TW
CHAPTER 28 -
ROSELYN.
I opened my eyes and I was immediately wide awake due to the pain in my body.
Effortful, I sat up and then realized, I had been sleeping on the floor.
My body was cold and shivering.
I saw dried blood on the floor, which must've been mine.
With clenched teeth, I stood up.
My legs felt shaky.
Limping, I walked into my bathroom.
Carefully, I got rid of my clothes and stepped inside the shower.
The warm water didn't do my body too good. My wounds were burning.
With narrowed eyes, I got out of the shower again with my body and hair wet.
I wrapped a big towel around my body and looked inside the mirror.
In front of me, I saw a broken, hurt and damaged girl.
My face was covered in bruises.
One from the slap on my cheek and the other one was near my eye from his fist.
The look of that, made me tear up.
I walked back inside my room and looked for clothes to wear. I put on some basic, white underwear and then some joggers and a tight shirt.
My hair was still wet and I didn't feel like styling it, so I just left it like this.
I walked to my bed, where my phone was laying.
For the first time, since yesterday, I checked my messages.
Gaby:
• Hey, sweetie. Where are you? •
• Are you sick? •
Erling:
• Hey, where are you? •
• You alright? •
How long have I been sleeping?
I checked the time and noticed it was 11:30 am already.
I missed school.
Damn it.
I took my phone and walked downstairs.
From the living room, I could hear Brody snoring.
Relived about him sleeping, I took a deep breath, when suddenly, I heard motorcycle sounds getting close to the house.
Not thinking too much of it, I tried ignoring it.
But, then, the sounds stopped in front of the house and the engine was turned off.
Oh my god.
No, no, no.
Quickly, but still quietly, so I wouldn't wake Brody up, I walked to the front door and opened it a little, to glance outside.
Erling already had reached my veranda and was standing in front of me now.
My hair was falling into my face, which hopefully would cover up my bruises.
"Erling - What are you doing here?" I asked, nervously.
I let my wet hair fall into my face, so Erling wouldn't see my bruises.
"I got worried, when you didn't show up at school and didn't text me back."
"Oh." I swallowed. "I-I just didn't feel too good."
He sighed, slightly and seemed to be a little relieved that it was only that. "Can I do anything for you?"
Quickly, I shook my head. "N-no. I'm okay."
He scanned me from bottom to head. "Are you sure?"
I nodded, inwardly scared, Brody would wake up by our conversation.
"Okay." He mumbled. "If you do need me, you can call me, anytime."
"Thank you." I swallowed.
I wished, I could just tell him, I needed him.
Right now.
I wished, I could just tell him, to get me out of here and to hug me tightly.
But, I couldn't.
He nodded, slowly before taking some steps backwards and then walking back to his motorcycle.
I watched him get on top of it and then glancing back at me again.
He closed the flap of his helmet before turning on the engine and driving off.
I closed the door, quietly and walked back upstairs.
Tears rolled down my face.
I didn't wanna do this anymore.
It was too much, to hard.
Why did I have to go through all of this?
- next day -
I sat in the bus, looking out of the window.
I was scared to go home, already.
That's all I could think of right now.
I didn't know, how many attacks of Brody, I'd be able to endure, anymore.
I walked to my locker and grabbed my math book, before closing it again.
Behind the door of my locker, Erling suddenly stood.
"Hey."
I swallowed and looked up to him.
His eyes met mine.
"Hey." I answered, with a thin voice.
"Are you feeling better?"
I nodded, slightly. "Yes."
"I- I just had a really bad headache and...-"
"What the fuck, Rose."
His face changed.
Erling scanned my face - one particular part of my face.
Oh my god, I didn't cover it.
I forgot to cover my bruises.
Panic rose inside of me.
"What happened to your face?"
He seemed to be shocked by my bruises.
I swallowed. I didn't know what to tell him.
Was there even an excuse, which he'd believe?
"Who the fuck did that to you, Rose?" The anger in his words spoke volumes.
His fists were clenched.
I could feel tears coming.
"Rose!"
He became louder, when I didn't answer.
His unusual anger and the volume in his voice, made my body shiver in fear.
I just wanted to leave.
Therefore, I didn't say anything to him, instead I tried walking past him, but he grabbed me by my wrist, which made me flinch hard.
I whimpered and snatched my arm away from him.
I was breathing heavenly.
"I-I'm sorry." He instantly said, looking into my face, apologizing.
"I'm sorry, Rose. I didn't wanna -" He stopped himself and let his hands ran over his face.
It seemed like, he noticed the fear he had given me by his anger and his touch.
He didn't hurt me, not at all.
Never has.
But the touch of him made me think of Brody.
And he was the last thing, I wanted to think of.
Tears rolled down my face and I couldn't stop them from becoming more and more by every second.
"Come with me, okay?"
He asked, softly.
I didn't know what to say.
Should I go with him, or should I just keep my distance?
"Please." He held out his hand to me.
I swallowed looking down at his hand.
I didn't want to be alone, I knew that.
Trusting him was the best thing, I could do right now.
So, I took his hand and let me him walk me out of the school. Straight forward he walked to the parking lots and stopped in front of his motorcycle.
He got the helmet out of the trunk and turned around to me.
Still, I was standing in front of him with tears rolling down my face.
Erling seemed to swallow.
He secured the helmet on my head and then got on the motorcycle.
I sat behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
Quickly after, he turned the engine on and drove off.
I had no idea where he was heading to, but to be honest, I didn't care at all.
As long as I wouldn't have to see Brody, I am okay.
About 15 minutes later, he parked the motorcycle in front of his house.
I got up from the motorcycle and Erling did the same.
Without saying anything, we walked inside the house, which was completely quiet.
I assumed, no one else was home.
It was only us.
Only me and Erling.
Soundless, Erling walked up the stairs, followed by me.
He opened the door to his room and let me walk past him.
The house was completely quiet and I was able to hear his breathing, clearly.
He didn't seem chill, like he normally was.
Erling walked past me after closing the door behind him. He walked to the bed and sat down on the side with his feet stamped into the ground.
His hands were folded together, when he looked up to me.
"Will you tell me what happened to your face?"
I swallowed, looking down.
"N-no, I can't."
"Of course, you can." Erling was quick to say and looked at me seriously.
I sniffed my tears away. "No."
"Why can't you?"
He got up from the bed and walked straight to to me.
Now, he stood in front of me with not even 1 meter distance. "What's stopping you?"
I looked up into his eyes, with teary eyes.
My body was shaken.
"Everything." I said with a thin voice.
His eyes were on mine. He seemed to not understand what was wrong with me.
How could he?
If he knew, he'd be disgusted and he'd probably leave me like everyone else.
Uncontrollable, tears rolled down my face.
Carefully, he moved his hand close to my face. But, before his hand touched my cheek, he looked at me, softly, as a way of asking me, if it's okay.
I closed my eyes and slowly nodded.
Only a moment later, I felt big, warm hands, carefully getting close to my face. Erling wiped away tears with his thumb while holding my face softly with both of his hands.
He was being extremely careful not to unintentionally put too much pressure on my bruises.
I opened my eyes again and looked directly into his.
"W-why are you so nice to me?"
I asked.
I wanted to know.
The only reason people were nice to someone was because they wanted to profit from it.
What did Erling want?