Secrets, Hidden Love, Power

The familiar knock interrupted my thoughts.

    I already knew who it was, he had been coming over every afternoon all bashed and bruised for the last two years. It’s always the same, he comes, I clean him up while he tells me the story, he eats and then leaves. Always the same, it’s a routine.

    That’s how Ty was, he was predictable- at least to me.

    Sure enough, there he is.

    “What happened this time?” I ask with only the minimum amount of curiosity.

    He gave me a nonchalant look, “If you really want to know, I was jumped. They stole my wallet, not that there was anything in it.” He shrugged and stepped in, pushing his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket. His green eyes examined mine, those eyes that I get lost in just like every other girl.

    Yes, he was the cliché badass, player, bad boy but he was my best friend, and quite truthfully he wasn’t all that bad.

    “This might sting,” I say as I treat his cuts.

    “Ah,” he groans. “Jesus song.” 

    Song is his nickname for me one afternoon he heard me sing and its stuck ever since. Occasionally, he’ll make me sing it to him. That’s usually only when he’s in a bad mood, though, which recently, has been more and more often.

    “If I die young, bury me in satin, lay me down on a bed of roses. Sink me in the river, at dawn. Send me away with the words of a love song.”

    He seemed to enjoy it, closing his eyes as his breathing got slightly heavier.

    “The usual?” I ask.

    He chucked, “The usual.”

    And just like that the spell was broken.

    I prepared his sandwich and made one for myself. We sat across from each other and I took a bite, studying Ty. He was a nice guy, rough around the edges, but nice.

    “So how’s Charlie?” I say when the silence gets heavy.

    He looks up. “He’s good, mum’s still looking for a job, but Charlie’s good.” His family is always a sore spot, it seems. He’s not exactly Mr. Popular and his home life isn’t the best. “Sing again? Please?”

    I look at him, he needs it. “What song?”

    He stays silent, deep in thought. I wait, wondering what song he’ll choose this time. “Love the Way You Lie, Ariana Grande sings it, right? I heard it on the radio the other day.” His green eyes stare at me, wide and unblinking.

    “Whole song or…?”

    “Whole song,” he nods affirmatively.

    I nod and start into the song, “On the first page of our story…”

    I close my eyes and lose myself in the lyrics, hoping I’m getting them all right, and yet not really caring if they aren’t.

    I finish off and look up. Ty’s leaning back, his eyes close and his body calm and relaxed. He looked at me softly. “I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow, thanks.”

    He didn’t say why he was thanking me, but I had a good idea of why.

    He stood up and walked off as I stared at the spot of where he was only a second ago. I blinked once and looked away. “Bye,” I whispered. But he was gone and there was no way he’d hear me.

    Once again I was alone. No friends other than Ty. No siblings. Mom worked way too much and dad was in the army. No one.