The Exception

Chapter 58 Not Today

When there was a knock on the door, I jumped up and ran to it. It was again early and I groggily shook my head. I rubbed my eyes and opened the door.

"Oh shoot, the run..." I took a step out, but two steady hands grabbed me and pushed me back.

"Na ah, not today..."

"What do you mean?" I asked with a frown. "I'm ready to go."

"Clearly not..." Keith spoke. "Besides, I only came at this unbearably early hour due to the fact that I received a phone call, with you breaking up with me...I'd say this it the first time I've ever been broken up with a girl I hadn't even been in a relationship with."

"Ha ha ha," I said and shook my head. "It was a stupid mistake, and I really am up for a jog."

I took another step forward, but Keith yet again blocked my path. I frowned. 

"Seriously, I'm fine!"

"No, Agnus, you're not fine...you're freakking exhausted..." Keith spoke more firmly. He took a deep breath. "And you're still in your PJ's..."

My eyes widened as I looked down to see my fluffy pink bunny slippers were still on, and that I was very much in my purple unicorn shorts and shirt. "Oh crap..."

"Agnus, I came to see if you were all right. Clearly you're not..."

"I'm..."

"I swear if you even say the word FINE I'm throwing you over my shoulder and taking you to the hospital..." Keith warned. I was frozen midway in saying the word, and my eyes were wide.

"I'm fully ok?" 

Keith shook his head as he walked inside and closed the door.

"Who said you were allowed to come in?" I asked and crossed my arms. "You're most certainly not allowed in here!"

"Yes I am..." Keith spoke and raised his brow.

"Ok, you are..."

"And you don't think you're tired?"

"I'm...." I stared at Keith's widened eyes and he tilted his head. "Maybe a little ruffled and a little tired. It's been a long week."

"And how have you been dealing with it?"

"Ok, I'm ok, I'm fantastic, I..." I froze as the exhaustion and stress swept through me again. "I really am ok." I scrunched my nose up trying to block the tears. I had lost all sense of dignity in front of Keith. I wasn't about to cry.  "I'm dealing."

"Not well enough...Agnus, you got punched, and on the same day you find out some pretty rattling truths, and before that, Tyler bullied you, and before that you lost your job, and before that you experienced a crime...you saw a woman in distress, hurt...and I was stupid enough not to realize that it will have long term consquences."

"Look, I'm really ok, ok? I don't understand why you make such a big deal with the phone call, and I just want you to go...please?" I hugged myself, trying to keep everything together. I was not going to cry.

"No..."

"What do you mean no?"

"No, I am not leaving my friend. Because although you may be saying one thing...your actions are screaming another..." Keith took a few steps closer. I gritted my teeth. 

"I'm ok," I said, trying to convince myself.

"No you're not..."

"I'm ok..."

"No, Agnus, you are NOT ok..."

"No, I'm not," I finally caved in. Tears formed my eyes, and I let out a gasp. "I'm not ok," I shook my head and stared of into the distance. "I'm not ok."

"Come here," Keith drew me into a hug, and I melted. I started shaking as the tears formed and I let it out. I don't know why, or how, but  I couldn't keep it in anymore. Tears slipped like an ever flowing stream and my arms wrapped tightly around Keith. I felt so lost. So tired.

"I'm not ok," I repeated, over and over again while trying to breath and gasp. I was such a mess, and I shook my head, before pushing it slightly into Keith's chest.

"Shhhh," Keith spoke softly to me. He kept holding me tightly.

"I'm ruining your shirt," I whispered amongst the tears after a while.

"I pretty sure you're cleaning it better with your tears than I do with the washing machine,"

I let out a small laugh, and took a deep breath before taking a step back. Keith bent his neck lower in order to look me dead in the eye. "I think you need to take a step back...from everything, from all this mess...I think you need rest..."

"But how? I have school, I have Evan's excuses to deal with, I have assignments...and don't even mention to me that math project..."

Keith shook me slightly. "Hey, hey....I'll deal with it ok? I opened up to you, about my darkest moments...let me help you with yours. Ok?"

I took a deep breath as I bit my lip. I looked at Keith and nodded. "Ok..."

"Here, come, sit down..." Keith led me to couch and gently pushed me to take a seat. I leaned over onto the cushion, and Keith grabbed my feet, swinging it on. He took my one slipper off then the other.

"I'm not a five-year-old you know," I spoke with a small smile.

"You could have fooled me,"

I grabbed a pillow and chucked it at his face. He caught it however and placed it back onto the couch. He tilted his head. "Pink bunny slippers?"

I squirmed at his gaze. "They're comfy ok?"

"Just relax..." Keith spoke and I sighed taking a deep breath. My eyes grew heavy, and I decided to close them for a few seconds.

I passed out like a candle.