This Love (Paige Bueckers)

58

March 23, 2025

Paige pov

"okay." I say to Caitlin over the phone.

"this is going to be a very serious question and I need you to answer it honestly," she says.

"okay," I reply.

she takes a deep breath. "does iris have access to thin, pocket like, knives?"

"what?" I ask.

"just answer."

I think for a second. "we have a pocket knife in the kitchen?"

"are you asking or telling me?" She asks.

"im telling you," I answer.

"I need you to go check if it's still there."

"okay," I say as I stand up.

I walk into the kitchen and look in the drawer.

Iris is currently at her internship so she won't see me.

"it's not there," I answer.

"fuck," Caitlin whispers.

"what's going on?" I ask.

"I need you to find that knife," she demands. "it will most likely be hid under a cushion or in the bathroom."

I put my phone on speaker and set it down.

I begin to tear up the couch and I don't find the knife.

"it's not in the couch," I say.

"go look in the bathroom," she orders.

"alright," I say.

I bring my phone with me to the bathroom and set it down.

I open and search all of the drawers until I see the small red pocket knife sitting at the bottom of iris's skin care drawer.

"it's in here," I say.

"where?" she asks.

"with her skin care stuff."

"shit," she whispers. "I need you to fucking burn it."

"what?" I ask.

"did I say stand there and act stupid? no I said, burn. it."

"where?" I ask. "how do you even burn a knife?"

"I don't know," she says.

"how about I take it outside and chuck it in the dumpster?"

"okay," she says.

"I'll be back."

I walk outside and throw the knife into the dumpster.

once I get back up to the apartment I pick up my phone. "did it."

"alright," she sighs. "this is going to be a very awkward question, but I need to ask." she pauses. "when was the last time you two... you know?"

"WHAT?!" I yell.

"you know what, im going to reword that." she takes a deep breath. "when was the last time you saw her naked?"

"I would like to once again say, WHAT?!" I yell.

"just answer the question, Paige," she sighs.

"Three days ago," I answer.

"was there anything abnormal?" she asks.

"she had a few bandages on her inner thighs bc she was chafing?" I say.

"fuck," she whispers.

"what?" I ask.

"have you seen her legs without the bandages?" she asks.

"no," I answer. "shit."

"where is she?" she asks.

"at work," I answer.

"im going to need you to talk to her when she gets home. it'll be hard, but you need to." she pauses with shaky breath. "it got very bad when she was in high school. she was self harming a lot and just wasn't telling anyone. I was the only person who knew she did it more than once. I cannot make that mistake again. in  high school I was scared to tell my parents just because she told me not to. she needs help and im not going to sit around and let her do it again. you will talk to her when she gets home. I don't care what happens. if she denies it, don't believe her unless you see her legs and they aren't cut."

I feel tears falling down my cheeks. "okay."

I can hear Caitlin crying over the phone. "you're an amazing fiancé to iris. thank you for calling me about this. it was a good idea. everything will be okay. call me if you need to."

"thank you, Caitlin," I say.

"of course," she sniffs.

I hang up the call.

A/N- since y'all INSISTED on me posting, you don't get a full chapter. super tired rn lmao.

BYE QUEEEEEENS