American Sweethearts

60

He looks like a complete wreck. His curls are out of place, and his eyes are barely open. There's a line of dried blood over his jaw that dropped down from a graze on his cheek. His lip is swollen and bloody. He looks like he just spent a week in the wild.

Even his clothes... His t-shirt is ripped, and there are muddy patches on his sweats. There's some blood on them, too, but I'm more concerned about the wounds on his knuckles.

"Tyler..." I whisper, taking a step towards him.

He looks at me, a scowl on his face. Before I can say anything, he turns to Owen.

"I told you not to fucking call her," he grumbles.

"I'm fucking sorry, bro. I didn't know what to do," Owen says.

"I don't fucking care! I asked you one fucking thing!"

"Hey," I object. "Don't be mad at him."

I take a step forward, defending Owen. Tyler has no right to be angry with him. He couldn't have stopped me from coming. But Tyler's expression doesn't change. In fact, it hardens when he looks at me.

"You shouldn't be here," he says.

"I-, I-," I hesitate. "I was worried about you."

"I don't give a fuck. I don't want you here."

"Don't say that," I scowl.

"Why? It's the fucking truth."

"Tyler... stop," I hate the words coming out of his mouth.

"No, you need to leave. I don't want to see you."

It feels like a stab in the gut. And I don't know how to respond.

"Come on, man," Owen comments. "Take it easy on her."

"This is me taking it easy!" he grumbles.

"Alright, alright," the officer interrupts. "Take it outside, will you?"

"Sorry, officer," Owen says.

Tyler marches out of the building, not bothering to wait for us. But I run after him, desperate to make sure if he's okay."

"Wait!" I call, catching up to him.

"Stay away from me," he sneers.

"No, I want to talk to you!"

"Too fucking bad."

"Tyler!"

"What, Sarah?!" he pauses in his step, glaring down at me. "What do you want from me?!"

"I want to talk!"

"Well, I don't have the fucking energy to deal with you right now!"

"Please, just, let me talk!" I beg.

"About what? About how little you trust me? About your new boyfriend Christian?!"

"Don't say that!" I exclaim. "You know that's not true!"

"Do I? Because I thought you fucking trusted me, and I was wrong!"

"I do care about you! That's why I'm here! Can't you see?!"

"No, I fucking can't!"

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen!"

"What did you expect?! I fucking opened up to you! I shared my shit with you!"

"I know and I'm so-."

"I trusted you, and you fucking betrayed me!"

"No, Tyler!"