrow filled their eyes. Danny, who was a year younger than me, looked back at me.
"I'm sorry," he whispered as tears filled his eyes. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, and a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"It's okay, really. There's nothing that anyone could have done. Don't worry," I said, tearing up. He sniffled, wiping his eyes. "I love you bud."
"Love you too," he said, smiling. More silence occured. Braedon had his head resting on my shoulder, making everything in the world feel right.
"I won't let him hurt you ever again," I heard in my ear. I smiled, as a tear ran down my cheek unnoticed.
"I got in touch with your mom, she's in South Carolina," Mrs. Maura said, breaking the silence.
"Oh, she is?" I asked, swallowing hard. Braedon noticed my discomfort and started stroking my hair, holding me close.
"What now?" he whispered into my ear. "Why is she in South Carolina?"
"She leaves when she gets stressed. I guess she left this morning after I left for school," I said, biting down on my lip harshly.
"I'm taking you to the ball field," Mrs. Maura interrupted. "The boys have a game there. You'll be safe there. Is that okay?"
"Yes ma'am, thank you."
"Braedon, your mom will pick you up there." she said, changing the subject. We sat there in complete silence for the rest of the ride. The radio quietly played hard rock in the background, and Mrs. Maura hummed to the tune at the front of the car. FInally we pulled in, and everyone filed out of the car, leaving Braedon and I in the trunk. I longed to take advantage of this opportunity, but he was gorgeous and I was gawky and it wasn't fair at all. He had a girlfriend who he loved, and I couldn't compare. I wanted so badly to lean forward and kiss him, but I didn't, in fear of rejection. I avoided eye contact, but he pulled my chin up, so that our lips were inches apart.
"I hate how sad your eyes are. They shouldn't be. They're too beautiful to be this sad, this hollow." he said. He leaned in, kissing the tip of my nose. Just then, the trunk opened, and Mrs. Maura asked us to get out. He got out first, then carried me to the bleachers. He sat me down, then wrapped a blanket around our shoulders. I cried into his shoulder, telling him all of my worries.
"I can't go on anymore," I told him, sniffling.
"What do you mean?" he asked, as a confused look spread across his face. I swallowed hard, and lifted up my sleeve. The fresh cuts burned in the cold air. He didn't speak for a moment, and I suddenly became embarrassed and wanted to put them away, but he grabbed my arm.
"Promise me. Promise me you won't do this anymore," he said, looking at me with such intesity that I thought I couldn't breathe. All I could do is cry into his chest, and he wrapped his arms around me. We sat there for a while, until his mom pulled up. He stood up and wrapped the blanket around me tighter, then kissed my forehead. "I love you Caley," he told me, walking away.
