Even Heroes Have Scars

[46] Open Your Eyes

Demi's P.O.V.

I awoke to Marissa shaking my arm. My eyelids opened and I turned over to face her. She was already dressed and her bag beside her was packed.

"Riss? What time is it?" I could see the clock, but I couldn't read it without my glasses.

"It's six forty-five. Sorry to wake you, my mom just texted me that she needs me for something. I'll be back around eleven thirty. I just wanted to let you know where I'm going. You can go back to sleep." She readjusted the blanket on top of me.

"Okay," I mumbled, laying back down. "See you when you get back. Love you."

"Love you, too." She stood from the mattress, jostling us slightly.

Then she was gone. Ansley was facing away from me, so I scooted closer to her, wrapping my arms around her tiny waist, deeming myself the big spoon as I held onto her. It felt so good to hold her, the most beautiful girl in the world. I wanted to have this feeling forever, her life in my arms, the safety. Softly, I kissed her shoulder blade through her shirt.

As I was about to fall back asleep, something caught my eye. Red marks lined her arm. Though the cuts on her arm were healing, more than a day old, new ones formed on my heart, bleeding out.

I pulled her wrist to my lips, kissing each of them gently. My girl was hurting, suffering, and there was nothing I could do about it.

How did I not notice them sooner? What happened to make her so upset that she felt the need to do such a horrible, painful thing to herself? Why couldn't I do anything?

"You're so strong," I whispered against her hair. "I love you so much, baby."

I lowered her wrist back down to the mattress, interlocking our fingers as I pulled her even closer. And we were asleep again. Together.

~Later That Morning~

By the time Ansley stirred awake, it was eight twenty. I could tell she was smiling when she found our hands together, my arms around her waist.

"Good morning, beautiful," I smiled, kissing her neck.

"Good morning," she moaned as she flipped onto her other side, facing me.

"How'd you sleep, gorgeous?" I asked, running my fingers up and down her side as I dug around on top of the couch for my glasses, resting them on my face so that I could see her clearly.

"The best I've slept in years. How about you?" Her blue eyes stared into mine and I felt myself go weak.

"Me, too."

She leaned forward and pressed her lips to mine, kissing me passionately.

God, I wanted her so bad. I needed her. I needed to have her in my arms forever, her life my own to take care of. And as she kissed me harder, her hand pulling my face closer, I knew she probably felt the same way.

"I love you," she mumbled against my lips.

I smiled again. "I love you, too."

She grinned and turned over, stretching as a few moans and groans escaped her lips. I swear, every chance she got, she moaned just to aggravate me. I never really thought of her in that way, but now I was, and she wasn't helping.

As my revenge, I rolled over and stretched as well, moaning loudly just to annoy her. She laughed, so I stood up and stretched again, moaning even louder as I leaned down to touch my toes, my butt facing her.

"Damn," she giggled. "Is this just your morning ritual or are you doing this on purpose?"

"Jee," I crept back onto the mattress on my hands and knees, straddling her and kissing her softly as she leaned against the couch behind her, "how'd you know?"