In My Defense

Old Couches

Chapter Nine

I tried not to lean against Ryan too much. I didn't want him to know how badly it hurt.

"Why do you let her treat you that way?" Ryan asked.

I just shrugged. "Everyone at school treats me bad. Lena is my number one tormenter, but hey. I've been through a lot worse than name calling."

"Like what?" He countered so quickly that I almost panicked.

"Losing my mother."

"Oh."

I sighed, hoping we could get across the parking lot without talking. But I was wrong.

"What was she like?" He pulled me closer to his side so that I didn't have too much pressure on my feet.

"We're complete opposites. She had the voice of an angel. She would play her instruments with such passion and talent. She made my dad happy. They would both teach me guitar. My mom made money giving music and singing lessons. But sometimes she'd give them for free at homeless shelters.

"Then one day, our house got broken into. My dad had to take me to a doctors appointment, so we weren't home. The thief tried to take her guitar but she hid it under the bed and the empty guitar case out the window. The man was infuriated. He stabbed my mom three times and he ran away.

"My dad and I came home and when I went to my room, I saw her. My dad ran up and called the cops. She was still alive and we got to say our goodbyes at the hospital, but I still miss her."

"I'm sorry, Raelynn."

I chuckled at the fact that he was still calling me Raelynn.

"You know, you can call me Rae."

"I know. But Raelynn is more beautiful," he mumbled.

Thank the heavens that my face was down, or he'd see me blush.

By now, we were in the main building, waddling together to the teachers' lounge. I pulled out the spare key I kept in my pocket and unlocked the door. Clyde was sitting there, probably waiting for me. He looked up as we walked in.

"Sun Rae! How are y-" He stopped short. "What happened?" His eyes wandered from my bleeding forehead to the bloodied holes I acquired from scraping my knees on the cement.

"I just tripped."

"Liar," he retorted and rushed to pick me up from Ryan's arms. He set me down on the couch and started rushing about.

"It was Lena's new boyfriend, wasn't it?" Clyde shouted from somewhere behind me.

"Actually the demon did her own dirty work this time," I shouted back.

"So she hit you?"

"HA! She knows I'd fu-"

"RAELYNN."

I rolled my eyes."Frick her up if she tried. Nope, she waited until I was turned around and flung a rock or a brick or something at the back of my head and I ate shit."

He gave me a look and I just laughed. "I'll have a talk with her. You don't want the police involved, I'm guessing?"

I shook my head quickly, which was stupid because my brain was pounding to escape my skull.

He rolled his eyes at me and sighed. "Fine. I'll probably just talk to Coach Maria and get her suspended from the cheer team. She'll have detention and community service. If she messes with you like that again, I'm calling the cops."

His voice was stern and determined. I knew there was no point in arguing, even though I'm completely capable of making my own damn decisions. Damn it.

I agreed, "Okay."

He handed me an ice pack and explained that Ry and I could stay in here until I felt better.

We sat on the couch and watched CatDog for an hour. Ryan started snoring softly and I looked up to see his eyes closed, his mouth slightly open. I smiled in spite of myself.

I slowly got up from the couch, careful not to wake Ry. My head felt as if it would implode as I walked to the refrigerator. A smirk grew my face when I opened it. Someone (Clyde, probably) restocked on Mountain Dew, and they were just sitting there. I grabbed a can and opened it with a hiss.

Ryan stirred on the couch, taking up more space. I groaned.

"Ry," I whispered. "Ryan, scoot over." He sighed sleepily, but didn't move.

I took a swig of my pop and sat in front of his stomach. The couch sunk more under my weight. Ryan must've felt me because he shifted, his arm slinging over my lap.

I hissed in a breath. Those bruises were almost completely healed, and now it'll probably take another freaking week. But I couldn't blame Ry for what he did in his subconscious mind.

I set down my Mountain Dew on the floor in front of the couch. Ryan felt me move again and wrapped his arm around my waist, still snoring softly. Heat crept up to my cheeks and my heart pounded a little faster. This might be stupid, and I'll never say it out loud, but I liked this feeling. I shimmied under his arm, and listened to his steady breathing as I lay awake with someone I haven't even known for a month.

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A/N:

I'm thinking about doing different points of views???///???? And sorry this took so long. EXTREME WRITERS BLOCK OOPS. ok ok ok. I'll try and update sooner again. bYe

-jessi