My knight in shining shorts

9 Dealing with the Aftermath...

Robins pov

I woke up again. I had to take my breaths in shallow gasps.

I heard a knock on the door. Voices. Familiar voices. My step-dad and someone else. I listened in. It was Ty. They were coming upstairs. My step-dad had let him in. Ty had come round to my house. This was too much to process when I'm just waking up.

"Yea...on the way home... So clumsy...needs a bodyguard"

"..ok?...worried at school...didn't want to get her into trouble"

I could hear the snippets of conversation. It sounded so normal. My step-dad sounded so normal. Not at all like the same guy that had beaten me senseless a few hours ago.

There was a knock on my bedroom door. My step-dad popped his head around the door.

"Hey sweetheart, a friend from school has come to see if you're ok. I told him that you got hit by a car on the way home this morning. He would like to check on you"

"Ok let him in, thanks dad" I said.

My dad moved and Ty walked into my bedroom.

"Right kids, behave yourselves and be careful with your injuries Robin"

"Ok dad" He was always nice in front of other people. I was nice because I didn't want any backlash when Ty went home.

"Thanks Joe. It was really nice to meet you." Ty said. Joe?? How much had they talked?

"You too Ty." He left us alone.

Ty was staring at me. It was unnerving. I had no idea how I looked. My cheek was aching though. His eyes had that look again. Pity. I didn't want his pity. It took him a while to finally speak.

"Did you really get hit by a car? I don't think anybody could be that clumsy, especially after falling down the stairs a few days ago." He took a breath.

"You never seem that clumsy when I'm with you and you always seem a little fragile and sad. Plus there aren't any busy roads to cross between our houses."

I tried not to look terrified.

"Yes. It wasn't busy, there was only one car. Plus I was kind of distracted."

He laughed, clearly relieved. "Ok well I won't kiss you anymore when your leaving. Then you won't be distracted"

I did an exaggerated pout ignoring the pain in my face. Hoping to make light of the situation. Although I really am quite disappointed at what I would be missing out on from now on.

"So how come you didn't go to the hospital?"

"I hate hospitals." It wasn't true. I had nothing against them.

"So do I. Ever since my mum died. She died in a hospice though so I guess its irrational." He said that like a person that had already gotten over it. It must have happened a while ago.

Damn!! Now I feel bad for lying. I didn't know what to say. I let the silence linger. Until he broke it.

"So your dad says I can stay for a bit. Is that OK? Do you feel like visitors?"

I nodded and said "We can watch a film. I've been waiting to watch GI Joe? Is that OK?"

"Yep" he grinned.

He put the DVD in and I moved across the bed. I hissed in pain and he looked at me with pity in his eyes again. Suck it up Robin! Stop letting people pity you! Show no weakness.

With renewed determination I moved and made space for him. He came and lay next to me awkwardly. There's no way he can be comfortable.

"Tell me if I hurt you" he said.