My Escape [vjoy/taejoy]

Chapter 6

Joy opened her eyes slowly, squinting at the morning sunlight pouring into the room. She sat up groggily and grimaced. Her entire body felt sore with pain and her head was throbbing. She yawned, still groggy, and then suddenly froze at the realization she was not in her room. Startled, she threw off the bed sheets and stiffly stood up, recalling the events from last night.

"Taehyung..." she whispered to herself in realization.

Wide eyed she took in her surroundings. Taes room was filled with his possessions. The room was small but he was able to fit a bed, desk and dresser. Every available surface had plants, art, or other decorations on it. She smiled, this is what she had always wanted her room to look like, filled with her stuff. The dark red walls were peeling and hung up were many framed paintings and pictures along with a vintage mirror. It was pretty, despite the crack that ran through it. She stood in front it, startled by her own appearance. The daylight was not doing her any favors. She turned her body slowly, the only speed it would allow, and took the moment to inspect her injuries. 

Battered was the word that came to mind. 

Redish-purple blotches scattered her body. Soon they would become a deep blue-purple. Gently she touched her skin as if it was foreign to her. Tracing her arm from the wrist up, wincing when she touched the bandaged gash on her upper arm. She then gently touched her stomach wincing again from the pain. With shaky breaths she hesitantly pulled up her tank top to reveal her colorful abdomen. She saw where the newest addition, curtesy of her father, was located, the redness giving away its newness. But among the new bruise were the remnants of old ones, either deeps blues or fading yellows, her stomach was covered in them. With a distressed sigh she slowly pulled her tank top down to cover herself.  Looking up at her face she frowned at her appearance. Usually her face was left untouched by her father, but now a visible bruise painted her cheekbone, a small cut in the middle of it where the force of her fathers punch had broken her skin.  

With another sigh Joy turned away from her appearance. She was not fond of the view. Instead she continued curiously looking around at Taes room. What stood out to her the most was the abundance of poloroids that decorated one wall. The wall directly behind his bed was so densely covered in pictures she couldn't even see the red paint she knew was behind it. Stepping closer she examined the photographs. Many were beautiful landscape pictures but dotted in the mass were people she recognized. Jungkook was in many but so were some other boys, they looked familiar to her as well. Possibly the ones she saw next to Tae last night in the crowd? She continued to examine the photos when one caught her attention.

It was a dark haired girl, a very pretty girl Joy noticed, she seemed to be mid laugh as Tae took the photograph. For some reason Joys heart sank a little, was she his girlfriend? She was snapped out of her disappointment when she heard the door click open gently, revealing...

"Taehyung" Joy said. She blinked in surprise and slight embarrassment.

He wore a white shirt and grey sweatpants. His brown hair a little messy. He blew a strand out of his eye and smiled tentatively. "Hey, how are you feeling?" he asked, still standing in the doorway. 

Joy slightly smiled, "I feel alright." She paused and looked down before continuing. "Thank you for letting me stay the night and I'm sorry for being such a burden. If I could just use your phone I can get out of your hair." Tae stood only blinking and then walked up to Joy, leaving the door open.

"Your not a burden." He stated, looking into her eyes intensely, the way he was so good at. After a moment too long he looked away and cleared his throat. "I bet your hungry, let's go down to the kitchen, I'll make you something." Before they could walk out he looked at her tank top and frowned. "Actually wait just a second." He turned around and rummaged through his closet, as Joy stood awkwardly. Finally he grabbed a black sweatshirt and handed it to Joy. "You should throw this on, the house is a bit cold." 

Joy smiled and nodded in thanks and Tae watched her as she pulled the tanktop on over her tank, pulling her long hair out of the sweatshirt and letting it fall over her shoulders. Joy met Taes eyes as he looked away. "Okay lets go." he said and grabbed her wrist gently, guiding her downstairs.

They reached the kitchen which was connected to the living room and were met by the stares of five boys. Joy tensed up and stood silent, not sure what to do. Tae noticed the uncomfortable atmosphere and cleared his throat.

"Guys this is Joy. Um thats Jin and Namjoon." The two black haired boys smiled awkwardly, slightly waving. "Then that's Hoseok and Yoongi" the one named Hoseok smiled brightly and nodded his head greeting her while Yoongi didn't even bother to look at her and continued staring at his phone. "And then you already met Jungkook" Tae finished. Joys eyes landed on the dark haired boy who waved at her and she awkwardly smiled in greeting.

Joy was all too aware of how she must look right now. She took a deep breath and rubbed her hands together nervously before speaking "Hi everyone, thank you for your help I won't be burdening you all much longer" she said gently. She looked around the room and was met with sympathetic stares, even Yoongi glanced at her, his eyes softening at the word 'burden'.

"Joy" Jin began "do you have anywhere to go?" Joy opened her mouth about to say Seulgi but before she could speak she caught herself. Seulgi was hardly getting by right now as it is and surely supporting JB as well. There was no way Joy could infringe on her tiny apartment and she wasnt close enough with anyone else to ask for such a favor. Joy closed her mouth and shook her head. She felt stupid for defying her father, he would never let her stay at home now. Not after what she said to him. She had only had to endure for a few more years, just until she could save up some more money and get her degree. Joy sighed and looked down "I guess not but I can figure it out."

"You can't go home?" Jungkook asked bluntly. Images of her fathers cold eyes and shell of a mother flashed though her mind. She clenched her jaw in an effort to control her emotions. She felt a comforting hand on her back and looked up to see Tae next to her, his piercing eyes giving her strength. He shot Jungkook an annoyed glance "That's enough questions lets get you some food."

As he guided her towards the kitchen Joy suddenly felt a wave of dizziness and stopped. Tae looked back noticing she was no longer right behind him. Concern flashed across his face. "Joy, you okay?" Joy was about to speak but suddenly it felt as if her legs could no longer hold her. Blackness crept at the edge of her vision and she felt herself about to fall. "Joy?" Tae asked, this time more urgently. But Joy couldnt respond, just as she was about to hit the floor, once again Tae got to her just in time.

Gently he laid her down on the floor, setting her head in his lap. "Joy!?" Tae yelled in an effort to wake her up. The other boys hearing the commotion quickly came over. "What happed?" Jin asked. 

Tae couldnt control the shaking in his voice. "I dont know she just passed out."

Jin quickly knelt down and placed his finger under her nose. He sighed in relief, "Well, she's breathing so that's good. I think she's just dehydrated lets give her a few minutes and once she wakes up quickly give her fluids." Tae could only nod.

The other boys seeing the situation now under control only stood around a seated Tae cradling a passed out Joy. The silence was quickly broken by the sound of the front door opening. 

Jimin walked in, clearly hungover, and took off his sunglasses with a yawn. He looked up noticing the tense atmosphere. "Hey guys." He scanned the room, seeing everyone standing in silence but one. His eyes drifted down to see Tae seated on the floor and what appeared to be a girl with her head in his lap. Taes back obstructed his view of the girls face, but Jimin suddenly got an odd feeling. 

"Whats going on here?"