Run to You

9

"So you weren't lying," is the first thing Kevin says as he walks in. I shrink a little as my old friends all fix me with their stare.

"Uh... yeah. Mitch is back." Scott leads everyone over to the living room, and we all sit down. I make sure I have a seat next to Scott. There's a bit of an uncomfortable silence, and I shift awkwardly.

"Hi," I say, my voice quiet. Nobody says anything. They all just look at me. "I... um... I missed you guys."

"Then why the hell did you leave," snaps Alex. I was never close to him, so I don't understand why he's so pissed. "You left your friends, your family, to go live with Trevor or Travis or whatever the hell his name is. How do we know you won't do it again? We can't trust you." I start to tear up. He's right. I abandoned them.

"Where were you?" My attention turns to Avi, who's looking at me with hurt green eyes. "We couldn't contact you. We tried so hard to get in touch, but you never answered."

"And why didn't you talk to us?" My gaze switches to Kirstie. "Did you not care about us? Did you just not think it mattered? Did you not want to talk to us?" A tear falls down my cheek.

"I-I-"

"He obviously didn't care enough," says Alex, rolling his eyes. I feel my chest starting to tighten. I can't breathe. With a sob, I jump off the couch and run to Scott's bathroom. I hear footsteps behind me and panic. It's probably Alex, coming to hurt me just like Travis. I slam the bathroom door behind me before curling up on the floor, weeping.

"Mitchy." Scott's voice is gentle, but worried. "Please let me in." I don't answer, or even move. I don't trust my voice right now. "I'm gonna tell everyone to leave, okay sweetheart? Then I'll be right back." I hear him shuffling away, then muffled voices coming from the living room. Scott is back, tapping lightly on the door. "Open the door, baby. They're gone now. It's just you and me now."

---Flashback---

"No, no, no, leave me alone," I shrieked as Travis walked toward me. "Get away." I cowered in the corner of our room, trembling with fear. "Please, I didn't mean to." I had just danced with another boy at Travis's Christmas party. I didn't mean anything by it. He was just friendly, and I chatted with him for a while. Then, after a little while, we ended up dancing. Nothing major. But Travis didn't see it that way.

"So you're a slut and a liar." He loomed over me. "I saw you with that boy, Mitchell. Don't deny it." I whimpered, shrinking away from him.

"No, I would never cheat on you, Travis. It was just friendly, I swear!" Ignoring my pleas, Travis struck me across the face. I let out an ear-piercing shriek.

"Scream all you want, baby. They're gone now. It's just you and me now."

---End of Flashback---

"No," I wail. "No, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, Travis! Please, don't hurt me!" I can hear the voice from the other side of the door, but instead of Scott's voice, I'm imagining it as Travis's. "I'm sorry," I sob.

"Mitchy, open the door. I'm not going to hurt you, I promise. I just want to be there with you, sweetheart." Sweetheart. Travis never called me that. I take a deep breath and reach up to unlock the door.

"It's open," I whisper hesitantly. The door slowly swings open to reveal Scott, red-faced and anxious. He has tears on his face. I must've scared him. He sits down beside me on the floor, putting one arm around my waist, guiding me closer until I can bury my face in his shoulder. "I'm sorry," I whimper, my voice muffled.

"It's okay, beautiful. You didn't do anything wrong." I squeeze my eyes shut, not responding. He's wrong. I've caused so many problems, hurt so many people. It's all my fault. "Let's go back to my room, okay baby?" I nod, and his arms slide under me, lifting me from the floor. I don't even open my eyes as he carries me through his house to his bedroom, setting me on his bed. "Do you need anything?" I shake my head. "Okay. Let me know if you change your mind." Then he's pressed against me, his arms on my waist and my face against his chest as he presses a gentle kiss to the top of my head.

"Thanks," I mumble. "I shouldn't have run off like that in the middle of the conversation like that. I-I just... I don't know." He traces small patterns on my skin with his fingertips.

"It's not your fault, Mitchy. Alex should never have been so rude to you. I'll make sure to talk to him later. I won't just stand by and let people hurt you, physically or emotionally. If anyone ever says or does something to you, tell me." I nod. I don't want to look up at him. I don't want him to know that despite my agreement, I probably won't always tell him when someone hurts me.