Paint You Wings

Nineteen

Being at the apartment alone is different. It's quiet, and cold. Aaron being at class is going to take a toll on me.

I sigh and get out of the empty bed. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I walk into the kitchen and start brewing coffee.

I'm already aware that I have to retake my senior year. I was absent for a lot of it. I think I'll just do it online. It would be easier, I'm always on the computer anyway.

I walk out into the living room and find my phone. Finding it, I realize the batteries dead.

"Fuck," I murmur under my breath. Tossing it aside, I go back to the coffee maker.

The door opens as I pour myself a cup. "Aaron?"

I hear the footsteps come into the kitchen. My back still turned, hands are on my hips.

"Guess again," a low, familiar voice growls against my skin.

My eyes widen with shock. "Richard?"

"Ding, ding, ding!" His hands slide to my abdomen and then to the waist band of my sweatpants.

"Richard, stop."

His lips are on my neck, his tongue covers the space he's kissing. "Stop what, princess?"

"Don't call me that." I say through gritted teeth.

His hands go back to my hips, spinning me around in his grasp, my back against the counter his lips are on mine. They're chapped and cold. His tongue juts out and licks my lip. I cringe and put my hands up to push him away. Squirming under his touch he pulls away and pins me even closer against the counter.

"What's wrong, princess?" He slides his hands around my back and grip my butt. I bite my lip and silently will for Aaron to walk through the door.

Richards grip loosens for just a moment, I take it as my chance to slap him in the face. His head is turned to the right. Kneeing him in the groin, he falls to the floor. I run to the other side of kitchen, and grab a knife.

"How did you get in?" I ask, my voice shaky.

Richard stands up awkwardly and turns towards me with an evil look in his eyes. "You left the front door open, sweetheart."

"I'm talking about the building."

"It's almost nine in the morning, people are leaving for work left and right." He stands a little more confidently, his figure towering over me. I hold the knife tighter in my hand and point it at him. Putting his hands up in defense, he smirks. "You're feisty. I can see why Aaron likes you so much."

"Just leave." I spit.

He shakes his head and picks up the mug of coffee. Taking a sip, his face twists. "Gross," he glances at me and back at the glass before chucking the glass mug across the room. It slams into the wall behind me and breaks into a million pieces.

The door flies open. "What the hell?" Aaron's voice wafts into the room. I look back at him and see his eyes darken at Richard. "What're you doing here?"

Glancing back at Richard, I see him frown. "Just claiming what's mine."

Aaron's arm goes around my waist and he tugs me to him, taking the knife from my hand. "She isn't yours, Richard. Get out."

"Oh, Aaron-"

"Leave!" Aaron shouts, a deadly glare in his eyes.

Richards face takes over a stunned expression before he composes himself and shrugs. "I'll be back." He hisses then walks out the door.

Aaron turns towards me and hugs me tightly, placing the knife on the counter behind me.

"What're you doing here?" I ask, trying not to cry.

"I came back to get my laptop and heard a loud thud."

"You should get back to class." My voice cracks and I silently plead he won't stay. I know I'm being selfish, but I don't want to be alone.

His arms squeeze around me. "I think I'll stay home."

"You can't," I say reluctantly. "you graduate in a week. You need to be at school."

He sighs but doesn't move. "I'll have the assignments and notes emailed to me. My teachers are used to my absences by now."

I let a few tears fall and let out the breath I was unaware of holding. "Okay," my body starts shaking with sobs and once again, Aaron's arms tighten around me.

He pushes me back and we walk out into the living room. Sitting on the couch, I take the seat on Aaron's lap and rest my head in the nape of his neck.

"I love you." I whisper.

Leaning his head on mine, I can hear the smile in his voice. "I love you, too... why didn't you call me?"

I laugh bitterly through the tears. "I couldn't exactly get my phone Aaron. He had me pinned against the counter for sometime-"

"What?"

I bite my lip. Shit, I shouldn't have mentioned that. "It's nothing."

"Belle it's something. Did he lay his hands on you?"

I hesitate, which is all the confirmation he needs. "That fucking snake. I'm going to kill him!"

"Aaron it's okay."

I hear his breath get caught in his throat for only a moment. "Did you kiss him back?"

My head shoots up from Aaron's neck. "God no, Aaron! Ewe! What the hell?"

He puts my head back on his shoulder, the ghost of a smirk on his lips. "Okay, I'm sorry."

I stare at my arm. At the cut I did only a week or so ago. It isn't quite a scar yet, but it will be. It was deeper than I thought. Deeper than Aaron thought.

Aaron follows my eyes and takes my arm in his. "Do you ever feel like hurting yourself anymore?"

I shake my head. Liar.

"That's good, when I found out you did that-"

"Aaron, we've already had this discussion... I know you didn't mean any of it. Let's just move on."

"It isn't that easy, Belle." His voice is hard. I know he's thinking about when he started taking my bracelets off one by one. "I love you, and I should've acted differently. I should've... forced you to let me help you, rather than force you out of my life. I'm glad you were willing to take me back after that."

"I couldn't ever live without you." I instantly regret it when the words leave my mouth. I know to any normal couple that's just rewording "I love you," but for Aaron and I, it brings back the time I stepped into the road. I really need to learn to keep my mouth shut. "I love you a lot, Aaron." I sigh into his neck and grip the collar of his navy t-shirt. Breathing in his scent, I close my eyes.

"Are you tired?" He whispers in my ear.

"Mm-hm,"

Aaron chuckles before I feel myself lifted, with one of his arms under my knees and the other around my back. The bed reaches up to meet me as he lays me down, and then lies next to me. "We could use a nap." He says against my shoulder.

I snuggle into his chest and agree. There's nothing more perfect than cuddling after a psychotic ex breaks into your apartment.