The boy in the back

Chapter 22: Bully

She grabs out a first aid kit before leading me to the uni-sex bathroom.

She slides up onto the counter and opens up the kit.

"Come here." She whispers, ever so softly.

I slowly walk over and stand between her legs.

We're face-to-face now, i can see the tears in her eyes.

Is it me? Am i making her sad?

She slowly begins cleaning up my face, starting with my mouth.

"Henry, how long has this been happening for?" Her eyes skim my face.

"He's never hit me before."

"What else has he done?"

I bite my cheeks, trying not to cry, trying not to tell the truth.

"Please, tell me, please." Her voice breaks on the last plead.

"He's just said some things," I whisper.

"How long has he been doing this, Henry?"

"Since i got here."

This is so humiliating.

She stops what she's doing for a moment before continuing, "I'm so sorry."

"You don't need to be."

"Why didn't you tell us all sooner?"

"I was scared." I admit, embarrassed.

"You can always come to us, come to me, about anything. I'm not going to judge you," She looks me in the eye as she talks.

"Thank you," I mutter softly.

She puts down the cloth and she slowly wraps her arms around my neck and she pulls me into a hug.

"I've got you, it's gonna be okay." She whispers against my shoulder.

My eyes brim with tears.

She is the best girl in the world.

I drive Henry and I back to my house.

I don't know what to think or what to feel about what i witnessed.

I feel so incredibly guilty Henry felt like he had to keep it a secret and let it go on.

"Do you want to stay the night?" I pull on the hand break on my car as we are out the front of my house.

His eyes flicker over all the other cars in the driveway, "Is everyone else here?"

I nod, "They wanted to watch a movie, my parents are out of town. Did you not see on the group chat?"

He shakes his head, "I haven't been on my phone."

"That's okay, do you want to stay?"

He takes a deep breathe and nods, "I'll stay."