.Mate Problems.

-10-

Anna's pov:

as the time went I could maybe affirm Ash was getting better.

therapy and such also helped.

she behaved like before, that didn't really change, but if asked a question she would answer you without words, what I mean is that she would nod, shake her head or shrug.

it was a small change but a change still.

I sighed as the bell rang and the students started to pile their tests on my table.

"miss. Blackblood place stay behind" I said as she put her test on the table, she looked at me a nodded a little, waiting the others to leave the classroom.

I closed the door and locked it so no one would disturb us and turned back to her, she passed a hand in her now chin length hair and slightly raised an eyebrow, a way of asking me what I wanted.

"I just wanted to talk to you" she raised her eyebrow again.

"you how much I care about you right? I will always be here for you" I said, gently and slowly laying a hand on her left cheek, I always left her enough time to pull away if she didn't want me to touch her but she never seemed to want to pull away.

she closed her eyes and gently pressed her head in my hand before looking at me again.

"I will always be here for you, always, I don't care about anything, I will never leave you.... I just want to help" I muttered.

a little frown appeared on her face and she became fidgety, looked at everything but me.... did I say something bad?

"Ash love? you can tell me if I make you uncomfortable and I will leave you alone" I said, dropping my hand from her cheek but she shook her head.

she nervously pulled her hoodie's sleeves down which made me narrow my eyes, she's been doing this for a while now.

I wanted the take hold of her wrist but I got an unexpected response.

she didn't simply pull her wrist away which would have been the 'normal answer', she covered her front and turned away, her side now facing me.

"I only wanted to hold your ha--» I cut myself off as she stared at the ground.... wait.... I wouldn't have gotten such response if he didn't........

"he raped you" I whispered, even I barely heard myself but she did.

she gritted her teeth, tears forming in her eyes and spilling down her face, I instantly hugged her, a hand on her lower back and the other petting her head, she broke down then and there, hugging me tightly and burying her face in the crook of my neck, shaking like a leaf.

"it's alright, it's over.... he will never get close to you ever again I promise" I said, trying to calm her down.

she backed away slightly, sniffling and wiping away her tears in her hoodie's sleeve before looking at me with her red and puffy eyes that had bags under them, she looked so pale too.

"Ash love I will never judge you" I said as she tried to hide her face away in her hands but I held them, she looked at me shyly and tilted her head to the side.

"I never judge people, I learned that a long time ago, to never judge people" I said.

she pulled on her sleeves again.

"Ash" was the only thing I said and stretched out my hand, waiting for her to give me her hand as both of us knew what I wanted to do.

she looked hesitant, almost taking my hand but pulling back, I wasn't about to forcefully take her hand as I want her to trust me that I will not hurt her.

"please let me help" I said and then finally she took my hand in her shaking one, I felt her wanting to pull away, it was simply visible on her face and with the loose grip she had.

"I will not force you to do this if you don't want to, I want you to trust me" I said, she looked down at her hand holding mine, I hadn't closed my hand still, leaving her to choice to pull away, I wanted to help but knew I couldn't if she didn't want.

a few minutes passed as she was debating on what to do before her hold tightened slightly and she looked away, out the window.

I gently closed my hand and held her, leaving her a final chance of backing out but she didn't.

I turned her hand over so her palmed faced the ceiling and slowly took hold of her sleeve and wait a few seconds, people would normally change their choice right now and yank their hand from mine but she didn't even if she was shaking more.

I gently pulled her sleeve up and disbelief filled me even if I expected something similar but not this bad.

old and new scars littered her wrist, small and big alike.

I let go off her sleeve and my hand fell to my side as I still held her hand, the silence was getting heavier by the second as I simply stared at the self-inflicted wounds on her.

"since when?" I asked gently, still eyeing her arm and not looking at her.

she showed four fingers.

"four.... days?...... weeks?" I saw her nod in my peripheral vision at the second proposition.

"I'm sorry" I said, gently kissing her arm and looking at her, her face only showed confusion and fear.

"sorry I wasn't there for you; sorry I wasn't there to stop you.... I could have helped" she was shocked, I'm sure she waited for me to yell at her or something not apologies.

"please give it to me" I said, she reached in her pocket and hesitantly put the razor blade in my hand before looking away, I put it in my pocket and held out an elastic band for her, she raised her eyebrow.

"I know it's a habit and it's hard to stop so if you ever feel the need to hurt yourself just pull on the elastic band and let it go" her mouth hung open a little and nodded.

"I'm always here for you Ash, I told you I was going to help you with your drinking problem way back then.... well I'll help you with anything I can.... Ash I love you" she looked slightly taken aback, yes knew about being mates and all that shenanigan, I always said I would be here for her and such but never told her I love her.

she ended up hugging me tight, I hugged back without question.

"thank you" I smiled as I heard her mutter, it was not much but still.

"anything for you.... let's go home okay, school finished a while ago" I said staring at the clock, it's been only half an hour but it felt longer to me.

I felt her nod against me before letting me go.

we picked up our stuff and I opened the door.

I felt a hand take mine after a while, I looked down and then at Ash who had a nervous look on her face, I smiled gently and squeezed her hand, she looked slightly relieved and pulled herself closer to me as we walked in silence, not awkward at all, on the contrary it was quite comforting, I'm happy she trusted me, even if only a little.

I will always be here Ash.... always....