Why She Stayed (xxxtentacion)

X.34

"Flor," Rocky calls out at me as he approached me from behind.

I turn around looking away from the lens to where he's at. "Oh hi," I mumble while Mr. Hasakawa switches lens.

"So you gonna accept that role?" He asks me.

I shrug, I wasn't sure if maybe I was going to be taking that project Rocky had offered me. "I don't think I'm ready to leave yet," I say.

He laughs. "Your a fool Flor." He paused. "A fool just like my boy. You know he's changing." Rocky shakes his head. "He's been doing better, acting like he should. He's got spirit. It's all thanks to you."

I blush. "I'm not really doing much."

"I'm rooting for you." He winks at me.

I smile at him while he heads elsewhere, my mind wanders back to X. I wonder what it is that I've done...how much of an impact does having me around have on him?

The session continued for a while but the closer we got to sunset we ended up wrapping things up. I started heading over to the parking lot to catch the bus when I was surprised by a bouquet of flowers. Flowers that a very sweet and caring boyfriend was holding out for me to take. "X..."

I blush. "I'll walk you home." He mumbles and I grab the bouquet.

"I'm shocked," I tell him as we head down the block.

X smirks slinging an arm over my shoulder. "Flor?" X asks.

I turn away from the flowers and look up at him. "Remember that thing you didn't want to talk to me about yet because it was too painful?"

I flinch but try to keep calm. "Yes."

"Can I know?"

I sigh. I knew this was going to be something we talked about sooner or later. I just wished that I could somehow erase that time in my life. To keep out those bad memories and just forget it ever happened.

"Flor?" X sounds worried.

I smile at him. "I moved here for that reason X. I use to live elsewhere with my mom and dad. I was a model from an agency and well I sort of just did what I loved for a while. I just never noticed how dangerous it could be."

I took a deep breath. "I was attacked one night."

I felt him tense up beside me. "I never saw his face. He wore a mask but I always knew when he was near, he always wore these bells. He'd write letters to me and leave them in my mail box or by my window. He said that the sound of the bells was how he heard out heart beats falling in love." I shook my head.

"Flor, did he hurt you?" X stopped in his tracks. I stopped too alongside him.

"I need to sit down," I said quietly, as I took a deep breath. I found a bench to sit on while I gathered my thoughts. X took my hands in his, rubbing a thumb over the skin of my palm.

It took a while but I was finally able to speak again. "He was my stalker. Because of him, I quit modeling. Left school...left town. I sort of gave up on everything. I became afraid. Afraid to go out at night. Afraid to speak to boys let alone be in a room by myself with one. I was a mess." I was crying now. "He attacked me one night. If I hadn't smacked him on the head with a rock I think I would've been killed."

"That Motherfucker. " X muttered angrily, looking like he wanted to smash something.

"I was so scared. I couldn't sleep for nights and nights." I flinched as the memories rushed back. X's hands tightened around my own. "The police never found him. He's out there somewhere and it still scares me to this day. I swear I hear the sound of the bells sometimes in my head."

X sighed and shook his head, kneeling down in front of me pulling me into a hug. "He won't fucking touch you," he said, sounding angry. I pressed my face into his shoulder, breathing him in. I felt him put his lips on my neck and I concentrated on the feel of his breath blowing reassuringly down my back, trying desperately not to freak out. After a minute of silence, X spoke. "I'll kill the fucking idiot who thinks he can hurt you. I swear Flor. I'll always be here for you. I'll protect you."

I closed my eyes and smiled sadly. "You saved me X," I whisper against his ear. "Because of you, I didn't think of killing myself or being sad all the time. Those lyrics, the way you spoke, the passion in your voice..." I trail off. "I fell in love with a stranger who saved my life. And now he loves me back."

He's quiet and I take my chance and wrap my arms around him, crushing the flowers between his chest and mine. "Thank you for giving me a reason to live again."

I hear him gasp. Pulling me away he takes my face in his hands and says. "Don't ever leave me." And then he plants a long sweet kiss on my lips.

"Never." I whisper back.