The Model Couple

📷 Chapter 52

📷

I jog up to where Hayden has ahold of Brooklyn. "Thanks for stopping her." Thinking she might be going into shock, I wrap the blanket around her and scoop her out of Hayden's hands. I feel fiercely protective of her, this girl is my world now.

Hayden looks down at her in my arms, "Hometown, it's fine. You're gunna be fine." He gives me a worried look. "She has no expression. I feel like she can't even hear me, like my words are bouncing off."

"Yeah, I noticed the same thing." I pivot, heading back to our room with her in my arms. 

She isn't fighting me at all. I thought she was just trying to not show emotion for the cameras while we were watching the new episode. But really she was melting down. The ex-boyfriend is an absolute piece of shit, but she's dealt with it for so long, I didn't think the show would affect her so much. Looking at her now, in a catatonic state, I realize I should have gotten her out of there much sooner. I'm angry at myself for not seeing it earlier.

We get back to our room. Hayden slams the door on the cameraman who was following us. I lay down on my bed and wrap my arm around her pulling her back flush with my chest. I brush her hair off her face and whisper to her, "Baby, it's okay, you're going to be fine. I'm right here. You're safe. Hayden's here too. See?" Hayden lays in front of her and looks into her face. He's braver than me, her blank expression was scaring the hell out of me.

"Do you think we should get someone? She's not really getting any better."

"Let's give her a couple more minutes. If she doesn't come around, then we'll get Stacy." I start rubbing her arm. I'll never get used to the amazing feeling when our skin touches. "Buttercup, we need you to come back to us now, okay? We don't want to take you to the hospital, but we'll have to if you can't tell us how you're feeling." I hold my breath. Nothing. "Is she even blinking?"

Hayden watches her for a moment, "Not much." He cups her face, "Hey, Hometown, can we get you something? Is there anything that could make you feel better? I saw some brownies downstairs." Hayden looks at her with a hopeful expression but then his face drops and he looks at me and shakes his head.

I try again, "Come on, Baby. We need you to say something, anything, just let us know what you're thinking."

"Tell her she's a good girl." I raise my eyebrow at Hayden's suggestion. "What?! She likes praise, Dude. You've seen how she reacts to it."

He has a point, it might work. "You are such a good girl, Buttercup. You are so smart and sweet, you know you are Hayden and my favorite, right?"

"And you're funny, Hometown. You make the Bossman and I laugh all the time. And you're so beautiful. The prettiest, sexiest..."

I interrupt him. That's so not happening, "You are strong, you know that? You've been through so much but you are so resilient."

She shakes her head and I practically shout with relief that she's finally responding. I force a light chuckle, "Did you just deny that you are strong? Because you are. You're one of the strongest women I know." 

She shakes her head again and Hayden smiles with relief, "Her eyes moved."

"Weak." She whispers it.

Hayden kisses her cheek, "Hometown! There you are!" 

I hold myself back from slapping him away from her. "Good girl for coming back to us." Hayden nods that she is still with us. "Do you want to talk about it? We want to help, Baby."

She shakes her head but then she gives a shuddered whisper, "I'm so pathetic! You saw it. I didn't even stand up for myself. I just let him control me with his anger." She sobs onto Hayden's shoulder and I regret not being in front of her now. He brushes his fingers over her head. He's a good friend to her and I just need to let him help. "Everyone in America thinks I'm so stupid right now." She sobs on Hayden again.