Just Friends?

Chapter XX

Before I could react to anything Charlie's fist meets Ryan's face with one swift motion. Ryan retaliates and I force my body to stand up. They had thrown just enough punches to injure each other decently by the time I could separate them. The other boys were on Ryan and I did my best to cling to Charlie, attempting to restrain him.
"Take Ryan somewhere else okay?" I tell Bryce, Cooper, and Dan. I glance over to Ryan, his eye is already swelling and his lip is cut.
I add to my previous statement, "to the clinic, take him to the clinic okay?"
"Okay," Dan replies for them. They leave the house swiftly and I take Charlie into the kitchen by his hand.
He leans against the marble countertops.
I climb onto the counter to reach into the top shelf, where the first aid kit is located. I lower myself off the counter then make my way over to Charlie. He is staring at the ground, his messy brown hair falls into his face.
"Look at me," I say to him softly.
His eyes meet mine.
He isn't as hurt as Ryan is but there are still cuts and what look like the makings of bruises. I take a damp washcloth and gently go over one of his injuries. He winces.
"I'm sorry," I mutter, "should I stop?"
"No. Don't stop," he says looking straight into my eyes.
I look away, when I look at him I feel like he is reading my soul, sorting through my thoughts.
I look back up at his bruises and continue to try to clean them as much as I can without hurting him.
"I've done as much as I can," I say, "they just have to heal by themselves now."
He nods.
I take the washcloth into the laundry room and then make my way back to the kitchen to put away the first aid kit. Charlie isn't there. My eyes frantically search for a trace of him but I find nothing in the kitchen. Worried he went to the clinic to finish the fight I check to make sure his car is still in the garage. It is.
He has to be in the house. I make my way through the house, searching each room until make my way up to the second story balcony. He's standing there looking over the edge. I stand in the door way for a moment watching him. He turns.
"I didn't know you were there."
"I didn't think you did know I was here. I was worried you had left."
"Oh-" His eyes are connected with mine as he walks towards me.
We are only inches away now. He looks at me. His eyes piercingly wandering through mine. His lips slowly part, he exhales. Words float into the air then heavily drop. Dripping with a sticky and sorrowful regret in his voice.
"I would never leave you."