Smile (Kris Bryant)

Chapter Eight| Tired

Kris

"Try harder" Alex laughs as I try to lift dead an absurd amount of weight. I know for a fact I was not doing this correctly.

"Damn, how much is on here" I grunt.

"240" she says and I snap my head to her.

"Oh my god... you're trying to kill me" I claim and she laughs out loud, the sound of her laughter gloving me chills.

"I was not! Just curious as to what you would try to do to impress me. I'm surprised you even tried it" she laughs.

"Well I cannot do that" I claim climbing out of the weights and walking far away from there. We finish up and we do a cool down before we go.

"You should come hang out at the pier with me" I suggest and her motions get slower.

"I can't" she says.

"Alex... please tell me what's happening" I ask.

"Nothing" she says quietly and I cross my arms.

"Don't you lie to me" I warn and her shoulders drop.

"You know I hate leaving you Kris. It's the worst feeling in the world honestly. But I don't have much energy left in me for a fight today. Most days actually. I didn't get to sleep a lot last night and if I stay out too long he's going to know something is up" she claims running her hands through her hair. I see the bruises on her neck before her hair falls back into place giving me a sick feeling in her stomach.

"Let me take care of you. Come over and take a nap and I'll make you lunch. I'll tell the guys that you don't feel well and had to leave early so he doesn't think you're skipping out on work" I insist.

"I don't know" she claims.

"Please. I can't let you go home. Not yet" I beg.

"Fine" she agrees. She follows me to my place and I take her in. I could tell something was wrong and I just wish she would just leave him. I know it's not that easy, but it can't be worse than this.

I draw her a bath and she takes one while I make lunch. I make us some hot dogs and set out potato chips because I don't really know how to cook. She comes out the bathroom in a fresh pair of running shorts and one of my Cubs shirt. She had her hair pulled up for once showing off a still really deep bruise on her neck, you can see the finger marks. It made my blood boil seeing that. There is no reason I can count each of his fingers outlined on her neck like that. He shouldn't even though her to hurt her let alone cause that type of damage. But I was happy she didn't feel the need to hide this from me anymore. She can just be herself for once without worrying what I think or could find out.

She sits at the island and I set her plate in front of her. She smiles up at me and it made me feel a little better.

"Is this your own recipe" she teases and I roll my eyes.

"Alright, smart ass. Eat your food" I instruct and she laughs. We eat in silence and she thanks me for the bath and meal. We clean up the kitchen area and I take her to my room. I open the blinds showing the city and she walks up to the window. She stands there and looks out over the city before smiling big.

"It's so beautiful" she gasps. I stand behind her and wrap my arms around her.

"It's pretty great, isn't it" I ask.

"It's amazing" she admits. I bring her to bed and she crawls in. She looks up and I can tell she wanted to say something.

"What is it" I ask.

"I know Spencer is a terrible guy and we're not married, nor will we ever, but it still feels wrong sleeping with someone else" she admits.

"I'm not sleeping with you. I'm staying here to make sure you're safe and sleep well" I say. She covers her smile up with the blanket causing me to smile. That was real cute. I crawl into the bed and bring her into my chest. She wraps her arms around me tight as I rub her back. She just lays there and I noticed she was crying.

"Why are you crying" I ask.

"I miss being held like this. I miss having someone to hold onto. I miss laying in bed and not being worried about if I'm going to wake up. I miss being with someone I care about" she sniffles.

"Shhhhh. I got you. Go to bed" I encourage. A few minutes later her breathing evens out. I play with her hair as she finally falls sleep and I can relax a little.

I hate knowing that she was going to have to go back to him. That terrible and abusive and dumb son of a bitch. That he's going to hit her and get away with it. Guys like him deserve to burn in hell. I can't wait until that guy gets what he deserves. Until then my job is to make sure Alexandria will be okay.

I move her hair and look at the terrible bruises on her neck. They looked so painful, how can she walk around with all these things on her body and act like she's okay with it. I just don't get. I guess she's been doing it for so long she's just adapted to it, but no one should ever have to do that. She starts to stir in her sleep and I pull her closer. Her fingers get tangled in my shirt and she starts to smile. I wonder what she's dreaming of?

After a few hours she wakes up and I move her hair out of her face so I could really see her. She was so beautiful.

"Do you feel better" I ask.

"Best sleep I've had in 4 years" she smiles.

"Well I'm glad I could help" I reply. She suddenly turns sad then I felt like I said something wrong.

"I hate when you look all sad. What's wrong" I ask.

"I just. I don't want to go home. This has been so nice. I mean we ate a 2 minute meal and I took a nap but small things like those are taken for granted when the good is beaten out of you every day. And every moment with you has been so nice. It makes going home that much harder" she says.

"Don't go. Stay with me. We can find a way to make it work" I beg. I couldn't let go of her now that she's finally in my arms.

"I can't Kris. You know I can't" she says sadly.

"I know. I just... I can't stand the thought of something happening to you. I can't let you go knowing that something and will happen to you" I sigh.

"I promise when it comes too much and I can't do it anymore I'll find my way here. I'll be here first thing and I'll be all yours" she assures me. I kiss the top of her head and rest my chin there. That day couldn't come soon enough.