Tethered (Book Two of The Invisible String Series)

Bruises and Social Workers

Once I've prepared everything, I gently tap the girl's legs, gaining her attention once more. "I'm just going to clean your lip and put some salve on it, okay?"

The teen just nods, and I let out a light sigh at her want to shut me out, trying not to let it show much it stings to know that she's upset with me and looks as if she'd rather be anywhere else at the moment.

I gently lift the girl's chin so I can get the wound in better light, lifting the wash cloth I'd soaked in some warm water to her lip and gently dabbing at her lip. The teen instantly lets out a hiss, attempting to pull her face away from me, but I quickly move my free hand to the back of her head, keeping her in place. "I know. I'm sorry, but I gotta clean it out, bubs."

The younger girl lets out a low whine, reaching out to grab a hold of my shirt as she squints her eyes shut. After a few more seconds, I pull the cloth away from her face, satisfied now that there's no more dried blood. I try to give the teenager a smile when I toss the now dirty cloth into the sink next to us, still firmly within her grasp. I make quick work filling a disposable cup with some water and antiseptic mouthwash, handing it over to the teen and instructing her to slosh it around for a few seconds. Thankfully she doesn't argue, and once she's done I finish dressing the cut by putting a small dab of ointment on the area. "There ya go, kiddo. Good as new. Kind of. It should help with the stinging and stuff."

The teen's gaze drops from mine once again as she releases my shirt, and I let out another sigh, not really sure what else to say or do. I want to wait to breach the social worker conversation for when Lizzie is here with me, so we're left with this awkward silence that I hate.

Deciding to fill said silence with something, anything, I move away from the teenager and toss all the used first aid items in the trash. "Do you wanna talk about what happened?"

"Not really."

I almost cave as I turn back to the teenager, who looks so much younger at the moment. "I know you're upset with me, Liv, but-."

"Are you still gonna call my social worker?"

"Yes."

The teen visibly deflates at my quick response, sliding off the counter and taking her phone out of her pocket and unlocking it before leaving it on the counter and crossing her arms over her chest. "Can you just get it over with then?"

Thankfully the sound of the front door opening and closing prevents me from responding, and a few seconds later a very worried Lizzie comes rushing into the kitchen. The older woman bypasses me completely, going straight to where Liv is standing and moves to take the girl's face in her hands. The two have a very quiet conversation that I can't hear, and I take the opportunity to take the girl's phone and walk into the living room, tapping the number that I assume belongs to the teen's social worker.

After a very long, and frankly hard conversation with Nancy (Liv's social worker), I hang up the teenager's phone and pinch the bridge of my nose to try and stem the ache that's begun to form in my temples. I almost jump at the feeling of arms wrapping around my waist, but quickly relax when I realize it's just my girlfriend.

"You okay?"

I shrug my shoulders, not really sure how I feel at the moment. All my thoughts and emotions are all mixed up together and indistinguishable from one another. "I don't know. Where's Liv?"

Lizzie gives me a squeeze before letting go of me, allowing for me to turn and face her, and the older woman instantly cups my face in her hands. "She's still in the kitchen. What's going on in that head of yours?"

I struggle for a few seconds, not really sure how I'm supposed to voice everything that's racing through my mind out loud. "Am I doing the right thing?"