Red

Chapter Ten

Veronica POV:

Chandler and I thank Macnamara for sitting with Chandler while I dealt with Ram. I know that if Chandler finds out he threatened me and pushed me down, she'll hate him even more than she already does. I don't plan on telling her anytime soon (or ever, probably). She needs to stay away from him like she has been so that he doesn't cause her any more stress.

I can tell that she still feels sick as we head towards my car. I thank Macnamara once more before she disappears back into the gym. As I look over at Chandler, I see that her face is pale again. I take her hand, linking my fingers with hers as we walk through the parking lot. I didn't park too far from the entrance, so the hand-holding is limited, but I still hope it let her realize that she wasn't going to have to go through this alone, whether it be the sickness (whatever sickness that may be) or her situation with Ram.

Once we get to my car, I pull the door open for Chandler, and she slides into the front seat. I move around to the driver's seat, getting in next to her. As I get in and close the door, I look over at her. She still looks somewhat shaken up from her run-in with Ram. "Did he hurt you?" I ask.

She looks down at her lap, and I feel my stomach turn. "Just drive, Sawyer. Please." She looks over at me, her eyes somewhat tired but pleading. I lean over and give her a kiss. I know better than to push her past this point.

I start the engine, checking behind me before pulling out of the parking spot. As I drive out of the lot, I keep glancing over at Chandler, who looks out of her window. I wish I could do more. I wish I could help her.

Finally, we get back to my house, and as I pull in the driveway, I look over at her once again. She's looking at me now, almost as though she's trying to read something in my expression. "What is it?" I ask, stopping the car in my driveway and shifting into park.

"He hurt you, didn't he? And you're not telling me because you're afraid that I'll fucking do something stupid and get myself hurt," she says. "If he hurt you, you have to tell me."

"He didn't," I say. That's basically true. It didn't really hurt when he pushed me. I barely even remember being pushed. Still, I can see in Chandler's eyes that she doesn't believe me. She'll consider his threatening to be hurting me. I know she will. I just keep staring into her eyes, and she stares back, and then she finally gives up, opening the car door and getting out. I follow her, and we go towards the house.

My parents left on a weekend trip to visit my grandparents in Sandusky (they were leaving after I went to homecoming so that they could be there to see me out), so I know that Chandler and I will have the night to ourselves. I reach into the planter by the door and sift through the dirt, finally closing my fingers around the key. I turn it in the lock, pushing open the door. As I walk in, Chandler follows closely behind, and I close the door behind us.

"So... you mentioned something about a movie?" she says, looking over at me.

"Yeah, sure," I reply quickly. "And you get to pick."

"Oh, I know," she says. "After watching the Princess Bride with you and Martha..."

"What's wrong with the Princess Bride?" I ask, feigning hurt.

"Nothing, nothing," she replies, holding her hands up defensively. "I just prefer something a little more... realistic."

"What could be more realistic than giant pigs with fangs in a swamp full of fire and quicksand?" I ask, and Chandler laughs. Her laugh is quite possibly my favorite sound in the entire world. I smile at her, starting to laugh a bit myself. "I'll get some snacks. The couch is right over there. Are you still feeling sick? Do you need any anti-nausea medicine or anything? My mom keeps them around."