Teach Me [COMPLETED✔]

28

Aspen

"I need to apologize," Chris murmured softly as my tears ran dry, as I laid inappropriately close to him.

Dr. Nydia, I started calling her that after I failed to pronounce her last name correctly. I didn't quite understand who she was but she had stopped by minutes ago with the excuse of checking on Chris. Asking if I was fine, if we needed anything.

We were fine, or as best as we could be.

Dr. Nydia had lingered for a few more seconds than needed, her eyes flickering from mine to Chris's. Brown eyes thick with an unsaid emotion, an emotion I myself had suppressed for so long. There was that hint of disapproval as she had seen me lie next to Chris, or well sitting on his bed.

I didn't know if it was because there was more between them, or because she was genuinely concerned about me hurting Chris more than he was already.

Unlike me who only had bruises and sore bones, Chris had suffered far worse. It was pure luck that he hadn't died, that Theo hadn't hit any major organs. It was a help that he was a doctor himself, that he had the will to live.

"For?" I asked, looking down at my lap.

He let out a humorless laugh, his hand reaching for mine. "Many things. But most of all for what Theo did."

I stiffened, my hand going cold in his. I knew Chris wouldn't ever hurt me, that I was safe with him but the images, the laugh, the skin. Bile rose at those thoughts, of rough hands on me.

Fear clawed at me but I willed myself to push it all away, concentrating on the tender touch Chris gave me, of his hands. Of the veins, of the smoothness, of the difference of skin tone. This was Christian, this man wouldn't hurt me, not in the way Theo had wanted to. Not now, not ever.

I took a few breaths as his thump moved along my palm, to my wrist, turning it over, his grip tightening as he was a red mark. "I shouldn't have let him in-" regret laced his words- "I noticed it the first time. And that should have been my warning. But I allowed him in, I gave him the opportunity to get close to you. I was a fucking fool-" I flinched at the choice of words- "for thinking because we were friends he wouldn't hurt you. Yet he did. I shouldn't have let him alone with you. I should have kicked him out."

"It's not your fault," I murmured. As much as I knew that it could have been prevented, it wasn't Chris's fault. There was no way, even if he had noticed the way Theo acted, Chris couldn't have seen everything Theo would do. Chris wasn't at fault for Theo threatening me, for pushing me, for-

"But it is. He's- he was my friend. He had you. He touched you," he gritted out, his finger stopping.

I tried not to shudder at the lingering feeling of the fingers, remembering who the person that sat next to me was. I knew, I felt it, the security and reassurance Chris offered. I wasn't afraid of him, I was comfortable with him but the images, remembering him was a knock off.

"I should have killed him."

"But you didn't," I countered.

"I should have," he repeated.

I turned to him, capturing his face in my hands. Begging him to look at me, "No you shouldn't. You, Chris. You save lives. You help people-" he shook his head at me.

"He had you. He can't touch you like that. No one should be able to touch you or anyone without your consent."

He had a point. No one and I do mean no one should be forced to do something they don't want. No man or woman should be pushed, to be threatened. To be manipulated. Women were victims, but so were men. "I know. But you shouldn't have to kill."