Touch & Go

4. Safe and Sound

I am in love with this song. maybe because this was what i had clung on to in dire need, but truly speaking, its lyrics are so beautiful they make me cry each time.

the entire song fits perfectly to iris's situation. please read the image that is attached along.

this chapter is dedicated to nightlies (previously known as "huemorist") because i fell in love with ethan, and her, of course. :)

~~~

"All those shadows almost killed your light."

- Taylor Swift, Safe and Sound

~~~

SILENT. Taciturn. Implicit. Still.

Both of us stared at the detailed rug beneath our feet.

"So, what's the background story?" He asked, looking at me expectantly.

"Story?" He had caught me off guard.

"You know. You staring at your sister fixated, wide-eyed. Not speaking a word, not from fear but respect. How you think you're always the one at fault. The way you keep your head bowed. And the strange thing is, I can see it in your eyes, how much she means to you. It's unusual, for me, I mean."

"Um, I'm not sure you're ready for my life story yet."

"It's that or the story of how your last relationship ended. She's way too protective of you." He smiled a bit, knowing I'd never choose the latter.

Sighing, I looked back at the designs on the ruby red rug.

"I lived in India with my family until four years ago. I joked around a lot in the house, but I was easily the most introverted, conserved person in our family of five. Good grades, no parties, not a lot of friends; I was your average nerd. I preferred books over people. My parents never really paid attention to me, Grace always had their eyes glued to her. And I'm thankful for that. I never wanted them to pick at my choices in life. When my sister left for university, things changed.

"Whatever I did, it just wasn't enough. I couldn't share anything with them anymore. I had my secrets too. After some time, I gave up. I started failing. My father was furious. He thought the reason for the sudden drop in my grades was carelessness. Soon enough, talk was out that I was bisexual. They overheard my classmates talking at a grocery store and confronted me when they came home. I thought maybe they would understand, they didn't. They said they didn't know me anymore. I entered severe depression and anxiety disorder. I was bullied at school. I self-harmed. I tried to commit suicide twice. Life was unbearable. I hated myself and I wanted to run away.

"One day I couldn't take it anymore so I called Grace during her class at Uni, as anybody would, she panicked. She came home that very day and promised me she would take me away. After a month, she had the tickets to Somerset in her hand. My grandfather was English, that's where we get our surname from. We had a house here, which we conveniently decided to occupy. I don't know how she convinced my parents, but when we landed here, she kissed my forehead, held me close and promised me that it would get better. My brother stayed with my parents, to complete his studies back home. I was admitted to a public school here and I realised I never felt the need for psychotherapy or anti-anxiety pills again. I didn't make any friends as such, but I knew people through my sister. She saved me. I love her more than I've ever loved anyone."

~~~

GRACE'S PoV

I wiped the tears that had pooled in my eyes and breathed deeply after I heard her say that to Knight. I remember that day when she called me and cried, shouting she wanted to die. When I had come home to her, she had held my hand the entire night, afraid I'll disappear as if I were a figment of her imagination. My parents were always busy with business and I had practically raised her, so when she told me what she was going through, my heart broke.

I talked with her psychotherapist who told me the triggers to her depression was isolation. I knew then that I was the only one who could help her.

I kicked open the door and smiled at her.

"Tea and crumpets. What better way to celebrate a new friendship, yes?"

"Earl Grey, is it?" Knight asked.

"Yes. Green tea for Eddie and Earl Grey for us."

"I hate green tea." He made a face.

"I hate you." Iris replied childishly.

I silently gazed at the two's bickering. It was relieving to see how she wasn't pushing him away. I don't know why she told Knight what she never told anybody, maybe it felt better to get it off her chest.

"It was nice having a tea party with the Davies sisters, but I must head to college. It's getting quite late. G'day, ladies." He stood up and bowed.

"Iris will walk you to the door. Won't you, monkey?"

"Yes, of course." She replied with a blush covering her cheeks.

~~~

THEODORE'S PoV

Today was a turner. It had changed the way I looked at Iris. She was like a little flame struggling to stay alight. And her sister was a torch of light compared to her, ready to burn down those who even attempted to hurt her while showing Iris the right way to life. One thing that stuck to me was when she told me she was bullied for being bisexual. Maybe that explained why she had built walls around her. I was glad she was letting me in.

"I'll see you at the Centre, Theo." She smiled lightly.

"Later, monkey." I smirked and kissed her cheek before she could protest.

With a red face and lingering eyes, she shut the door and I smiled to myself. I didn't know what it was that made her so different yet kept her in the background, but I know that was what I wanted. She was what I wanted.

~~~

Edited her bio :)

Love, Sirrah