Oakley [ON HOLD]

16

"What the fuck" he breathes almost disbelievingly.

My breath feels like ice between my lungs at his noticing of the irritated skin along my jaw.

My body tenses as he tilts my head slightly to the side to see better, his thumb ghosting over the skin.

"Abel-"

"Who did this?" He says, his voice strained and pained.

"It was just an accident" I murmur out almost trying to convince myself.

But it wasn't, she meant to hurt me.

"Bullshit" he grits out, his eyes still focused on my jaw.

His other palm comes up and cups my jaw, turning me to fully meet his gaze.

"Tell me.. please tell me"

I swear in that moment from all the time we've known each other he's never looked so hurt.. and mad. His Hazel eyes burning with need.

"It was Donna.. she just got a little upset, it-it's never happened before" I murmur, feeling his hands tense and his eyebrows furrow.

His jaw ticks as he stands up from his sitting position beside me, his hands falling to his side and squeezing together as his eyes fall to the floor in fury.

"Your defending her" he grits out.

"You don't underst-"

"She fucking hit you" his voice raises making me slightly cringe at the breach in quietness.

"She fucking hit you and you're goddamn defending her" his voice and eyebrows raise in disbelief and he raises his arms out as if exasperated.

My throat feels tight as tears prick the corners of my eyes feeling like he's upset at me. I wrap my right arm around myself as he paces back and forth, his hand diving into his hair.

He doesn't understand.

He doesn't understand.

He doesn't understand.

The door pushes open quickly as Elijah happily enters the room, his body freezing immediately after looking around the room.

Abel turners to him and stops his pacing.

"Hey.. what's going on" he says as his eyebrows furrow.

Abel turns to me and his face drops upon meeting my eyes, realization flooding his features.

He takes a step toward me but I turn slightly letting him know to stop. His step falters as a tear slides down my cheek, my hand coming up quickly to wipe it away.

"Oakl-"

"You guys should head out.. they'll be back soon" I murmur out, my eyes flicking up to Elijah as he looks at me confusedly.

Elijah nods, a look of understanding spreading across his features as his looks toward Abel once again.

"Come on man" he murmurs as he pats Abel's shoulder, trying to lead him out.

Abel's head snaps to me, his eyes almost pleading me to let him stay.

"Please.. I just need some quiet" I murmur as I bite my bottom lip to stop a small cry.

Abel nods slightly as he looks crushed, heading toward the door he goes to turn back but Elijah murmurs something to him before he turns back and continues his steps.

Abel's body disappears behind the wall as Elijah turns back slightly and places a sandwich bag on the chair, smiling slightly before pulling the door closed.

My head falls back against the pillow as my throat constricts.

I pull my legs to the side of the bed and carefully stand with the help of my IV stand. My shoulder aches at the movement as I warily move toward the bathroom at the corner of the room.

Pulling myself toward the sink my hand connects against the cold surface. I drag my eyes up and feel myself crumble a little bit more.

My eyes are bloodshot and tired and my shoulder and arm is heavily wrapped and strapped against my chest. Tears cloud my vision at my state as I turn my head slightly to the side.

From the side of my jaw up to my ear is splashed with broken blood vessels and red undertones, the small outline of a few fingers stamped across my skin.

Tipping my head back to the ceiling, I clamp my eyes shut pleading the tears not to fall.

I'm such a fool.

I knew they were difficult and hard but I never thought they would lay their hands on me.

Such a fucking fool.

And the sad thing is I can't do a single thing about it. That's what Abel doesn't understand. The world is cruel and with the cards I've been dealt, Donna and Reed are my best option to keep letting me do what I love. The foster system is.. terrible, and there's no way I could continue with what I'm working towards if I was anywhere else. And if I have to take a few slaps and harsh words to be able to.. then I will.