Protector

Chapter 5 : Riker finds out

Chapter 5

A few days later...

Kaelyn POV   

Long story short, I'd gotten myself into a ton of trouble last night. I'd covered everything with makeup as best as I could. The only thing I couldn't really cover up was how hard it was to walk. My back was hurting so bad from what my dad did to me.

I tried to walk as normal as possible, but I knew I looked stiff.

"Kaelyn."

Riker sat down next to me at the lunch table.

"What?"

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah. Why?"

He gave me a look.

"I know something's wrong," he said, quietly.

"Nothing's wrong, Riker."

"Please just tell me what it is. I want to help."

"Riker, I promise, I'm perfectly fine."

"Kaelyn-"

"I'm fine, Riker. Drop it."

He sighed, and started eating his lunch. He's definitely suspicious. But I don't know what I can do about it. If I tell him, he's going to look down on me for it. He's got the perfect life, with a perfect family, with perfect friends. And I have the most unperfect life, with an abusive father, and only one friend.

Later...

Kaelyn POV

School was over. And Riker wanted to hang out. But I had chores to do at home.

However, Riker didn't seem to care...

"Riker, I really can't hang out today. I have to do the dishes, and laundry, and clean my room-"

"I can help."

"Riker, my dad's home. If he sees you, he'll kill you."

"So I'll just sneak in your window. I can help clean your room while you do things in the other rooms of your house."

I sighed.

"Fine. But you'd better be really careful and quiet."

"I will."

We got to my house. I went in the front door, and then I let Riker in through the window.

"What do you want me to do in your bedroom?" Riker asked.

"I don't know. You don't have to clean my room, Riker."

"Fine, how about I'll wait for you to do everything else, and then I'll help you when you do it."

"Ok, fine... I'll be back in a little while. I just have to do the dishes and throw some laundry in."

"Ok."

Later...

Kaelyn POV

I finished everything I had to do, including cleaning my bedroom. Riker helped me a little. And then my dad called me.

I went to see what he wanted, and he ended up hitting me because I hadn't done as well on my report card as he had wanted me to.

I blinked back my tears as I walked quickly back to my bedroom.

Riker was sitting on my bed, looking at me when I came in. I shut the door, and just stood there, looking back at him, trying not to burst into tears.

"He hits you, doesn't he?"

I covered my face with my hands, and finally broke down.

"Hey. Don't cry."

Before I knew it, Riker's warm arms were around me tight. I cried into his chest for a few minutes.

"That's why you couldn't tell me, right? You were threatened by him."

I finally calmed down, and Riker led me over to my bed. I sat down, and he sat down next to me.

"Well yeah, he threatened me... But I didn't want you to look down on me for it. You have such a perfect life, and I have exactly the opposite. I didn't want to lose you as a friend. You're my only one."

"You'll never lose me. I promise. And I don't see you any different. You're still the same Kaelyn. But you don't have to hide stuff like this from me anymore. If something hurts, tell me, and I'll take care of you, ok?"

"You can't tell anyone about this, Riker."

"I won't. Your secret is safe with me. You can trust me, ok?"

"Ok, thanks," I said, breathing a sigh of relief.

He pulled me into another hug, and I completely relaxed in his arms. I laid my head on his chest, feeling tired.

"So what hurts? Why were you walking weird today?"

"My back hurts. Really bad. And there are a few marks on my face, but I covered them with makeup this morning."

"So you were walking weird because of your back?"

"Yeah. I got into a lot of trouble last night."

"Why? What happened?"

"My dad was drunk, and he goes kind of crazy when he's drunk. Any mistake I make seems like the end of the world to him."

"I'm so sorry, Kaelyn."

"It's ok. Really. I'm used to it now."

"It's not ok, though. He shouldn't be hurting you like that."

"Riker. I'm fine."

"Kaelyn."

"What?"

"What can I do to help?"

"Nothing, Riker. I'm fine. I just want someone to talk to and stuff. I mean, you're the only friend I have. Or boyfriend. Whatever, you get what I mean. I was just scared you'd leave me when you found out."

"Why would I leave?"

"Riker, you're literally perfect. And I didn't think you'd want to have a non-perfect girlfriend."

"Kaelyn, you're insane. You are perfect. Seriously. I mean, I know we only just met, but you're like the only girl I've ever connected with. You're just... perfect."

I blushed hard. Nobody ever calls me perfect. Especially my dad. He calls me the opposite.

"Well, thanks," I said, hugging him.

"You're welcome."

He wiped my tears away, and smiled at me.

"Perfect," he whispered.