The Incredible League of Goth Pizza Haters (RH)

Part 46

---Sylvia---

After they'd hauled him out of the house I began to collect my things. My lip was broken, this was the second time Ian had broken my lip, and my cheek was throbbing but I felt fine. I had to keep wiping away tears from my right eye. I wondered if the bruise on my cheek has somehow fucked up my tear ducts. 

I'd been through something similar to this before, so aside from the uneasy upset feeling in my stomach, I didn't feel too bad. I was more worried about Meg than anything. 

Meg was driven to the hospital and after I had all my things I drove out into town, not sure where to go. It began to snow as I mentally clicked through my options.

I wasn't going home. This whole thing would turn into a huge deal that would result in my mother wrapping me in several layers of bubble wrap and never letting me leave the house again.

Mark, Cody and Mena were out of town.

Chris wouldn't answer his goddamn phone.

Neither would Balz and Angelo only picked up to inform me he would call me back later but he was in the middle of something that could not be interrupted. TJ and I were kind of still awkward around each other and I didn't feel I knew him well enough to ask to stay in his house. 

I called Ricky and he didn't pick up either. I'm so glad my friends have phones so I can contact them when I need to, I thought. 

I decided to go to Ricky's house anyway. I stopped by five guys and picked up a large fry to take there so I didn't show up empty-handed and drove to his house as the snowfall became heavier.

Upon arrival, I sat in my car in the driveway, unable to move. I had a feeling similar to the one I'd had after the fight with Nick about his car. Like my consciousness was strung up like a balloon over my head. Floating shakily, half conscious. I inhaled deeply and tried calling his phone again. This time he picked up.

"Hey, what's up?"

"...Um...," For some reason I was finding it hard to speak. , "...Uh.."

"... Via?"

"Can... I'm ...sorry, I'm at your house... Can I come in...?"

"Uh, yeah. Yeah, are you at the door? I'll let you in."

"...Okay." I got out of my car and walked numbly to the door through the snow. I stood there numbly for about thirty seconds before the door opened. He looked at me and his expression fell. I blankly offered the bag of french fries and he took it before grabbing my arm and pulling me into the house. He set them down and then cupped my face in his hands. 

"How the hell did this happen?" He brushed his thumb over my cheek and I winced. 

"That hurts."

"Sorry." he murmured, "Now, tell me who the fuck did this." I felt tears prick at my eyes then saw someone walk in from the living room. I blinked them away and saw it was Balz. Ricky and I both turned to look at him as he walked over. 

"Woah," he said, looking at my face. I sighed and stepped away from them. "What happened?"

"Nothing... I... Um..." They were both staring at me intently and I felt my stomach drop and tears fill my eyes. I tried to blink them away but my faulty tear duct set to work and a few escaped and ran down my bruised cheek. I wiped them away.

"C'mon let's go to the living room," Ricky said and we walked to the living room where Chris sat, playing video games. When he turned his head and saw me he immediately paused the game and stood up. He opened his mouth to say something but words didn't come out. 

***

"I'm gonna fucking kill him." Chris was saying, stuffing his face with fries.

"Me too. That fucking bastard." Ricky bit his lip

"He's already in police custody. Meg's in the hospital. She took the worst of it." I murmured. 

"He really thought that he could get away with hurting you two. He's such a fucking prick." Balz chimed in.

"Are you gonna press charges?" Chris asked. I remembered the last time I'd been asked that question. Last time the answer had been yes. This time, I didn't know. I shrugged. 

"You have to, Via." Ricky said, "You can't let him get away with this. I don't know Meg very well but I don't think she will. You have to. Because you know he'll do this again." 

"If not to you, then to someone else," Balz added.

"I know," I said because I did know. We talked a bit more about it then we watched some tv and ate fries on the couch. I kept thinking about having to go to court, and then the fact that one of my friends attacked me and tried to make me lie to the police. That my band was fucked and therefore my future was fucked. And that my entire family was trapped in their house feeling helplessly depressed. And that my little sister was dead. And that in a week it would be officially one year since I was released from the mental hospital. I felt more and more upset as the night went on and soon I began silently crying. I almost wished I was back there and they could give me something to soothe the anxiety that was wrecking me. 

Ricky noticed first and quietly asked if I was okay. That drew the attention of Balz and Chris who looked concerned and sympathetic. 

"We're not gonna let anyone hurt you." Balz murmured and patted my knee. Chris rubbed my arm and Ricky grasped my shoulder. They were all here on the couch with me, protecting me from any sort of thing that could possibly attack me in that living room and I felt a huge amount of gratitude that they were there.

Night fell and Balz and Chris decided to stay the night. Balz took the couch while Chris took the guest bedroom. I slept in Ricky's bedroom with him and Dexter. I whispered to him in the dark. 

"Would you mind if I stayed here for a few days?" I was facing away from him, looking at one of the walls of his bedroom. 

"No, you're welcome to stay for a while. Why aren't you at home, though?" he responded, I could tell he was laying on his back. 

"I got into a bad fight with my family. They don't know about this so please don't tell them."

"Okay, I won't. But you have to tell them where you are." 

"Okay, I will. Thank you." 

"Mhm." he rolled over so he was facing my back and I felt him tap my shoulder. I turned so we were facing each other. "You should have mentioned this all to me sooner. You wouldn't have ever had to stay with Ian."

"Yeah, and what would've happened? Meg could be dead." I whispered and he nodded. We fell silent again before I continued in a hushed tone, "If we ever fight like that then I'm leaving. No therapy. Nothing. Just... Getting the hell away."

"What were they fighting like?"

"Yelling and screaming over each other about every little thing they could disagree on. It's like they were trying to find something to fight over all the time. They just hated each other. I don't want a relationship where you hate each other."

"I don't want that either." He whispered back and we fell into another silence. "What are you going to do about your band?"

"I don't know... I have a friend from high school who I think I might call up and ask to be our drummer. She always mentioned she wanted to be in a band and... If she says no, then... I don't know. We can live without a keyboardist but we need a drummer. I'm just not sure... about anything at the moment." 

"Okay." he murmured and leaned in, kissing my forehead.