Mute

Chapter 13 : Hurt

Chapter 13

The next day...    

Riker POV

So Ross stayed home from school sick today and said his stomach hurt. To be honest, he didn't seem very sick to me though.

After breakfast, Stormie said we could go watch some tv in the living room. And then she left to go grocery shopping, leaving me alone with Ross.

We watched tv basically in silence. Until Ross decided he wanted to talk to me.

"So why don't you talk?" He asked, looking at me.

I stared down at the floor. I don't like this conversation.

"If you don't talk because you were abused, then fine. But you're not abused here, so why don't you talk?"

I got up and went upstairs. I don't want him asking me stuff like that.

I took all my school stuff and put it in the backpack Mark got for me.

"Why are you up here? Come back downstairs," Ross said, walking into my room.

I shook my head no and set my backpack down on the floor.

"Yes. Come back downstairs."

He grabbed my arm and started pulling me across my bed. I stood up, trying to pull my arm back. I pulled really hard and he finally let go. But I tripped over my backpack and fell, hitting my head on the nightstand on my way down.

I immediately started crying and put my hand to the back of my head where it hurt really bad. I'm tired of getting hurt. I don't want any more pain.

"Riker, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for you to get hurt. Please don't tell mom and dad."

I felt my fingers getting wet, so I took my hand off my head. There was blood on my fingers.

I got up and ran to the bathroom. I locked the door so Ross couldn't get in.

"Riker!" He said, knocking on the door.

I washed the blood off my hand in the sink and then got a washcloth. I got it wet and then held it to the back of my head. It feels like it's throbbing.

"Riker, come on. Open the door. I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to get hurt."

I was starting to freak out. I got my phone out of my pocket. But I couldn't really see it because I was starting to cry and it was blurry through my tears. I also didn't really know how to use my phone so well yet.

I clicked on Stormie's name, thinking I was going to text her, but it started calling her instead.

I had to sit down on the floor because my legs felt like jello. I took the washcloth off the back of my head to see how much I was bleeding. There was a big red spot on it, which just made me panic even more.

"Riker? Why did you call me? What's going on, honey?"

I managed to figure out how to put my phone on speaker and then text her with one hand.

I'm bleeding and my head hurts and I'm really scared.

I could hear Stormie's phone ding when I sent the text.

"Ok, Riker. I'm just going to pay for the groceries and then I'll be home. Stay calm, ok? I'll be there in 10 minutes."

She hung up. Lots of tears started going down my cheeks.

"Riker, open the door! I'm sorry!" Ross said, still knocking.

I was fully having a panic attack by the time Stormie got back. I could barely breathe and it felt like I was dying.

As soon as Stormie was at the bathroom door, I unlocked it so she could come in. She immediately sat down on the floor with me and took the washcloth off my head.

"Riker, I need you to take some deep breaths for me, ok?"

She gently moved my hair to look at where I was bleeding.

"Riker, it's going to be ok. It's just a small gash. I know it's bleeding a lot, but that's just because if you get a cut on your head, it will always bleed a lot. That's just how it is. It's normal."

She held the washcloth to my head again.

"Riker, I really need you to try to take some deep breaths. I know it's hard, honey. Please just try."

She took my hand and then held it over my chest. It kind of helped me focus on my breathing. And we just sat like that for a few minutes until I had calmed down again.

Stormie took the washcloth off my head and looked at it again.

"It's not even bleeding anymore, Riker. You're ok."

I turned and hugged her tight. She hugged me back which made me feel better.

"Why don't you come downstairs so I can keep an eye on you? I'll give you some ice and you can hold it on your head where it hurts and that will help it feel better, ok?"

I nodded.

I followed her downstairs and went to go sit on the couch. She gave me an ice pack and put the tv on for me.

"Ross, can you come down here please?" She called.

She sat down next to me on the couch. I cuddled into her side, so she put her arm around me as Ross came downstairs. He sat down on her other side.

"Do you know what happened to Riker?" She asked.

"Yes..." He said, quietly.

"What happened?"

"We... sort of got into a... it wasn't a fight. It was more of an argument."

"How did you get into an argument with him if he doesn't talk?"

"Um... I don't know. But I kind of made him trip. He tripped over his backpack and fell backwards. And he hit his head on the nightstand between his and Rocky's beds."

"Did you make him trip on purpose?"

"No! Why would I do it on purpose!?"

"You just haven't been the nicest to him, Ross."

"I know... I'm sorry, ok? I didn't mean for him to get hurt."

"You're home from school because you said your stomach hurt. You should be up in bed resting if you're staying home sick. Not having arguments with Riker."

Ross slowly stood up and went back upstairs.

"Is there anything else you need, Riker?" Stormie asked.

I shook my head no.

"Ok. I'll be in the kitchen putting groceries away. Just let me know if you need anything, honey."

She got up and went into the kitchen. I tried to just focus on watching tv instead of the pain in the back of my head.

I just want Mark to come home so I can sit on his lap and he can make me feel better...