Vulnerable

Eleven- Andy

He saved me. He didn't just save me, he liberated me. My father would surely go to jail. He gave me confidence. A swarm of police officers entered my house in a blur and pulled my father off Rye. I tried to shuffle closer to him, to thank him, to see if he was okay. To forgive him for everything that had happened. To tell him I loved him. But before I could muster the energy to move I was picked up by a pair of strong arms and put in the back of a police car. They whisked me to the hospital and I lost sight of Rye. It was all a whirlwind and the only thing that kept me in the ground was Rye, the boy who saved me, the buy I hadn't even thanked yet. Gods, I didn't even know if he was alive after what my father did.

I remember being put onto a bed and wheeled into one of the rooms before everything went dark. For the first time ever, it was not out of pain or fear or even fatigue. But I felt safe. I didn't fight the sleep, I embraced the blanket of darkness as it enveloped me. All that was on my mind was making sure he was okay. So the words I mumbled, over and over again, even in a dazed sleep, were 'where is Rye?'

blearily my eyes blinked and opened, revealing a dark hospital room and an officer on a chair beside me. She held a clipboard and spoke softly to me. I felt like days had passed, not mere hours.

"So, I'm going to have to ask you some questions is you are up for it," she said, gently, to which I nodded my head slowly.

"Who made all these scars, bruises and marks on you, was it your dad or..." the interview continued as she preceded to ask me questions. For the first time ever I answered honestly. I told her all about my father, what he did, what he allowed his friends to do. I even mentioned the bullies a school. when she asked for their names I had to mention Rye. when she asked why would he save me then, I answered with the whole story. She looked at me with a deep sadness in her eyes and gave me a very gentle hug. Not like you see police do out of duty, there was genuine care in her eyes.

"Thank you for telling me all of this, we are going to make it better, he is going behind bars and wil not ever see the outside of a cell again. I will make sure of it," she reassured me with determination in her voice as she headed out. Immediately I heard a raucous in the corridor as I heard someone burst into my hospital room. I looked up into the eyes above me and saw their beautiful golden chocolate brown depths, riddled with concern and guilt.

He sat next to my bed and put his hand gently on my own. His face was painted black, blue and purple. His lip was bust and I was positive his nose was also broken. But his eyes were so full of life and emotion that I looked into them, and didn't focus on his injuries, except to support his limping frame.

"Andy, I am so, so sorry. I was so afraid of them so I did what they said. In fact, I think we are all just afraid of Harvey who I have never met but apparently, he scares Sonny so he must be pretty bad. What I mean to say is I will never, ever let anyone hurt you ever again." Rye rambled to me, clearly eaten up by his own guilt, all those years he was afraid, like me, scared into silence.

"Rye, It's okay, I forgive you. you saved me from him and to me, that is all that mattered" I whispered to him, my voice was full of emotion, full of love for this brown-haired boy, who literally almost died and his first thought was to see me.

"I cannot believe what you were going through, hell at home and hell at school and I hate that I was a part of that", I saw tears start to fall from his eyes and I looked at him again.

"Rye I could never, ever hate you." I want to tell him how I felt, but I couldn't. I couldn't put that pressure on him right now.

"Andy... I think I love you" he suddenly blurted out. I lay, quiet in shock before answering. He took the words I wasn't going to say from my mouth.

"I think I love you too" his face lit up and he pulled me in for a long embrace. I don't know how long we lay there, holding each other, but when we pulled apart I still felt his warmth. I couldn't believe I said those words. I really did love him, saying it out loud just made me feel even more in love with this reckless brunette with the chocolate eyes.

"Andy, please stay at mine, you would be safe there and I could look after you. I could try to make up for all I have done" he pleaded, I knew it was the weekend and if I was discharged I would have nowhere to go so I agreed. His family and mine always used to be close until my mother. In fact I don't even know if they know Rye bullied me. But they won't find out from me anyways.

he pulled me into his chest again and I smelt his warm, almost cinnamony smell before he went to call his mother to tell her about everything. I didn't know how to feel at all. My shoulders felt lighter and I didn't feel as if a cloud hung over me, threatening me anymore.

Dare I say it?

I felt safe.

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There you have it folks. The big I love you. So friken cute. Ahh. Thank you for the 1k reads. Wow. I started publishing this and was so excited, literally for ten views. So thanks to all the avid readers. There's more to come. So big thanks to MelanieMepherson who is the reason you guys get to read this x
Till' next time,
B x