Broken

Chapter 38

His eyes swelled with tears and I set my hand on his cheek. 

"It'll be okay," I said, "I'm not going anywhere."

He grabbed my hand and looked at how it set in his. 

"My parents abused me," he said, "they both got caught, and they are both in jail. That is one of the reasons I am so incredibly protective of you. I thought that they have been dead all these years, but I got a call saying that they will be being released in a few weeks. Anyways, my mom and dad were in a gang and they are coming after me. I don't know who they are, or what they even look like. They told me that they'd come after the ones I love most. That's you Skylar...they know..I get these random texts saying to watch my back an watch yours. I don't want to be without you, but I don't want anything happening to you..my mom and dad get out soon and they will most likely return to their old habits. I don't want you dealing with this, I don't want you worrying..but I want you here too. I want you to be with me, and I want to be with you.. I just..I don't want you hurt Skylar. I-

"I'm not going anywhere Austin," I said, "I'm  not okay? I will be okay. I can try to help you, but I'm not leaving you. I'm not."

"I don't know what to do Skylar," he said, "I really don't know."

I wrapped my arms around him and he did the same with me. 

"Everything will be okay," I said, "I promise. We can figure it out okay?"

"Okay," he nodded slowly.

"Now look at me," I said softly.  

He looked up at me and our eyes locked. He wasn't crying but I know he wanted to. I brushed my hand along his cheek and slowly brought his forehead to my lips. I closed my eyes and he looked back up at me. I felt his lips touch mine and then his arms tightened up. He clenched the back of my shirt in his fists. I wanted to just hold him forever, he was such a sweetheart and was here for me in my time of need. I needed and wanted to be here for him, it was so worth it. 

"I love you," I whispered in his ear, "don't forget that okay?"

"I love you too," he said. 

I just hugged him, it was all I could really do. Something like this was so heartwarming, but so disgusting. I would have never guessed that he was abused, or that he was hurting. He just always seemed so mean and unruly. It was my fault to judge a book by the cover, I know now to do that now. He is so sweet and caring that it is almost unreal. Something about this...just doesn't seem right. I can't put my finger on it though. 

"Alright," I said, "lets get some sleep okay? I have to go to school tomorrow and so do you."

"I don't want to go though," he mumbled.

"You are going," I said.

He sighed, "fine."

"Come on," I said, "lay down. relax."

"As long as I have you," he said, "I will be okay. I just need you here."

"Well," I said, "I'm here and I am not going anywhere okay?"

He nodded and held me in his arms while I ran my fingers through his hair. I would look at him every once in a while to see if he was asleep. Soon enough he was and I just continued. It was soothing and comforting to have him asleep on me. I closed my eyes and felt myself fall right asleep. 

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I woke up to his body trembling. He was both hot and cold, his hands were freezing but his arms and head were burning up. His face was as red as a cherry and I didn't know what to do. 

"Don't hurt her!" he screamed, "leave her alone!"

I was stopped when he said that. It was a nightmare, and it has been said that if you were to awaken someone from a dream something bad could happen to their body. 

"Skylar!" He screamed, "please stop! Leave her alone! Don't hurt her please! Hurt me instead..please!"

Something was happening to me and I wish I could figure out what it was. 

What was happening?

What should I do?

His arms tensed up and I just laid my hands over them. I leaned down to his ear. 

"Austin," I whispered, "I'm okay. I am okay. I am right here."

I sat back up and felt a terrible pain in my leg. It was probably the stitches, but I had to focus on him so that'll have to wait. 

"Please I'll do anything," he begged, "please Brock...please don't pull that trigger. Please I am begging you."

Oh, so this guy..Brock. He has a gun to my head right now. I wonder if that is one of the guys from that gang, I wonder if they took me and he came to help..or it may be the other way around. However, I was still by him with a gun to my head.

He gasped, "NO! NO SKYLAR! OH MY GOD NO!" 

At this point I couldn't take it. I grabbed his arms and shook them. 

"Austin!" I yelled, "Austin wake up! I'm here!"

The tears stained his cheeks and the sweat was spread along his shirt. He sat up quickly and his eyes made contact with mine. 

"I'm here," I said, "I'm okay. I'm right here Austin, right here."

His arms wrapped around me and I wrapped mine around him. I set my hand on the back of his head and guided him to my shoulder. 

"They killed you," he cried, "they killed you right in front of me."

"No," I said, "they didn't because I am right here. I am not dead, I am right here."

"I'm sorry for waking you up," he said, "I am sorry."

"No no no," I said, "don't be sorry. It's okay."

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"yes," I said, "I am okay."

He nodded slowly and looked up at me.

"Are you okay?" I asked. 

"Not really," he shook, "I never want to go through that."

"You won't," I shook, "ever."

"How can you be so sure?" he asked.

"Because I won't be dying that way," I shook, "I just won't be."

He kept his arms around me and slowly pulled away. Our faces were just inches away and he pressed his lips against my forehead. 

"It is way early," I said, "go back to sleep okay?"

"I don't think I can," he shook. 

"Lay down on my lap," I said, "and close your eyes."

"I want to go to sleep after you though," he said, "I want you to go to sleep in my arms."

"I do that all the time," I hushed, "now it's your turn."

He sighed and laid down. I ran my fingers through his hair and along his jawline. I started to sing very softly. 

I'm coming home
I'm coming home
Tell the world that I'm coming home
Let the rain wash away, all the pain of yesterday
I know my kingdom awaits, and they've forgiven my mistakes
I'm coming home, I'm coming home
Tell the world that I'm coming...home

I looked down at him and saw that he was sound asleep. I smiled and kissed his forehead before laying down slowly. I intertwined our fingers and closed my eyes. He stretched out and his arms wrapped around me. I smiled and soon fell asleep.