In My Defense

Goose Bumps

Chapter Twelve

Blood was smeared across my face. Everything was blurry but I could see his face clearly. His rough hands impacted my small body. Tears stained my cheeks, mixing with my own blood. My hair was matted and sticking to my forehead. I couldn't breathe. I was suffocating.

My own screams woke me up. I sat up and touched my face, feeling only sweat. It took me a few seconds to realize that I slept over at Ryan's house. Images of the previous night invaded my mind. I showed Ryan my scars while I was practically naked. He held me last night. He didn't let me go. I had no nightmares while in his arms. Now he's gone and I'm left alone in this huge house with only my thoughts.

I rolled over to Ryan's side of the bed and felt a crumpling beneath me. My hand reached under me to grab a scrap of paper.

Went to get coffee. I'll be back soon. If you need anything just call me.

-Ryan.

Just as I was swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, the bedroom door quietly opened. Ryan entered and smiled at me.

"Oh, you're awake. I brought you some coffee." He handed the hot cup, but I set it down. I was still hot and flushed from my nightmare.

"Thanks," I said, wiping a bead of sweat from my forehead.

Ryan sat next to me. "Did you sleep alright?"

I sighed. "Better than I normally do." I laughed nervously.

He looked over at me and shook his head. "You were crying in your sleep." His hand went to wipe my cheek with his thumb.

"It was just a dream." I shrugged it off.

"You weren't crying when I left." His voice didn't let me know what he's thinking.

I stood up and walked into his bathroom. My heart leaped at the memory of last night.

"It's no big deal, Ry."

He walked into the bathroom and spoke, "It is to me."

My cheeks flushed and I began combing my hair out with my fingers. Ryan watched me carefully through the mirror. I could feel his eyes taking in my every movement. His breath was steady on neck sending chills shooting throughout my body.

"We can take my car to school today. Unless you'd rather walk."

I spun to face him, wearing an incredulous look. "You had a car this entire time, and we've been walking everywhere?"

His face flushed. "Well. . . I wanted to walk you home," he muttered.

My face also flushed. "Oh. Well, um, I need to change so could you step out?"

"It's not like seeing you half-naked is something new." He smirked at me.

Heat rose to ears. "Ryan!" I turned him around, I pushed him out the door and slammed it in his face just as he began to protest.

I start thinking about how I won't be able to wear make up today but then I remembered that my face was bruise free and I didn't have to wear any. Then I began thinking about how Frank had been gone for three days longer than he told me he was going to be gone. And then I realized I had known Ryan for almost three weeks. His voice still gave me butterflies, and his scent my mind go haywire. His smile was perfect. His teeth were slightly crooked but that made it even more perfect to me. The way his tongue would fill the spaces of his teeth when he grinned at me left me floating.

A pounding on the door made me jump from my thoughts. "Raelynn, are you almost done? I need to piss."

I rolled my eyes and quickly brushed my teeth with the spare toothbrush Ryan's mother had provided me. My eyes scanned the outfit she bought me and I cringed at the small top she bought me. I got dressed and examined myself in the mirror. The shirt rested above my bellybutton and the jeans were low, showing my hipbones. I tugged at the hem of my shirt but it wouldn't budge because it was tight around my chest.

I gave up and opened the door. Ryan looked at me and his eyes brightened.

My face burned. "It's a little snug, um. Can I borrow a T-shirt?"

"Yeah." He dug through his drawer and threw me a black shirt.

I turned around and as I was about to change, I said, "Don't look,"

"I'm not." I knew he was, but I didn't pursue him any further.

I tugged at the top of the shirt, attempting to pull it over. The shirt got stuck around my chest and it took me a while to get it off. Ryan's shirt fit so comfortably and his smell lingered in the fabric.

I turned around and Ryan was walking towards me. His hands slid behind my neck spreading goose bumps along my skin. His hands brought my closer, and my breath hitched in my throat. Ryan's hand traced circles on my jaw. Then he pulled my hair out of the neck of my shirt and tucked it behind my ears.

He smiled at me. "Ready for school?" He smirked at me then slipped out of the room, leaving me completely breathless.

I walked downstairs and was immediately greeted by Sarah's warm smile. "How did the shirt fit?"

I was aware of Ryan smirking behind me. "It was, um, a bit tight around my, uh, chest," I stuttered.

"I'm sorry, I can return it for a bigger size?"

Before I was about to decline, Ryan said, "Crap. We're going to be late. Come on, Raelynn."

Ryan swiftly kissed his mother on the cheek and dragged me out through the door before I could wave to her.

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I updated! yeehaw. and right before my laptop died (: see ya.