Sweet Naivety

Chapter 61: What's Important

Chapter 61: What's Important

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I sat down on my bed next to Renji, waiting to see what he wanted to talk about. My heart was beating a million times a second, or at least it felt like it was. I was certain that I was blushing just from the many possibilities of this conversation that were running through my head. "What is it, Renji?" I finally asked, unable to bear the tense silence that seemed to have lasted forever.

He was still holding my wrist, his large hand warm and gentle as it moved to clasp my hand instead. "I, uh... well..." His other hand was busy scratching the back of his head, ruffling his pony tail. "I wanted to make sure that you were okay."

I blinked, surprised and caught off guard by his statement. "Why wouldn't I be?"

His dark brows furrowed beneath his tattoos, his lips puckering into a frown. "Juna... that phone call... you couldn't have wanted that to happen."

My breath caught in my throat. I chewed on my lip, not knowing what to say or if I could even speak at all. I was practically trembling. This was the topic that I had been so frightened and worried about.

"Just tell me he's not hurting you. Give me your word that you're alright." His hand was grasping mine firmly now, his brown eyes almost desperate as he looked at me, leaning closer and closer as his voice grew strained. "I need to know that you're safe with him."

"R-Renji..." I was so taken aback by his line of thinking. Did he seriously think that Grimmjow was dangerous? "He doesn't hurt me." I sighed, running my fingers over his hand and trying to reassure him. "I mean... he was inappropriate with that phone call... but he knows it was wrong and he promised not to do anything like that again."

"Juna... that was more than inappropriate. And he shouldn't have done anything like that in the first place." He was still leaning so close, insistent and even accusing.

I looked away, trying to ignore the way that my stomach was twisting. "I know..." I really couldn't argue with him. I had felt the same way after the incident. "But he didn't mean it to be that way..." I felt my skin burning. I wasn't exactly prepared to explain things to Renji the way that Grimmjow had explained them to me, so I hoped that he would just take my word for it. "I'm fine. I promise."

"You promise?" His gaze was so very sincere and direct, it almost felt like he was looking right through my timid, green eyes.

I nodded, hoping that this conversation could just end. "Yes, Renji."

He nodded back at me, squeezing my hand in his. "I'll take your word for it." He let out a heavy breath, but stayed rather tense. "It's not my place to interfere. But I'm here if you need me, Juna."

"Thank you, Renji. I really do appreciate it." And I did appreciate it... he was such a good friend. I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. And then I managed to finally pull away. "Goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow."

He sighed, though he was finally giving me a light smile. "Goodnight, Juna."

We both left my room, parting ways when I went to knock on my uncle's door and he went downstairs.

My uncle opened the door with arched brows. And then he gave me a curious expression. "I must say... I wasn't very happy about your text earlier. I don't think it's a good idea for you to stay the night with your boyfriend on a school night."

I was baffled... Grimmjow had said that he'd texted my uncle. Had he used my phone to do it? "I, um... if you don't want me to, then I won't." I wasn't really crazy about the idea of staying away on a school night, either... especially, with Grimmjow.