Owen's p.o.v
I sat still as my mom dabbed the cut on the side of my head with a cleaner.
My damp, dark black hair dangled in front of my face, as she worked, but I could already picture her eyes narrowed in concentraction, and her lips pursed.
"Its scabbed over," she said. I wasn't sure if it was to me or Tyler.
When I didn't reply, Tyler walked up beside her to take a peak at it myself. "Well, thats good, right?"
My mom must have nodded. "I mean, it didn't open back up when he took a shower."
I could feel my face heat up, and in that moment I wanted to swat the two away, but I didn't. Instead I watched as Tyler's socked feet tapped on the ground, while my mom stood on her tip toes as she ran a finger over the cut.
As if having my mom to shampoo my hair wasn't bad enough Tyler was right in there as well to help me out of the tub. I hated how they could see everything.
Granted, my skin didn't look as bad as it did when I was first in the hospital. Now a majority of my skin had this weird yellow-ish, brown tinge. Not that I was complaining, though.
"You two better get a goods night rest tonight, because tomorrow is the court date. Finally." My mom said, lifting my head up. "We had to wait another whole two weeks because the people who work in that building couldn't do their job right."
I frowned, not sure what to say. In fact, I didn't want to say nothing. Not today, not tomorrow, or the day after. I didn't want to talk about what happened to me that day in front of a bunch of strangers or see people who witnessed it.
I just wanted these splints, and casts off me.
"Tyler's going to follow us in his vehicle, and after court, I'll follow you guys to the dentist, see what he has to say about the contraption he put in your mouth to help the loose tooth." I cracked a smile, running my tongue along the bumps on the backside of my teeth. "Then Tyler will take you to get these things off," she pointed to my hand, grabbing the thick coverings when I lifted them.
We stayed in the kitchen a while longer, my mom passing me a snack before going to her room to get ready for bed.
Tyler, and I sat on silence. My eyes trailing over the plate before I heard Tyler clear his throat.
My eyes snapped in his direction thinking he was trying to get my attention, but his head was down as he stared at his phone which was laid out flat against the table.
His hair was hanging in front of his face, so I couldn't even see his eyes, but that didn't matter to me. I just wanted to reach over and run a hand through his hair.
I was confused, though, at why he was still here. Didn't he have anything better to do?
Friends to meet.
Girls to hang out with.
A life to live?
Why was he here dragging me back and forth to appointments as if it was his job.
"Why're you looking at me like that?"
I blinked, my eyes focusing back on Tyler who was now staring straight ahead at me.
I could feel my face heat up, but I didn't say anything.
All I wanted to do was to make him like me again. It was a horrible and cruel thought too, but I couldn't help it. He was just always here.
How could I not?
I go to bed seeing him, and wake up seeing him. He helps feed me, bathe me, dress me. He carries me as if I weigh nothing, and he doesn't complain about me.
Cool, calm, and collected.
"You ready for bed?"
I nodded, pushing my plate away. Tyler stood, leaving his phone on the table before coming to my seat, he lifted me from the chair, waiting for my nod of approval before moving.
I let my head fall on his shoulder, my eyes staring up at him. When we got to my room, he managed to pull the blankets back before setting me down.
I rolled on my side once he moved to the dresser to pull out a set of clothes for himself. "I'm going to shower."
He waited until I nodded before leaving the room. I laid there until he came back in, my eyes trailing up when I heard his footsteps come down the hall. To my surprise Tyler was wearing nothing but a pair of sweats, with a towel slung around his neck.
I couldn't help but let my eyes follow the water droplets that fell down his chest to the band of his pants where they were absorbed.
My stomach fluttered, and before he could catch me, I rolled onto my back, letting my eyes fall shut.
He wasn't something I needed to remotely worry about right now anyway. Tomorrow was the big day.
Tomorrow I'd be sat in front of a room full of people, and a judge to who I'd have to explain what happened between the incident between Sean and me.
