Hair Bows and Don'ts

05 | regret

Plink. Plink.

I step out of the washroom, the sound of something being thrown against glass getting to me.

A small stone appears outside my window, but the attempt to hit it completely backfires. It's at least three inches away from the glass, before it falls back towards the ground.

Well then.

I walk towards the window and shove the ledge up, peering out of the empty space into the open space below. Clarity stands there, her forehead creased in concentration as she aims for the opening. This time, her shot's surprisingly accurate, and it flies in a beautiful arc...

Until it's smooth surface hits me.

I stagger backwards, muttering curses that seven-year-old's should not hear under my breath as pain blossoms in the form of a bruise on the bridge of my nose.

"I'm sorry!" Comes her scream.

"It's okay," I say back, but I'm not sure she can hear me. I can't even hear myself over the pain.

Soon enough, the pain ebbs and I rush back to the window. "What are you doing here?"

"Um...could you come down first?" Clarity stares at me with her big eyes.

"Sure," I say, and head downstairs, before rounding the side of the house towards Clarity.

She twists her hands together nervously. "Lukey's become angry again, so Daddy and Mommy have taken him to see the doctor. They told me to come here..."

Without further hesitation, I wrap my arms around Clarity and pull her into a hug. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah, but Lukey's scary when he's mad," stutters Clarity.

I want to say I know how she feels, but in reality, I don't, so I keep my mouth shut and focus on stroking her hair instead.

"It'll be okay. Do you want to come inside?"

Upon her nodding, I take her by the hand and lead her into the house, and into the kitchen, where Blake sits, solving some crossword puzzle while chewing on an apple. The moment his eyes land on Clarity, he puts down everything and engulfs her into a hug, before reluctantly letting her go. She sniffles a little, swiping at her nose.

"What happened? Who hurt you?" He questions immediately, puffing out his chest adorably.

"No one," Clarity replies, her voice still unstable from crying.

"Don't lie, Clarity. Who hurt you?" Blake holds her by the shoulders. "Was it Irabelle?" He shoots me a death glare.

"I'm okay, Blake. It wasn't Irabelle."

Blake's suspicious glance doesn't fade as he crushes Clarity to him. "If anyone's bullying you, you have to tell me, promise?"

Clarity beams at him. "I promise."

"Good." He looks over at me again, his arm still wrapped around Clarity. "So why is Clarity crying?"

"It's nothing, Blake, but she's going to stay here for a while" — Blake's face lights up instanteously — "until her parents come back for her."

Blake frowns. "Why can't she stay here for good?"

The logic of seven-year olds.

"Because," I reply.

"Because?" He pushes.

"Because." I roll my eyes.

"Can I use the washroom?" Clarity interrupts our miniature fight.