I'm Blind Not Fragile

Chapter 9

Brandon's POV:

I watched as my best friend walked away. Her brown hair swaying across her short body with each step she takes. I could see her change once we walked into the store. She became more confident. She had the air of someone who knew exactly who they were. It's a change only Raine can make.

I love Raine as if she is my own sister. I've watched her grow up and become a confidant young woman. I've seen the way guys look at her too. Raine is one of the most beautiful girls I've ever met. With her dark hair, pale skin, and pale blue, almost white, eyes. But she is naïve in the sense of her beauty.

Raine has been blind her whole life, and her mom died before she could warn Raine about boys. I constantly fear someone will take advantage of her innocence. Sure, she could beat a grown man in hand to hand combat, but Raine is still blind to love and lust.

Raine is one of the toughest people I've ever met, but she's still vulnerable. I fear I am not good for her. I have a lot of enemies. What if one of them finds out about her and hurts her because of me? I try to keep her away from the gang business as best as I can, and as far as I can tell she doesn't want any part of it.

More and more lately I have been fearing for her safety. Especially with the threat of the Chamberlin gang getting more and more serious. Just yesterday Mark Chamberlin's son killed three of our men. The tension is rising between our two gangs, that's what my father wanted to talk about earlier.

Hans Chamberlin is going to take over his father's empire soon because he is of age. Hans is 19 and should have taken over last year, no one knows why he hasn't taken over already. Maybe his father isn't yet done with his throne. As soon as the power shifts though, I'm sure we're going to have a war on our hands.

Me and Hank sat in comfortable chairs in front of a make-shift stage, kind of like on say yes to the dress. Hey don't judge me, I love the diva fights on that show.

A couple minuets later Raine Comes back and stepped onto the stage, she was wearing a tropical blue dress that showed off her small waist. It was a high-low that was very flowy. It was a long dress made for a tall girl though, and Raine is anything but tall, so she just looked like a little girl playing dress up.

The seamstress then rushed her away. We had decided to comment and decide after.

The next dress was a blue dress that had butterflies on it. In hugged her small waist and revealed her curves. It ended mid thigh to show off her slim legs.

This time she stayed so we can talk.

"I liked the first ones color." Hank stated.

"Yes, but I feel this one makes her look altogether better." I reply.

"Yes, I agree, I feel this one makes her look older by embracing her maturity, and with the butterflies it still keeps her youthful."

"Well I feel like I'm in a monkey suit." Raine states obviously annoyed.

"Sorry Raine." Hank apologized "I'm just waiting on your father's reply. I sent him a picture."

As we waited I walked over to Raine and put my arm around her waist.

"Are you okay?" I ask her, because she seems upset about something.

"I am fine. It is just that that seamstress is a bitch and I still do not even understand why I even need this dress in the first place!" She exclaims, shocking me, Raine never swears.

I wanted to ask what the seamstress said but decided it wasn't the wisest course of action, instead I asked "Didn't your father tell you?" Referring to why she needed the dress.

"No! All he said was that there was a business related dinner party and I was to attend!" She exclaimed. Just as I was about to console her and tell her that her father was an ass and that I would kill him slowly if she would let me, Hank suddenly shouted out,

"Rain your father approved the dress. Let's go home."

"I must go change." Raine said to me, staring slightly to my left. "I don't want to talk to that horrid seamstress though. Will you escort me to the dressing room?" She asks poshly.

"Why are you talking like that?" I asked "Like you still live in a posh environment where you are expected to talk like an heiress, which we both know you don't. Not since you were 10." Once I said the last part I instantly regretted it.

"Brandon, shut up." She whispered, and I knew she was close to tears.

"Raine, I'm sor-"

"Don't say it, I know." She dismisses getting over it. "Now about talking weird, sorry. I'm still in Gertrude Lewis mode. Now if you would please take me to the dressing room." I take her elbow and lead her to the dressing room. Once we get inside I hand her her cloths.

"I'll be right outside the door, ask if you need help." I leave the room. About a minuet later Raine calls me in. I walk in and she is still in the same spot she was in when I left.

"I need your help." She states "The zipper is stuck." She says shortly.

I walk over and unzip her dress as she holds her hair. I quickly unzip her dress and hand her her cloths that she had dropped. I left the room to let her change. Her quietness has made me quiet.

It was an equally quiet car ride back to her house. No one dared to disturb the silence that engulfed us. We said goodbye to Hank and went into her house, up to her room. She laid down on her bed and I layed down next to her.

"Are you okay?" I ask her.

"Yeah I'm fine." She paused and sat up "No I'm not fine, I have an ominous feeling about this thing tomorrow." She confessed "Why on Earth would Howard invite me to a business dinner? Why not Eric? Eric will inherit the company and I will inherit the hush money. Howard wants nothing to do with me. I am nothing to him. My father has hated me since my mother died." That's the first time in years that I've heard Raine call Howard her father. "Plus it's my birthday Monday. 6 years since my mother died on a pane she wasn't even supposed to be on! Coming home to see me for my birthday! It's my fault she's dead! If she hadn't been rushing home for me she would have taken the later flight she was scheduled for, that didn't crash." By now Raine was crying.

I lean over and hug her, engulfing her small body in my large arms. She clings onto my shirt and sobs into it, but I don't care. I just rub her back and whisper comforting words into her hair. Holding her as I had the last 6 years as she wept the tears of a lost mother.

She finally quiets down to a point where she's just sniffling into my shirt. She looks up to me with her unfocused eyes. Then she apologized. It's one of her quirks, Raine apologizes for everything, even if it isn't her fault.

"Sorry for totally breaking down on you like that, B." She apologizes.

"Raine there is nothing to apologize for. I'm your best friend. You never have to apologize for crying on my shoulder."

"Thank you Brandon, you always know exactly what to say." Raine lays down once again.

"Raine I've got you. Always and forever. I will always protect you. I promise." As I said these words I knew that I could never put Raine in danger. I will never be the reason she is hurt. I will keep her out of this bloody war coming. "Raine, you know I love you right?"

"Of course. I love you too." She responds sleepily. Little does she know that this was my goodbye.