Princess Can Fight |✓

Chapter 20: Because he's not the only one hurting

"So, how'd it go?"

"I don't want to talk about it." I whispered and tied my hair up into a messy bun.

"Aw come on Izabelle, you can tell me." He nudged.

"I said I don't want to--" Why didn't he just understand?!

"Fine I'll go ask Brad then--"

"Austin! No!" I grabbed his wrist.

"Austin... Please don't bring it up alright?" I didn't know if he could see it but, I was-- in my own weird way, begging him.

"Did he hurt you?"

"What?" How could he say that?

"It's a simple question Izabelle. Did he hurt you?"

"No. No, he didn't hurt me. He promised me he wouldn't. He--He was so nice to me." I found myself sitting at the edge of Prince's bed.

"Then why don't you want to talk about it?" He was different today. Just that little bit more understanding than he usually was.

"I--I-- Austin I made him cry... I don't know what it was, I just, look I asked him why we couldn't be together and he over reacted. He kept telling me that he couldn't do that and I don't know what happened Austin-- he just-- he-- he broke. And I didn't know what to do! I was so scared, I don't know what happened to me. And I don't want that to happen again. I can't watch him cry Prince-- it hurts. It physically hurts." I cried and wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand. Austin looked worried. He looked like he almost cared.

He placed his hands on my cheeks and wiped my tears away. "Ssh, ssh, he's alright, he's okay, you have to let me go see him okay? Look I'm the only one who knows every little detail about that guy, you have to let me go and help him-- I won't make it worse, I promise."

I nodded.

"Good. Stay here and let me go fix this." He made me sit on his bed.

"Austin, do you think you want to wear a shirt?"

"Uh-- No, I'm fine."

He walked out in his boxers. I couldn't blame him, he had been sleeping before I got in here. Or at least he was getting ready for bed.

I waited for a few seconds and followed. I waited outside Brad's room, it was a store room like thing and tried to listen to what they were saying inside.

"Brad... Does she know?"

"Of course she doesn't!" His voice was-- it was not like him. It was? I don't know, it just wasn't him. 

"Will she ever be told?" No matter how long I spent with Austin, I would never get used to hearing him yell.

There was a stretched silence for a few moments.

"Answer me you shithead! Will either of us ever tell her?"

"No! No we fucking won't! I can't let her go through that again. No, not again, I will protect her Austin."

"Brad for fuck's sake! She likes you--"

"Austin. We don't talk about that. Ever. Do you understand? We never talk about that."

"Why because her feelings are invalid! She's crying for you! She thinks she did this!" He was trying so hard for me. 

"I've had a tiring day Austin, I'd like to sleep now."

"You're full of shit Brad!"

"And what are you going to do about it?" It almost sounded like a sneer.