𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 | 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐚

chapter twenty-two

✴︎°༄

Kiara was back at Sweet Pea's trailer after the whole Tall Boy fiasco. They were watching a movie in silence. For the first time in a long time, Sweet Pea was speechless. He could tell she was hurting. Maybe it was what Penny and Tall Boy said, or maybe it had to do with her parents. He suddenly paused the movie but she continued to stare blankly at the laptop screen.

"Kiara?" He mumbled softly. "Babe, can we talk? Please I just wanna help."

"I can't stand this anymore, Sweet Pea," She whispered and closed her eyes to avoid crying. "I can't stand seeing his face every day, it's destroying me. Everything I've done to learn and cope with it, it's like none of it happened and I never left him."

He held her hand tightly and pulled her in closer.

"I'm sorry," He whispered. "I'm sorry I can't protect you from him. I'm doing everything I can but- it's just not enough. I'm not enough."

She opened her eyes instantly and looked into his.

"No, none of this is your fault! I love you with everything in me and you are the one reason I keep going, Sweet Pea. You have helped me so fucking much." She placed her hand on his cheek and wiped away his few tears, he returned the loving gesture.

"I love you so much, I wanna do more, Kiara," He replied. "Please, tell me how to help you."

"I don't know Sweet Pea," She smiled sadly. "I wish I could give you an answer."

"Let me stay with you. Let me convince your dad to let me sleep with you in your own room."

"Please don't call him my dad," She whispered and his eyes widened slightly.

"I- I'm sorry, I didn't realize-"

"Mr. Keller is still my dad, I'm gonna get back to him and Kevin someday," She smiled.

"What do you want me to do?" He asked. He was concerned for her safety, her mental health, and their relationship all at once.

"Just promise you won't leave me," She whispered and tried not to cry.

"I'm not leaving you, Kiara, I love you!"

"So many people have said those exact words and it's so hard to trust you even though you are my entire world."

"I swear to you on my life that I will never leave you," He replied.

"Thank you," She smiled and leaned on his chest. "Thank you so fucking much."

He rubbed her back comfortingly and blinked away his tears. He was usually so tough but when Kiara was breaking, so was he.

***

Betty drove Kiara home and invited her to sleep over. With her bio-parents' permission, she decided to stay the night. They'd catch up, gossip, and talk about their Serpent boyfriends over chocolate and face masks.