The First Punch [t.h.]

Chapter 7 - Emotional Tether

Rain pelted down, slowly seeping through SJ's hoodie. Shivers ran down her spine as the wind picked up and thunder rolled through the city sky. It's after midnight, which is far too late to be outside. It's wet and gross and cold. Her body aches and her head hurts. Her throat is sore and her eyes burn with every blink. She can't go home and she doesn't want to go to Mikey and Matty's for the sake of what's left of her sanity.

She's been losing herself for hours, losing track of time and trying to figure out what to do. If she goes home, Travis will be there and she can only hide the bruises in the shape of hands so long. Hoodies only cover so much. He'll know and he cannot know. If she does go to Mikey and Matty's, Matty will freak out, worry and worry constantly, more than he already does. He'll badger for answers SJ doesn't have, and she can't deal with it, not now.

Mikey will lecture and lecture and lecture, repeat everything like a mantra. He'll get on a soapbox about how he's always right and how she shouldn't go places alone. She's strong and can handle herself but she's smaller than a lot of people, Ian being one of them, and he's dangerous. SJ just can't mentally deal with the words of so-called wisdom from her family or friends. That only leaves her with two options.

Continue on and hope police don't take her to a station for "suspicious behavior" or she can make a call. On a list of things SJ doesn't want to do, both of these are pretty high on her list of nopes but the possibility of spending a night in a cold jail cell tops just making the call. Not to mention, at least if he says yes, she'll be warm instead of being left out in the pouring rain.

SJ fumbles with her phone, trying to shield it from the rain that seems to get heavier with every passing second. Her thumb graces over the screen until she finally finds the right contact and puts the phone to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Hey," SJ says, uncertainty evident in her voice. "I know it's late and super fucking random but..." She pauses as she looks at the sky, the lightning strike catching her attention. "You can say no..." She trails off as her eyes go to her feet, embarrassment already consuming her.

"What's wrong?" Harrison asks.

"Do...do you think, maybe, I could stay with you tonight? It's okay if not, I can deal. I just can't go home," Her voice cracks slightly. "Or go to-"

"Yeah, where are you? I'll come get you." Harrison cuts SJ off and she can already hear him rustling on the other end of the line.

"Spencer's Family Diner," SJ says, looking up at the sign she sees far too often. "The one I work at."

"Are you inside?" Harrison asks and she swears she could hear him whisper in the background.

"No, they're closed." Harrison can barely hear her with the softness of her voice muffled by the downpour of the beading rain.

"Okay," A door shuts on the other end of the phone. "Just stay there. I'm on my way."

"Thanks."