ROSES & THORNES

Guardian Angel

Jeb drove me to his house. He assured me that no one was home, and even if they were, they wouldn't be paying him any mind. He helped me inside and upstairs to his bedroom. He closed and locked the door after laying me down gently on his bed. He turned around and shook his hands out.

"Can I examine the damage?" He was nervous to find out. I was to, I wasn't sure what was underneath my blood stained jeans and long sleeve, but I was sure it wasn't pretty. I wanted to say no, I didn't want him to freak out. But I nodded.

He slowly, and gently pulled my t-shirt off. I cringed and gasped, as the motion hurt my rib cage. His eyes watered and his hands shook. I looked down to see what he was seeing. The bottom half of my mid section was a scary shade of black and blue. It looked ten times worse against my pale skin. There were cuts and scarps and a few ground debris sticking to me still. My arms were covered in fresh bruises over lapping ones that were yellowing. I hadn't even seen the damage done to my face yet, but from this angle, I looked horrid.

"Who would do this to you?" He gritted his teeth. "Abby tell me know and I'll have their ass dead by tomorrow." I cast my eyes down and said nothing. "Please tell me you're not defending this asshole?!" I shook my head quickly. It was far from that. "Then what is it?"

I cleared my throat, afraid to speak. I waited. "Because...I...uh, I can't, I can't take another beating. He'll come after me like today." I didn't even make it to my car before he clasped his hand over my mouth and yanked me away. He delivered the first punch as soon as we were out of eye range. He told me if I screamed I would only get it worse.

He eyed the already fading ring around my neck. He broke down in tears yet again. "Abby, I promise that I will never let anyone hurt you ever again." He took my hand in his.

He helped me to his bathroom and then helped me sit on the edge of the tub. He took a rag from the linen closet and handed it to me. I think he was a bit embarrassed, he didn't know whether to stay or go. I had to admit, I was feeling a little shy to. He'd seen me with nothing on the top plenty of times, but this time was a bit different.

"You might be able to fit my older sister's size. She moved but still has a few things here?" I nodded. I could tell he was asking whether I wanted to wear them or not. "Okay. I'll be right back."

He left the bathroom for a moment, leaving me a chance to think. I just couldn't wrap my head around my situation. Trevor had seemed like such a nice person. He loved to write, wanted to be a journalist, he was adventurous, he made me laugh, he even made me feel safe.

For the life of me, I couldn't even begin to think about how his mind worked. Why the abrupt switch? I missed my old boyfriend Trevor. Even if he did become the Trevor I once loved, things could never be the same for us.

"Here." He sat down clean clothes. "This was the best I could find for you. It's her workout clothes. She was kind of girly." He watched me nervously.

"It's fine. Thanks."

He stood there nervously rubbing his hands together. "Do you need me to help you?" He was being cautious, trying not to pressure me. Of course I needed his help. It wasn't exactly comfortable to move around a lot.

"If you want."

He nodded. He reached behind me and turned the bath water on. I was beyond nervous, I'd just told him he could help me take a bath. I felt so awkward. I knew this wasn't sexual in any way, and I'd never been shy about my body before; like in seventh grade when I broke my leg, my parents had to help me do everything, including bathing.

I'd very much rather Jeb do this then some stranger from the doctor. Jeb kept his eyes on mine as he helped me get my pants off. I cringed as my body jostled. He got this strange look in his eyes, something that was a mix between pain and anger.

He helped get my bra off, I would have cried if I had to do it. His eyes were still on mine. "Let me know if you want me to leave."

I grabbed his arm quickly. "No! Stay, please." I didn't to be alone for too long, afraid that he might some how show up.

He nodded and then helped me sit in the tub. I shut my eyes and cringed as the water lapped at my injuries. He took the rag and wiped at the dried blood on my face, and then moved to my arms. He gingerly got everything off of me as if caring for a baby. I tried not to let him see that it hurt with almost every touch. I didn't want him suffering with me.

He unplugged the drain and the stained water began to drain. He got up and grabbed a big towel, helping me stand and wrapping it under neath my arms. We walked back out to his bedroom. His sisters clothes were a pair of yoga pants, a sports bra, and a light white cotton tank. After getting dressed he ran downstairs and grabbed some Ice.

He came back up with Ice packs shaped like bunnies and a needle. "Boo Boo bunnies." He tried to laugh.

"What's that?" I gestured at the needle.

"This? Oh it's a um, EPI Pen. It's for allergic reactions, but it helps swelling. I thought it might help?"

I cringed at the thought of being jabbed. But I nodded, anything to help me look like me again.

I cringed when he stuck it in me. He then wrapped each Ice pack in a paper towel and laid them on me. He propped my head against his pillows before sitting down next to me and taking my hand in his.

"Thank you." I said quietly. I wanted so badly to go back to the old us, before all this happened. But I knew that wasn't possible. As soon as I was better I was sure we would go back to ignoring each other. He only felt sorry for me, guilty, but that was as far as it went. He had a girlfriend and I had an abusive boyfriend.

He rubbed my cheek with his thumb. "Abby. Please, please tell who did this to you."

I leaned into his hand and wrapped mine around it, a tear falling. I shook my head. "I...can't Jeb. I really can't." My voice broke. I didn't want anything to happen to either one of us, but I was more worried about him. Trevor had him in about an inch difference in height, but Jeb made up for it in muscle. He had the toned body of a strong athlete, a quarterback. But I still feared for him. Feared of Trevor.

"Abby, you have nothing to be afraid of. I promise." His eyes burned holes in mine.

I shut them. He wanted to be there for me, to help me, and I was standing in the way of that. I sighed and took his palm and kissed it, anything to make him think I was fine. "Give me some time. Let me try to fix this."

"Abby how are you going to fix this! That dirtbag will just hit you again!" His eyes were filled with fear ad anger.

I put a finger to his lips and smiled weakly. "I promise."