Someone Like You (A Chandler Riggs Fan-Fic)

Chapter 3

"What happened to your neck?" Shit. My mom. I remember now, when she grabbed me from behind the neck and shoved me to the ground. I remember her tight grip. It must've left a mark, I never checked though. I quickly cover my neck with my hair.

"Oh that's nothing.." I smile nervously trying my best to avoid the subject.

"Oh no.. that's sure as hell something." Chandler says, reaching towards my hair. He moves it away from my neck.

"Ch-Chandler just st-"

"What is this? What's this from? Tell me now." he says, his tone of voice now angry.

"It's nothing Chandler, I swear. Really," I persist.

"Drop the bullshit," he says and I sit up taller, taken aback by his words.

"Excuse me? This is my life. My business. Not yours. I barely know you. You're just some kid I met, what, a few hours ago? So don't think you can go telling me what I can and can't do. You don't know shit about my life. Sorry," I say, but I am most definitely not sorry. I lean down to pick up my bag from the floor and reach for the door handle of the van when a hand grasps tightly around my wrist.

"Chandler what are you doing? Let go of me." I say angrily.

"NO! Not until you tell me what in the hell that is from!" he yells. I'm scared now. I'm all alone in the airport parking lot, with some kid I barely know, who's getting sent to private school for fighting? I have no idea what he's capable of doing.

"No, Chandler just stop! Leave it alone, Jesus Christ!" I yell back. Suddenly, his hands are on my shoulders again, as he pushes me back against the seat. I wince in pain. Wait, why does my back hurt too? He looks shocked and let's go of me, seeing the pain flash across my face.

"Lean forward now. And it's not a suggestion." he orders.

I'm scared, so I lean forward. I can feel his hand tracing down my lower back as he grabs the hem of my shirt. Suddenly I feel cold air against my skin, my back is exposed.

I hear a soft gasp leave Chandler's mouth, which sends chills down my spine.

"What, what is it?" I ask, worriedly. He runs his hand down my spine and all I can do is gasp in pain. I feel Chandler's touch disappear as he flinches away after noticing my discomfort.

"Ari, have you seen your back?" he asks, still wide eyed.

"Um.. no? W-why?" I ask, scared.

"It's black and blue, completely covered in bruises."

What? Why didn't I notice this until now? How didn't I notice this until now? Mom. Must've done it while I was unconscious on that damned floor. I guess she had to take her anger out somehow. I quickly pull my shirt back down to cover my back.

"I, uh.. fell. It's fine.." I say reaching for the door handle and once again my wrist is grabbed.

"Ari. Listen to me and listen carefully," Chandler says lowly through clenched teeth, "You are not leaving this van until you tell me where in the hell those bruises came from." I turn away from him feeling my eyes fill with tears, practically about to overflow.

"Chandler, I can't. I can't do that. It's too hard," I sob.

"Ari....it's just me. No one else has to know except, me."

I take a deep breath, collecting my thoughts. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to let it all out for once - let out everything that I've been holding in for so long. My thoughts have been consuming me lately.