Take My Hand

Thirteen

Published: February 27, 2017

"You know my name, not my story. You have heard what I've done, not what I've been through. Love is like glass, looks so lovely, but it's easy to shatter." -Athena Orchard

The sun that shines through the curtains bothered me and forced me awake. I could hear faint yelling, but couldn't be sure where it was coming from. I slowly sat up from the desk and looked around. I remember finding the book I used when I was little to learn how to make correct sentences. It's not till I hear Carter's voice before I start listening.

"I told you not to come." Alphonso's voice is hard and stern.

"You said you'd protect her. The first real night alone she gets jumped by an asshole. In her own room." Carter's voice is angry but I don't care. He's here.

My feet move out the door and past the guard so fast I'm almost scared I'm gonna fall down the stairs. I fling the door open and my feet carry me down the porch to the gravel and into Carter's arms. He had to take a step back to take the impact and my face buries in his neck.

"I missed you." I whisper to him and feel him kiss the side of my head.

"I missed you too." He mutters and he adjusts me in his arms so he isn't touching my wounds. I didn't even notice the burn from them when he held me.

"Are you ok?" He asks pulling back but holding me up.

"I'm ok." I nod and he smiles.

"He didn't hurt you?" He asks and I shake my head.

"How are your wounds?" He asks and his hand gently brushes against my back.

"Sore." I whisper and he looks at my attire.

"Is that my shirt?" He asks. I feel my face get warm and I nod.

"Your mom packed my bag." I say and he turns to look at the car. I see his mom and dad waiting in it.

"Your staying right?" I ask and he looks behind me.

"Your gonna have to ask your father." He says and I turn to look at Alphonso. He sighs and looks down shaking his head and mumbling to himself.

"Fine." He waves off and turns to go inside. When no one moves to follow him he turns and looks at us.

"You coming or planing on standing there?" He asks I look at Carter and shrug a shoulder. If standing here keeps me in his arms, I am ok.

"I think we're ok here." He teases Alphonso and he rolls his eyes. Alphonso disappears into the house and soon Benjamin walks out.

"You." Carter gasps and Benjamin freezes mid-stride. His eyes shift over to look at us and he furrows his brows.

"Me?"

"Your the idiot that invited that dickwad here in the first place." Carter accuses.

"Hey man. Don't go pointing fingers." He folds his arms.

"Who are you anyways?" He asks and gives carter a once over.

"He just signed his death wish." Carter's anger gets the best of him and he tries to go around me.

"Carter. No. Wait stop." I panic and grab onto his arm.

"That's Carter?" Benjamin's voice is high pitched and scared.

"Yes. Carter this is Benjamin." I say and Carter glares.

"Better run Benjamin." He warns and Ben doesn't take the warning lightly. He's gone with Carter not far behind.

"Ahhh. Boys will be boys." Janet sighs and smiles at me.

"How are you Chloe?" She asks and I nod.

"Ok for now." I say and she nods.

"Nice to see you again Chloe." Carter's dad says nodding to me and I nod back.

"I never did catch your name." I think aloud and blush when I realize I said it out loud.

"Samuel." He smiles at me.

~~~~~

At the table for breakfast, me and Carter talk about what we've been doing while Benjamin nurses his bruised cheek.

"Was this really necessary?" Benjamin asks and winces when Clara switches his ice packs out.

"Yes." Carter says in the middle of his current sentence and goes back to talking to me. I yawn and he frowns at me.

"Come on." He says standing.

"Where?" I mumble and he walks over to my side of the table.

"The bed." He says and lifts me. I tuck my face into his grey dressed chest and sigh.

"Where am I going Chloe?" He asks and I shake my head.

"Your room." I mumble and he kisses my forehead.

"Ok." He mumbles and twists through the halls of the giant house. How did I get around here when I was little?

I can't stop the yawn that escapes me and Carter chuckles. He turns a few more corners before stopping in front of a door and asking me to open it. When I do, he walks in and I look at my surroundings. This room a beautiful.

"Your room is beautiful." I mumble and he smiles down at me.

"It's the guest room Chloe." He says and kisses my cheek.

"Oh." I whisper and he set me in the bed.

"Take off the shirt. I want to see your wounds." He says and I comply. It's starting to hurt anyway from the material of the shirt. Although I do love his scent on it.

"It's starting to hurt. Can you clean it?" I ask and he nods.

"Sure." He replies and walks off. He returns with a brown bottle and some gauze. He also has a few extra bandages for after. When he gets back I am already laying in my stomach with my shirt off. He gently unclips the stupid bra and gets to work gently saving my wounds with his finger and the gauze.

"How do they look?" I ask.

"They look fine. They're healing nicely." He answers and I offer a small smile.

"Will they leave an ugly scar?" I ask and he looks me in the eye.

"These scars will never be ugly to you. Do you understand me?" He asks. His voice is harsh, but in a way, it's nice and calm.

"These scars are a reminder of the things you went through and how strong you were after you got them." He says and I frown.

"I'm not strong." I fire back quickly but quietly. His stare is soft and loving.

"Your still here aren't you?"