Stockholm Syndrome // sm

Chapter Twenty-Four

"Merry Christmas dad." Shawn smiled and gave his father a hug. I just awkwardly smiled at his stepmom, who returned it as I pulled the sleeves of my sweatshirt down.

"Merry Christmas Shawn. The place looks beautiful." He complimented and the two pulled away. "You didn't do this all yourself, did you? There's no way."

"I just hung them up. Jenny told me where to put it and what colours to get. She gets all the credit, I'm just the tall worker who can reach up high." He laughed and I blushed a bit as his dad looked at me.

"You look beautiful. Merry Christmas darling."

He gave me a hug and a cold feeling ran up my spine. My stomach twisted with a nasty feeling as Shawn watched me nervously, his teeth digging into his bottom lip as I hesitated. I gulped quietly, my arms slowly coming down and hugging him back for the fraction of a second.

"M-Merry Christmas s-sir." I stammered and he pulled away. Shawn was quick to get me by his side once again, ushering us all to the kitchen for lunch, which was a soup we made earlier.

"Are you alright?" He whispered to me and I took a deep breath.

"I uh... I'll be fine. I've been worse." I muttered and he nodded as I crossed my arms. "Why does he act like everything's alright when it's not?"

"It's Christmas, everyone forgets quarrels or arguments they had with someone." He reminded me and I nodded as I helped him set the table, my movements slow.

When Shawn set a hand on my shoulder, I jerked it back violently, catching everyone's attention. "I'm sorry." I apologized and then looked at him, shaking my head softly. "I'm sorry."

"Go upstairs for a moment beautiful, it's fine. It'll be alright. Come back down when you feel better." He suggested quietly and I nodded as he looked at his parents, who were talking in hushed voices themselves.

"Excuse me." I whispered to them and then went upstairs, immediately heading towards Shawn's room since that's were I've been spending most of my time recently.

I shut the door and then fell back on to his bed, sniffling quietly as I took a deep breath. My hands were shaking as I laid them on top of my forehead, memories of Shawn's dad grabbing me and forcing me through some building. I felt like those ropes were bound around my ankles and wrists again, scratching against my body.

A familiar ache hit my chest and at this point, I just wanted to lay down beside Shawn and sleep away my feelings. I normally pushed everthing aside for him, so he didn't doubt how I felt about him or didn't try to change our plans of running from this place, which was only a few heartbeats away.

I heard a knock on the door and I sniffled loudly as I sat up. I wiped my eyes and then cleared my throat, mascara smeared on my pale sweater. "Yeah?" I asked and the the door opened.

Shawn's stepmother smiled softly and walked in ad she saw me. "Are you alright dear?" She asked me and I nodded. "Really?"

"Yeah-"

"You don't look alright." She pointed out and I couldn't help but fire back sarcastically.

"Thanks for pointing that out the one time you actually talk." I told her and she nodded softly.

"I know I'm not the ideal person to talk to you or be here with you, but I just want to help." She offered, walking up to me slowly. "I know what you're going through-"

"You're a liar." I narrowed my eyes at her as I held a hand to my mouth. "Your husband... he ruined my life."

"You fell in love-"