Finding a Twin

Chapter 27 : Comfort

Chapter 27

Jeff POV

"Jeff, no!"

Riker ran over, and tried to get the blade from me, but I held onto it tight. 

"Jeff, stop. Please give it to me. Let me explain."

"No!"

I was holding onto the blade so tight that I could feel it cutting the palm of my hand. I could feel the wetness of my own blood. 

"Jeff, please. Just give the razor blade to me."

"No, Riker! I never want to talk to you again!"

"This is for your own good."

Riker tackled me on the bed. Struggling under him, I was pretty sure I was making the blade cut deeper into my hand. But I was ignoring the pain right now, and just trying to get out from under Riker.

Riker was trying to sit on top of me. But luckily for me, I managed to kick him right in between his legs. I got out from under him, and ran... right into Rocky. He grabbed my arm, and he was strong. A lot stronger than Riker, at least.

"What's going on? What do you have in your hand?"

Rocky pulled me back into the bedroom, and shut the door. He pulled me down to the floor, and pried the blade from my hand. 

I looked up at Riker. He was groaning in pain still.

"Look. I don't know what's going on between you two at the moment, but let's go fix up your hand and your wrist."

Rocky kept a tight grip on me as he dragged me to the bathroom. He made me sit on the counter while he cleaned the 4 cuts I'd made on my wrist, and the 2 cuts on the palm of my hand from squeezing the blade so hard. I still had my stitches in, and they needed to come out soon. The doctors were probably going to be mad that I'd given myself more marks. Actually, mom's probably going to be mad. And dad too...

Rocky made me come back to mine and Riker's room. Riker seemed better now. Rocky made me sit on Riker's bed, and then he stood in front of the door so I couldn't escape.

"Neither of you guys are leaving until you guys talk this out and make up again," Rocky said, crossing his arms, and giving me a look.

"Well I'll start," Riker said, moving to face me.

I just sort of glared at him.

"Ok, first of all, it's not nice to kick people between their legs, especially if they're a guy! So don't do that again! It hurt! And second of all, Jeff, I did it for your own good. I know Sophia hurts you, and now you don't need to keep it a secret anymore."

I honestly felt so incredibly relieved to hear him say that. I couldn't help, but start to cry. I covered my face with my hands. Riker moved closer to me, and gently wrapped his arms around me.

"It's ok, Jeff. It's over. I know what's going on now, and I'm going to fix it. You won't have to keep going through this."

He hugged me tighter. I wrapped my arms around him. He started rubbing my back, telling me to calm down. I calmed myself down again, but I didn't budge from being in his arms.

"Jeff, can you please tell me what she did to you? Rocky left. It's just you and me. You trust me, don't you?"

"Yeah..."

"Please tell me. You can stay in my arms."

"O-on t-the first d-day... Uh... S-Sophia... S-she made m-me come w-with her... A-and she p-pushed me down t-the stairs... S-she's b-been hitting m-me... p-punching m-me... p-pinching, shoving... s-slapping... I-it hurts, R-Riker!"

"Tell me where it hurts."

"A-all over m-my b-body!"

Riker hugged me a little bit tighter.

"Jeff, I am so sorry."

"S-she t-threatened me n-not to t-tell!"

"I know. But Jeff, you can tell me anything. Even if someone threatens you. Ok?"

"Ok, R-Riker..."

I kept my arms around him tightly, not wanting to let go. 

"Are you mad at me?" Riker asked.

"F-for what?"

"For calling her, and going behind your back and stuff."

"N-no... I-I was j-just scared S-Sophia w-would hurt m-me..."

"Ok, good... You're going to be ok, Jeff. I know you are. Even though you might feel scared or hurt or whatever you're feeling... You've made it through the hardest parts already."

"I-I'm t-terrified."

"Jeff, it'll be ok. I promise it will. How about you let me see your bruises and stuff."

"N-no! D-Don't let m-me go!"

"Ok, ok!"

I continued crying a little bit, staying completely in Riker's arms. I just needed comfort right now.

Later...

Riker POV

I didn't think I was really making any progress with Jeff. We were laying in bed now, and he had his arms around me super tight, not budging. He was sort of crying into my side. My shirt was a little bit wet now.

"Jeff?"

"Mmmm..."

"You trust me, right?"

"Mhmmm..."

"Can I please see what Sophia did to you?"

Silence.

Jeff's grip on me tightened, though.

"Jeff, come on. I just want to see. Maybe I can help."

"No!" He whined.

He curled up, keeping his arms around me tightly. This boy wouldn't budge for anything.

"Jeff... I know you don't want to... But I can help you feel better if I know what's wrong and what hurts. Please let me see."

"Not yet."

"Why not?"

Silence again. He's just being stubborn...

"Jeff, come on. You have to show me," I said, sitting up.

"No, Riker, please!"

"Why not? I just want to see."

"R-Riker!"

He collapsed into my lap into even more tears. I sighed.

Maybe he's at his breaking point or something. Maybe I should just give him some time.

I wish I was better at knowing what to do with him...

"Ok, how about we make a compromise? You don't have to show me right now, but you have to show me before we go to bed tonight, ok?"

"F-fine..."

"But can you please stop crying? You're literally breaking my heart."

I got a half smile from him.

"Hey. See? It's ok. You don't have to be sad anymore."

Jeff curled up into my side again, and closed his eyes. We both sort of fell asleep together.