It All Started with a Lie

Chapter 21

I cannot compromise my respect for your love.
You can keep your love,
I will keep my respect.
~ Amit Kalantri

Chapter 21
His POV
I clutch my ribs as I head out the back door to where my bike is. Blood trickles down my chin, dripping onto my shirt. I have not taken such a hard beating since I was a kid, and it's left me winded. I make it out to my bike and dial Alexandria's number. She picks up in a single ring. "Helloo," she...yodels? Or at least attempts to.

Despite the ache in my ribs, I can't help but laugh. "Hey, I won't be able to make it tonight."

I can picture the pout on her face. "What? Why not?"

"I'm just not feeling great."

She takes a long pause, and it is terrifying. Her voice goes stern. "What happened?"

I should have known it would not be a good enough excuse. "Nothing, really."

"Well then, come over."

I don't want her to see me like this. "I don't think I can, darling."

I hear her say something to a couple of her friends, before a slight shuffles as she walks away. "Seriously, what happened? You don't sound fine."

I start to insist that I am fine, though I know whatever I say will not reassure her, but before I can finish my sentence, her voice grows cold, dead almost, "You don't look fine either."

My breath catches in my throat as I turn around. She meets my gaze, standing at the other end of the empty parking lot. "What are you doing here?" I hope my face is hidden enough by the shadows of the building and dark sky, but I know it is not.

"Peter and An-Mei wanted to get drinks after our exam. I cut through the alleys so the walk is shorter." She takes a step closer but I back away. "What happened?"

When she approaches me again, I don't pull away. She cups my cheek, turning my chin to get a better look at the cut along my brow. "You're bleeding!" She pulls out a pack of tissues from her bra and presses one to the wound.

"It's not bad. I'll be fine."

"You know, you say that a lot and everytime it is not convincing." She pulls back the tissue to assess the damage and decides that it is too bad for me to drive home. "You're coming home with me, we'll come get your bike in the morning."

I cannot protest, she does not let me, only pushes me to her car.

——————
Her bathroom is cleaner than usual as she tells me to sit on the toilet while she grabs a first aid kit. Now that we are in proper light, she yells at me for the damage and insists we go to a hospital, but I refuse.

She returns with supplies and dumps them in her sink. "What happened?" She starts as she pours alcohol on a cloth.

I hiss as she disinfects the wound but she holds me in place to keep from pulling away. I think to lie to her, but the words will not come out, so I tell her the truth. "Street fighting. I needed to make a little extra cash to pay the bills this month."

She nods and I have never felt so ashamed of myself and as if she can tell, she lifts my chin with her finger so that I am forced to look at her. "I'm not judging you for what you do to provide for your family, but you could have gotten yourself seriously hurt."

I can't fathom it, no matter what I do, she never acts like I am a monster, no matter how many people I hurt, she never seems scared of me. Not once.

I reached out, brushing my knuckles against her cheek. She smiles and wipes the blood from them with a cloth. "Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital? Because if not I am giving you stitches from the comfort of my bathroom."