My mom, Tyler, and a couple other people from the school would be present. As far as I knew Sean was nowhere to be found, and although he wouldn't be at the trial his parents would be.
"Owen, what's wrong?"
I turned my head to the side, giving Tyler my attention. What did he mean?
"You're crying." Before I could reach up, Tyler brushed his thumbs under my eyes, offering me a smile. "You gunna be alright?"
I shook my head. I just wanted to forget about it all. As if being in the hospital, and having nothing to stare at but a wall, and being forced to think about what happened was bad enough. Now I'd have to speak about it, and not just to anybody, but a room full of people.
"You'll do fine. You just have to talk about it once more, maybe answer some questions, and then we are done. Promise." Tyler frowned down at me, his glasses sliding down his nose. "Breathe, Owen."
He reached over, gently squeezing my shoulder until I let out a breath. I could feel the tightness in my shirt, but Tyler's eyes narrowed as he stared at me.
"Breathe." He inhaled deeply, before exhaling nodding as he encouraged me to do the same. "Yes, just like that."
I mimicked his breathing patterns for a while before I fell back limp against my pillow, my body felt heavy, and all I could do was watch as Tyler turned off the light, and moved around the room with the help of the moon's light shinning in from the window.
"Tyler?"
He responded immediately, "Owen."
"I don't... can you..." I didn't know how to ask. I bit my tongue, my eyes narrowing at nothing. I couldn't even form a sentence. How pathetic.
How stupid.
How downright embarrassing.
"Come 'ere."
I nearly jolted, but settled down when Tyler placed a hand on my head as he laid down on top of my blankets, pulling a small one he brought over him.
What he did next surprised me.
He pulled me to his chest, throwing an arm around me, to let rest next to my hand. In that moment all I wanted to do was lay mine over his, but with all the bulky casts, and splints it made it impossible. Not only that, but Tyler...
Frowning I laid there, letting my body relax until my eyes sealed closed to the point where I could barely keep them open for the life of me.
When I woke up next, Tyler had one of his arms tucked under his head, while the other was limp, and lazily thrown over my chest. At first I didn't think anything of it, until I rolled over, and my eyes met his.
Tyler said nothing, though. He wasn't wearing his glasses, so I wasn't sure how much he could actually see. I wasn't sure if he could see the blush rising to my face, or my chest rising almost painfully fast.
I didn't bother moving, though, not even when Tyler heaved himself out of the bed, stumbled to collect his clothes, and went to take a shower. When he came back, I didn't offer to move a bit, and he didn't force me to.
"Have a good sleep?" he asked when he came back up with toast, and eggs. I shrugged, not sure how to answer. When he put my plate on my nightstand I sat up. "You know, you cried last night."
I reached out and grabbed the toasted, buttered bread and took a bite. "I'm scared," I told him. Tyler paused momentarily, his hands fumbling with the button to his dark red dress top.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
I could feel my throat close, and in that moment I wanted to just get swallowed up by my bed, and most definitely by the world, and just disappear for the next few hours.
I bit my lip, staring at the toast in my hand before putting it back on the plate. "I don't know."
Tyler sat at the edge of the bed, buttoning up his shirt before looking over at me. He didn't say anything then. He didn't rush me, nor did he encourage me. Tyler just stared, and as he stared, I couldn't help but wonder why I didn't feel uncomfortable or disgusted. I didn't know why my stomach fluttered, and I didn't feel like distracting myself by playing with the blanket.
