Dangerously Close (Aris x Reader)

46) Messy

I had taken him back to the clinic. He sat on the bed as I found what I needed to fix him up. I also made sure not to rush, exactly like Mary taught me.

“Give me one of your hands,”I requested.

“Why? So you can hold it?”He teased as he did what I said.

I wiped down his knuckles as he held them flat. There was already a faint purple on them. That was definitely a hell of a punch.

Taking the bandages, I cut them into a decently sized strip.

“My hands actually hurt.”

“Yes. You punched someone in the jaw. The place with all the bones,”I reminded him as I started wrapping it.

“Well, what was I supposed to do?”

“Leave it alone. And you're not even supposed to punch there. The nose I could understand, but you're supposed to slap when it comes to the jaw to avoid hurting yourself,”I absentmindedly explained while putting an ice pack over the wraps.

“Noted,”He nodded, a glint in his eyes that admittedly made me nervous.

“No, no, no. Not noted. Do not note that,”I said firmly.

“I don't know. I think I should note it.”

“Aris,”I sighed.

“I love you. I can't just sit back and let anyone insult you.”

He’s the sweetest, but he gives me a damn heart attack sometimes. And why do all the weirdly romantic things he does something violent?

× ~ × ~ × ~ ×

He got into a fist fight for me. Aris got in a fight for me. He hurt his hand just because some random boy was making fun of me. You don't get in fist fights for someone you don't love.

Seeing her though, the natural comfort the two seemed to feel, had me dead silent as I picked at my food. Abby’s just so nice. I swear she's even prettier up close, and just seems so happy, and bubbly but not annoying. Her eyes never lingered on you for long, but it was so soft whenever they looked at you. Abby in general is soft. Like Aris. They're both kind. They're both bright.

I suddenly couldn't remember a single thing he said that night he realized I was jealous. There were no good things about me. Not compared to her.

I can't even hate her. She's so genuine and respectful. Why couldn't she be awful?

If she was, I wouldn't feel like this at all. I wouldn't be wallowing in the fact that he would probably fit better with someone like her.

This is insufferable. Everything about this already sucks.

“I’ve got to go help Mary,”I mumbled in case anyone was listening. Stepping over the log, I went to just hide in the clinic. Maybe even forever. I can torture myself with the thought of them being together.

They look so stupidly happy in my dumb imagination. They're just so made for each other.

I’m actually going to vomit. This is just no. This is all a mess.

“It's good to see you for once-oh.”

I barely managed a grimace as I sat on one of the beds, staring at the ground.

“Can I just tell ya’ about my book? Take my mind off it?”I sighed, not meeting her eyes.

“Sure. I’ll listen,”She promised, settling in across from me.

“Thanks, Mary. ‘Preciate it.”

“Don’t worry about it. Just tell me if you’ve gotten any further in the story.”