The Bad And The Broken #Wattys2018

Part 21

The warmth of Maddox next to me fills me with happiness. All my worries from the past two weeks wash away.
   "What time is it?" Maddox's says snapping me out of my blissful trance.
   "1:30" I whisper not wanting this moment to end.
He gets up and all the warmth surrounding me is gone.
   "Where are you going?" I ask
   "I have to find my shirt. Even though I know you would much rather have me like this."
"I'm not going to argue with that statement." I say laughing
I get up and grab some clothes from my dresser. The room goes silent.
   "Hey princess."
   "Yeah."
   "You never answered my question."
   "What question?"
   "Are you coming back with me?"
" I said I would be yours again"
"That doesn't mean you'll come home"
   "I don't know"
It's silent again. You can feel the tension growing in the room.
   "Why would I even want to go back. To go see everyone I care about getting hurt."
   "What about life without everyone you care about how the hell is that going for you. Not to mention you said you want to be mine again and we both aren't dumb enough to believe a long distance thing would work."
His eyes change to dark blue like they usually do when he's mad.
   "I just need time. Don't you get that..." I yell.
I don't care at this point I'm just mad he doesn't see where coming from.
   "Need time for what?"
   "Need time to focus on me. You always tell me you love me haven't you ever wonder why I can't say it back." I look him dead in the eyes and he just looks back blanknessly.
   "I was always taught you can't love someone until you love yourself. I have to work on that Maddox. I thought you cared enough to let me do that."
I go to turn around until I heard Maddox mutter under his breath.
   "Bullshit"
   "Excuse me" I'm shocked he's never talked to me like that I look at him and he almost looks like a stranger. He looks tougher, meaner, not the man I lived with for 3 months.
   "I said bullshit. Gen I've never loved myself. After everything that happened with Tom and my dad I hated myself every day." His voice cracks at the end of the sentence. His eyes are back to there usual color. I stay silent but he continues talking.
   "I've never loved myself, but you? Oh God I love you so much I forget what hating myself feels like." He's gradually walked closer to me during his speech. We stand there looking at each other the tension in the room subsiding.
   "Please just come home with me."
"Promise me no one else will get hurt. Promise me we will handle Justin. Please."
"I can't promise you people won't get hurt. I will promise that I'm going to protect you with everything in my body."
"Ok then I'll go home with you."
"Really"
"Yes, because... I love you."