"I was so scared..." my voice was small, "at first it was just his usual, and I thought it would be just a couple hits... but he... he didn't let me leave. I tried to get out of the door, but he closed it on my hand. I tried to get away, and hide, but he just kicked in the stall's door. He just kept hitting me. With his hands, and legs. I tried to... but my head, it just pounded because if he wasn't hitting me he was dragging, and throwing me around. My head... it hit a bench, and it got to the point where I couldn't feel anything. I don't even know how long I was there for. In the hall when I seen you, I went straight to the locker room. I thought I was going to die. He was talking to himself, yelling, he smiled at me every so often. He looked so mad, he looked like he hated me. I don't..." I exhaled shakily. "I just remember Jared being there, and he didn't help me. He, Jared... Jared left he... then Sean took me to the showers. Then he made me do things to him..." I paused, a phantom ache spreading through my body. "I remember only being able to think that I was barely able to do these things to you, and here I was just... just..." I narrowed my eyes as I stumbled to find the right words. "I just let him do that to me. I didn't fight him off hard enough. I let him touch me, I let him in my mouth, in me." I found myself suddenly angry at myself. I could feel the heat rush through me, and it just burned. "I'm no longer clean. I couldn't save myself. I couldn't save myself for you. I'm no longer... I'm not longer clean. I'm so fucking dirty. I'm so fucking disgusting. Every time I look at myself all I see is some disgusting, vile, piece of trash who was so weak that he let someone else use him, fuck..."
Tyler grabbed my shoulders, and pulled my body to his. Our chests collided, and if I wasn't in such a blind rage I probably would have reacted, but I didn't. Instead I let him wrap his arms around me, and hold me by the back of my head to his chest. His warmth spread through me, and his smell just filled my senses, and forced me to calm down.
"Shut the fuck up..." I heard him mumble. My lip trembled, and I let myself fall limp. "Don't you dare, I mean dare ever say that to yourself. I seen the aftermath, Owen. I seen the locker room, I seen you. I seen the condition you were in, and if you ever try and tell me what he did to you was your fault I'll tape your mouth shut for the next fifteen years."
I swallowed hard, clenching my eyes shut. "I'm sorry... I'm so..."
"Shut up." He told me. I obeyed, letting him pull us apart so he could look at my face. I dropped my eyes to the buttons on his shirt, noticing he did it up incorrectly. "I'm the one that is sorry. So fucking sorry I couldn't be there for you to make sure this didn't happen. Im the one that should of had a mountain of rocks dropped down on me." Tyler grabbed my chin, moving my head up, but I couldn't bring myself to look him in he eyes. "Look at me, Owen. Look, now." When my eyes met his, I wanted to cry. He eyes were red, and filled to the brim with tears. "I was so unhappy with life until the day I met you Owen."
He pulled me to his chest, pressing his lips to the top of my head, and letting them linger. We sat there for a while, and only pulled apart when my mom yelled for us to get ready.
My stomach churned uncomfortably as I watched Tyler stand, and pick up the clothes I was going to wear today. We changed my shirt first, Tyler letting me slip my arms through the shirts sleeve.
"Good thing we found a dress shirt with short sleeves."
I gave him a small smile, letting him button it up. Next he helped me slip my legs into a pair of dress pants, letting me lean on him while he did up the buttons.
We made our way to the kitchen where my mom was packing a purse, along with checking papers in a folder.
"My handsome baby," she cooed. Pinching my cheeks, and running a hand through my hair. I could feel my face heat up, but didn't pull away. She sighed loudly before stepping back, smoothing a hand down her deep blue blouse, and offering me a smile. "Can you get his jacket, Tyler?"
Tyler nodded, running a hand through his hair once more before leaving the room, leaving my mom and me in silence.
"Mom," I said.
Immediately her eyes filled with tears, and she lowered herself. "Owen," she replied simply.
I frowned this time, biting my tongue. How did I tell her I was sorry?
"I love you, Owen. Know that. And no matter what is said today, that will never, ever, ever, change how much I love you, and how much I will lay down for you," she paused. I took that time to swallow hard, biting down on my lip. "When you're in that room Owen, you tell them the truth."
I nodded, not finding it in myself to look her in the eyes.
Her only son was made a fool.
She nodded, giving me one more smiling before getting back to her feet just in time as Tyler walked back in. "Thank you," she said.
