What's she Worth to You?

Screams

E R I N

A loud scream fills my ears and I jerk up out of my sleep. Jay sits up tiredly and I sigh.

"Want me to take this one?" He asks and I shake my head, running a hand through my hair.

"No, I think it needs to be me tonight..." he nods understandably and leans in, giving me a peck on the forehead.

"Okay," he whispers. I pull the covers away and tiredly step out of bed. This is now the third time tonight that she's woken up screaming. I glance at the clock. Three forty-three. We have to be at work at eight. I sigh and rub my eyes, trying to wake myself up.

I walk into her room to see her sitting up with her head in her hands.

"Hey," I whisper and she looks up with a tear stained face.

"I'm so sorry, I-I shouldn't of, I'm," she can't get a full sentence out. I sit next to her on the bed and take her hand. She takes in a deep breath and shakes her head.
"I'm okay, really... You can go back to sleep, I'll be okay," she tries to hold it together, but I can hear it in her voice, she's falling apart. I run my hand over her face, which is practically skin and bones. I lightly trace her cheekbones, which practically pop out of her face.

"You don't have to pretend for me, babe." I whisper and I watch her eyes fill with tears, yet she blinks them away.

"Gosh why does everything have to be so hard..." She says brokenly and I shake my head.

"They shouldn't be, it's not fair." She laughs slightly and nods.

"Yeah, tell me about it." She wipes her tears away and smiles at me.
"Thank you, for everything, for letting me stay here, for helping me do everything," she looks down.
"For bathing me... You didn't have to do that, you didn't have to do any of this. You could've stuck me in a safe house and thought nothing of it. Thank you for caring." Her voice cracks and I give her a sad look.

"Of course, babe," I whisper and she nods. She takes a deep breath and tries not to cry, my heart hurts for her.
"C'mere," i whisper and pull her into a hug. She grabs a hold of my shirt and buries her face in my robe.
A sob rises from the back of her throats and leaps out of her mouth. She tightens her grip on the fabric of my shirt so much that her tiny hand begins to shake.
I hold her tightly in my embrace, keeping her comfortable while she falls apart. Her tears slide off her face and onto my arms, but I pay it no heed. I gently kiss her forehead as she slowly gets her cries under control, turning them from sobs to quiet tears. I glance at the alarm clock on the wooden side table.
Four eighteen.
I softly pull her out of my grip and she sniffs, just getting a hold of herself.
"You need to get some sleep, sweet girl, you're so tired..." she nods timidly and I take her face in my hands. I run my thumb across her cheeks, wiping her tears away.

She lays down and I start to get up, but she grabs my hand.

"Stay," is all she mutters. I nod with a sympathetic look and silently step up into the guest bed, laying down next to her.

I run a hand through her still partially wet hair and hold her close. She lays her forehead against my chest and I kiss the top of her head.

"Goodnight pretty girl," I whisper, yet I'm met with only heavy breathing in return.

She's already out like a light.

I sigh and continue to play with her dark hair. The room is still well illuminated, as she was afraid to sleep with all the lights off. My eyes fall on her face, her long dark eyelashes, her thick lips, her high cheekbones and chiseled jaw.

She really is a gorgeous little thing.

After getting her cleaned up, I really see her. She's absolutely beautiful. Her piercing green eyes could light up the whole room, she holds a city in her soul. She's a fighter, I can tell. Hell, it's been less than a day and she's already speaking. Having trouble as she may she's been   entirely mute for a week, so that's pretty damn impressive.

She stirs in her sleep and mumbles something, I pull her closer in hopes that I can calm her down so we can avoid another screaming fit. Sure enough, she relaxes and her breathing returns to normal. I sigh with relief.

Just then, a thought hits me.

If Im not calling in sick,

And Jays going to work...

Who's going to take care of her in the morning?

I groan quietly and silently scorn myself for being forgetful.
Who on earth could I text at practically five in the morning to come and babysit a 17 year old girl?

I don't even have to think five seconds. I pull my phone out of my robe pocket and turn it on silent. I open my messages and send her a text.

Hey, sorry this is such late notice, but I really need a favor...

Not even a minute passes and I already have a response.

Of course, how can I help you?

Are you free tomorrow? Can you watch someone for me, I think she'll feel safe with you...

Hmm... interesting...

Please??

I cross my fingers, hoping she'll say yes. My phone vibrates.

Yes of course, anything for you, Erin Lindsay

I smile at my screen.

Thanks so much, be here whenever you can, earliest possible, I'll explain then!

Will do.

It's then that I shut my phone off and slip it back into my pocket. I pull her closer and drift  off to sleep.

A/N
I can't explain how in love I am with the characters of this book, who's your favorite?? Tell me your favorite character along with a suggestion for the story in the comments💞