DAMAGED

chapter16 ☪

•••
Kassie's POV

I leaned my head against Wolfie's shoulder, looking at some flowers nearby moving with the wind.
After a while, we'd returned to the same place: The lake with the waterfall in the garden.
We were both silent, gazing at the waterfall and the flowers and all the little things in the environment.
Usually he would be the one trying to start conversation, and I would be the quiet, depressed one.
Now it's vice versa.
"The weather's nice." I commented.
He nodded. Although I was quite content with not saying anything, it concerned me that he wasn't being his normal self now.
I let the soothing sound of the running waterfall make me relax.
After a while more of no talking, I leaned in and kissed his cheek swiftly.
He didn't say anything; he just blinked and pulled me closer to him.
"I didn't want you to see me like that." He mumbled after a moment of hesitation.
"What do you mean? Like how?" I asked him.
"Weak." He muttered. "I'm supposed to be strong for you, Kas. I let my fear win."
"You're not weak. Any normal person would react that way. You defended me. That's not weak. It's strong. Facing your fears is better than running away from them." I told him.
Wolfie nodded, and after a moment of silence, he said sarcastically, "I need to clean the new marks and burns now. Yay."
I looked at him as he got up and headed over to the water.
I followed, unsure of what to do.
He kneeled down and his view stayed fixed on the lake, as if contemplating something.
"Do I have to leave?" I asked, remembering the fact that he only used to allow drunk girls see his bruised self.
"If you want to." He said after a while.
I sat down next to him as he pulled his shirt over his head.
Wolfie commenced to soak the clothing with the fresh, crystal-clear water.
I stopped a gasp from coming out of my mouth as soon as I saw all the burns and bruises spread throughout his perfect body.
I stayed quiet, examining the new rope marks he'd received today. However, I kept my distance. Whatever I say or do could be mistaken as "feeling sorry," and I don't blame him. I know it sucks.
"It's like I'm their own canvas, and their paintbrush is that stupid rope." He spoke as I watched him wash the shirt.
"Can't you just leave them now? When's your birthday?" I asked eagerly.
He chuckled. "It's illegal for someone under seventeen to live alone, Kas. You know that...and I'm not telling you my birthday."
"Why not?" I said, still trying to get used to his damaged body.
Wolfie's eyes locked with mine.
"I have no reason to celebrate being brought into the world by her."
I bit my lip as he stood up, leaving the shirt carelessly on the floor. I got up as well and united our hands.
"August twenty-second." He told me at last, looking down at the ground. "That's my birthday. It's the most terrible day each year because that's when they're angriest."
I nodded slowly and he smiled at me, his eyes still showing melancholy.
"Is it true?" I asked, interrupting our train of thoughts.
He gazed at me in confusion.
"You said you were sorry for being born." I continued as his eyes trailed to my lips before turning back to me immediately.
Wolfie shrugged. "I was trying to get her to leave me alone, so... Sometimes lying isn't exactly a bad response."
"I know, but-" I began, but he joined our lips together, leaving me unable to speak.
"Kassie, I love you, but you really need to stop asking so many questions." He told me.
I laughed. "You could've just told me to shut up. Why'd you-"
"I felt like it." He said simply.
I felt my face heat up and I realized I was probably blushing.
He smirked. "I love making you do that, baby."
I stuck my tongue out at him childishly, and he laughed.
"Stop!" I whined playfully.
"Okay. You want me to stop doing this?" He mumbled, tracing his fingers along my cheeks and letting our lips press together softly.
"No, I meant-"
"And this," He murmured before kissing me again, pulling me by the waist so I was closer to him, and my loose shirt allowed him to slip his hands from the bottom so that he was touching my back. His fingers ran across my collarbone.
I felt all my strength being taken away by his smooth movements.
"Do you?" He whispered in my ear as I held on to his broad shoulders for support.
"N-No," I stammered sheepishly as he slowly intertwined our hands, both of us returning to normal distance.
"I thought so." He breathed, a cheeky grin forming on his face.
Yep. He's back to normal again.
I made him happy.
He grabbed his wet shirt and put it on. "I have spare clothes in my locker in school. I'm going to have to show up drenched completely, though."
I giggled, noticing that my small smile had been replaced with a bigger one. "Thanks for not laughing at me." Wolfie rolled his eyes sarcastically.
"You're very welcome." I laughed as our hands met once again.
He gazed at me with an amused smile.
"What?" I asked.
"You have a beautiful laugh."
I felt myself blushing as we began to walk back towards the car.

He made me happy.