Repaired

Chapter Four

Cole

The ride back to school was stressful. My father's words made me sick to my stomach. I couldn't let Belle get hurt. I couldn't live with myself if I did.

I calmed myself as I pulled into the parking lot; Belle was going to know something was wrong. I checked my watch, and I still had ten minutes until she was out of class. I made my way to her classroom, and waited outside until the bell rang. She hurried her way out with a smile on her face, but it fell once she saw me.

"Cole, what's wrong?" She asked, brushing a strand of auburn hair our of her face. I watched as Ray walked his way out of class, before answering.

"Nothing, Belle. Just tired." I told her, forcing a smile onto my face. She looked as if she was going to push the issue, but thankfully she didn't. I didn't want to have to lie to her any more than I needed to.

The rest of the day was hell. I walked Belle to her third period class, hoping to avoid Ray. I watched her walk into the class and almost fainted when I saw Ray walk into her on his way out. He smiled and said something to her, before making his way over to me.

"What a lovely girl you've got there." He said in a southern accent. "I hope nothing ever happens to her."

"Ray, I swear to god if you touch even one hair on her head I will kill you." I said to him as he walked away. I knew I wouldn't be able to focus in my classes, so I went and sat in the library.

Five minutes before school was out, I got a text from Belle saying that Bianca, her and I were going for coffee. Even though i was worried, I let out a little laugh. I loved how she never gave me much of a choice in things; it was sometimes the only reason I left my house. I texted her back a quick yes and told her I'd meet her at my truck.

The entire ride down Bianca had her headphones in, and Belle kept asking me if I was okay. I hated how it felt to lie to her, but I had to. It was better for me to feel bad than for her to be in danger.

After we sat down and Bianca went to get drinks, Belle started talking. "Cole, what's wrong? And don't say nothing. I know you better than you know your own damn self." She said. She reached out her hand across the table, and put it gently on my arm.

I weighed it out in my head and almost told her the truth, but Bianca came back with our drinks. She got us all vanilla lattes, and began talking about whatever weird things had happened to her lately.

After Bianca's mom had picked her up, Belle was about to call her dad, but I stopped her. I wanted to spend time with her. I needed to spend time with her.

"Belle, I've got my lisence now. Let's go for a drive to the beach." I said to her. She smiled, and sent her step mom a quick text telling her she'd be home late.

We made our way out to my truck, and the entire way to the beach she blasted a Green Day mixtape I had laying around. I watched her out of the corner of my eye; it was amazing how she could make me feel so much while doing even the simplest things.

She looked surprised when I stopped the truck and got out. "I thought we were going for a drive?" She said, quizzically. "I want to show you something." I told her, pointing down the beach.

When I was really young, my mom and dad bought a house along here as a safe house. It was now overrun by weeds and grass, but it still stood firm. It was where I came when I needed to get away from everything.

I watched her face as she realised what it was. I knew she loved places like this, which was mostly why I brought her here. We sat down, the sun starting to go below the horizon. I felt her looking at me, and I couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking.

She looked forward toward the sunset, and seeing her in this light, I was tempted to tell her how I felt. But I couldn't, at least not yet. I could tell her I cared about her, though.

"Belle," I said, trying to hold my voice steady. "you know I'll always protect you, right? I mean, not that you'd really need it. I'm just saying that I'll do everything I can to make sure you never get hurt. I care about you, a lot." I watched her face as I said it all. She had always been good at hiding her emotions, I had picked up on that a long time ago. But for a split second, I saw something. Maybe it was hope, maybe it was love. I didn't know.

I was very tempted to reach over and grab her hand, to tell her I thought I loved her, to tell her the truth. To tell her anything at all. But I couldn't. It wasn't safe right now. So I did nothing, and when the sun was almost gone, we made our way back to the truck and I drove her home.

There was no Green Day on the way back, just the soft chatter of the radio. As she said goodbye and I watched her walk up to her front door, I couldn't help but realise that everything I'd ever wanted in life was walking home along that cobblestone path.