She helped me slip on the coat, fixing the collar of my shirt before nodding, and moving onto Tyler.
"What handsome men. Just wow."
Tyler cracked a smile before looking over at me, winking when my mom wasn't looking. I pursed my lips, letting my eyes fall to the floor.
After my mom finished the last sips of her coffee, Tyler helped me into her car, before taking my wheelchair to his Jeep. I buckled up, not letting my eyes stray from Tyler in his own vehicle which pulled out, and followed us.
Not only was the ride to the courthouse quiet, but so was parking, helping me get out of the car, and wheeling me in through the doors.
It was empty, granted for the three of us, and two security guards flanking us. It was a couple more minutes until four more joined, along with the judge.
***
"Owen? Owen."
I blinked, my eyes focusing back on the security guard right next to the door Jared walked out of.
He was brought to the stand to the left of the judge, and it was as if the whole room disappeared. I blinked once, and sucked in a short breath, suddenly finding myself in the locker room.
The bloody mess of a locker room, with bloody handprints, and pools of blood all over.
It was as if Sean was there, grabbing me up roughly by the arm, only to throw me as if I weight absolutely nothing at Jared who just barely caught me. Jared's arms grabbed me around my bare waist before realization hit, and he only held on tighter so I didn't slip to the floor pathetically.
He didn't help me, though. Which was obvious, not only because of the tears rolling down his face when his eyes swept the room, and landed on me, but because of the regret that emitted from him like steam.
Jared's shoulders slumped, and he let his eyes shift to behind me; where Tyler was.
I kept my eyes down for most of the time he was talking, blanking him out. I didn't want to hear his side of the story.
I didn't want to hear him say he never thought Sean was capable of doing something like that.
I didn't want to hear him say Sean only started acting weird a couple days before hand.
Nor did I want to hear him say Sean called Jared to join in and touch me. It was like my world was spinning, and tilting until Jared finally stopped talking after his final sentence.
"I didn't think... Sean knew I... I told Sean about my feelings for him... for Owen, but I swear on my life..."
I could faintly hear the sobbing of my mom, and I could only imagine how loud it must have been if I had both ears working.
"Community service. 600 hours for running, and not reporting the crime." the judge said.
There was a pause in the room, but nobody objected. Not Jared, not anybody behind us in the stands, no lawyers, and definitely not me.
After Jared was escorted to a seat, the judge began to speak again.
He said that because Sean was still out there, somewhere, that Jared was to be monitored, and screened. He was to check in, and out to a patrol officer which the judge would be assigning, and any electronics, or social media sites were to be checked weekly in case Sean messaged him.
His lawyer tried to object, but was overruled. "The fact that the young boy over there in the wheelchair was left to die in a locker room after your individual witnessed his assault first hand, you should be lucky that is all he is getting. I'll be damned knowing that one man got away, which still leaves Mr. Randy here vulnerable."
Who spoke up next surprised me. "That's fine. I accept it..." I looked to my right to see Jared looking over at me. I felt my chest tighten. "Owen, I don't know what came over me... I don't know why I didn't react... Owen, I'm sorry... I... if I knew that's how Sean would react when I told him I had feelings for you..."
The judge silenced him, but it was too late.
I reached up to my tie with my hands, wanting to rip off the splints so I could loosen my tie.
God was it ever constricting.
I could feel my throat close, and before I knew it I burst out into tears.
I could hear the sound of footsteps, and I wasn't sure if it was my mom, or Tyler, but voices started to yell, and it seemed like it took forever to calm everybody down again to finish the session.
To finalize everything, we were showed a clip of Sean's wanted persons ad before the judge issued a fine of a huge lump some of money to Sean's family.
They took it in stride, and apologized greatly to us; although there was a guard blocking.
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&& uploaded. I honestly had no idea what to do for the last part, so I hope it's okay, and I hope it's lengthy enough.
Not edited.
Enjoy.