Strawberry Blonde

四十八

I opened the door and Tanner was standing there with two plastic bags tightly gripping at his wrists.

" Hey, come in let me take that !" I said.

I tried to grab one of the bags from him but the pain in my stomach made me drop it as he was letting go causing everything to spill.

Bags of chips, two large soda bottles, candy, a bag of stove popcorn, and jars of different dipping sauce rolled all over the ground.

I tried to bend down to get it but that caused even more pain which left me stuck in a crouching position gritting my teeth.

" Here let me help you." Tanner said with a shaky but calm voice.

As soon as I felt his hand touch me the memory of him hitting me jolted back into my mind and with the limited strength I had, I flinched and instinctively swatted his hand away.

We both stared at each other awkwardly...

" I'm...I'm sorry." I said slowly picking myself to my feet while wincing.

" No it's okay...you don't trust me, I wouldn't trust me either if someone did what I did to you. Should I just go ?" He asked.

I could tell he was high again, he didn't smell like weed, but his eyes were low and he wasn't as sporadic as he was sober. It was a perfect way for him to mask his emotions.

" No I meant what I said ! I do want to help you Tanner. I forgave you for what happened but I can't forget, atleast not so soon you know ?" I said trying to show empathy.

He started to pick everything back off the floor and put it into the plastic bag and without looking at me, asked a question.
" Are you home alone ?"

I felt an anxious knot grow in my chest and I didn't know how to answer.

I guess he caught on to my hesitation and spoke again.
" Just asking cause I don't want you to feel unsafe Hassan, I really do just want to talk to you."

He picked the bags up and stayed outside the door. I already invited him in but he just stood there with this expressionless look. His eyes seemed to go right past me. Like he was in another world.

" Yeah no one's home got the house to myself today, dads at work, I think my mom went to work, and my little sister is at school. It's just me and you here." I said.

He then walked in and took of his shoes by the front before looking around the house.
" So where can I put these because it's kind of cutting off my circulation." He grinned.

I cracked a slight smile and lead him to the kitchen where he placed the bags and started taking everything out.

" So how did the others feel ? You know, about hanging out with me ?" He asked.

" Well...Laurence had some opposition of course, Bryan and Charolette have yet to find out if I'm being honest with you." I said while searching in the cabinet for plastic cups.

" The whole school hates me I think. I went from barely being recognized to being everyone's target in there." He admitted.

My back was turned to him but when I heard the sniffles I turned to see he was sitting on the kitchen stool crying.

" I just don't understand why life is so h-hard you know ? No love at home, no friends at school, it's just so m-much hate and-"

I hugged him while he was talking and he whimpered into my shirt burying his head into my chest.

I rubbed his back as he was letting everything out.

I didn't know what to do, I felt bad for him...